I just took a trip to Texas and the only footwear I brought was my two pairs of VFFs. This, it seems, is a conversation starter. In the airport, on the plane, in the hotel, during the conference I was there for, people were asking me about my shoes. And I'm more than willing to spread the gospel. I'm normally a gregarious person even with strangers (unless I'm trying to read on the plane. Then leave me alone lady-who-doesn't-understand-the-subtle-clue-of-me-glancing-at-you-nodding-and-looking-back-at-my-book). I talked to at least a dozen people who started a conversation along the lines of, "How are those?" or "What are those?" with a few, "OMG! I LOOOOVE my Vibrams!" thrown in. (By the way, is it Vibrams with an "eye" or with an "ee"? I heard it both ways and always say it with an "eye")
But nearly every time someone asks about the shoes and I tell them about running minimalist-style and barefooting, which always makes it in to the conversation too, I find myself dropping the disclaimer. "Avoid TMTS. Go slow. Take your time. Do some reading about it." I feel like on the off chance one of these people goes out and gets some VFFs or tries barefoot they need to be properly informed. And since I'm the one preaching the way, I should be honest about the, I'm hesitant to use this word, risks.
Anyone else experience a similar thing? Is it our job to tell people to get informed?
But nearly every time someone asks about the shoes and I tell them about running minimalist-style and barefooting, which always makes it in to the conversation too, I find myself dropping the disclaimer. "Avoid TMTS. Go slow. Take your time. Do some reading about it." I feel like on the off chance one of these people goes out and gets some VFFs or tries barefoot they need to be properly informed. And since I'm the one preaching the way, I should be honest about the, I'm hesitant to use this word, risks.
Anyone else experience a similar thing? Is it our job to tell people to get informed?