Running Gear: Vibram Five Finger Shoes

dtreel22,

They are not long run worthy for sure, and they take a while to get used to them. I went for a four mile run when i first got mine and got some fairly bad blisters. i find them to be comfotable for the most part, but if you have big feet the toes are a little small. I wear an 11.5 usually and my big toes are almost too big for the shoe. And you do have to run with a modified gait. If you are a heel to toe person you will have to run more flat footed. They are also good for the heat. I live in an area that stays over 90° in the summer and they protect the feet pretty well. Oh, if you run on roads alot, avoid the pebbles and rocks, they hurt in these shoes. Overall, im pretty happy with them.

I would highly recommend them, but keep in mind, they are not shoes in the typical sense.  As Peacemaker636 mentioned, you will need to transition to them.  I also run barefoot, almost exclusively while training and usually during races.  I wear the Five Fingers for long distances.  I have completed three half marathons wearing them, so I wouldn't say they weren't good for long distances, however they do take some getting used too.  Anything you put on your feet takes some adjustment time.  Before dumping the running shoe habit, I went through many pairs and got plenty blisters as well as knee and hip pain.  When I started wearing Five Fingers, I did get some hotspots and a couple blisters because they hold on to your foot in places different from standard shoes.  Go easy on the mileage in them at first and your foot will adjust and toughen up the skin where they contact it.  They encourage good running form and that has eliminated the knee and hip pain.  Above all, don't do anything you don't want to do.  Running is about having fun and staying in shape.  Not pounding out a bunch of painful miles because "thats what your supposed to do".  Keep on keeping on...

twheeler:I would highly recommend them, but keep in mind, they are not shoes in the typical sense.  As Peacemaker636 mentioned, you will need to transition to them.  I also run barefoot, almost exclusively while training and usually during races.  I wear the Five Fingers for long distances.  I have completed three half marathons wearing them, so I wouldn't say they weren't good for long distances, however they do take some getting used too.  Anything you put on your feet takes some adjustment time.  Before dumping the running shoe habit, I went through many pairs and got plenty blisters as well as knee and hip pain.  When I started wearing Five Fingers, I did get some hotspots and a couple blisters because they hold on to your foot in places different from standard shoes.  Go easy on the mileage in them at first and your foot will adjust and toughen up the skin where they contact it.  They encourage good running form and that has eliminated the knee and hip pain.  Above all, don't do anything you don't want to do.  Running is about having fun and staying in shape.  Not pounding out a bunch of painful miles because "thats what your supposed to do".  Keep on keeping on...

 Hi twheeler,

 I am glad I ran into this post and I hope you come back and see this so we can chat.

 I'm a relatively new runner, with about 14 months experience TOTAL under my belt.  I currently run 30-35 miles a week (2 10-milers, 2 5-milers, and an extra 3 or 5 miler).  I'm actually about to take a week off because I've done nothing but escalate my training since I started with Couch to 5K.  I've noticed my performance declining and generally feeling like I was just putting in miles...and I want to continue loving running like I did for the first 12 months.

Anyway, I decided to buy a pair of Vibrams and run my 3-miler in them.  Thinking that if I liked it I would include it in my re-training after I take my week off, and maybe even build mileage in them.

So, here's my first question...I live in a very urban environment.  Lots of glass, rusty Tetanus metal, rough gravely sidewalks, etc.  I don't think it would be safe to run in true barefeet, which is why I got the Vibrams.  However, I am curious...do you know of people who live in urban environments who run in true barefeet?  How do they avoid nasty, harmful things?  I mean, sure, your feet toughen up...but never enough to beat the point of a rusty Tetanus nail.

 Back to my experience today.  I put on my brand new Vibrams and went out on a quick 3-milers.  Immediately I noticed that I was running "on my toes".  I mean, really it was on the ball of my feet, landing towards the back of the ball of my foot.  I was suddenly noticing I have these things on my legs I think are called calves.

Second question, is this the correct way to run barefoot?  On the balls of your feet?

The first two miles were fine though I noticed my calves getting tighter and tighter.  I definitely ran slower than normal, about 30 seconds per mile slower, but I felt VERY light and springy.

Right around the start of mile 3 my calves decided they weren't going to cooperate, probably because they were miffed I'd ignored them so long and now felt like they were being "used".  ;)  So my gait collapsed into a more flat-footed thing, landing on my soles, but never really on my heels.  I felt slower by my Garmin showed I actually didn't run slower.

Anyway, I'd love some tips about running barefoot...like for form.  I usually am a go-with-the-flow runner and just run the way my body wants to.  BUT, I've spent ALL my running experience until today running in shoes, mostly in Mizuno Wave Riders.  So, my gait has evolved for that shoe and I'm not sure if it's responding right to being barefoot.

Hope this post finds you!

Jen

Great thread. I'm thinking about getting some VFF's but for now am running barefoot on the football field (in the middle of track) a couple of times a week.

From what I've been told you need to start with really short distances. I started with only 800 to 1000 meters with no problems but have seen recommendations to start at 400 meters. Some even recommend walking barefoot or in VFF's to let your foot adjust before trying to run.

I am also using lighter shoes. Performance training road shoes and Inov-8 trail shoes.

Ben

LexB had some great info. 

Just to add:  Barefoot Ken Bob (one of the first barefoot 'evangelists') runs in Huntington Beach (I think).  The FAQ on his website addresses concerns about running on urban debris.  FWIW, I grew up pretty much barefoot all the time.  The soles of my feet were pretty thick and callused.  I stepped on glass more than once, and just pulled the shards out and went back to playing.  Obviously, there would have been problems with a long, pointy, rusty nail, but you'd have those problems with any shoe except combat boots.

True Barefooters do run on the balls of their feet.  Sadly, I'm not one of them -- I'm transitioning from my Nike Frees and run about 25 miles/week in my VFFs and tend to do a mid-foot strike (like Jen did in the last part of her inaugural VFF run).  Danny Dryer's ChiRunning  newsletter just had an article about the 'Ball of Foot' strike v. the 'Mid-Foot Strike'; he prefers mid-foot. 

The best strategy is just to listen to your body, since it'll tell you what works.