Barefoot Running

[KnottedYet]

This is too cute: http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/pro...rma_jane_f.cfm I think they must have just come out...
.

I waaaaaant! Too bad my feet don't fit in VFFs!

[colby]

Try this site -
http://birthdayshoes.com/

They have an email alert that you can sign up for, and they will send you alerts on when online stores have the VFF's in stock. Very cool feature. FWIW, try checking citysports.com as that is usually the place that has 'em.

vbsports.com is where I got a couple of pairs (and kayak shed, already mentioned)

[Bike Chick]

Thanks everyone. I found a pair at Massey Outfitters from the birthday shoes site-----thank you nscrbug. They are ordered. I can't wait to get them and try them out.

[KnottedYet]

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/pro...s_bikila_f.cfm

Wow, 7 mm of sole. That's a thicker sole than the Asics Tigers we wore (back in the day) in track. Much, much thicker than training or racing flats. That's nearly as thick (11 mm) as the industry standard for modern running shoes at the forefoot. That is almost certainly thicker than the soles of the shoes Abebe Bikila wore when he broke his barefoot record for the marathon.

At that point, what is the point? I guess the toe spread is nice. But this is a loooooong way from running barefoot!

They have an appeal, but honestly, there are much cheaper ways to get the same sole.

[colby]

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/pro...s_bikila_f.cfm

Wow, 7 mm of sole. That's a thicker sole than the Asics Tigers we wore (back in the day) in track. Much, much thicker than training or racing flats. That's nearly as thick (11 mm) as the industry standard for modern running shoes at the forefoot. That is almost certainly thicker than the soles of the shoes Abebe Bikila wore when he broke his barefoot record for the marathon.

At that point, what is the point? I guess the toe spread is nice. But this is a loooooong way from running barefoot!

They have an appeal, but honestly, there are much cheaper ways to get the same sole.

Yeah, some people run in them and don't like them - you lose some of the "feel" of running minimalist/"barefoot".

However, for me, they are still very different from shoes - running in the FiveFingers isn't just about running barefoot to me - I don't think I can run truly barefoot where I am and how I run/train, but I have not been able to find shoe-shoes that work. They are formed to my feet, my toes are not squashed, they are... simple. The shoes don't get in the way of how I run. BUT... I think other people accomplish that in actual shoes (and safer). I guess some people take the barefoot thing literally/to the extreme, but I'm just enjoying the product that has come out of it.

The Bikilas don't feel as thick as shoes, even racing flats. Maybe it's just more subtle. They are definitely significantly stiffer than the KSOs. They don't spec the KSOs in the same way as the Bikila, but it looks like it's about twice as much thickness of the sole in some places. That said, 4mm is still a pretty significant difference. I guess we'll see.

[KnottedYet]

I would love to know how they compare to running in Asics Tigers. Similar sole thickness, similar upper, similar minimalist design (except for the toe pockets).

Not quite sure about why they are named Bikila, since he ran faster in shoes. But I guess running once barefoot made him a "barefoot" legend, even though running barefoot wasn't his choice (there were no shoes at the race start for him).

Anybody willing to buy a pair of Asics Tigers instead and give me the remaining $65?

I can certainly see the advantage to an unfettered toe area, but with 7mm sole, I just can't stand seeing all the chat and barefooter opinion sites calling running in Bilkilas "barefoot running".

They are shoes. It is SHOD running. No different than running in any other SHOE. Shoe, shoe, shoe!

(I'm sorry, but it really gets up my nose. I'm ranting at all those "barefooter" sites, not TE. VFF are shoes. Bikilas are really thick soled shoes. We need a new word for the younger generation to use for running in shoes of a thickness that all us older folks ran in for years and years, besides "barefoot". Cuz it ain't barefoot.)

[colby]

I can certainly see the advantage to an unfettered toe area, but with 7mm sole, I just can't stand seeing all the chat and barefooter opinion sites calling running in Bilkilas "barefoot running".

They are shoes. It is SHOD running. No different than running in any other SHOE. Shoe, shoe, shoe!

(I'm sorry, but it really gets up my nose. I'm ranting at all those "barefooter" sites, not TE. VFF are shoes. Bikilas are really thick soled shoes. We need a new word for the younger generation to use for running in shoes of a thickness that all us older folks ran in for years and years, besides "barefoot". Cuz it ain't barefoot.)

