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I'm another person that's been reading born to run and has got me thinking...
The shoes sound great but like others the cost of the shoe is a little off putting, plus having to drive to Sheffield to try a pair on, does anyone know of any where in the North West selling them?
As far as I know Naked Ape is the only retailer in the North. I'd strongly recommend going for a fitting rather than going down the online route as I think that's why some folks have been getting blister/rubbing issues.Quote:
Originally Posted by hopey
Mine came from;Quote:
Originally Posted by hopey
http://www.lovethoseshoes.com/Range.asp?RangeID=260
based in Stockport.
If you want to buy them online you just have to look up the sizing info on 5fingers official website and read through that, and follow the instructions very carefully, some of the models are sized differently.
I measured myself very successfully with a Stanley Fat max tape. Stick it against the skirting board and put your heel against the skirting. Now with the assistance of a helper, I use my missus for this bit, get them to put something like a place mat, or similar hard object with a decent edge on the tape at the end of the big toe, Step off tape and read measurement, try again with other foot and take the biggest measurement.
I think I did mine in inches as that was what it was on the website, anyway as long as your big toe is bigger than your second toe you shouldn't have too much of a problem with fit.
Failing all that, just go for the cheep option and run barefoot :D
Any room on the bandwagon for me?
Familiar story with me - in the middle of reading Born to Run (having recently read Feet in the Clouds which made me want to take up fell running - am I suggestable or what?) and thought I'd give this 'barefoot' running a go too.
Not willing to fork out £100 for fivefingers or brave the tarmac naked (no large enough friendly grassy areas nearby - just rather uneven and stony fells!) so dropped into Aldi on my way home from work today. Picked up the last two pairs of size 10 aqua shoes (£3.99) whipped out the insoles and away you go!
I'm pretty new to running period (let alone fell running or barefoot running) so wanted to take it easy - maybe just 1/2 a mile to a mile first time out + I've got some lower back pain at the moment. Anyway - ended up doing 2 miles around the block (last 1/2 mile properly barefoot - ouch!). Really enjoyed it - a very different feeling - but boy do my calves ache now! Lots of stretching but I just know I'm going to be hobbling about stiffly in the morning (not concerned as I believe this is normal when you start out) Feels like this sort of running is going to great for my ascending + help stretch out my tight calf muscles.
Having had problems finding a pair of fell shoes that fit my very wide, high arched feet, I now find out they're probably ideally suited to this sort of running :)
Early days - but anyone not willing to fork out for fivefingers (like me) could do worse than pick up some aqua shoes - some people have suggested they won't let your toes spread live the fivefingers but I found it was no problem - your foot spreads naturally (or at least mine does) as it lands, and the soft neoprene uppers just stretch.
I wonder whether I dare send back those brand spanking new road running shoes (still sitting in box) I bought a little while ago while I still can :confused:
Well done Skids, you go for it!
There's a whole network of people out there who are joining in the barefoot/minimalistic approach to running.
Take a look at the links below:
http://runningbarefoot.org/
http://barefootted.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/huaraches
Had my 2nd long run in the 'brams on Sunday, did very stoney trails on the Malverns. Felt fine in calves no probs but feet feel quite pounded, from sharp granite stones on trail, got a few little bruises as well. Feel as though my foot fall might not have been as light as it could have, but still managed a good 9-10 miles.
Definitely toughening up though.
Wore mine to the club again tonight. In terms of fit, no problems at all - my feet were comfortable throughout.
Unlike the last time I wore them when it was a gentle 8 mile trot, tonight was a speed session - pyramid 'sprints' 200, 400, 600, 400, 200 metres off a 200 metre recovery, on a hard off-road surface followed by 3 short sprint hill reps.
I could feel my calves tighten, now I did run Wasdale on Saturday, but my legs felt completely recovered from that, so the question I have is how suitable is barefoot running for speed sessions?
The gentle off road warm up felt great - I really do enjoy running easy in them, but at the end, I did feel I had to rein in the last sprint for fear of pulling a calf.
Is it that you need to avoid speed sessions barefoot, or is it that you need to build up slowly by doing gentle off road runs to get the calf muscles used to the lack of cushioning and heel raising that a traditional shoes offer?
Be interested in views...
Dave.
Could be a bit early to start sprint sessions. The majority of bf runners out there advise that you should start slow, gradually building up the distance and the speed will follow.
The hardest part of bf running is being patiant. If feels so good that you just want to run miles and miles on all types of surfaces, but your body needs time to adapt to the changes.
In theory, once your feet/musculature have adapted, then speed work should be ideally suited to barefooting as the faster you run the more you come up onto your toes. I've put some faster bursts into longer runs and it certainly feels good. I think patience is key especially if you were a heel striker. My only complaint about the Vibrams is grip on wet grass descents.