First journal entry for this goal, and what the heck are VFFs?
This will be a quick journal entry because I'm writing this at 1:12am; my VFFs are still on my feet because I JUST came back from my run. And due to my being tired and the lateness of the hour, I could only eke out two miles...
What are VFFs you may ask? Here, a picture to save my tired fingers from doing the explaining:
That's me in Santa Monica, where I first logged 3 miles towards this goal a few days ago. Sadly, it's been a few days since I've run again, but I did it tonight!
These "toe shoes," I call them, fit right on my feet and allow me to run as though I were barefoot, without my having to worry about broken glass or rocks (though I do feel the rocks beneath my feet if they're sharp). I bought them over a month ago, and it has taken me awhile to "shape" them and also develop the muscles it takes to get used to running in them. My first run in them was not even half a mile, and I had to stop because my calves were screaming in pain. I probably discovered muscles I'd never used before.
The idea is that this is how humans were meant to run, and that today's shoes are just unnatural cushioning which alters the natural cushioning mechanisms already built into the human leg and foot structures. I don't know if I buy into that completely, but I do know that I am running 3 miles strong now and I feel no pain, no injury, and I feel like a kid again in these things!
They were pretty embarrassing to wear at first, but I think a lot of that embarrassment was just in my head. As long as I didn't think about it and run with confidence, I noticed that there really isn't any embarrassment at all.
Anyway, here's the website: http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/ and let me know if you ever try them out, or if you own a pair!
I've done 6 miles in them before, but I am back down to 3 because I haven't been running as often as I should. I hope to do 7 before the month of September is over, which is more than I've ever run in them!
What are VFFs you may ask? Here, a picture to save my tired fingers from doing the explaining:
That's me in Santa Monica, where I first logged 3 miles towards this goal a few days ago. Sadly, it's been a few days since I've run again, but I did it tonight!
These "toe shoes," I call them, fit right on my feet and allow me to run as though I were barefoot, without my having to worry about broken glass or rocks (though I do feel the rocks beneath my feet if they're sharp). I bought them over a month ago, and it has taken me awhile to "shape" them and also develop the muscles it takes to get used to running in them. My first run in them was not even half a mile, and I had to stop because my calves were screaming in pain. I probably discovered muscles I'd never used before.
The idea is that this is how humans were meant to run, and that today's shoes are just unnatural cushioning which alters the natural cushioning mechanisms already built into the human leg and foot structures. I don't know if I buy into that completely, but I do know that I am running 3 miles strong now and I feel no pain, no injury, and I feel like a kid again in these things!
They were pretty embarrassing to wear at first, but I think a lot of that embarrassment was just in my head. As long as I didn't think about it and run with confidence, I noticed that there really isn't any embarrassment at all.
Anyway, here's the website: http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/ and let me know if you ever try them out, or if you own a pair!
I've done 6 miles in them before, but I am back down to 3 because I haven't been running as often as I should. I hope to do 7 before the month of September is over, which is more than I've ever run in them!
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