Quote Originally Posted by ginny View Post
VFF KSO: okay, girls... since I saw this thread this morning, I have been looking at these shoes. I have been running nearly every day since I was 13 - I am 34 now. In the past couple of years, age or gravity or something has snuck up on me, and I have really noticed things coaches have been telling me my whole life. That is, one leg is a fair bit longer than the other. I (apparently) compensate in my pelvis. I also pronate fairly severely. I did, however live barefoot the entire time I lived aboard a sailboat. I don't remember any aches or pains then (I was a fair bit younger though). I enjoy running long distance in the high country... so, whaddya think? Should I give these shoes a try? I mean, if I can't run in them, at least I can wear them around and about... I hear they stink (as do all cool shoes ... chacos), anyone have a solution for this? I work in a lab. It is feasible that I could wear them to work if I can control the stink... What do you think about this leg length issue? About the pronation? I think I'll buy them anyway - if I can't run terribly long distance in them, at least I can pretend I live aboard again
As far as the leg length issue, it seems to me that it could be compensated for by how much you bend your knees, but I'm not an expert on that type of issue--maybe someone with a background in PT etc. could speak to this. The pronation, from what I understand, tends to be less of an issue when barefoot or in minimal shoes because of the difference in how your foot contacts the ground (as was said earlier in the thread, heel-first running barefoot would be really unpleasant). The VFFs certainly can stink after wearing them for a while, but they can be washed in the washing machine and air-dried. Another thing that is helpful for getting rid of the "funk" is soaking them overnight in a vinegar/water solution and then rinsing thoroughly. Wearing Injinji socks/toe socks also helps keep it from getting bad as quickly.