Click on this link to find a fantastic article about Barefoot running. And yes, amazingly its by The Daily Mail!
It covers a lot of things from proven research into running injuries to the billion dollar trainer industry.
It might just make you want to take your shoes off!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1170253/The-painful-truth-trainers-Are-expensive-running-shoes-waste-money.html
Friday, 22 October 2010
Thursday, 21 October 2010
CALVES = OUCH!
So all those warnings about not running too far in the Vibrams for the first time were right! Two days later and my calves still feel like someone is stabbing knives into them repeatedly!! Perhaps 4km was too much! ;)
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
First Training Sessions in Vibrams
Okay, so now i've trained in the Vibrams too and love them!
Last night was Crossfit night and with all the big lifts my feet felt fully grounded and i got none of the normal rocking or slight shifts in balance that i sometimes got when wearing soft cushioned trainers. This made the lifts feel a lot more secure.
Then this morning i went for a brief run on the seafront in the lovely early morning sunshine. I made sure i didnt go too far as ive had lots of advice to take it really easy at first.
It definitely felt different, although perhaps not as different as i thought it might feel. The heel of the foot still makes contact with the ground (your not entirely on your forefoot), it just comes down AFTER the forefoot and with far less force than with my normal heel strike running style where the heel is the first thing to hit the ground.
I did about 4km in total split up with a few bodyweight exercises. And yes, my calves are now feeling it!! In a good way i think and not like i wont be able to walk tomorrow............well, we'll see! :)
I'm going back into trainers tomorrow to give the feet a rest as i've now worn the Vibrams for about 4 days straight. I wonder how this will feel?
Oh, and im now a lot more used to wearing them and getting funny looks! It doesnt take long to adapt and not feel self conscious anymore!
Last night was Crossfit night and with all the big lifts my feet felt fully grounded and i got none of the normal rocking or slight shifts in balance that i sometimes got when wearing soft cushioned trainers. This made the lifts feel a lot more secure.
Then this morning i went for a brief run on the seafront in the lovely early morning sunshine. I made sure i didnt go too far as ive had lots of advice to take it really easy at first.
It definitely felt different, although perhaps not as different as i thought it might feel. The heel of the foot still makes contact with the ground (your not entirely on your forefoot), it just comes down AFTER the forefoot and with far less force than with my normal heel strike running style where the heel is the first thing to hit the ground.
I did about 4km in total split up with a few bodyweight exercises. And yes, my calves are now feeling it!! In a good way i think and not like i wont be able to walk tomorrow............well, we'll see! :)
I'm going back into trainers tomorrow to give the feet a rest as i've now worn the Vibrams for about 4 days straight. I wonder how this will feel?
Oh, and im now a lot more used to wearing them and getting funny looks! It doesnt take long to adapt and not feel self conscious anymore!
Sunday, 17 October 2010
FIRST WEAR OF VIBRAMS
Yesterday was the first outing for my new vibrams....and i have to give them a big thumbs up! I thought they might take a bit of getting used to but i was wearing them from 9am till 8pm and was on my feet for virtually the whole day and my feet didnt ache once.
When i was on my feet for this long in my usual trainers (asics runners)i found my heels aching and having to shift my weight from one foot to the other towards the end of the day. None of this in the Vibrams.
One thing that does take some getting used to though is the thought that everybody you walk past is looking at your feet! I did feel quite self conscious in them. I can imagine having lots of conversations about them over the next few weeks.
I havent tried running in them yet as im recovering from a twisted ankle at the moment. Should be good to go this week though. Ive had lots of advice to keep it REALLY simple for the first few runs so that the legs get used to the different running style. Im very much a heel strike runner so it will be very different for me to run on my forefoot. Think im going to build it up in perhaps 10 minute blocks. That should be gentle enough....we'll see!
Thursday, 14 October 2010
BRIGHTON HALF MARATHON
With talk of all this running i got carried away and have entered the Brighton Half Marathon (formerly the Sussex Beacons) on Sunday 20th February 2011.
This will be the first 'race' i have ever entered and am really looking forward to it. I normally just run whenever the mood takes me but it will be good to have a goal to aim for and to hopefully get a good time. I wonder if it will be done in my Vibrams??!! haha!
Plus the fact that the full marathon has never appealed due to its stupid distance and toll it takes on the body! (Thats just my excuse for not doing it by the way!)
This will be the first 'race' i have ever entered and am really looking forward to it. I normally just run whenever the mood takes me but it will be good to have a goal to aim for and to hopefully get a good time. I wonder if it will be done in my Vibrams??!! haha!
Plus the fact that the full marathon has never appealed due to its stupid distance and toll it takes on the body! (Thats just my excuse for not doing it by the way!)
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
THE BAREFOOT PROFESSOR
A great video on the barefoot running method and its benefits by 'The Barefoot Professor' - Daniel Lieberman, a Harvard professor.
It has some really good foot strike visuals and shows you just how big a difference there is between heel striking and forefoot running and what this could mean for potential injuries.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jrnj-7YKZE&feature=related
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