20 Miles in Vibram 5 Fingers
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 9:27PM 
I've been running in these bad boys for almost a week and definitely have some observations. How could you not, with such a different running platform than the norm?
First off, you better have some barefooting or low heel running background or these babies will shred your calves. I used to run barefoot a lot and that certainly helps.
I mention the above because the shoes are ADDICTIVE. You want to keep wearing them because they feel so strange and fun. They are like soft gloves for your feet with a thin layer of the world's finest rubber on the contact patches. You feel like your feet have been injected with monkey steroids and you can do ANYTHING.
They are light and you can go super fast. For me, the faster I go in them, the better my form gets. It's like you can't go fast in them with bad form. There is so much biofeedback, and it amplifies as you go faster, it makes bad form impossible to do.
I've been alternating runs between them and my old shoes so I can get used to them. Tonight's run may have been the breaking point where I can run in them full time.
Thumbs up so far!
Reader Comments (13)
You took the words right out of my mouth, all the way through your post! I'm at 14 miles for my VFFs and want to keep going, but know better. Calves get a little tight after a few hours still, but the shoes are so dang fun!
I just ran shod for the first time in three months this morning and I found it (a) much less fun, (b) difficult to concentrate on good form without the biofeedback and (c) detached from my run and the ground I was traveling. I kept trying to feel the ground with my toes but the shoes were having none of it.
It's super-fun, but don't get carried away! Metatarsal stress fractures are a real possiblity as your body adapts. If you've done a lot of barefoot running, you may be adapted already, but I'd feel remiss if I didn't mention it.
Aw shucks. I thought your title meant you busted out a 20-miler in them. Try it some time. it's very refreshing.
Thanks for the post/review. I've been thinking for a while now about picking up a pair and shifting to partial "barefoot" running. I try to run on the front of my feet but it's just too awkward in my shoes. Recognizing the learning curve in shifting to barefoot running (been reading up on that lately) I've been waiting for a non-product endorsement/ad write up on these before getting serious.
Joel - If I were you, I'd try them out, but not "seriously" at first. Enjoy, mix it in, hold back a little, and gradually adapt. An all or nothing approach with these might lead to some undesirable results. I'm going the gradual route. :)
Brett -
That's what I was thinking, and the more I read the more it's clear that trying to jump straight to barefoot would be very, very bad. I tend to run heavy - both because I am, and because I pound. When I can focus on my feet and run "forward" it feels much better, but I relax back onto my heels quickly. Now I just need to figure out sizing.
Shoe porn! Love it!
Is their a tougher trail version or would these do ok on trails?
Drew, the simple answer is yes, these will work on trails and there is a trail version. I've used mine, which are the same model, in 2 races: 10k and 8mi. In both races, the five-fingers performed exactly as I had hoped. They allowed my feet to react naturally by allowing more flexibility than typical running shoes do and they provided a thin barrier between my feet and the ground. The thin layer is very important to me because in my part of Texas, there is sharp limestone everywhere. Even the most experience bare-footer would go home crying after running some trails in SA. I did find that the traction was questionable in the five mile race only because it was wet and some of the rocks were slippery; although, I believe that this would have been an issue even if I had a typical pair of trail shoes for the race. Did this answer your question?
I suggest trying the POSE method of running, the whole calves thing goes away running becomes so much easier in these things.
I first heard about these through Steve Runner's podcast, Phedipidations. I was listening to your last episode and they really sound very interesting. I've been running using the Chi method for about a year which has "cured" my form and turned me into a forefoot striking runner. It feels fantastic. I'm looking forward to getting a pair of these and trying them out this summer. Thanks for the review Brett.
Just curious what your thoughts are on Newtons? Their theory is to force running form onto forefoot, similar to barefoot running. Just curious what you think of those shoes in particular because there doesn't seem to be much competition in that market for forefoot running.
Thanks
jordans vibram five fingers vibram boots shoes
air jordan five fingers vibram ugg boots
jordan air five fingers vibram vibram five fingers discount uggs
jordan shoes vibram five five fingers ugg australia boots
retro jordan vibram five fingers vibram five fingers Bikila ugg australia
air force one vibram five fingers sale vibram five fingers running ugg uk
air jordans vibram five fingers classic Vibram Five Fingers Classic winter boots
jordan 1 vibram five fingers flow vibrams five finger shoes fur boots
air force ones vibram five fingers kso Vibram Five Fingers Flow ugg sale
air retro jordan