I have heard it called "minimalist" - and considering that term generally includes the Nike Frees, I don't see why it wouldn't include flats like the Tigers, too. It's definitely NOT barefoot, but good luck with the vocabulary change.

[Jolt]

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/pro...s_bikila_f.cfm

Wow, 7 mm of sole. That's a thicker sole than the Asics Tigers we wore (back in the day) in track. Much, much thicker than training or racing flats. That's nearly as thick (11 mm) as the industry standard for modern running shoes at the forefoot. That is almost certainly thicker than the soles of the shoes Abebe Bikila wore when he broke his barefoot record for the marathon.

At that point, what is the point? I guess the toe spread is nice. But this is a loooooong way from running barefoot!

They have an appeal, but honestly, there are much cheaper ways to get the same sole.

I agree...isn't the point to have a nice thin flexible sole so you can feel the ground? Even the newer KSOs that I got recently seem to have a thicker/stiffer sole than the first pair I had, and I'm not so happy about that. They're still a good shoe, but I would have preferred it if they had kept the original thinner sole.

[berkeley]

There are some big differences between the VFF Bikila and other running shoes... having worn them now in rotation with my Brooks adrenaline (which are support/control sneakers), I can say that they are significantly lighter, have way more flexibility and there is no difference between the heel-toe drop which makes it a very different foot strike for me.

The Brooks Adrenaline sole is pretty significant, too and the VFFs are way thinner.

In the end, I don't really care what anyone calls VFFs, barefoot running, minimalist running, whatever...I wear them because they're comfortable.

[Grog]

I was in a 10K road race yesterday and I saw a man who did the race barefoot. Not with 5-fingers or Nike Free. Barefoot.

[Trek420]

We saw a guy doing our half-marathon barefoot. He was in the butt-end of the pack, way back with the slow folks like us. He had a t-shirt on advertising a barefoot running site.

[colby]

I saw a dude at the half marathon I did over Memorial Day weekend running barefoot, too. He was toward the middle to the back of the pack. He looked happy, though.

I definitely know several folks have ran the Seattle Marathon barefoot, as at least one or two have passed me every year over the last few years. Brave, considering it's mostly concrete. I will have to decide whether I stick with it this year in ye olde Fivers, the concrete was bad enough with full shoes on.

Have not wore my Bikilas for a run, I decided I was too afraid to introduce something new before Ironman. So, it'll be the KSOs.

[Jones]

Yesterday, I ran the "World Famous Mud Run" and saw 3 people running in VFF's and one lady running barefoot. I briefly spoke to each of them and they loved thier VFF's and the lady running barefoot said it was her second Mud Run barefoot and loves it. I wish I could of weighed my shoes when I took them off because they were so caked with mud, filled with sand and soaking wet that I am sure they weighed several pounds each and I wished I was barefoot.

[katluvr]

They finally arrived. I am sitting here in my new VFFs, the sprint. I got the smallest pair they have and they do fit my tiny feet. I must admit it feels weird to have all my toes surrounded. Actully my toes feel "trapped" (Mind you I prefer flip flops) And I cannot imagine running in these (yet), since they are very thin on bottom. So does anyone run on pavement in sprints? are the KSO's any thicker on bottom? I know I should start on soft surfaces and I will.
Anyway I now have VFFs and we shall see how it goes!
(The smallest size comes in that pinkish/lavender, oh well!)

K

[colby]

They finally arrived. I am sitting here in my new VFFs, the sprint. I got the smallest pair they have and they do fit my tiny feet. I must admit it feels weird to have all my toes surrounded. Actully my toes feel "trapped" (Mind you I prefer flip flops) And I cannot imagine running in these (yet), since they are very thin on bottom. So does anyone run on pavement in sprints? are the KSO's any thicker on bottom? I know I should start on soft surfaces and I will.
Anyway I now have VFFs and we shall see how it goes!
(The smallest size comes in that pinkish/lavender, oh well!)

K

I have ran briefly in my sprints, and will ironically be using them for sprint triathlons this summer. I don't know that the KSOs are that much thicker, maybe by 1mm? They don't feel a whole lot different to me. I run mostly asphalt, some concrete, and then trails at a distant third. Give yourself time to get used to it. I still find it weirder to walk in them than to run.

Some people are definitely weirded out between the toes. Maybe on the days you aren't wearing the five fingers you should try toe socks to adjust to the feeling.