Interview with Patrick Sweeney, Winner of the Palos Verdes Marathon
May 28, 2010 | 10 comments »
We recently interviewed Ultra Marathoner and barefoot runner, Patrick Sweeney, who, in what may be the fastest marathon ever run in Vibram Five Fingers, recorded an awesome time of 2:37:14 winning the Palos Verdes Marathon. He ran in Vibram Five Fingers Sprints.
How did you get into Ultra Marathons and barefoot running?
I picked up Ultra running a few years ago and was hooked. I had a really good rookie year in 2008 and had high hopes for 2009 only to be plagued with injury. I decided something needed to change. I gave up running shoes cold turkey. I have been running in Vibram fivefingers or nothing at all. My body has been getting stronger everyday.
Congratulations on your recent marathon victory at Palos Verdes. It was very fast at 2:37:14. Do you know how it ranks among the fastest marathons ever run in Vibram Five Fingers?
Thank You. I have no freaking clue. But the race came real easy, I would guess it's the fastest for now but I'm sure some kid will beat it this summer. Palos Verdes is a very hilly course for a marathon. It's not a place where most people will P.R. I think I could go about 10 minutes faster on a flat course like Long Beach which I will run in October, but by that time I may be running barefoot instead. I bet we will see a sub 2:15 sometime in the next year, but definitely not by me.
You beat your personal best marathon time by 17 minutes. What contributed to the dramatic improvement?
A positive attitude. I'm excited not to be injured anymore. My training is just starting to come together for the San Diego 100 miler. I was just out there to have fun and I was smiling almost the whole entire race.
Vibram FiveFingers Speed Review
May 26, 2010 | 116 comments »
Review
Back in late July 2009 we first glanced a laced Vibram Five Fingers shoe (Not to mention the running-specific Five Fingers Bikila next to it), many a fan's mind reeled at the notion — what is that thing? Laces? Are we looking at Al Bundy's "God's Shoes?"
No, it was the Vibram FiveFingers Speed, all retro-styled and svelte. Today (May 2010!), I've gotten my feet into a pair of the FiveFingers Speed. I had to special order (Called in a favor!) straight from the United Kingdom because the Speed isn'twasn't going to be released in the United States. Note: The FiveFingers Speed has been released in the U.S. for puchase as of May 31, 2011 — see CitySports for one online retailer selling them wtih free shipping for about a hundred bucks.
After the jump are photos, video, and thoughts about the novel, stylish, and ground-breaking laced Vibram Five Fingers — the Speed!
Aussie Vibram Team Five Fingers Takes on The North Face 100
May 25, 2010 | 3 comments »
Last Saturday, the Australian Vibram Team Five Fingers team completed the The North Face 100, a 100Km race through the Blue Mountains. The team raced in KSO Treks and the Fall 2010 (not yet released) Sport Trek Five Fingers.
Team member, Max, comments on the race:
The Treks and Trek Sports (worn with injinji socks) were fantastic, giving us a lightness of foot and sensitivity that saved us on numerous occasions. The Teams ran together the whole 100K, coming in on 14:22:20. The last 11k were tough as fatigue and tough terrain led to a few bruised toes. Next year we will have put a lot more trail running Ks in the bank, and aim to come in under 12 hrs.
Video, race report and photo gallery after the jump.
Parkour traceurs are head over heels for their Vibram Five Fingers Sprints
May 24, 2010 | 5 comments »
Vibram Five Fingers fan, Charlie, on Parkour in Vibram Five Fingers Sprints:
Weekend Link Love 5/24/10
May 23, 2010 | 1 comment »
BirthdayShoes News
This past week we created a way for email subscribers to receive inventory alerts (Opt-in and opt-out). If you're not an email subscriber, the subscription sends a weekly blog digest right to your email as well as the occasional breaking news email (Like when the Bikila was released!). Additionally, if you check to "get inventory alerts," you'll also get notification when major online retailers of Vibrams restock, which can help you land that hard to find model, size, or color. You can subscribe by following this link and completing the form! If you're already a subscriber and want to get emailed inventory alerts, simply hit the "Update profile" link in any BirthdayShoes email and check the appropriate box and save (takes less time than putting on a pair of KSOs!).
Speaking of buying Vibram Five Fingers, the proliferation of fake five fingers around the interwebs has reached critical levels — Googling [vibram five fingers] yields a whopping 26 fake sites out of the top 50 search results! And at present, BirthdayShoes has found a whopping 88 89 fake five fingers e-tailers out there! Out. Of. Control.
This week's poll is taking a pulse on the popularity of VFFs — be sure to chime in!
Finally, in case you missed them the first time around, be sure to check out the unboxing of the Sky Blue Vibram Five Fingers Bikila as well as the Definitive Guide to Stink Removal a la Vibram Five Fingers of Funk.
After the jump, Vibram Five Fingers news, videos, and links related to barefoot running and a few new Vibram Five Fingers reviews!
Athletic Director and Primal Lifestyle Devotee Rockin' his KSOs in Southeast Asia
May 22, 2010 | 1 comment »
Vibram Five Fingers fan, Bob, on his KSOs:
I live in Bangkok, Thailand, and my wife and I took a trip recently to Cambodia, and we walked all around the wonderful temples near Siem Reap, including Angkor Wat - one of the most beautiful historical sites in the world today! It was wonderful walking on the trails and steps and smooth stones all around and in the temples and sites. My KSO’s were light and comfortable, and very appropriate for this type of sightseeing! I receive comments every day about the KSO’s, as I spread the word about their fantastic feeling, of walking light-footed and more erect, with noticeably improved posture.
I am the Athletic Director at a big private international school in Bangkok, Thailand. I have had my VFF's for one month only, as it is hard to find them out here in SE Asia. I bought them on a trip to Singapore last month, and I have worn them almost every day - both to work and socially, and of course for exercise! Whenever I wear "regular" shoes, they feel strange, and I miss the comfort and natural feel of the VFF"S.
birthdayshoes [
