Quote Originally Posted by Dru View Post
I read Born to Run last week and felt like I'd been whacked over the head with a plank of wood re the crapness of built up running shoes. I have since tried 2 x 10 minute runs on a treadmill in just socks. To be honest it hurt like hell (ankles & calves) but I am keen to try it out in full so drove to Sheffield today to buy some Five Fingers KSO (from Naked Ape).

I followed the sizing guide on the USA website and thought I'd need a 39 or 40. The 39 was a tiny bit tight on the right toes so I got the 40 and have been wearing them around the house for a few hours. They are dead comfy and I'm suprised by how little I notice having my toes separated.

I'll try a short run outside in them tomorrow and I hope they prove worth the money (£80!). Incidentally, the shop assistant in Naked Ape was very knowledgable about fit etc as he wears them himself. He reckons they are selling like hot cakes and every spare inch of the shop was stacked with boxes of them so I believe him. Haven't ever seen anyone wearing them though and also wouldn't dare show up at running club in mine.
To run in Five's requires the ability to run barefoot. Because most of us have had our feet in casts (very supportive shoes) our muscles and ligaments are very weak - including our ankles. My journey to run barefoot, because of constant injury (i'm a big guy who loves to run), has been over three years. When ever I have thought I could push past pain - common runner thing to do, I have injured myself and found myself icing my feet for the next six weeks. Go slow and listen to your body. If it hurts, your technique is wrong. Ease into it. I carried my shoe with me for the first six months. Each time going longer and longer before I put my shoes back on, and then "hey I don't need them." But it has definitely been a journey. Much information can be found at barefootrunner.org, and barefootted.com. I studied much here.

One other thing. You do not have to be a purist. Sometimes I think those in the BF community are like those Vegans who used to be Carnivores. The diet works for them, and then the next thing you know it becomes a religion and they freak out. Please don't get me wrong, I am a religious man, but not about running BF, or eating veggies.

One of the best Utramarathoners in the world now trains a few days each week barefoot, but dons the shoes for the rest of his regime.

If you are serious about improving your running, BF can be a great tool. Be wise and prudent, relax and have fun.

Regards,

Michael Carroll
redrocksbluesky.com