Hey Rick -

Sorry for butting in... but I've just been on a shoe research binge lately so just wanted to share my suggestions.

If you liked the nike frees - I'd try Saucony Kinvaras or New Balance minimus.  Both of them are more minimalistic flat shoes.  Newtons are actually built 'up' more with more cushioning all around - however all 3 only have about a 3% incline in the shoe itself (which is great to prevent heel striking)

I actually LOVED the way the Kinvaras felt and know a lot of people that have them and love them (one of my 5-6mile/min buddies wears them on all his runs).  My ONLY reason for not keeping them is because the sides where they are cut out for the ankles was just a little too high - but  have very sensitive ankle bones haha. Other than that they felt amazing!!  And literally half the price of Newtons.

The New Balance Minimus were just ok to me - but I have a friend that just bought them and LOVED them. Again - very flat and flexible sole.  They felt a little wider at the toe box and again hit my ankle - but they are the newest contender in the minimalist running shoe.

Newtons are my personal favorite.  Great for mid/fore foot strikers or those who want to get to that point. They do have more cushioning all around than something like a minimalist shoe (they say they are a 'natural form' shoe - not a 'minimalist' shoe).  If you try on one and try on something like the kinvara or NB minimus you will notice that the Newtons sit higher on the ground.  They have like a bazillion components that make up the shoe (really I think its like 79 or something) and I just love them.  They are cut low at the ankles (woo hoo for me) and I love the meshy toe box.

Personally - I think if you are going from Nike Frees you may find you feel like the Minimus or Kinvaras are more of a lateral move - but you should definitely try on the Newtons just for comparison!!ll

Read this article here: http://momsrunthistown.blogspot.com/2011/05/disecting-shoes-more-on-heel-problem.html

It gives a list of shoes and their interior gradient. You will see Nike Frees have a 5% so I definitely wouldn't pick a shoe with more than that!!

Again -sorry for butting in

jmwolfparr, No, I live by Valley Forge, but have an SO living just above Allentown (in the suburbs of New Tripoli) and we socialize in Bethlehem a lot.

That's awesome! My last actual run was my 10 mile jaunt on my treadmill because I was training for a half on the 4th - but now it's going to be a 5K instead because the half was full! I am bummed out because even after the 10 miles I probably could've kept going long after I mentally figured I'd be done. My legs still felt fine etc. I use the treadmill to pace myself though, running outside may be a different story, I'm always more tired after running outside because I run faster. The 10 was the most I've ever run probably, my longest prior run was about 8 miles. Good luck on the half in Oct! I'm going to try and see if I can find an inexpensive local half to run sometime after the 5K in June and before the Napa Ragnar in Sept. I just want to run one to say I've done it lol. I'm not questioning whether I can or not, I think I'll even enjoy it while I'm running. A lot of runners say they only enjoy it after they cross the line at the end

CONGRATULATIONS Rick,,,that is awesome!!!! You had a great time and it is for sure something to be proud of!!!! Wow and you have lots of time before your race!!!! Your hard work has paid off, and think of how much faster you will be with additional training.  Your time will improve for sure!!!!  Keep up the good work! Now put your feet up and relax!!!  

I'm the same way: only want to do a half to say I did it. lol Great job on your 10 miles.

Just got back in from running a 6 miles route. I think the heat got to me today, it's about 87 & humid out. A few weeks ago I ran the Ben Franklin Bridge for the first time with some running buddies and feel in love. So I've been running it once a week every since. The Bridge it self is about 1.5 miles one way with a nice 1/2 mile or better incline on each side. Running to the bridge was fine I keep my pacing around 9 minutes and just like every other time I've run this route once I started ascending the bridge it felt dreadful. However, unlike every other time it never got easier or should I say, I never got stronger as I got closer to the top. Because I knew I wasn't running the bridge as well as I have in the past I decided to forgo my 30 second break once I got to Jersey & instead turned around and headed back to the Philly side. The run back to the office is what really upset me. I like to run nonstop when possible, sometimes traffic doesn't allow it and that's fine. I know I can run a minimum of 10 miles nonstop when running a comfortable pace like today. Running back from the bridge I had to walk twice, even stopped for a Gatorade. My legs felt like logs, almost like they did around mile 9 of the half Sunday. I know I've run on hotter days & even less hydrated. It could be that I'm running faster, last summer I was running a 10:30 - 11 min pace. Or it's that I've never run hills like the bridge has in these temps. Whatever the case may be I wasn't thrilled with my run today. I'll get'em tomorrow. On the upside I only have 6 miles to go until I reach my goal of 75 miles run this month with 4 days to go. Yay Me!!! LOL