Good:
I like them. Running in the Vibram have added a novelty to an activity I've been doing for twenty years. That part had been much appreciated. During and after a run I can feel different muscles being used in my feet, especially the top. Also I can feel an interesting sensation in my calves and quads. All the books and articles mention this will happen and point out the benefits or running closer to a natural stride.
Bad:
My left achilles tendon was sore after my third outing in the Vibram Five Fingers. Prior to that day, I had slowly worked up to three miles in the shoes. On this day I ran 1 mile on an indoor track, one mile on a treadmill and a mile on the street consecutively. During the run and immediately after all was well. Later in the day while driving I noticed the pain in the tendon. This lingered for a week. I scaled back to only running 1 to 2 mile runs on the treadmill with the Vibrams and longer runs in my regular running shoes.
The Low Down:
I returned to the Vibrams this weekend and ran just shy of five miles on trails and the road. The tension of the back strap pulled a bit on my left tendon, but nothing serious. The run was a good one. I found myself much more attuned to the terrain, not in watching my step, but in feeling the ground as I ran. I liked that. I intentionally ran over gravel. I felt that, too, and didn't like it so much.
In the last half a mile I ran through a patch of grass and my feet got wet. It was beautiful autumn day, 67 degrees when I hit the road, so wet feet didn’t present a problem. The style and fit of the shoe doesn’t lend itself to rubbing a blister like running shoes when they get soaked. As winter approaches the cold will most likely present an issue for me. I bought some five finger socks to prepare for cooler temperatures.
Here’s the final word. I'm in for more miles in the Vibram’s five finger shoes. I must admit, I’m curious how a race will feel in these bad boys.
Run Naturally!
Tom
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