First Run in My Vibram FiveFingers (barefoot shoes)

I just went for my first run in my Vibram FiveFingers. Since it's Christmas, and the conditions outside are pretty harsh (snow/ice/mud), I decided on a short (chi)run. I ended up running 5 km (~3 miles) and loving every minute of it. Sure, it was slippery, wet, cold and muddy,... but I enjoyed every second of it!

Although my toes got a bit numb after a while, and my feet where wet from stepping in big ice-puddles, I was surprised to find my toes in excellent condition when I took them out.

So why run barefoot?

The human foot has 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles and tendons. It's a perfect shock-absorber. Conventional running shoes force you to land on your heel. Whilst the pain of the shock is absorbed by the thick cushioning of the soles, the impact on the knees and hips remains. By running on the mid-foot, the bones and tendons in your feet absorb this shock, you run much lighter and without injuries.

You can get Vibram FiveFingers here.

From the cached version of the most excellent Nature’s Magic Bullet:

Most people, including doctors, have never seen a natural foot, unaltered by footwear. The following images of habitually bare feet are taken from a study performed almost 100 years ago, published 1905 in the American Journal of Orthopedic Surgery, which examined the feet of native barefoot populations in the Philippines and Central Africa. A line can be drawn that runs through the heel, ball, and big toe of a habitually bare foot. The little toes spread naturally and fan out to provide a wide, stable base for walking or standing.

How do our shod feet compare? The following more common image, also taken from the 1905 study, demonstrates feet that are shaped like the owner’s shoes. No such line can be drawn, and the little toes crowd to a point—a comparatively unstable, narrow base for walking or standing.

Watch a video review of the Vibram FiveFingers:

You can get Vibram FiveFingers here.