Monday 6 June 2011

Barefoot running with Reebok RealFlex - UPDATE


Customised RealFlex shoes.
As a follow-up to my initial review, I've decided to post a short update. So, 6 weeks and about 110kms later, the RealFlex shoes feel like second nature to me. My leg muscles have completely adapted to the softer impact from the shoe's "sensors", and the extra effort of using my foot muscles now feels normal (my partner says my calf muscles are looking extra ripped).

One of the main differences, I've observed, is that after an increase in my kilometres per week over 6 weeks, I have not picked up any niggles or injuries in my hips, knees, or ankles, which used to happen after prolonged bouts of running for me (don't laugh, 6 weeks of unbroken running is LONG for me). 

My 5K (sub-25 minutes) and 10K (sub-60 minutes) times have improved over the last month, but I'm not sure if it's because of the shoes or just because I'm running more often than I used to!


As mentioned in my first post, I've been using the Nike+ iPod sensor and syncing my runs, routes, times and distances with the Nike+ Running website. They have made such a difference to my own, and my partner's training, that I will devote the next post to a review of the sensor, iPod/iPhone App, and a how-to for getting started with their website.