Newbie’s Review of VFF
2009 November 7 (20:16)
categories: Testimonials, Vibram FF
I’d like to start off by saying I’ve read several of the articles on this site specifically calling running barefoot actually barefoot. I bought a pair of Vibram Five Finger Sprints anyway. Here’s what my experience has been. I know there’s folks who ask about VFF all the time and I thought I’d put my bit in.
I’m not an avid runner. I got a new dog this year that needs a lot of exercise. I started walking her daily; then walking her briskly daily; and eventually running daily with her. It was during the “walking briskly” phase that I read Chris McDougall’s book Born to Run. I was having pain in my feet and heels and wanting to know why. After reading his book (and finding this site) I decided to just chuck the shoes and start running.
Over the course of the last 30 – 40 days I’ve run almost every day barefoot (skin on ground) for about 65 miles. I run pretty slow at about 12:30 min/mi. It took me several reads of the How To Run article and I finally got to where I was mostly running without blisters. Running every day made it hard for blisters to heal before my next run, but my feet were in pretty good shape by the end of this week.
I was slated to run my first 5k this weekend. The temperature has been dropping and the race was scheduled for fairly early in the morning. I really wanted to do well; particularly since several of my friends knew I had been running barefoot and I felt pressure to represent. On Friday morning, the day before the race, I got up to run and it was 31F. The ground was cold. I was so distracted by the cold that my foot placement was all wrong and after just a few miles my feet were hurting pretty bad from hot spots. Despite the warnings about putting stuff between my feet and the ground, I felt like I needed something for the cold.
So I went and bought a pair of Vibram Five Finger Sprints. The good news is the race went very well. I ran faster than I’ve ever done any of my daily runs by several minutes (32 minutes for my first 5k down from my usual pace of about 38 minutes). When I got home from the race, I still hadn’t run the dog so I did another 4.5 miles with her for a big 7.5 miles for the day. Without the VFF there’s no way I could have run that far or that fast. So it sounds like a win, right?
I’m not so sure. First, I could tell that my running was sloppy. I just didn’t have the feedback I needed to make sure my feet were landing right or picking them up right. My form was OK. Certainly better than anything I could have done in “shoes”. I don’t know if it was really the lack of immediate feedback or just that the VFF kept me from having tight control over my feet. Second, having the Vibram protection on my feet was also a bit disturbing. After just a month of running, I had gotten used to feeling the ground; more than I thought. It was actually a bit disconcerting to not feel the ground. I felt like I was just plowing through whatever was on the ground without a second thought. A couple times I looked down to see I was standing/running through some pretty trashy stuff — and I hadn’t noticed. That may be a good thing, but I don’t think so. I think it’s probably better to know where your feet are.
The moral of the story is that I’ll keep wearing the VFF through the Winter. I live in Ohio and I really do think I need something to protect my feet from the cold. I don’t have the luxury of running year round in mild climates. Having the VFF takes the apprehension out of getting up in the morning to run. It also gives my wife some peace of mind as well. She’s a little freaked by my running barefoot. However, I feel like come Spring I’ll take these VFF off and run as God intended: skin on the earth.
Comments
Comment
from Doug
Time 2009 November 10 Tue at 4:42 am
So I’ve gotten a few more runs in with the VFF. My reaction is still mixed. My runs are “easier” (and by easier I mean I come home with less direct pain in my feet) and thus it’s easier to motivate myself to get out of bed early and go run. However, I think I’ve pinpointed what bothers me about running in the VFF.
First, it’s easier to push off with your toes. As we know, when running barefoot you’re supposed to lift your foot. With the VFF there’s no real pain from pushing off. Second, it’s hard to know if I’m landing on the ball of my foot with my toes lifted or if they are just flat. The vibram sole is flat and wants to stay that way. Lifting your toes in the VFF takes a tad more energy than actually barefoot.
These two aspects of the VFF are the two leading causes I’ve found of blisters when running really barefoot. So, I think switching back to barefoot will be tricky after running in these for a while. Also, I can really see why BKB says these aren’t a good transition tool from shod to barefoot. The VFF doesn’t really help you run correctly. On the plus side, I can run in the VFF (even if a little wrong) and come home without any foot pain. Maybe that’s all that matters in the end.
