for the love of bare feet and vibram five fingers shoes.

When I started running during the summer of 2008, I already had my doubts about all the support and cushioning in running shoes. But because everybody says you need "good" running shoes, I just went with the flow.

During my first "real" running injury (runner's knee) my doubts returned and I started doing some research. I soon found out about alternative running methods and also about running barefoot and Vibram Five Fingers (VFFs). At the the time it sounded a little extreme to me, but I kind of liked the VFFs.

Around the same time the Ecco BIOMs came around, and although not really minimalistic they let me run pain free for the whole of the summer. During experiments with more "normal" shoes, pain returned especially my shins.

Although still fascinated by the VFF, I still didn't dare take the plunge, so I bought another pair of BIOMs. But after recovering from another bout of runner's knee, which I now blame on a medicine I got at the time, I seriously started thinking of finally buying a pair of VFFs.

So in the beginning of January I finally ordered a pair KSO's over from the USA (at the time I couldn't find any local stores with KSO's in my size). Two weeks later they finally arrived, and they fit like a glove.

After a couple of days of getting used to them and a successful trial walk/run, my first real run was February 1st. Because of all the calf pain stories I read, I hoped I could manage a 5k. That 5k became a great run of little over 5 miles without any real pain or soreness. The day after that I ran 11km (almost 7 miles) which also went reasonably well, a little more soreness but not that much.

After that I did one run in my Ecco's and, because of all the calf pain stories, I waited a bit before for my next run with my VFFs, again an 11k run. That was one my best runs ever!

I had planned a 30km long run for the next day. Not knowing how long I could run in the VFFs, I took the car to a nearby forest with my regular running shoes in the trunk so I could switch shoes if needed.

To my surprise it was on of the easiest long runs I ever did. 30k became almost 32k (20 miles) all in my VFFs. Usually my quads are a little tired/sore after that distance, but not today. They felt as good as before the run. Calves were a little sore, but again not that much. I only got some blisters.

From that point on, I only ran in my VFFs. That action shot was taken on February 14th, so almost two weeks after my first real VFF run. It was a 30k race and I finished in 2:18:11, beating my personal best by almost 18 minutes.

My calves were a little more sore, but again my quads were feeling great. Also the first run after that my feet were a little more sensitive, but the day after that also was back to normal. That calve soreness also disappeared in a couple of days, and during the runs after that no pain or soreness has returned.

I don't know why but for some reason it seems I already can run any distance in them. I think the lower heel to toe ratio of the Ecco's already helped making this an easy transition. Also at work I already walk in my socks the whole day, and at home that's something I did all my life.

Obviously at the last two races I did get a lot of strange looks and a lot of questions from interested people, but also some less positive remarks. But for me these are great shoes for running, and I also regulary wear them to work.

Raymond

Hey Justin,

Attached are pix from two of my recent trips out in the snow here in the UK in KSO's ... a quick run out to the mail box (about a 1 mile round trip). The second set is a trip round the local country park and a run up a couple of the hills.

As a triathlete I do a fair bit of barefoot running between various water sources indoors and out and transition so the Vibrams allow me to strengthen my feet for this. With any luck if I manage to get the barefoot running mileage up I might be able to start racing in them. Have recently found out 1 other person in our running club has a pair.

I have three pair of Vibram. Two of them are black classics (one busted and I replaced it with a new pair but then fixed the broke pair) and a pair of flows.

I like the comfort of them. They feel so natural. If and when I wear normal shoes, my first instinct is to take them off when I get home. They aren't comfortable and it is always hard to find a pair of shoes that fit just right and feel good. With my VFF I keep them on no matter where I am (house, running, around work, school, etc). I also like them because when I run I can feel the ground that I am running on. I have a more keen sense of my running pattern. This is a good thing because it helps me to work on my running form. As a teen I did some running and my knees would always hurt after a long day of walking and running. I walk an average of about 5 miles a day and haven't felt my knees hurt at all. It is because I am more likely to walk mid foot or flat foot. Also, when I run, I run fore-foot (or am trying to). The shoes definitely help in my efforts. Even after running my knees don't hurt. I also like how easy they are to put on. Starting out it is a pain in the butt, but after about 8 months of using them I was able to put them on handless. Now after a year, it is somewhat like sliding my foot into slippers.

I also love how the shoes are a great conversation starter. So many funny faces and questions about them. It is great because I love talking to people but never know how to start the conversation.

You didn't ask if there was anything that I don't like. There is something I don't like and that is the smell that takes place after a week or so. I have found great ideas to take care of the smell from your forum.

I mostly walk in them. I wear them literally everywhere. I boxed up all of my old shoes and exclusively wear VFF. The only time I wear anything else is when I am in the pulpit and that is for a hour (dress shoes that I literally keep at the office under my desk). I am an assistant pastor. Outside of running I do all kinds of things. I will play ultimate frisbee in them. On the weekends I will go hike a mountain of about 3-5 miles. I run/walk the dog all the time. I put a lot of miles on my shoes. I put a lot of pressure on my feet and my feet take it so much better than my knees. I have really strengthened the arch in my foot.