Are you ready for barefoot running ?

The excitement of the 2012 London Olympics is draining all my energy in writing the blog. This is in addition to long runs I have been doing lately. The last Sunday run was 26.5km. Have to cut short the 0.5km so that I can finished in front of 7 Eleven and walk in to buy a can of 100plus. Never knew a can of 100plus can taste so good after a very long run.

Vibram Five Fingers Seeya

Back to barefoot running. When did I start venturing into it. I was running in traditional running shoes, a Brooks Ghost 2, during my last half marathon. Those shoes with a lot of cushioning which does give me a problem with my hips on long runs. An accidental visit to my client's premise brought an awareness to the Vibram Five Fingers. The Vibrams just look so different from other shoes. So try it on but could not get the size that I wanted. So I contacted a friend of my mine in KL and he managed to get me a pair that I wanted when he is back to Penang. The Vibrams Five Fingers Treksport.

The first two weeks is learning all about running barefoot and minimalist shoes. A complete change in the running form where you have to do forefoot strike rather than a heel strike. But with a new pair of shoes and a new running form there is just so much to learn about running. It also rekindle my passion for running. And then it comes the book, "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall. My initial weeks I practice the new pair of Vibrams all on the treadmill. It is actually fun. It is like you are a new runner again.

Eventually I still have to bring the shoes for the long runs on the road. But I do not have pain on the hips during the long run. The pain is on the heel. Probably I was doing some heel striking in the initial stages. So I just to press on to change my running form. Running in the Vibrams really makes you feel the road which means feeling the pebbles and everything on the road. So you really have to concentrate on what you are stepping on. The Trekspot already has a bit more protection than the other Vibrams but you can still really feel the road. After running in it for about two months, I got used to it. But the pain in the heel is still there if I do my long runs. You will feel it especially in the morning when you wake up. The solution is to do calf stretching after the runs and early in the morning. It will normally goes away after a day or two depending on the distance of your runs. I have also try icing it after a long run. After a few months, I can manage without icing it. The stretching however is a must after the long runs and in the morning.

After running in the Vibrams for six months and over 700km, the Vibrams finally has a hole on the toes which means I cannot used it for road running. It will cause blisters if I try running in it. I should have two pair of running shoes instead of one pair since I have been running a lot preparing for the marathon. This is to allow me to alternate the shoes and if one wear off I have still another pair to do my training.

Vibram Five Fingers Treksport

Have to look for a new pair of shoes then. Another Vibram ? I really like the look of their new model, Seeya which really have no protection and it is more like socks than shoes. Called up my friend in KL again but he does not have stocks for the colour of the shoes that I wanted. He says it will take two weeks to come. Unfortunately, I cannot stop my training for two weeks of without a pair of running shoes. I just have to shop for a new pair !!

Took the whole Saturday afternoon then looking for a new pair of minimalist running shoes in Queensbay Mall. Virtually visited all sport stores and looking at all brands of minimalist running shoes. Finally, settle for the Merrell Trail Gloves. A trail running shoe which I wanted to use for both road running and trail running. Killing two birds with one stone ! The Merrell Trail Glove is also minimalist shoes for barefoot running and the soles of the shoes are actually make by Vibrams but it has a bit more cushioning than my previous shoes and it does not show your five toes. So you will not catch that much attention with this pair of shoes as compared to the Vibram Five Fingers. I run in it for two weeks and my verdict is I love running in it after a few runs. A bit more cushioning but it is fine. The negative point is that the feel of the road is not that good as compared to the Vibrams. But you have a bigger toe box which is rather comfortable.

Merrell Trail Glove

So I have managed to transition to barefoot running after a few months. Starting off slowly and just keep running on it. I do not think I will be able to run in those cushioned shoes again. I try running in my old pairs of Brooks which just throw out my new running form. So you will be ready for barefoot running if you give it a try.

Will probably update this post when I start trying out my new Vibram Five Fingers Seeya which I just received today...as my second pair of running shoes..