My arches are currently somewhere between normal and flat (they've flattened somewhat as I've grown older) so I'm probably not the ideal example for you. But my husband, who is an ex-runner, is probably a better case. He has had totally flat feet all his life. During his mid-twenties he got into running, about the same time as I did. Suffice it so say that he and his running buddies routinely left me in the dust. He did 7-minute miles and 21-22 minute 5K's. I don't recall his exact shoe models but he was using Brooks and New Balance neutral shoes. He did no particular stretching or strengthening exercises, and he never had a running-related injury. After about 10 years he lost interest in running and turned to other sports (leaving me to carry the running baton, so to speak), but the bottom line is that he ran perfectly well with his flat feet - for years - and never had a problem.
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