Lynn's Half-Marathon in Vibram Five Finger KSOs

By Justin on Aug 21, 2009 | In user stories | 5 feedbacks »

Vibram Five Fingers fan Lynn photoed above runs the Chicago Rock N' Roll Half Marathon. Lynn's transition to Vibrams took four months.
Vibram Five Fingers fan Lynn photoed above runs the Chicago Rock N' Roll Half Marathon. Lynn's transition to Vibrams took four months.

Lynn emailed in about hitting a personal record (PR) on the recent Rock'N'Roll Chicago half-marathon, the first he's completed wearing his Vibram blue camo fivefinger KSOs. Lynn said:

This was my fifth ½ marathon this year and the first in my VFF’s. This was also my PR for this distance. The time for the other four ½ marathons (all in shod) were: 1:52, 1:51, 1:54, 1:57 (run the day after the 1:54 ½ marathon). I ran this one in 1:47 which beat my previous PR for this distance by more than a minute.

This photo was taken around mile 3 which was in the Chicago loop. The last half of the race takes place along the lakefront. The bibs indicate the starting corral you were assigned. I was assigned the 4th corral. The guy behind me was assigned the 3rd corral and I beat him by over 10 minutes (not that I checked).

My DW doesn’t think it’s the VFF’s. She thinks it’s my conditioning. I think my conditioning is because I’ve been converting over to running in the VFF’s for the last four months.

Congratulations on reaching a new PR, and I think I'm going to take your side — it's gotta be the improved running technique afforded by the near-barefoot running of VFFs!

Thanks for sharing!

Tags: kso, running

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Comment from: seret [Visitor] · http://oboros.wordpress.com
Congratz, Lynn! Great forrm and it looks like you're giving the Thumbs Up!

Also the guy with the heel strike behind you looks pretty jealous about your shoes.
08/21/09 @ 11:04
Comment from: Noah [Visitor]
I am really struggling to just run better in my VFF's. I find after 28 years of running with running shoes my buddy just doesnt want o naturally run on the balls of my feet.
08/29/09 @ 22:56
Comment from: Cam H [Visitor] Email
Just finished the chicago half on Sept 13th with my 5-fingers and was able to finally break into the under 10 minute mile group. They felt GREAT
09/13/09 @ 14:27
Comment from: David Hendrix [Visitor] Email
Lynn, Thanks so much for this post. I wasn't sure about doing a half in my KSOs or not but I read this post back in December and sealed the deal for me.
I did my first VFF half marathon at the Cary, IL March Madness and broke my PR by more than 5 minutes. What was really cool was how strong I was on the hills with these (perhaps a little slower on the downhills being on the lookout for slippery spots).

I only today just realized that you were there too after looking at the Cary facebook page. Wish I would have known or I would have given another VFFer a shout out. Was at least 3 of us there and lots of runners were aware of and/or asking questions about.
Thx,
Hendrix
03/25/10 @ 21:55
Comment from: Robin [Visitor] Email
Question... How did you "convert to running" in VFFs? I just started using my first pair a month ago, and love running in them. I just signed up for the Dec 4th St Jude's half marathon and want to know if I can stick to these, or if I should run in my usual Newtons bc three months isn't enough time to convert safely to VFF's before a long race??? I really want to hear that I can run in my VFFs! Any advice? Thanks, Lynn. Or anyone with advice.
08/29/10 @ 20:34

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