Jump to content

Minimalist Runners?


Vladimir

Recommended Posts

I recently got into running, determined to lose the last bit of my extra weight (I guess a sizable chunk, but it is all relative). About a week into it I decided to just go for the gold and now run exclusively barefoot if I am on the treadmill. Picked up a pair of VFF's for outdoor/everyday use.

[img]http://barefootrunningshoes.org/wp-content/gallery/vibram-fivefingers-kso-womens/VFF%20KSO%20Women%20Black%20Upper%20Black%20Bottom.jpg[/img] Edited by Vladimir
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been seeing these around the gym more and more.

What do you think of them? How many miles are you putting on them per session? How are your feet/calves after using them?

BTW, I'm running in the Air Force marathon in Ohio in September, the Army 10-Miler in October, and the Philly marathon in November. :)



Link to comment
Share on other sites

Those are so funny looking!
I got a shoe catalog (for some strange reason) and those were in there. I didn't think they were real shoes until I saw them at the local sports store.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Once I saw some guy wearing those at Dewey's (pizza place around here and a few other cities). Seemed like an odd place to wear them. I think they'd be uncomfortable... I don't like things between my toes. When toe socks were all the rage? I wanted to wear them to be cool like my cousins but they really drove me nuts.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love them. When I first put them on in the morning they feel a bit uncomfortable, but the second they come off and I put some regular shoes on, boy! do I regret it! I too had problems with things between my toes, but started wearing toe socks about a week before the shoes got here and got used to it. The toes are not meant to be jammed together, and if having toe socks/shoes on allows them to be free, its worth the discomfort of stuff crammed between (and it really is awfully thin, you get used to it quick).

You are supposed to transition to them or any minimalist/barefoot very slowly. After a couple runs of paying very close attention I came to the conclusion that the shoes I had been wearing (and indeed the style I always opted for) had very little support and thin soles. I decided I could start off running barefoot on the treadmill, and started with just about a mile, but was up to nearly 3 miles within a week... I have yet to have any real problems. A little sore while running, but considering the shape I am in I am confident they are the same (or even less) than if I had been wearing shoes.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Anything between my toes bothers me, but those crazy looking shoes are strangely intriguing, I might consider trying those out sometime in the future.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I read an article about it in Time. It was very intresting. Since humans evolved to run and walk barefoot it makes sense. When we take a step we are supposed to land on the front/side of our foot and then evenly distribute our weight all over the foot. But when we wear shoes we land on our heel and it messes up weight distribution, which is why our feet hurt so much after a long shift at work.
I've actually noticed that when I come home after a 9hr shift my ankles and heels hurt more than the rest of feet. But once I take off my shoes and start walking around barefoot or in very thin sandle slippers my pain goes away within 10 minutes.
If I could get away with wearing them at work, I would definatly get them. But then again, I live in WA state and with our weather I would only be able to wear them for 3 or 4 months out of the year. And frankly, I'd rather spend 85 on something I could actually use for at least 6 or 8 months. If they were more like 30 then I'd consider getting them.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I played soccer for years and obviously that included A LOT of conditioning. I used regular running shoes because on the field cleats are a must so you want to get your feet used to being in shoes and not free. BUT for strictly training/running the closer you can get to barefoot the better it is supposed to be for your feet/knees. So I looked into it and found a good transition shoe that gives you some of the padding/structure that you are used to from running in normal shoes but starts to train your feet for less supportive shoes like the toe ones from the OP.

[url="http://nikerunning.######.com/nikeos/p/nikeplus/en_US/products/free5?blogSource=en_US"]http://nikerunning.######.com/nikeos/p/nikeplus/en_US/products/free5?blogSource=en_US[/url]

Apparently they give you the range of motion that your bare foot would have, I think i'll get a pair and start getting back into shape, it's been too long since I have been able to run 5+ miles at a time :(
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Huh. I have seen these around, but always considered them to be something of a joke. They make sense, though, when you really think about it. And I mean, I am barefoot as often as I can be (house, outdoor adventures, walking the dog, playing in the rain...). I wish I could pull off something like this at work (regardless of what season, as I'm in Michigan for work, I wear different footwear than my work shoes whenever I can and change into them at work). However, it would be a complete no-no for both dress code and probably safety codes too. Bummer.

Dang, though, I want a treadmill now. Running barefoot would be a dream (ouch gravel bits at high speeds).
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Most of the "minimalist community" hates the ###### Frees... not so much because of what they are, but because of what they claim to be. They really are not a minimalist shoe due to the heavy padding and inclined heel. But as a transition shoe perhaps that makes more sense.

EDIT: Interesting, the forum appears to censor the brand of shoes we are talking about :) Edited by Vladimir
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Arcane' date='07 June 2010 - 08:55 PM' timestamp='1275969324' post='471024']
apparently there are some professional runners that like the frees though...
[/quote]

To be fair, there are a lot of professionals who like steroids too... :)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Vladimir' date='08 June 2010 - 12:10 AM' timestamp='1275981003' post='471051']
[quote name='Arcane' date='07 June 2010 - 08:55 PM' timestamp='1275969324' post='471024']
apparently there are some professional runners that like the frees though...
[/quote]

To be fair, there are a lot of professionals who like steroids too... :)
[/quote]

Touche!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Vladimir' date='07 June 2010 - 09:10 PM' timestamp='1275981003' post='471051']
[quote name='Arcane' date='07 June 2010 - 08:55 PM' timestamp='1275969324' post='471024']
apparently there are some professional runners that like the frees though...
[/quote]

To be fair, there are a lot of professionals who like [i]performance enhancers[/i] too... :)
[/quote]
and to be fair, they do in fact work...AND produce better results....
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Arcane' date='08 June 2010 - 01:26 AM' timestamp='1275985585' post='471057']
[quote name='Vladimir' date='07 June 2010 - 09:10 PM' timestamp='1275981003' post='471051']
[quote name='Arcane' date='07 June 2010 - 08:55 PM' timestamp='1275969324' post='471024']
apparently there are some professional runners that like the frees though...
[/quote]

To be fair, there are a lot of professionals who like [i]performance enhancers[/i] too... :)
[/quote]
and to be fair, they do in fact work...AND produce better results....
[/quote]

And tiny testicals. It seems the only logical conclusion therefore is that Frees will make your soldiers shrink.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Vladimir' date='08 June 2010 - 05:34 AM' timestamp='1276011267' post='471078']
[quote name='Arcane' date='08 June 2010 - 01:26 AM' timestamp='1275985585' post='471057']
[quote name='Vladimir' date='07 June 2010 - 09:10 PM' timestamp='1275981003' post='471051']
[quote name='Arcane' date='07 June 2010 - 08:55 PM' timestamp='1275969324' post='471024']
apparently there are some professional runners that like the frees though...
[/quote]

To be fair, there are a lot of professionals who like [i]performance enhancers[/i] too... :)
[/quote]
and to be fair, they do in fact work...AND produce better results....
[/quote]

And tiny testicals. It seems the only logical conclusion therefore is that Frees will make your soldiers shrink.
[/quote]
at least i can run better.....hahahahahaha....
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...