Don’t get me wrong – I’m very aware that Vibram’s Five Finger shoes look freaky. I nearly refused to run with a friend once who was wearing such a pair – there was no way I was going to be seen dead with someone wearing webbed-feet shoes with all their toes poking out.
But then I was passing a shop in Singapore just last week and saw the barefoot shoes on sale. “I wonder if they’re as comfortable as they say”, I said. So I sneaked in, with only the intention of trying them on. Five minutes later, I had bought a pair. I, the ultimate sceptic, had succumb to the hype of barefoot running.
So why did I hand my money over?
Well, they were just really, really snug. And if I didn’t look down at them, then I could convince myself that they were just an ordinary pair of shoes and not some monster feet. “I’ll just wear them inside the house”, I told myself, knowing that there was absolutely no way I was going to be seen dead wearing them out on the street.
But then I started reading the reviews, so many runners posting online saying why they switched permanently over to wearing Vibram Fivefingers, people with battered knees and torn Achilles and shot ankles throwing their Asics in the bin in favour of Vibram. Now I’ve had my fair share of minor injuries and these days I can’t run more than 10k without feeling a niggle somewhere. So as I get inevitably older, I wonder how I can keep running and avoid the knocked knees and dodgy hips and torn calves that end most people’s running fun.
But still I couldn’t bear the potential embarrassment of being caught outside with them on. So I hatched a cunning plan. I would get up at 6am and go for a run before anyone else was awake enough to notice what I was wearing on my feet.
As I stepped out the door this morning, I tried to act natural, pretending there was nothing strange going on in my footwear department. There were already a few people out already doing their morning exercises, so I decided to not hang around too long.
The instructions say to get used to them slowly, not to do anything too crazy first time around. So I decided to go for a 5k run, two laps around Truc Bach Lake.
I started off very tentatively, waiting for something to hurt. I ran first on the ball of my foot, but soon I found myself landing flat, none of this heel-striking malarkey. It was like I was naturally doing what I was taught during a chi-running course I once went to.
I was also worried about how sore it would be run in 3mm thick soles with obstacles like glass and stone obstacles on the road. But in fact, I only stood once on a pebble. Of course it hurt, but apart from that, the 5k was without painful incident. It was like the author of Born to Run, Christopher McDougall said in the video interview with the New York Times, “I got these special equipment I like to use – they’re called eye balls. So I see a rock, I step next to it”. But what surprised me most was how nice it was to feel the ground underneath my feet. I’m not an airy fairy one by any means, but it was nice to be ‘connected’ to what I was running on.
On the straight tarmac roads, I bounced along quite contentedly. But what was amazing was, when I turned a corner, how much grip I had when changing directions, not just from my soles but from having my toes free to steady me around the bend.
Another amazing discovery with the Vibrams was how light my feet felt. I didn’t have a few hundred grams of gel and fabric laced to my foot like when I’d be wearing my normal running shoes. Instead I felt like I a kid again running barefoot, only this time the thin soles taking away my adult fear of hurting myself underfoot.
I thought that by running barefoot I’d also be considerably slowed down. I reckoned it would make me more cautious and make me take shorter strides. However, my Garmin suggests that I ran considerably faster in them (Warning, gecky info to follow) – today I ran at 5:16 per km pace at an average heart rate of 139. Last week I ran the same run with normal shoes and, with the same heart rate, went at 5:29 per km. Go figure…
And, as for blisters, not a single one. That’s compared to my road running shoes that normally take a month to break in what with blisters on heels, instep, and toes.
After I went running with my friend last year in his Vibrams, his calves hurt considerably the following day. And after my own maiden voyage, I had the same issue. But hey, they were just a little stiff, nothing I can’t get used to with a few more Vibram running outings.
Zola Budd, the barefoot South African runner, was always my hero whilst growing up. Now that I’ve got my Vibram Fivefingers, I now have no excuse but to follow in the footsteps of my childhood icon.
These shoes seem very different and maybe good for health and fitness.
I love my Vibrams. I just stumbled upon your blog and will subscribe (RSS).
Nice post! And cool footwear too. It looks so comfy. I think I am getting one also. And oh by the way, I am lovin your blog. Keep on posting good stuffs!
