Vivo Barefoot!

Finally on Saturday the Vivo Barefoot Dharma’s arrived and they are awesome! They are the most comfortable shoe I have ever put my foot in. Actually it’s more like, they are the most comfortable shoe that has ever been built to go around my foot! They are instantly comfortable, there is no breaking in period, since I got the right size you just put them on your feet and go, they are ready for action out of the box. Even though they are a dressier shoe, I’m going to wear them everywhere, which is something I would never do with the typical shoes I buy for work. I already started changing out my shoe collection. Sold 3 pairs on ebay already, and as I figure out alternatives for each of the remaining shoes, they will all be getting swapped out to a barefoot equivalent.

The Obvious Next Step

After experiencing the freedom of the fivefingers it's just downright dispicable putting my feet back in regular heel strike shoes.  So I got some Terra Plana Vivo Barefoot Dharma's on order, these shoes are a regular looking shoe except the sole is flexable and only 3mm thick.  Also the toe area is really wide so you're toes can spred out.  The Dharmas are a nice dressy leather shoe I can wear to work with no problem.  Still going to have to keep my steel toes at my desk, but overall I won't have to wear them very often.  Just ordered them today, won't be here until mid next week.  I ordered them from Born To Run in Washingon.  Barefoot Ted's retail store.

First Fivefinger Barefoot Run

Since our feet have been boxed in miniature coffins their whole life it's no surprise to learn that all the muscles in your foot have atrophy and are no where near strong enough to walk or run barefoot for very long.  Pretty all the information I've read or watched on YouTube says to start slow and build up slowly.  This is one reason I've been just walking around in them for the past week (besides being sick)  tonight I went out for the first run and it was awesome!  At least for the 3 blocks that I was able to run, then I walked home.  If you think this sounds like I'm a wimp, then go get your own pair tough guy (or gal)!  I didn't overdo it buy my feet and calves are sore today, I definately pushed them hard enough.  this will pretty much be the plan for the next month before I will have any feet strength to run/walk much further -I hope I progress faster but it's unlikely you can only do some much so fast.

It was incredible though, I also noticed that when I have to put on my clunky big heel work shoes, that I can feel/hear the heal strike in my ears when I walk.  YES, I'M SERIOUS, the impact to your heel bone resonates all the way to your skull, where you can feel/hear it!  I don't have any proof, but I'm almost positive this is why so many people need knee replacements when they get older...!?

In the next photos I tried to capture what your toes almost immediatly start doing, and thats fanning out to create a stronger base.  I suggest going to YouTube and watch some videos, I found a few where seasoned runners "flex" their toes and they have a nice wide base.  Very cool when you think about the biomechanics of it and how a wider toe base increases your stability.  Very sad when you think about how today's shoes jam your toes together.  Here's the photos where I've tried to show how wide my toes want to be after running compared to the shoes I usually put them in.