tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post2962851038699467234..comments2024-01-02T00:38:25.234-08:00Comments on It's How You Put it Together...: Summit of the Masters!Steve Maxwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00902095736214823013noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-71534729599440719052009-03-08T22:07:00.000-07:002009-03-08T22:07:00.000-07:00Steve - I thought I'd mention the Vivo Barefoot s...Steve - I thought I'd mention the Vivo Barefoot shoes by Terra Plana. They're about as close as you can get to barefoot in a fairly normal looking shoe. I have four pairs now and I wear them pretty much every day.<BR/>http://vivobarefoot.com/<BR/><BR/>I bought a couple of pairs to start off with and wore them intermittently as my feet got stronger. As I started to wear them more there was even a point where I got cramps in my feet. My feet actually feel like they have muscles now. I've relegated the sneaker-looking pair to the gym, and have done a bit of running in them, but not much. And when I did my calves were sore for days. I have done a 8-10 mile hike in my Vibrams though, and I think wearing the Vivo Barefoot shoes has helped prepare me for those hikes. My lower legs were tired after the hike, I think because the unevenness stresses the lateral movement of the ankle much more than walking on the sidewalks of NYC.<BR/><BR/>I used to suffer from plantar fasciitis, and I think the strengthening of my feet has pretty much done away with it. <BR/><BR/>The Vivo shoes also inadvertently taught me that I wasn't walking on the outside of my foot enough. I got some heel rub with a couple of the pairs, in a different way in each one, and I eventually realized I was letting my right foot overpronate. <BR/><BR/>Any one interested in them might want to check out Frank Forencich of Exuberant Animal's newsletter. He sent a newsletter out in the past few days saying he'll have a discount code. http://www.exuberantanimal.com/ <BR/><BR/>The shoes are a bit pricey, but I've caught a couple of pairs on sale. The Terra Plana catalog showed some upcoming sandals this summer, which I'm curious to check out. I curtailed my Vivo wearing last summer so I could wear sandals.<BR/><BR/>The Vibrams do let you move your toes around more, but the Vivos are made to have a larger toebox than normal and not squish them as much as normal shoes (one of the reasons regular shoes feel bulky now). However, I can wear the Vivos pretty much anywhere, which I can't do with the Vibrams--unfortunately.<BR/><BR/>Dan John had an article a couple of months ago where he mentioned wearing the Vibrams for a while, and eventually noticing with surprise his little toes gripping the ground. I've notice the same thing.<BR/><BR/>I've tried other shoes, but the Vivos have been great. I started wearing MBTs a several years ago, which helped my feet, but they're bulky and awkward looking. I haven't worn them much since I got the Vivos. I've been curious about the Fit Flops to see how unstable they are and if they might give my ankles more stability work than they get now. I'm not hopeful, but I'll probably try them out eventually.Stanton Tetershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06848367152331474422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-48084417667213716962009-02-24T21:41:00.000-08:002009-02-24T21:41:00.000-08:00Hey Coach,How would you recommend adapting to bare...Hey Coach,<BR/><BR/>How would you recommend adapting to barefoot running? Growing up I rarely wore shoes in the summer, which is awesome living in suburbia *rolls eyes* so my feet are fairly tough. But I'm smart to realize tough does not equal strong. I've been doing all my kettlebell work barefoot since the summer so I have some exercising barefoot background.<BR/><BR/>When the spring comes, I'll be starting up a HIIT schedule at my local park because they have a track that's maybe 1/6 of a mile around and they also have a pull-up bar (making the push-pull rest periods easier to do). Should I do my sprints wearing shoes and then kick them off for the last lap or so and then slowly add more barefoot laps as I progress? <BR/><BR/>Also, is there any damage I can do by running for short periods on asphalt barefoot? There are some more rural and grass covered areas in my town that I could jog on and there are plenty of hills to get my heart rate up but I'm probably going to have to run across streets or driveways on occasion to do that. Is this going to be a problem? Or should I stick to the park when I'm doing HIIT and the one or two nature trails in the area?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-78953630074863880332009-02-23T20:24:00.000-08:002009-02-23T20:24:00.000-08:00Thanks for writing Kat! Your message will get thr...Thanks for writing Kat! Your message will get through--good luck! - SteveSteve Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00902095736214823013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-3962045652116655052009-02-23T20:23:00.000-08:002009-02-23T20:23:00.000-08:00Gereeves, It comes close. Wrestling shoes are cer...Gereeves, It comes close. Wrestling shoes are certainly a minimalist foot wear and a step in the right direction. The foot is still rather confined- SteveSteve Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00902095736214823013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-75055622235707629952009-02-23T20:22:00.000-08:002009-02-23T20:22:00.000-08:00Liljeros, Thanks for writing. I agree, for people...Liljeros, Thanks for writing. I agree, for people used to wearing shoes, you must wean yourself off, not jump right in. it takes a while to strengthen feet weakened by heavily cushioned shoes and arch supports, etc. - SteveSteve Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00902095736214823013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-62728581802696661672009-02-23T20:20:00.000-08:002009-02-23T20:20:00.000-08:00Hi Chris,Thanks for the link. I agree, Erwan is a...Hi Chris,<BR/>Thanks for the link. I agree, Erwan is a very interesting guy! - SteveSteve Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00902095736214823013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-85745651827712430542009-02-23T12:55:00.000-08:002009-02-23T12:55:00.000-08:00Ask Erwan if he'd ever come out to Guam. A single ...Ask Erwan if he'd ever come out to Guam. A single lady who loves the outdoors is real interested in being his host! Very hot...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-63715517004907021012009-02-21T09:32:00.000-08:002009-02-21T09:32:00.000-08:00Oh wow. This is really something. I loved that v...Oh wow. This is really something. I loved that video, very inspiring! I think Ill be looking into that magazine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-81865460765490543152009-02-20T05:05:00.000-08:002009-02-20T05:05:00.000-08:00I have been wearing wrestling boots everywhere for...I have been wearing wrestling boots everywhere for quite a while, even in the hills of appalachia (which is where I reside), how does this compare to barefoot?gereeveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18314678437568002486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-2464221009353934432009-02-18T16:40:00.000-08:002009-02-18T16:40:00.000-08:00Yes, barefoot running is the real shit, Coach! And...Yes, barefoot running is the real shit, Coach! And It´s a good idea to begin slowly! I had big problemes with my calves when I run the first times, could barely walk for one week. After that I started a new strategy and just began to warm up with FiveFingers about 5-6 minutes 2-3 times a week. Done that for 5-6 month now and doing great progress! I feels more and more natural to run barefoot!<BR/><BR/>See my vids here: http://liljeros.blogspot.com/2009/01/fivefingers.html<BR/><BR/>(language translator up to the right)Liljeroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17363325544950160411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5186815140250716212.post-48218575975516260802009-02-18T15:14:00.000-08:002009-02-18T15:14:00.000-08:00Great Stuff.Steve - you might be interested in an ...Great Stuff.<BR/><BR/>Steve - you might be interested in an <A HREF="http://conditioningresearch.blogspot.com/2009/01/erwan-le-corre.html" REL="nofollow">interview</A> I did with Erwan recently. He is a great guy and he covers some really good stuff in the interview. It is inspiring.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223657383325055342noreply@blogger.com