Barefoot Running

[katluvr]

OMG You guys are right...Kayakshed DOES have the smallest size (which by measurement may still be a smidge longer than my actual foot--but I wanna at least try).

So which is better? Sprint or KSO?
I probabaly will be doing sidewalk, road or grass next to sidewalk. Not many trails, but then again my do the beach??

May I should go for one that fits a bit snugger since my foot is so small.

K

[TsPoet]

OMG You guys are right...Kayakshed DOES have the smallest size (which by measurement may still be a smidge longer than my actual foot--but I wanna at least try).

So which is better? Sprint or KSO?
I probabaly will be doing sidewalk, road or grass next to sidewalk. Not many trails, but then again my do the beach??

May I should go for one that fits a bit snugger since my foot is so small.

K

KSO - I don't have Sprints, but my Treks let a certain amount of sand in. When I run on the trail with sand, I always wear the KSO - sand in VFFs is extra annoying.
But, then you'll need the sprints for the grass/sidewalk, so you'll eventually need both
BTW - the KSO are hard to put on - I've been wearing treks for months and got so used to them that I could just slide them on. Got my KSO and was amazed at how much more difficult they were to put on. If I'd gotten them first, I may have become frustrated and given up!

[Blueberry]

OMG You guys are right...Kayakshed DOES have the smallest size (which by measurement may still be a smidge longer than my actual foot--but I wanna at least try).

So which is better? Sprint or KSO?
I probabaly will be doing sidewalk, road or grass next to sidewalk. Not many trails, but then again my do the beach??

May I should go for one that fits a bit snugger since my foot is so small.

K

If you think the size might still be a smidge long, I'd get the Sprint. They generally run a bit smaller - I do think it might fit you better. If you're getting the KSO, get black - rumor has it they run a big snugger (and I can't get my size on my feet in them, so I think it's true). Or, you could order both and see which one fits better. I think I've heard they will let you return, so long as they aren't worn (but double check...).

By experience with the KSO is that it doesn't really keep sand out. But that's just my experience.

[Jolt]

If you think the size might still be a smidge long, I'd get the Sprint. They generally run a bit smaller - I do think it might fit you better. If you're getting the KSO, get black - rumor has it they run a big snugger (and I can't get my size on my feet in them, so I think it's true). Or, you could order both and see which one fits better. I think I've heard they will let you return, so long as they aren't worn (but double check...).

By experience with the KSO is that it doesn't really keep sand out. But that's just my experience.

The black KSOs do seem a bit snugger! I recently got a pair and they are definitely a little tighter than the others--I was putting it down to them not being broken in yet but maybe there really is a slight difference. Hoping they'll stretch just a bit if I wear them with the Injinjis for a while.

[Becky]

The black KSOs do seem a bit snugger! I recently got a pair and they are definitely a little tighter than the others--I was putting it down to them not being broken in yet but maybe there really is a slight difference. Hoping they'll stretch just a bit if I wear them with the Injinjis for a while.

Huh...maybe that explains why my black KSOs were such a pain to put on at first! They've loosened up nicely, and are really comfortable now.

I had no idea...

[Serendipity]

A recent article - definitely supportive of the barefoot running concept.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/mosl...ste-money.html
The comments are as interesting as the article itself.

I'm still building up time with my VFFs but all of the articles I'm reading certainly make me question everything I've accepted so far about athletic shoes: need the motion control, need the support, need to replace after so many miles, blah, blah, blah.

On another note - has anyone tried the VFF Performa?
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/pro...performa_f.cfm
They look rather funky and may be something that is a little more "dress-up barefoot footwear" - isn't that a mixup of concepts!! Can just imagine the reaction if I showed up at work wearing those one day....

[colby]

On another note - has anyone tried the VFF Performa?
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/pro...performa_f.cfm
They look rather funky and may be something that is a little more "dress-up barefoot footwear" - isn't that a mixup of concepts!! Can just imagine the reaction if I showed up at work wearing those one day....

They look really sleek, but are intended to be indoor-only, so I just can't bring myself to spend money on them (though, reading the description, they do say "primarily indoor" so if you don't really go outside much they might be work-appropriate). The KSO Treks in brown are work-attire acceptable in a similar way - most people don't even notice they have toes until someone points it out, or someone stares at your feet for a while. In comparison it only takes a couple minutes for someone to notice the other models.

I do like the purple color of the performas though. They look comfy. I'd probably feel even more like I was cheating by wearing them.

