Running Shoes

[AyBee]

I'm a keen and experienced cyclist (well over 5,000km for the year so far) so don't struggle for fitness but have signed up to a half marathon in 2 months' time and now need to buy some running shoes and put the bike to one side. The thought of barefoot shoes intrigues me but I'm not sure whether it's a good idea with 2 months to train for the half marathon. Thoughts please?

Thanks,
AyBee

[skibum]

My understanding of barefoot running is that it is a totally different running style that you may well need to teach yourself as without the correct technique there is a risk of injury. Given the 2 month time period, that may not be enough. Something to do with heel strike (traditional style) vs ball of foot striking first (barefoot running style).

[Muzzer79]

I would focus on finding a pair of trainers that fit and are comfortable, rather than thinking that they must be barefoot-style.

If you can get on straight away with barefoot then fine, but I wouldn't get hung up about it.

Go to a running shop, get your gait analysed and use whatever is comfortable. To train for a half-marathon, you'll be needing a couple of weeks to break them in anyway and you don't want to risk injury but trying to adapt to a style that might not suit you.

[AyBee]

I don't think I have a style to change

There's a Runners Need shop just down from my office so will head there for some time on the treadmill and to try out a few different types

[Pothole]

Careful!http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-fi...

[grumbledoak]

If you are not currently a mid-foot striker (i.e. landing on the balls of your feet) two months is not going to be enough time to transition to barefoot shoes.

Just get some nice comfy trainers and run in them to break them in.