Nice to see smaller nations getting recognition in the Olympics. As a beginner runner, it's inspiring to see athletes from all backgrounds pushing themselves to be their best. Congrats to Alfred and the St Lucian team!
I've been running in supportive shoes for years too. I tried minimalist shoes for a few weeks and my feet didn't like it. I got a stress fracture in my foot. Maybe it's because I didn't transition slowly enough. I'm back to my traditional shoes now. I think it's worth trying, but be cautious and take it slow.
Shoe companies, probably. They're the ones selling the most stuff.
Agreed, I've started tracking my heart rate recently and it's been eye-opening. Helps me pace myself and avoid overexertion, especially as a beginner.
I'm a beginner and had ITBS too. Tried stretching and foam rolling, it helped a bit. Still hurts, but I'm learning to manage it.
I'm a beginner, but from what I've read, dynamic stretching is more about preparing your muscles for running, whereas static is more for after. Maybe it's not necessary, but it can't hurt to try both and see what works for me.