First Run Wearing Five Fingers

Five Fingers are funny looking shoes made by Vibram that are very minimal, almost like being barefoot. They conform to your feet very tightly and have individual toe boxes. They are like gloves for your feet.

I have been wearing them around for a couple weeks to get used to them and have tried them for short distance runs, 1/4 mile or less to break myself in to them. Today I ran a full mile in them.

Here is what I experienced, my feet faired well in them. No arch, heal, or ankle pains.I did not warm up before the run but did run easy. Catching my breath was the worst part of  my run, but that is natural when breaking-in.

Running in Five Fingers is a bit different than regular running shoes. There is no cushioning so if you land on your heals you really feel the impact so naturally you adjust by landing on the front or sides of your feet instead. I still felt a lot of impact but that in part is just getting used to running again. I found I run a lot more cautiously watching for rocks and landing gently. I am running slower then I remember. I feel like I got a fair workout but still have a lot of energy so this run was probably just right for me and my present physical condition.

I plan to maintain this distance for a while before increasing  mileage. For over a year I have had problems with planters fascitis and ankle joint pain. I have gained weight from lack of exercise and eating too many calories so running will be a bit more stressful on my body until I drop weight. Running in Five Fingers is like learning to run all over again. Eventually I hope to be able to run totally barefoot.

Pain in my right foot developed later in the day in my heal and ankle. I'll give it a rest for a couple days and try again.