Alana Melzer: Toe Shoes and Barefoot Running

My PT has posted an interesting item on Barefoot Running. Reading this is very interesting considing my current injury and the fact she put me on 5's. Check it out.

Alana Melzer: Toe Shoes and Barefoot Running: "So, I think the perfect topic for my very first blog can be about barefoot running and in particular, those bizarre looking 'toe shoes' I ha..."

Vibram Five Fingers

Brought a pair of Vibram FiveFingers and been wearing them a bit over the weekend. Very difrerent to normal shoes. Also got a pair of Injinji Performance Toe Socks which helps with padding and warmth.

When Transition to FiveFingers they suggest the following as it will work out your plantar fascia, calf and achilles areas hard -:

Week1

• Wear them around the house for a couple of days then short walks - less than 30mins

Week 2

• Start to increase the amount of time you wear them each day
• Start wearing them to the gym - avoid using them on the treadmill or high impact classes
• Give you feet some TLC in the evenings, get your thumbs into the sol of your foot and release the plantar fascia with some self massage to the arch of your foot.
• Rolling your bare foot over a golfball is a great way to help release the muscles
• If your feet are sore, give the 5's a rest for a day. It's a gradual process

Week 3

• Continue as above
• Begin using the 5's for short runs on grass (1-2km) building distance up to 7-8km before trying harder surfaces
• When running on grass keep strides short, feet under hips and land on the balls of your feet. Keep you ankles soft and responsive
• Listen to your foot and progress accordingly.

Time will tell how much my feet the 5's go, but lots of people are using them.