Anyone train in Vibrams?

[bounceliketigger]

BIG day for me today! Did 11.33 in my VFFs! Farthest ever.

Ok, I did have to walk some because the ITB & knee started giving me trouble. I was mad as heck too because my time would've been great otherwise. This was the 1st time I've had this issue since the Princess, so now I'm really nervous about the W&D.

Anywho, no issues w/ shins or calves at all, which had been really acting up when I wear sneaks.

I've actually done a little bit of barefoot, when my shoes felt uncomfy or my VFFs were giving me a blister. Today I wore socks & had no blister problems.
But boy, barefoot does feel pretty good & I have to admit I love the looks

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

Awesome job BounceLikeTigger! I had the opposite experience today - I just had the worst run of my life! I did 12 miles in my vffs and all was going well until mile 4 when my legs refused to cooperate anymore at mile 6 I ran out of water and then at mile 8 my vffs ripped holes into my feet at mile 11 I found a water fountain and drank so much my stomach started cramping But i did managed to get all 12 painfully slow miles in - I have a cutback week next week so hopefully that will give my body time to recoup a little before W&D

Kirsty

 

[bounceliketigger]

Awesome job BounceLikeTigger! I had the opposite experience today - I just had the worst run of my life! I did 12 miles in my vffs and all was going well until mile 4 when my legs refused to cooperate anymore at mile 6 I ran out of water and then at mile 8 my vffs ripped holes into my feet at mile 11 I found a water fountain and drank so much my stomach started cramping But i did managed to get all 12 painfully slow miles in - I have a cutback week next week so hopefully that will give my body time to recoup a little before W&D

Kirsty

Holy cow! Sorry to hear that!

"Ripped holes" as in you got blisters? If that's the case, absolutely try some Injini socks!! I had the same problem & was plastering band-aids on the ares, but then tried the socks and POW- no more blisters! You'd think they'd be hot, but nope, just soft and comfy!

I'm trying to stick to about 2 oz of water per mile, but then again I don't live in FL! I did lose one of my AmphiPods though, off the back of my belt & boy was I steamed.

I was seriously considering running the W&D in the VFFs, but have decided against it for 2 main reasons: 1- the race is at night. I don't want to have to worry about stepping on something I can't see. Or getting my toes stepped on. 2- If I can do a decent time in VFFs, I know my time in sneaks will probably be better!

 

[SAHDad]

Finally got to run in my Bikilas again today. It wasn't a long run (about 2.7 miles), but it felt nice. I'll ease back into them, but it was good to see that they still felt good on my feet.

 

[bounceliketigger]

Finally got to run in my Bikilas again today. It wasn't a long run (about 2.7 miles), but it felt nice. I'll ease back into them, but it was good to see that they still felt good on my feet.

Did you have other VFFs before the Bikilas or are they your 1st pr? I'm running in KSOs & Sprints, but am thinking of trying the Bikilas. Not sure if it's worth the extra $.

 

[SAHDad]

Did you have other VFFs before the Bikilas or are they your 1st pr? I'm running in KSOs & Sprints, but am thinking of trying the Bikilas. Not sure if it's worth the extra $.

The Bikilas are my first pair. I looked at the Sprints, but I just did not care for the lack of an upper surface. I am thinking about getting a pair of KSO Trek for trail running - a timed ultra I did earlier this year announced yesterday that the race will be run again next year, this time with both an 8 hour version (which I did) and a 24 hour version.

It's a nice trail loop, and I think Vibrams would wash clean, whereas I ruined a pair of Mizunos when I ran it this year. By the time I called it a day, my shoes had collected enough mud that it looked like I had bricks on my feet instead of shoes!

 

[bounceliketigger]

The Bikilas are my first pair. I looked at the Sprints, but I just did not care for the lack of an upper surface. I am thinking about getting a pair of KSO Trek for trail running - a timed ultra I did earlier this year announced yesterday that the race will be run again next year, this time with both an 8 hour version (which I did) and a 24 hour version.

It's a nice trail loop, and I think Vibrams would wash clean, whereas I ruined a pair of Mizunos when I ran it this year. By the time I called it a day, my shoes had collected enough mud that it looked like I had bricks on my feet instead of shoes!

Just got KSO Treks for the DH & he loves them. He says they're the perfect marriage of the 2 versions--tread of Treks, upper KSOs. They were hard to find. 3 days after an email from Travel Country saying they were in, they were gone. I actually ended up getting him women's in black. 2 sizes up fr his men's size & they fit great, but his foot is slightly narrow. (And the black doesn't look girlie at all )

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

Hey guys

So I went out and bought some Bikilas on Sunday I have needed a new pair of vffs for a while but after my classics shredded my feet on Sun I decided to just go spend the money Anyway so I walked into the store (which was insanely busy) and told the nice guy who asked if I needed assistance that I wanted to try every pair of vffs in my size poor guy! Anyway I was between the kso treks and the bilikas when I just went with my guts so I bought my shiny new Bilikas (in wish green no less) and I literally have only taken them off to sleep since. I ran in them for the first time this morning 2 miles and they felt awesome (even if my legs are still resisting after my 12 miles this weekend!) I got them a size bigger than my classics because my feet have been swelling in them on my long runs and I think that is what caused the severe chaffing between my toes on Sun.

Bounceliketigger - what # are you for W&D? and what race time did you submit? I was just on the 11mpm thread and they are talking about running a 2:15 and starting in corral A - didn't you say you were aiming for a 12 - 12:30?