Hi there, read about these shoes, could someone tell me where in singapore can i buy a pair…really appreaciate that
thanks
I got mine at Heel and Toe at Tanglin Mall – http://www.heelntoe.com.sg/contact.php . They had all types and sizes – http://www.heelntoe.com.sg/vibramshoegallery.php
Interesting post! I run barefoot on beaches and love, love it but with a stack of injuries (ok and some ageing issues!) never thought about road running without Asics. Would be pretty self-conscious too about the VFFs but maybe it’s time for a change! Thanks.
There seems like there’s gathering evidence that barefoot or minimalist footwear is the best way to run injury-free. Just got a load of these links: http://birthdayshoes.com/wiki/index.php?title=Links_to_press_on_barefoot_or_minimalist_footwear_running
And for everything you wanted to know about VFFs, check out this beginner’s guide! http://birthdayshoes.com/wiki/index.php?title=Links_to_press_on_barefoot_or_minimalist_footwear_running
Glad you liked the guide but looks like you pasted the sizing link twice.
So here is the beginner’s guide to Vibram Five Fingers 🙂
Hi Moire,
Great blog, some really good articles. Look forward to your book.I find the VFF KSO to be really comfortable to wear. You can get cold feet in winter due to the lack of insulation from the ground but it’s no big deal. Stoney trails can be a bit difficult. The KSO trek sound better for running. There too modern for Ireland, I keep them for forest runs!
Keep up the blog.
Brian
ps. you should check out “wild trails to far horizons” by Mike Cudahy (1989). Cracking read about a hardcore ultra mountain marathon runner.
I’d agree with you there Brian, not sure about vibrams in the cold and wet and mud and rock. But as you say, its a case of getting used to them or using them just where they’ll fair the best. Don’t know what the irish mountain runners would say though if I turned up to a race wearing them!
Thanks also for the book suggestion. My own book is drafted up and now just seeking publication – that’s an endurance challenge in itself, but I’m sure I’ll find someone who wants to print it eventually. Glad though you like the blog. And keep enjoying the VFF!
Thank you for the shoutout and I’m so glad you finally overcame your skepticism and took the VFF plunge!
Over time, if you wear them out in public, the sense that you’re being stared at for your footwear will go down. Not that you have to wear them around all the time, but I recommend it 🙂
I’m mentioning your review in the latest Vibram Five Fingers reviews today. Thanks for the contribution!
Thanks for the plug. And keep up the good work Justin – you’ve really got a great site there!
Just found your blog today because I have a filter that looks for barefoot running and Five Fingers.
WELCOME to barefoot/minimalist running!!
I’m going to grab your RSS feed and read along as you explore further. But don’t be ashamed of your VFFS. Flaunt them!! LOL
Actually, I bought a second pair that I wear as my everyday shoes now. To work on the subway, at work, etc. Love em!
Take care!
http://www.downtown-runner.com
Hey Bob, thanks for encouragement – I’m still trying to work up the guts to bring them along to my Saturday running group, none of whom are barefoot runners… yet!
Agree though about the second pair – already checking out the KSO Trek – might work as a mountain running shoe, and of course the Bikila. Then I could retire my sprints to make them hang-out shoes… choices, choices.
Nice blog and keep up the training for the half marathon!
Take care,
Moire
Hi Moire,
I found your blog a few months ago and started following because I’m interested in trail and mountain running, and I was really intrigued by your running of the Wicklow Round.
I wanted to comment on this post because I’ve heard so much about minimalist footwear. I haven’t tried Vibram 5-fingers, but I read “Born to Run” last summer and tried barefoot running. It was amazing! I loved the feeling of padding along nimbly. Many happy barefoot (well, almost barefoot) runs to you in your new Vibrams!
Nice hearing from you!
I’ve not read Born to Run yet (going to order it electronically when I get my new Kindle in a few weeks!) but I saw the author interviewed by the New York Times and was pretty impressed by what he said. There’s going to be a new version of Vibram’s out soon specifically designed for running called the Bikila: http://birthdayshoes.com/index.php/five-fingers-bikila-information-resources-2010 . Might be worth a try if you want to get into Vibram.
Enjoy the trails and get well soon!