Comment
from Doug
Time 2009 November 10 Tue at 4:46 am
Yea, I read some of the other post about running barefoot in Winters with snow. I also saw some of the photos of frostbitten toes! Yikes! My schedule is such that I really have to run in the morning. With it getting cold out in the mornings I was dreading running more and more. Now with my VFF I don’t dread running in the cold. To me there are a couple important goals: 1) run; 2) enjoy running. Prior to the VFF, being barefoot in the cold was causing me to miss both goals.
Comment
from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 2009 November 10 Tue at 10:57 am
Doug,
Basically, when the weather starts warming up, and you start running barefoot (without the Vibrams), just remember to start at the beginning, short, slow, focus on improving technique (again), and realize that you should be able to do this seasonal transition much quicker than your original transition to running barefoot. You just need to take a little time, to let your bare soles remind you, and to recondition (both of which should be relatively shorter and shorter times).
When I lived in northern lower Michigan (the first 24 years of my life) I did the same thing (except we didn’t have Vibram Five-Fingers). I ran in shoes (light-weight, thin soled) during the winter, and start barefooting again in the spring. Some folks need the constant reminders of actually being barefoot, to keep them honest with their running technique.
You seem, from your writings, to be reflective, and paying close attention to how you are running, even while wearing the Vibrams – so I doubt you will have any big problems running in minimalist shoes during the cold winter, and making seasonal transitions each year.
Comment
from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 2009 November 10 Tue at 11:05 am
Doug,
About the frostbitten toes, Rick was experimenting where most of us had never gone before – testing his limits, and he obviously found them, during his first year running barefoot through the winter…
But, keep in mind, Rick has since run barefoot through several winters without frostbite… There is an important lesson there, and it would be wise to take advantage of the sacrifices Rick invested – to save the rest of us having to learn the hard way.
It is possible, even fun, to run in the snow. Just don’t do too much, too soon, and like you, I would keep it within my comfort range – maybe get my feet toasty warm, then quickly run outside, maybe one or two blocks, and return back to the warmth of home.
Comment
from Doug
Time 2009 November 10 Tue at 7:44 pm
Thanks for the comments, Ken. I appreciate your site and the wealth of information here. For the first time in years and years I’m enjoying running to run and not just forcing myself to exercise.
Comment
from rick_b
Time 2009 November 11 Wed at 6:40 am
Doug, Great post! I had started running barefoot this summer but its getting cold (as you stated) here in PA. I decided to bite the bullet and get the VFF KSO’s. Yesterday was my first run and I agree, it is easier to run, and the feedback is not nearly as good as barefoot. I could easily slip out of the form i worked to develop over the past few months.
That being said…I have also put my running shoes back on a couple times and couldn’t bear it! The VFF’s I think are going to get me through the winter, and although they are not perfect, they seem to be pretty close.
Thanks for posting your review!
Comment
from grumpy
Time 2009 November 12 Thu at 10:24 pm
I looked at the VFF at REI. I found they are hard to put on and restrict my toe movement. And … they’re expensive.
Instead, I went to Sports Authority and bought a pair of water socks for $10. I bought them a little big so my feet and toes have plenty of room to move and flex.
They work great on the treadmill at the gym (the gym won’t let me run barefoot).
But more importantly, they work great outside. I did a four mile run in them (outdoors) yesterday, all on concrete. Then I did a fifth mile barefoot. My feet are only a little sore, but I’ve only been at the barefoot running thing for two months.
If you have to wear some footwear due to gym regulations or the cold, I highly recommend cheap water socks over the more expensive and restrictive VFFs.
Write a comment
You need to login to post comments!
Comment from Barefoot Tavis
Time 2009 November 9 Mon at 11:26 am
My wife is freaked out, too, but mostly because the soles of my feet are filthy after every run (and walk, since I walk everywhere barefoot except for work and church.) I get the same concerns voiced from friends:
“What about glass??? You could really hurt yourself!”
“But it’s winter now! You’re going to get sick all the time!” (I live in Los Angeles; Ohio summers are like our winter.)
“Your feet are filthy! You can’t come to bed like that!”
I recommend reading some of the other posts here by our fellow BF runners in the Netherlands and other areas of the world that actually get a real winter, like with snow, who are still running barefoot in the slush and ice.
We Southern Californians may not experience that, ever, but it sure sounds fun