You’ve probably seen them by now. They look like gloves for your feet, with individual compartments for each of your toes. They’ve been around for awhile now, but they’re just becoming very popular with runners and other endurance athletes.
Last summer when I purchased my Vibram Five Fingers, I had to scour the internet just to find a pair in my size. I only wore them while on the trails in the arb for fear of ostracism. But now they seem to be everywhere.
Anyways, there’s no doubt these “shoes” have become very popular. Christopher McDougall praised them in his book Born to Run, and study after study has come out documenting the benefits of barefoot running. I’ve seen many people running around Madison parks wearing them.
Before I started wearing my Five Fingers last summer, I assumed that barefoot running is for plodders but this just isn’t true. In Born to Run, McDougall tells us that Vin Lanana, the well respected college track and cross country coach would have his elite division I collegiate athletes do grass sprints barefoot after workouts. Last week in Boston, Madison runner and Vibram veteran Rolando Cruz ran the tough Boston course in 2:55 while wearing the Five Fingers!
They are fun to wear but take getting used to. If you are at all interested, swing by Berkeley Running Company on May 3 at 6 p.m. The very same Rolando mentioned above is going to talk about the benefits of running in the Five Fingers, how to get started, and much more. If you’re interested in buying a pair you won’t even have to search the internet!
Five Fingers 101
Monday, May 3 at 6:00pm
with Rolando Cruz, Berkeley Running Company Staff Member
Enjoy an hour of not only listening to Rolando speak about our Five Fingers, but feel his passion toward the product, as well. Rolando has been wearing his Vibrams since July and ran with them in the Boston Marathon this past week.
Vibram FiveFingers are different from all other footwear on the planet. Not only do they bring you closer to your environment, FiveFingers deliver a number of positive health benefits-by leveraging all of the body's natural biomechanics, so you can move as nature intended.
6 Reasons to Wear Vibram FiveFingers:
- Strengthens Muscles in the Feet and Lower Legs - wearing FiveFingers will stimulate and strengthen muscles in the feet and lower legs, improving general foot health and reducing the risk of injury.
- Improves Range of Motion in Ankles, Feet and Toes- no longer 'cast' in a shoe, the foot and toes move more naturally.
- Stimulates Neural Function Important to Balance and Agility- when wearing Vibram FiveFingers, thousands of neurological receptors in the feet send valuable information to the brain, improving balance and agility.
- Improves Proprioception and Body Awareness- those same neurological receptors heighten body awareness, sending messages about body mechanics, form, and movement.
- Eliminates Heel Lift to Align the Spine and Improve Posture- By lowering the heel, our bodyweight becomes evenly distributed across the footbed, promoting proper posture and spine alignment.
- Allows the Foot and Body to Move Naturally, Which Just FEELS GOOD.
As with all seminar sessions, if possible, please contact Berkeley to reserve a chair at 395.2375 or or email us at info@berkeleyrunningcompany.com