Last year I provided a tip on sizing Vibram Five Fingers based on my own experience. I've now found another useful tip

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Check out what's been spotted on the interweb...

A new pair of minimalist shoes to compete with Vibram Five Fingers. Unfortunately, you can't see much from the pictures but they look to be quite low profile with traditional lacing. One thing is for sure, the sole looks pretty cool.

Apparently these are due out in February (probably only in the US) with a remote possibility of a pre-Christmas release.

On the topic of Terra Plana shoes - has anyone had any experience with the Terra Plana Vivo Barefoot shoes? I'm seriously considering getting a pair of these as an "everyday" pair of shoes to replace my Merrills or possible a more formal looking pair to wear for work.

It's been a bit quiet round here over the past few weeks as I've been away from all computers, work and stressful stuff on a fantastic two week camping holiday in France.

We had a fantastic time, but more importantly, it was two whole weeks for me barefoot, or nearly barefoot, and it felt fantastic. I tried my hardest NOT to wear any shoes whenever possible and succeeded. In fact, today is the first day in 16 days in which I've had to put on a pair of shoes and socks (for work) and I must say I can't wait to get them off.

I spent most of the time barefoot whilst milling around the campsites and driving. I wore my Vibrams when out and about sight seeing (because barefoot isn't always appropriate) and cycling and I wore my cheap aging flipflops when the grass outside the tent was wet - my wife would go nuts if I even contemplated walking into the tent with muddy or wet feet/Vibrams .

All in all it was fantastic, and great fun to see the looks on people's faces as I wondered around barefoot or in my Vibrams. The French kids loved the Vibrams, though surprisingly the Dutch kids didn't seem to fussed.

Sorry about the lack of updates - work has been crazy and I've not really had much to write about in my little world of running, but now I do .

So far the running has been going well. I'm slowly building up the "time on my feet" to get my body and feet used to running. This is mainly an injury prevention measure. I'm also trying to stick to the old adage that you shouldn't increase your mileage by more than 10% a week.

At the moment I'm up to 2x 18-20 min gentle runs a week with one in Vibrams and one in shoes, and 2-3 weights sessions in the gym broken up into upper body and lower body workouts (this is actually a major cut in the amount of gym work I used to do so is also taking a fair amount of getting used to). The runs have been going really well and I've not felt the slightest bit of pain or discomfort in either my feet or calves.

That is until I tried something different on Monday. Foolishly, I thought I might see if I can start throwing some speed work in to the mix and to get things going, thought I'd determine my Billat pace (aka vVO2) (mistake 1), in my Vibrams (mistake 2).

I took a leisurely jog down to a nearby park which has a path around it that is about a mile long (mapmyrun.com route

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I received a great comment on my previous post that I thought deserves a post of it's own in response.

Jason's comment was as follows:

What a great find regards V Billat. Some good stuff on that pponline site. Have read other V02 stuff on there but that was another level. Have been following your blog as I am experimenting with vibrams myself. Like all other blogs I have read, sore/stiff calf muscles are a right of passage as muscles that have been dormant re-awake. My own observation has been the distinct lack of joint pain following a run. Only doing 2 - 3 miles at a time. But when I go back to shoes my knees suffer for 3 - 4 days after.
1 question if I may. On your runs in the vibrams, how did your pace compare to running in shoes?
I ask as I seem to be clocking = or better than in shoes. I did not expect this or at least not yet.

First off, it's great hear there's someone else trying to run in the Vibrams, but more importantly, great news about the lack of joint pain after running in them. Sounds like nature may be telling you something there Jason.

The question itself is why I thought it best to provide a post of it's own.

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I've just got back from a nice run back on the road in my Vibrams and what a feeling. It's sooooo good to be back on the road instead of running on the treadmill in the gym.

Yes, I don't quite have as much control over my pace and the distance I run, but who cares. The feeling of freedom far out weighs the metrics. Anyway, mapmyrun.com does a good job of measuring the distance.

Today's run: about 2.92km in 13:43 which works out at about 4:41/km. Not bad.

Well, last week was another low mileage week with only 2 sessions of 6mins @ 2% @ 6mph on the treadmill and in shoes as I said they would be.

The runs were good and my right foot felt good without any niggles, so I think I'll be back to barefoot this week.

Well, sort of. I'm getting fed up of running on a treadmill already and am itching to get outside and run a bit further, however it's turned a tad chilly and I don't think my feet are tough enough yet to cope with the rough tarmac AND the cold and wet, so this week I'm venturing outside in my Vibrams - it's just as good as barefoot.

I think I'll run in my Vibrams until the spring.

Welcome to the start of what will hopefully turn out to be a great success. This is my little challenge to see if I can go from running in shoes to running the way nature intended: BAREFOOT.

Now this isn't just a whim, it's something I've been considering quite seriously for quite some time and I'm set to begin my journey on...

Monday 13 October 2008

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