December 8, 2024
Half Marathon, 10K & 5K Races

Flip or Flop

Flip or Flop

Flip or Flop?  Flip Flops!  Should runners wear flip flops?

I love wearing my flip flops.  I wear them just about everywhere I go on the weekend.  I’d wear them to work if I could get away with it!  Every year when I travel to Negril for Reggae Marathon I change into my flip flops at the airport before I board my flight…it gets me into the ‘Jamaica vibe’.  Plus I just love walking out of the airport to to my shuttle already in my flip flops.

So far no problem.  But…all is not good for those of who love our flip flops as it relates to our running.  Unless you wear Birkenstocks with moulded footbeds that don’t flex, you and I are courting disaster!  At least according to the people who see foot and lower leg injuries, foot doctors.  It turns out that flip flows are really bad for a number of reasons:

  • No arch support.  That can lead to the dreaded Plantar Fasciitis injury.  I’ve been there and done that…not good!
  • No heel support.  Having some sort of strap holding the flip flop to the foot minimizes the stress on the lower leg ligaments.
  • No protection for toes.  Well, that’s why we like our flip flops…full foot freedom.

Things you can do to minimize the chance of injury include the above mentioned Birkenstocks (or sandals that offer firm and moulded foot support) combined with styles that have a heel strap.

For additional information on flip flops and running, here’s an article that ran recently:  Flip Flops and Running.

Until next time…

Reggae Marathon RunninGuy

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