I’ve run in Vibrams now for about 5 years. I’ve run 5K’s, Half Marathons and Marathons in them. The initial transition period was a little rough. Extremely sore leg muscles and blisters were common until you get used to them. But I’ve never experienced the problem of losing toenails like some runners. My Vibrams dry quickly when they get wet, no worrying about running with wet feet.
I love the feel of running in the Vibrams because you are in constant contact with the ground, getting feedback. You feel the slightest change in elevation. I think it helps me respond better and save energy with minor adjustments to gait etc. I am more focused when I’m running because I need to pay attention to the road and any debris. The Vibrams will protect your feet from cuts, etc, but nothing will help stepping on a large pebble or rock because you didn’t see it. It still hurts. In fact, we dread portions of a race that go over gravel. There’s no way to make that feel better.
One of the many things I’ve learned is that if you plan to run pavement races you need to train on pavement. My husband and I realized our mistake after a lot of training runs on trails in the MetroParks. We ran a Half Marathons on pavement and our feet were screaming by the end because they weren’t used to that constant pounding from the pavement. It was an easy adjustment to make but hadn’t occurred to us until it happened.
I’ve worn different styles of Vibrams from Sprints to Bikilas and now Seeyas. Each offered something I needed at the time. The Bikilas were excellent for colder weather when we used to run in Ohio. The Seeyas are the lightest weight yet, perfect for our warmer running nowadays.
I even used to wear the Vibrams to Zumba classes, again it’s instant feedback for your body. Ladies, you will find that if you go for a pedicure you’ll want to mention to the technician that you don’t want the calluses removed, otherwise you’ll be back to the beginning again building them up.
What do you run in?
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Article Author – Carrie Bryniak
I am your friendly Travel Professional with Kingdom Magic Vacations and a runner as well. My first RunDisney Race was in 2010, the Wine & Dine Half Marathon Relay…and since then I’ve been hooked on Disney races and others. Some of my favorites are the Wine & Dine Half Marathon, the Turtle Krawl 5K and the USA Beach Running Championships. If you’re a runner and you need help with travel plans for a race, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’m here to help you and support your efforts!
