Skip to main content

Sprints in my vibrams

Tuesday lunchtime I did some sprints in the new vibram five fingers that I bought on Saturday. It was a jog down to the park and then 3 x 30 second sprints with long rests - about 3 minutes to recover. The a hard 15 sec one to finish me.

Really enjoyed it and it forced a good style - movnat / pose ish.

My big problem was self consciousness. The shoes make you look like a bit of a wanker. I was really aware of some funny looks as I left the office.

I could feel it in my feet the next day too. Not injured but worked.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Comments

Steven Sashen said…
Wait until you experience the looks you get when those things start to SMELL.

;-)
June 2, 2011 at 1:44 AM
Methuselah said…
People eventually manage to wrap their heads around the shoes. I've been wearing mine to the office and pretty much everywhere for a couple of years and I no longer pay any attention to people who stare. Initially it pissed me off and could not understand the apparent inability to grasp the concept. Now I just find it interesting to get an insight in to what it's like to have something wrong with you that you can't help, like a birthmark. A lot of people assume that I am wearing them for medical reasons.
June 2, 2011 at 4:03 AM
Alex said…
I think they look totally idiotic and do my best not to wear them around others. They work, though, and I now won't wear anything else (except nothing, which looks even weirder) for running or hiking. I've gone from having pancake-flat feet to nicely formed arches in about two years of intermittent running in them, and my shin splints are totally gone.
June 2, 2011 at 6:22 AM
Dustin said…
I do feel a bit silly in mine, though they are fun to use. The smell can get pretty bad.

I find the Merrell Trail Gloves to be lots better for most uses. Look normal. Still pretty minimalist. Easier to put on. Don't smell. Ever so slightly more protection for things like runing where lots of small rocks are present.
June 2, 2011 at 6:29 AM
Chad said…
I agree with Dustin. I have both and use both for different reasons! Don't worry about the looks, they subside. Then people start asking you why you wear them...let the education begin!
June 2, 2011 at 9:45 AM
Anonymous said…
Yup they make you look like a total wanker. I sure wouldn't wear them into the weight room at the gym, somebody might drop a plate on your foot out of general principal.

Might as well take a sharpie and print "I'M A DORK" on your forehead.
June 2, 2011 at 9:49 AM
Asclepius said…
Although I still use my V5Fs when indoors, much of my outdoor stuff is now done barefoot.

Whilst V5Fs may draw reactions which place you at the wanker/douche end of the spectrum, barefooting garners reactions ranging from sympathy based upon some 'imagined hardship such that you cannot afford footwear', to feelings that you are 'probably mentally unstable/retarded'.
June 2, 2011 at 1:16 PM
Ben Exton said…
I agree with Chad's comment of there different uses but anyone worried about their looks as opposed to their functionality probably doesn't understand health and how to train optimally. Comments like the one from anonymous above just confirm the people out there who can;t think for themselves.
June 2, 2011 at 4:30 PM
mdill68 said…
I love my Vibrams been wearing them for about 2 1/2 years now. No shin splints, no running injuries, but you definitely have to be careful starting out in them. Typically peoples achilles are chronically shortened from wearing regular shoes for their whole life. As for wierd looks don't be self-conscious explain them to people and if they smell wash them or get socks for them!
June 4, 2011 at 6:29 PM
Anonymous said…
Yes...they do make you look like a wanker. However, you are in good company. In the last year, I've worn mine in the UAE, Morocco, France, Spain, Germany, Finland, USA, Colombia, Thailand, Australia, Belgium, and of course the UK. In each and every country, my wankerness is easily read on the faces of those around me...but who really cares? We get it...
June 9, 2011 at 11:34 AM
Anonymous said…
Haha, I dont know what would get you more funny looks, vibrams or barefoot. I decided against vibrams and went back to going barefoot all the time, only place i ever where shoes now is in work, because i have to. I get some funny and flabbergasted looks on the streets of Glasgow LOL.
July 4, 2011 at 4:30 PM
chris said…
I too wear vibrams and you kind of get used to the weird looks. If it bothers you too much though there are plenty of minimalistic shoes that function the same as vibrams but look normal. I know nike and new balance recently put out minimalistic shoes.
August 19, 2012 at 12:41 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dry January

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I was taking part in "Dry January".  I didn't make a big song and dance about it, but I decided to go for a calendar month or so with no alcohol.  A few people have asked me about my experience, so here are a few points. Why take a break from drinking? Alcohol is an interesting topic.  As a drug it is widely accepted in society, central to so much of our socialising and leisure.  There seem to be lots of health benefits - so we are told - yet there are also a lot of problems in terms of health, relationships and lifestyle that come from drinking. Over a few years I'd begun to become aware and then concerned that I was drinking too much and too regularly.  I am in a busy and stressful job and sometimes a glass of wine after work to relax is really helpful.  But over time, one glass became two.  Two glasses became ....I might as well finish the bottle.  A habit got established....and was starting to get too e...
7 comments
Read more

So where have I been?

You will have noticed that this blog has been quiet for a while....  There are a few reasons for that, reasons that I thought I'd list here: WORK -  my day job has been incredibly busy and stressful this year. Working 10-14 hour days the last thing on my mind when I got home was putting something on here.  FACEBOOK/TWITTER - I suppose I've been using other channels to do some of what I used to do here. Quick fire posts pointing to interesting studies or news etc tend to get posted to Twitter (@chrishighcock) or to the Facebook Hillfit group http://www.facebook.com/groups/263083947097000/  REASSESSMENT - I've found myself less comfortable with some of the positions I've taken in the past. Sometimes I'm embarrassed by some of the things I've promoted. I'm not Paleo or low carb. I think Tabata and intervals are misunderstood and misapplied. I cannot really claim to be HIT.   I find myselfunable  honestly to post things on here and pretend that I am some sort o...
12 comments
Read more

Taking up space for a brief update

I've a couple of posts in draft that I will get up soon -  an update / reflection on Dry January and some thoughts on the scheduling benefits of short workouts if your life is busy.  Before that though, I am pointing to something else. However, I wanted to highlight something that is coming this weekend that I've been involved in.   Amber Rogers (Gokaleo and author of Taking Up Space ) has been pulling together a bundle of books from various authors with a common theme, one that I've been pushing here recently.   Keep it simple, avoid the hype, be patient, be consistent and flee the gurus.   I've talked before about how we get obsessed with pushing for more and more, when enough is OK.  I've given my view that so much of the health and fitness internet world is more like a gnostic religion than something that will benefit your life. There are other voices out there saying similar things and I'll be pointing to a bundle of books later this week ...
1 comment
Read more