Kirsty

 

[bounceliketigger]

Ohhhh I'm sooo jealous! I really want to try some Bikilas! They're next to impossible to find in a store or online. Where did you find them?

My # is 4140. I put in my Princess time of 2:40. I'm hoping for 2:25ish. Stupid me- I should have put in my ToT time of 1:30. My knee buckled during the Princess & it cost me at least 20min. I'm havin knee issues again now so I'm nervous. Wonder if I can re-submit my ToT time & get bumped up a corral.

What's ur #? The 11mm thread has quite a few folks more @ the 12mm timeframe & they're talking 2:15 based on the Disney formula. I guess we'll see.

are you going to do it in the Bikilas?

Shan

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

I'm 4505 - I have no idea what time I put, but I am thinking I will be in corral C. I am thinking with my running being as slow as it has been lately that I might just run by myself this time - I was hoping for a PR, now I am just hoping to finish.

Yes, I am running in my Bikilas (I have nowhere to put my race tag on my classics) I am excited and nervous to run in them

I got them at my local running store - I have no idea who they are bribing but they always have them

Kirsty

 

[bounceliketigger]

I'm 4505 - I have no idea what time I put, but I am thinking I will be in corral C. I am thinking with my running being as slow as it has been lately that I might just run by myself this time - I was hoping for a PR, now I am just hoping to finish.

Yes, I am running in my Bikilas (I have nowhere to put my race tag on my classics) I am excited and nervous to run in them

I got them at my local running store - I have no idea who they are bribing but they always have them

Kirsty

I think we're both in C. Looks like we have the same goal. I was really hoping to do better than 2:30, but my left ITB & knee are still sore & I've only done a 2 mile run/walk since the 11+ on Saturday. You might consider jumping in w/ the 11-13ers. I'd be happy to at least start w/ you. I've been so stinkin slow lately too that I'm sure you'd have to move on ahead at some point. I've never run w/ a group before, but could be fun to try.

I still don't know what I'm running in. I was sure I didn't want to do it in Vffs, but the little 2 miler in sneaks yesterday just didn't feel good. Yet, I know I'm slower in the Vibes. What to do, what to do.....think I'll try a long run this weekend in my minimal NBs & see what happens.

Hmmm. I wonder if your running store will ship to NJ? or to AKL? lol

 

[Sarah_Rose]

Kirsty, you know my list of things that are your fault? We're adding another one...

I picked up a pair of KSO's this morning at REI - I really wanted to try the Bikilas, but there doesn't seem to be a single pair of them in all of Washington State. I wore them for a short 1 mile walk with my German Shepherds (and 6 week old Callum in a pouch sling - I'm pretty much just a traveing circus now) and they seemed pretty comfortable. I'm excited to wear them for my run tomorrow. I'm pretty much starting from scratch after a 2 month running break before/after Callum was born so it seems like a good time to try the VFFs.

I'm excited to see how this goes. I have been having some arch pain since I was about 5 months pregnant, so I'm hoping I can slowly get these feet strengthened up again.

And if it's a disaster.... I'm blaming this on you, Kirsty.

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

Wow that list is getting nice and long now isn't it

Just take it slow on your run, you would be surprised how much you can hurt after a short run in vffs

Welcome to the club, and enjoy

Kirsty

PS Of all the things I have forced you to do that are my fault I am pretty sure you haven't regretted any Just sayin' I must be an excellent Sarah-persuader

 

[SAHDad]

Quick update - still not back in the Bikilas full-time, but I have been getting in anywhere from two to four runs a week in them, and about three or four miles per run. They feel good, for the most part - except for the random lone acorn on the pavement!

I am hoping to get in a six or seven mile trail run in them this weekend, but it may not happen, since my beloved Garmin 305 is no longer talking to my computer - I think it is starting to die, though I got a good four years out of it.

 

[bounceliketigger]

I just got my periodic 20%off coupon from REI, + I have $16 in dividends, so I could get Bikilas for $65! But of course now they're out of stock- UGH!

So here's my question-- how worth it are they? Should I buy them @ REI & wait for backorder or suck it up & pay full price @ the local running store?

Kirsty, I know there was some difficulty during the W&D, but overall, how do you like them? Compared to your classics?

What to do.....

 

[jeanigor]

Is everyone still happy with their VFF's?

 

[FFigawi]

Is everyone still happy with their VFF's?

I love mine. I wear them as much as I can, although I haven't worked up to running very far in them yet. I also went out and bought a pair of the New Balance Minimus shoes, which are even more comfortable than my Bikilas. I'm not convinced I'll ever run a full in either pair, but I can tell that the more I wear them, the better my gait and stride gets when wearing my Asics.

 

[SAHDad]

Yep, still happy with my Bikilas. I run 2-3 days per week in them, though lately it has been more. I am contemplating running at least a marathon, if not an ultra, in them sometime in the next year or so.

 

[rundisneymom]

I wear Merrell Pace Gloves and love, love, love them!!

 

[hops&dreams]

I just saw this and thought people might want to see - Vibrams on sale:
http://www.travelcountry.com/shop/vibram-fivefingers/sale-clearance

$50 or $60 for a pair. Pretty good price, as far as I can tell. I'm going to go try on a pair today and see if I like them. I have looked and can't decide. Maybe when I'm a more serious (more experienced) runner?