A lot has been written over the years about how we should run: barefoot, heel-strike, fore-foot, mid-foot... and, let's face it- every second person you speak to has a different opinion. As runners and triathletes we're always looking for that extra edge whether it's to increase speed or efficiency, or reduce injury.
There's a big range on offer: neutral, supportive, cushioned, racing... A few years ago I decided to change my running style to transition into zero-drop shoes: this means that the depth of the outer sole is the same along it's entire length (where most have a slightly thicker heel, typically 6mm).
Since then I've been through a couple of pairs of New Balance Minimus 03, though that particular model is no longer available and this seems to have replaced it.
The look:
Fresh out the box they look great- sleek, nice bright colour... a good start
The feel:
These shoes are exceptionally light- made possible by the very thin outer sole and fine mesh upper. Slipping them on and I immediately felt really comfortable and knew I'd get away with putting these straight on in T2 (with wet feet) and running off without fear of blistering.
The performance:
Overall great- light, comfortable, and so very fast! I've used these shoes in a marathon (PB time), two ironman triathlons, and countless 5ks, 10ks, track sessions, training runs, and other triathlons. I've set all my PBs in these, though that's more testament to my improved training and fitness I think!
The pros:
See above- look good, feel good, perform well.
Used correctly they could, in theory, even help you avoid injury (you'll need to read an upcoming post on running styles! Stay tuned!)
The cons:
These shoes don't offer you any great protection, so even relatively small stones or lumps underfoot are felt and can cause bruising or other problems.
They're also reliant on you having a good, strong, and consistent gait that is accustomed to the "barefoot" style approach.
Buy them if:
- you've got good form and happy to put the time into transitioning into this style
- you're already an established fore- or mid-foot runner
- you want a fast, low-profile race shoe
- you want an alternative to track spikes that are a little more forgiving
Don't buy them if:
- you're a heel striker and can't/won't change
- you love a supportive and cushioned shoe
- you'll be running on rough or lumpy surfaces
Verdict:
8.5/10
There's a big range on offer: neutral, supportive, cushioned, racing... A few years ago I decided to change my running style to transition into zero-drop shoes: this means that the depth of the outer sole is the same along it's entire length (where most have a slightly thicker heel, typically 6mm).
Since then I've been through a couple of pairs of New Balance Minimus 03, though that particular model is no longer available and this seems to have replaced it.
The look:
Fresh out the box they look great- sleek, nice bright colour... a good start
The feel:
These shoes are exceptionally light- made possible by the very thin outer sole and fine mesh upper. Slipping them on and I immediately felt really comfortable and knew I'd get away with putting these straight on in T2 (with wet feet) and running off without fear of blistering.
The performance:
Overall great- light, comfortable, and so very fast! I've used these shoes in a marathon (PB time), two ironman triathlons, and countless 5ks, 10ks, track sessions, training runs, and other triathlons. I've set all my PBs in these, though that's more testament to my improved training and fitness I think!
The pros:
See above- look good, feel good, perform well.
Used correctly they could, in theory, even help you avoid injury (you'll need to read an upcoming post on running styles! Stay tuned!)
The cons:
These shoes don't offer you any great protection, so even relatively small stones or lumps underfoot are felt and can cause bruising or other problems.
They're also reliant on you having a good, strong, and consistent gait that is accustomed to the "barefoot" style approach.
Buy them if:
- you've got good form and happy to put the time into transitioning into this style
- you're already an established fore- or mid-foot runner
- you want a fast, low-profile race shoe
- you want an alternative to track spikes that are a little more forgiving
Don't buy them if:
- you're a heel striker and can't/won't change
- you love a supportive and cushioned shoe
- you'll be running on rough or lumpy surfaces
Verdict:
8.5/10