[TsPoet]

On another note - has anyone tried the VFF Performa?
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/pro...performa_f.cfm
They look rather funky and may be something that is a little more "dress-up barefoot footwear" - isn't that a mixup of concepts!! Can just imagine the reaction if I showed up at work wearing those one day....

I wear mine to work. My boss recently told me that I can't wear them to meetings anymore. Since she speaks to me about 1/year, I guess I have to pay attention to her.
I get lots of comments about them, but living in the West, the dress code is rather casual (unlike when I worked in NC). But, if I still worked out East, I'd still be wearing them.
The Bikila is also out - that's there running-specific version.
http://birthdayshoes.com/more-on-the...catalog-photos

[Serendipity]

They look really sleek, but are intended to be indoor-only, so I just can't bring myself to spend money on them (though, reading the description, they do say "primarily indoor" so if you don't really go outside much they might be work-appropriate).

Agree - that is part of what's holding me back. Our office isn't casual enough for me to wear those regularly; casual Fridays would work though.
Might be good for at-home/running errands and so on.
Hmmmm, maybe.

[OakLeaf]

Something we can all aspire to. Maybe. Or not.

[KnottedYet]

Lots of reports coming out now of barefoot runners (and Vibram runners) getting stress fractures in their metatarsals.

Even the dude who wrote "Born to Run" got one, as did the Vibram research guy Dr. Lieberman.

It's very important to think about the surface you are running on if you are running barefoot!

[Biciclista]

Knot, I just read through the last few pages of this thread, happy to see all the knowledge and wisdom you added to the pages. I'm no runner, but the high incidence of Plantar's Fascitis and the building up of heels and soles of shoes in the last couple decades does not seem to be coincidental. So I'm turning into a shoe maven (who knew) in my search for shoes that protect my feet but allow them to spread and flex naturally..

[KnottedYet]

Knot, I just read through the last few pages of this thread, happy to see all the knowledge and wisdom you added to the pages. I'm no runner, but the high incidence of Plantar's Fascitis and the building up of heels and soles of shoes in the last couple decades does not seem to be coincidental. So I'm turning into a shoe maven (who knew) in my search for shoes that protect my feet but allow them to spread and flex naturally..

I've been all interested in Irish feet lately. (the 2nd metatarsal is longer than the 1st, generally long toes, often the 2nd toe is longer than the 1st toe)

I've kept an informal survey of my foot patients, and far more than half of them have Irish feet (aka Greek feet or Morton's feet or Morton's toe). Irish feet are only 10-20% of the population, so why so many more foot problems? Over the last couple decades shoes have been more and more engineered for the "average" foot, and so have become less and less appropriate for the Irish foot. Over and over again I see very specific injuries with Irish feet, to the point that I've been guessing (based on injury description) what kind of foot the patient has before they even take off their shoes. It's quite the ego trip when I'm right.

I brought the Irish foot/"average" shoe conundrum up to a biomechanical engineer who was doing a seminar on runners and running injuries a couple weeks ago. I told him about my idea to become a millionaire by designing and selling running shoes made for Irish feet. He thought it was a great idea, and said he didn't know of any shoes already out there. (He also agreed that the mis-match between Irish feet and running shoes is pretty bad.)

Anyone got a few zillion dollars laying around the house that they'd like to invest in a new shoe company?

[NbyNW]

Irish foot? Is it more prevalent in Irish people?

Knott, if you manage to design such a shoe I would love to try it!

Maybe if you look around you can find a venture capitalist with an Irish foot who would love to finance your idea.

[KnottedYet]

The history and distribution of that foot type is sooooo cool! I think some of it came up on this thread: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ght=morton%27s

Greeks and Celts had it the most. It was also called the Royal Foot because the ruling Ptolemy gang had it, and passed it along. It's a dominant gene, so the Royal Foot was used as a test to see if someone was really related to the royal families of Europe (descended via the Ptolemies and all those other upper crust folks who interbred so darn much). Claiming to be the long-lost b@st*rd son of the King? Take of your shoe and prove it!

The long 2nd ray foot structure is used in archeology to determine if a Roman-era British burial is of a Roman or of a Celt. Artifacts aren't very reliable because there was so much material exchange, but the foot is!

The statue of Liberty has a Greek/Irish/Celtic/Morton's foot.

Classical Greek statues had long 2nd met feet, Egyptian and Roman statues had long 1st met feet. You can tell if someone was ripping off the statue or style of another artist if the feet were wrong. (like a Roman statue with Greek feet!)

Isn't this stuff just COOL!?!?!