... I decided this morning to take a run in VFFs.
Now, I have not ran with anything on my feet in 11 months and I now remember why. Much like that instant before you pour milk that you know has gone sour down the sink, you just have to sniff it one last time to make sure.
Yep. Running in VFFs still suck.
I arise to find that it's a crap day outside. It's 48 degrees, mist, the pavement is damp and I have taken the last two days off due to a mysteriously sore grand met. I need to run so this is the opportune time to break out the VFFs and take that sniff of the milk, so to speak.
My instant feedback is that I have no feedback. None. Zero. I find myself gazing around at the neighborhood and not concentrating on the road. I have to make a conscious effort to maintain proper form as I feel nothing from the street.
I feel strain on my calf muscles. The reason? I'm pushing off with my toes a bit instead of lifting my feet. Again, I have to make a conscious effort to correct this issue. And I begin to think; I do believe this is why we see so many stress fractures in those that wear minimalist shoes. Yes, I know we've all discussed this before, but I believe it needs to be written yet again.
My forefoot/midfoot plant has now become slightly midfoot/heel. Again, with no ramifications due to lack of feel, my form suffers and I have to make yet another conscious correction.
This is taking too much mental effort. I'm just a pilot so I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed anyway (far too much intelligence to be an Air Force pilot, and only slightly more than a Marine...), but running in VFFs is taking way too much thought. I have, however, found a few Pros to offset some Cons.
My feet are much cleaner, although they don't smell that great which is interesting. Since the BF transition, not that I had smelly feet to begin with, I have noticed that my foot odor is all but gone. After 50 minutes in the VFFs, they smell like hot rubber and fajitas.
My met didn't smart at all due to the extreme padding. Yes, I said extreme. The millimeters of rubber between my soles and the road removed all feeling, but padded my little sore area. The last time I had ran in VFFs was when I had ran in extreme cold and my feet were numb. That time, I abraded my pads and needed some protection for a week or so. I was happy to be rid of them then.
I'm happy to be rid if them now. Again, I'm not a trail runner and I can certainly see their purpose in that arena but until I begin that phase of my distance running, I'll just pour the milk down the drain and leave the VFFs in the closet.
Now, I have not ran with anything on my feet in 11 months and I now remember why. Much like that instant before you pour milk that you know has gone sour down the sink, you just have to sniff it one last time to make sure.
Yep. Running in VFFs still suck.
I arise to find that it's a crap day outside. It's 48 degrees, mist, the pavement is damp and I have taken the last two days off due to a mysteriously sore grand met. I need to run so this is the opportune time to break out the VFFs and take that sniff of the milk, so to speak.
My instant feedback is that I have no feedback. None. Zero. I find myself gazing around at the neighborhood and not concentrating on the road. I have to make a conscious effort to maintain proper form as I feel nothing from the street.
I feel strain on my calf muscles. The reason? I'm pushing off with my toes a bit instead of lifting my feet. Again, I have to make a conscious effort to correct this issue. And I begin to think; I do believe this is why we see so many stress fractures in those that wear minimalist shoes. Yes, I know we've all discussed this before, but I believe it needs to be written yet again.
My forefoot/midfoot plant has now become slightly midfoot/heel. Again, with no ramifications due to lack of feel, my form suffers and I have to make yet another conscious correction.
This is taking too much mental effort. I'm just a pilot so I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed anyway (far too much intelligence to be an Air Force pilot, and only slightly more than a Marine...), but running in VFFs is taking way too much thought. I have, however, found a few Pros to offset some Cons.
My feet are much cleaner, although they don't smell that great which is interesting. Since the BF transition, not that I had smelly feet to begin with, I have noticed that my foot odor is all but gone. After 50 minutes in the VFFs, they smell like hot rubber and fajitas.
My met didn't smart at all due to the extreme padding. Yes, I said extreme. The millimeters of rubber between my soles and the road removed all feeling, but padded my little sore area. The last time I had ran in VFFs was when I had ran in extreme cold and my feet were numb. That time, I abraded my pads and needed some protection for a week or so. I was happy to be rid of them then.
I'm happy to be rid if them now. Again, I'm not a trail runner and I can certainly see their purpose in that arena but until I begin that phase of my distance running, I'll just pour the milk down the drain and leave the VFFs in the closet.
