All sports have special gear you need to play. From the helmet and heavy pads of football to the flame retardant uniforms of NASCAR drivers each sport has something you must wear to compete. Running is
no different. If you are a runner then you know that the gear you need is the correct pair of shoes. For long distance races many runners are now wearing racing flats to run.
Racing flats are similar to many shoes in that they do cover and protect your feet but they have several differences that are considered very advantageous to racing. Racing flats are light in weight. While most shoes are around 9 to 11 oz racing flats generally weigh in at between 6 and 8 oz. That may not seem like much but is a great deal to someone who is not used to such a light shoe.
Another way racing flats are different, and probably the most important one is the total lack of heel support. Racing flats are completely flat. These shoes have no support at all for the heel of the foot. The most efficient way of running requires you to run on the ball of your foot; racing flats are made to be completely flat to force you to run in the most efficient manor.
Flats also do not have any spikes on them and most do not have any tread to speak of either. This allows for a better ground to foot power transfer. The lack of cushioning in the shoe allows you to have more contact with the road, track or path.
Running flats do not last as long as a regular pair of shoes would however. The lack of cushioning in these shoes reduces their life span by about half as compared to other shoes. It is also not recommended to wear the racing flats while training.
When in training you should wear your regular running shoes. Racing flats do not have any cushioning in them so they could hurt your feet after an extended time. Although there have been several studies that show the cushioning in regular running shoes can actually injure your foot and legs. This is due to the arch and heel support that is engineered as a correctional support. If you do not actually need correctional support then you should not use it.
Racing flats are specially made shoes for racing. They offer all the benefits of barefoot running while still giving you the protection from road debris.
