Product Review- Vibrams FiveFingers

My guest blogger is my beloved cousin, Connie.  She has been running for 2 years now.  Fairly new to running, she has embraced the sport with enthusiasm and insight.  Here is her review of the Vibram FiveFingers:  

As runners out there know, the type of  shoes used is very important.  Chi runners advocate for shoes that allow for better balance and give you the most flexibility for a mid-foot strike.  Since majority of running shoes focus on shock absorption for heel strikers, it became challenging to find shoes that did not have a lot of that shock technology.

I wanted something light, malleable, and without a thick padding around it.  I considered Newtons, but they were outrageously expensive.  Then I discovered the five-finger shoe after reading "Born To Run" .  When I read the chi runners blog a few days ago, Vibram FiveFingers was listed among the shoes recommended, as well.

Intrigued, I tried it on the next time I was at a running shop.  It was a challenge putting it on- slipping every single toe into the proper slot.  But as soon as I looped the strap around my foot and took a few steps, I was hooked! I bought the Vibram KSO model in black (yes, they do look like gorilla's feet).

"As soon as I looped the strap around my foot and took a few steps, I was hooked!" 

 

TEST RUN
I woke up earlier than usual, excited to run on the treadmill with the Vibram.  I gingerly put the shoe on, taking the time to fit each toe into the shoe (after a few times it becomes easier, as I was told at the running store).  I walked around the house for a few minutes, then performed my warm-up exercise.  I got on the treamill and began walking to further warm-up.  Man, this is easy, I thought.  I was walking faster and lighter.  There was a slight tightness at first (I thought the shoe was a size smaller for me), then it eventually disappeared as the shoe began to stretch during my warm-up walk.

I increased the speed on my treadmill and begun running.  I controlled my speed as I observed the different sensations I was feeling.  My feet landed on the treadmill with more balance.  My ankles were not wobbling and I was lifting my heel higher because my feet felt lighter.  Midway through my usual run, I noticed that I was not breathing as heavy.  My breathing was actually closer to my normal breath.   I was not feeling tired like I normally would during this point of my run!  When I entered the last phase of my running, I felt I could go another round, but I did not want to push it (it was still a new shoe, after all, and I did not want to risk an injury, as I am preparing for my first 5k).

By the end of my run, the shoe actually felt like second skin.  I did not have the usual post-run discomfort on my ankles or on my waist.  When I reviewed my stats, I actually ran a half-mile longer with less effort.

Overall, the Vibram was not disappointing.  But it is my first experience, and I hope that running with it would only get better.

I will run on the track or on the streets with it next weekend and see if the experience is any different.

~Connie Montoya
(guest blogger of Running-Girl)