Tough call. I always recommend slow buildup in those shoes, but if you are having no pain for 6 months you might be fine. Just be sensitive to anything that feels unusual if you try, you can always cut the run short if you have problems.

the beach is easy, its painless, concrete hurts more. there’s also the http://barefootrunningshoes.org/2009/12/01/nike-free-5-0-v4-versus-new-balance-mr800-comparison/>new balance shoes that try to imitate barefoot running, check em out:

http://barefootrunningshoes.org/2009/12/01/nike-free-5-0-v4-versus-new-balance-mr800-comparison/” rel=”nofollow”>

Ran two miles on Saturday and Sunday, despite continued soreness. Was at my in-laws and I kept hearing, “You poor thing!” regarding my very stiff walking performance – holding on to stair rails and everything…

Now, it’s Tuesday and I ran two miles this morning and yesterday in the KSOs. Soreness is abating somewhat, so my calves are hopefully toughening up.

I’m used to running 8 miles every morning and long runs of 12-20 on the weekends. I realize it will take me a bit to get back up to that.

This soreness in my calves tells me that I was probably a heavy heel striker before in my stability shoes. I think I’m essentially rebuilding my running stride from the ground up. :)

Magnus,

As an American of Swedish descent, it’s always good to hear from people from
my ancestral homeland! One of my dreams is to run the Stockholm Marathon –
I’ll get there someday.

Regarding your question, I’d say first that I have no medical or scientific
basis for saying this, but I tend to not buy much into the whole
anti-pronation shoe technology. My reasoning thus far is based mostly on
personal experience. When I first started running, I went to a running shop
and they told me I was a mild overpronator, and fitted me for stability
shoes. I wore stability shoes for 2 years, then last year switched over to
neutral, more minimalist shoes and have not had any problems with the
transition. That being said, if you are a severe overpronator, maybe the
switch might be more of a problem.

What you could do is try running in socks on a treadmill or barefoot on
grass and see how it feels. If it works for you, then maybe giving the
Vibrams a shot would be worthwhile. You could also look at some spikeless XC
shoes – cheaper and also have a smaller heel, but probably a bit more
support than Vibrams. The Nike Frees are an option, but as you point out,
the more supportive models (7.0 and Run+) tend to have just as big a heel as
regular shoes, and the 3.0 probably won’t do much in the way of pronation
control.

I guess the decision is kind of a leap of faith – you may wind up doing
better as a result of the switch, but I’d also hate to see an injury. I’m
hoping the science on footwear and injury risk starts to catch up with the
interest in the subject.

Pete

Hello Magnus and Pete,

I am have sever pronation and have just recently used my five-fingers to run. I can not recommend these enough especially with running and/or jogging for over pronators. I’m a management major so I have no bio-mechanical background but can tell you that my educated guess would be that the shock absorbing properties of the foot+calf muscles+bent knees might have an effect on the pronation topic. Also, I’ve noticed that the faster I try to run, the more natural my foot wants to land on the forefoot instead of my heel.

Like you said Pete, it is a leap of faith and I think you just have to take the plunge Magnus. I know you won’t be disappointed.

But this has me intrigued. It reminds me of a motorcycle accident and subsequent recovery that should have taught me something more than it did when I was 20.

I was in an accident on a bike. Long story short, I went over the top of a car off my bike. My right foot got tangled a bit in the bike and bent almost in half (toes touching heel).

I didn’t break anything (miracle) but had a lot of tendon damage.

I was not making any progress at all healing nor with therapy 2 months after the wreck, until I started going to the beach every day. I had been hobbling around in running shoes, thinking the padding would help protect my feet.

But when I started going to the beach, I’d walk through the soft sand (not the hard sand) bare foot. The soft sand flexed my foot significantly and I was quickly back on the path to recovery within a month of walking on the beach 3 times a week.

For the last few years, I’ve been walking(for everyday work stuff) mostly in sandals for two reasons, I felt that my feet were benefiting from the open air, no socks, no sweaty leather shoes.

I think it has helped for that purpose, but the lack of form fitting of the sandals, means that I tend to slip or trip (especially on steps) more. BTW we’re talking flip flop sandals, not hiking sandals, so just the one over the top of the foot strap with the mid point between my large toe and ‘index toe?’ :)

When I first saw the VFF’s I thought, There’s the solution to my sandal problem!

But didn’t even think that I might be able to run in them. I’ve read a half dozen articles on them and running barefoot tonight. I’m definitely going to give it a try. As I read about them, I am remembering water socks when they were a new fad back in the 80’s.

I ran in them a few times back then, and they were very light and mostly very comfortable. But my foot would slip around in the shoe (like in my sandals) and that caused problems. I’m thinking the toes in the individual toe (slots?) would solve this problem better than any large number of straps and strings. :)

Completely jazzed about the whole idea. :)