Just ran in vibram five fingers for first time

[MrMatt]

ok so I got some VBFF's a few days ago and have been wearing them a few hours per day. My calves are slightly sore, as expected. Yesterday I worked out in them and it went fine, I enjoyed it. So today I figured I'd run a couple miles and see how it went. Now first I want to say that my calves and ankles handled it fine. what did NOT handle it fine however was the flesh on my feet. I have a blister on the outside of each pinky toe. On my right foot, on the pad just below where my big toe is I have another blister. And on my left foot's inside arch I have a HUGE blister. Is this normal? I looked at the website for VBFFs and picked out a size. I then went to the store and measured, and he came up with the same size. He then brought out that size, one size up, and one size down. The bigger ones felt too loose, the smaller ones too tight. So I don't think it's a sizing issue. What gives? By the end of the run I was actually running on the sides of my feet basically so that I could just complete the short run and not pop the blisters. What should I do?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

You bought your VFF's and ran in them a few days later. That's the problem. You did not adapt. Your feet did not adapt. You need to be patient with the VFF's. I had them for a least 4-5 weeks before I started running at all in them. When I did start running, I ran a half a mile. On top of that, it's doubtful that your form for your VFF's is right. If you find that you still get blisters when your form is correct, you can buy some socks for them. Really though, the main thing here is you went out and used a product that requires a very slow easing into them.

 

[katank]

Don't sweat it. Adaptation takes time. I walked in them for two weeks before doing any running and still woke up with calves cramping like crazy first night after a run. Blisters were also an issue initially but I built up decent amount of foot calluses within about another two weeks.

Overall, just take it easy and let it adapt. You may want to look at POSE running though to make sure your technique is solid.

 

[MrMatt]

whoops I thought I could adapt in a few days to them. My B.

I tried pose running before and it hurt my calves so bad I couldn't run for 3 weeks, felt like I was getting knives in my calves. Not even cramping, just felt like being stabbed. Maybe I'll try it again with the VFFs.


SociallyChallenged: 6000 posts!

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: MrMatt
whoops I thought I could adapt in a few days to them. My B.

I tried pose running before and it hurt my calves so bad I couldn't run for 3 weeks, felt like I was getting knives in my calves. Not even cramping, just felt like being stabbed. Maybe I'll try it again with the VFFs.


SociallyChallenged: 6000 posts!

Yeah, man, POSE gives a good idea of how you should run in the VFFs. Personally, I don't like all the things about POSE (for example backward lean, no stress on arm movement, etc), but it definitely helps if you don't know what's going on. Be patient though. With POSE in VFF's, I'd start jogging 400-800m nice and easy every day or every other day. Each week, I'd add 400m to it. That's how slow I'd take it. Good luck though, man.

Btw, what are the post #s for different ranks (ie golden member, platinum member, diamond member, etc? I forgot, haha).

 

[katank]

@ SC, are we talking about the same POSE? I was under the impression that POSE is all about the forward lean which produces the forward motion with minimal of fuss. It's true that POSE doesn't talk much about arm movement but that comes somewhat naturally when trying to generate high leg turnover.

 

[MrMatt]

Originally posted by: katank
@ SC, are we talking about the same POSE? I was under the impression that POSE is all about the forward lean which produces the forward motion with minimal of fuss. It's true that POSE doesn't talk much about arm movement but that comes somewhat naturally when trying to generate high leg turnover.

I'm pretty sure POSE doesn't have a forward lean.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: katank
@ SC, are we talking about the same POSE? I was under the impression that POSE is all about the forward lean which produces the forward motion with minimal of fuss. It's true that POSE doesn't talk much about arm movement but that comes somewhat naturally when trying to generate high leg turnover.

True POSE only stresses starting your lean at your ankles. The author tries to tell you to maintain a slight lean backward so you can open your hips easier. It works for long distance (still don't like it), but for sprinting it doesn't (unless you're Michael Johnson). And to address the arms: have you seen some of the "premiere" POSE runners? All of them completely neglect their arms. It doesn't come naturally because POSE doesn't force people to ever think about them. Arms are very important while running and POSE eliminates them, creating T-Rexes of long distance running.

 

[MrMatt]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: katank
@ SC, are we talking about the same POSE? I was under the impression that POSE is all about the forward lean which produces the forward motion with minimal of fuss. It's true that POSE doesn't talk much about arm movement but that comes somewhat naturally when trying to generate high leg turnover.

True POSE only stresses starting your lean at your ankles. The author tries to tell you to maintain a slight lean backward so you can open your hips easier. It works for long distance (still don't like it), but for sprinting it doesn't (unless you're Michael Johnson). And to address the arms: have you seen some of the "premiere" POSE runners? All of them completely neglect their arms. It doesn't come naturally because POSE doesn't force people to ever think about them. Arms are very important while running and POSE eliminates them, creating T-Rexes of long distance running.

T-Rexes lol. You don't sound like a big fan of the POSE method?

Post-Run thoughts: my calves aren't really sore today. Maybe a little, but nothing serious. Almost all my foot strikes were mid/ball of foot. Like maybe 2 heel strikes the whole time.

Blisters on my feet still suck. Going to go back to my shoes that have like 13k miles on them, and gradually work in the VFFs on running days.

 

[StageLeft]

It took me a couple of months with my VFF before I could run 3-4 miles without my feet getting "hot" every time. At the beginning it was much worse.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: MrMatt

Originally posted by: katank
@ SC, are we talking about the same POSE? I was under the impression that POSE is all about the forward lean which produces the forward motion with minimal of fuss. It's true that POSE doesn't talk much about arm movement but that comes somewhat naturally when trying to generate high leg turnover.

I'm pretty sure POSE doesn't have a forward lean.

Yeah it does. The idea behind POSE is that you are constantly falling forward and your feet are simply catching you. Without a forward lean, how would you move forward if your feet always contacted the ground directly under your GCM?

 

[MotF Bane]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged
Btw, what are the post #s for different ranks (ie golden member, platinum member, diamond member, etc? I forgot, haha).

Member is 0-199
Senior is 200 - 999
Golden is 1000 - 1999
Platinum is 2000 - 2999
Diamond is 3000 - 9999
Lifer is 10000+
Elites are suggested by members and enacted by mods

 

[Jinru]

Originally posted by: BeauJangles

Originally posted by: MrMatt

Originally posted by: katank
@ SC, are we talking about the same POSE? I was under the impression that POSE is all about the forward lean which produces the forward motion with minimal of fuss. It's true that POSE doesn't talk much about arm movement but that comes somewhat naturally when trying to generate high leg turnover.

I'm pretty sure POSE doesn't have a forward lean.

Yeah it does. The idea behind POSE is that you are constantly falling forward and your feet are simply catching you. Without a forward lean, how would you move forward if your feet always contacted the ground directly under your GCM?

I was also under the same impression there was a forward lean when I watched the video tutorials on their website.

 

[silverpig]

I started with my VFFs on a treadmill. I ran 1.5 miles my first time and then I had trouble walking for about 3 days. To be honest, I ran about 3/4 mile "normally" heelstriking, and after that got painful, I ran about 3/4 mile forefoot and absorbing the impact with my calves. I went 1 mile next time, then 2, and after that I was running on the road.

I never learned POSE, but found that running in the VFFs just naturally changed my stride due to the pain of heelstriking.