Vibram FiveFinger Review - One Year in the Making

I've worn Vibram FiveFingers for over a year now and have put them through hell and back.  After a year I think it's time to tell the good, the bad and the ugly truth about these premier minimalist shoes.  I've been following a minimalist way of life, if you can call it a way of life, for a while now.  Since the economy tanked back in 2008 my wife and I have been living a more frugal life, spending less and getting rid of the non-essentials.  With this lifestyle I've become more active and gotten myself outdoors more often.  I had also read the book Born To Run by Christopher McDougall and took it to heart.Never one to go without shoes, I embraced the barefoot lifestyle and in doing so bought a pair of FiveFingers.
  Being a victim of a bad knee (went 10 years w/out an ACL and have completely torn up my meniscus) I was looking for a way to run w/out the constant pounding of pavement.  I would run and have to use a cane to walk the following day when I ran as I always had, heel to toe.  Then came the FiveFingers.  I took the transition slow, walking around the yard and gravel driveway at first then going on mile jogs and eventually increasing my distance and speed.
I've never been a distance runner, always running sprints in school.  I did notice that my distances continued to increase and I wasn't becoming fatigued as I had in the past.  Soon I was running 5k's without much effort.  Though I wouldn't consider myself a contender, I was running further than I ever had before.  And I was doing so without having to ice my knee and use a cane to walk afterwards.  Success, I thought to myself and went on a full out promotion of the shoes that held the key to my running happiness.  I would show pictures of them to friends and colleagues.  I was even able to convince a few to buy a pair for themselves.
Six months in my FiveFingers and I began to notice the sole pealing away from the stretch polymide fabric.  I was a bit annoyed to say the least and contacted Vibram FiveFingers customer support about the issue.  To say the least I wasn't satisfied with their response that I should just glue em back together.  "No kidding," I thought to myself.     I took the response in stride and simply "fixed" the problem and continued on.
I ran in my FiveFingers all summer & fall & even tried wearing them through the winter but, ended up with near frostbite one soggy morning.  They were put away till spring.  When the spring came I was in them almost always.  I was using them as my everyday shoe.  At  some point in time I decided that after nearly a year in them I was going to put them to the test, I was going to wear them in every for every activity I could.  I wore them hiking, climbing, running, in creeks, and my go to shoe.  They handled well in all situations save one, hiking.
I have written on wearing them hiking so I won't go into too much detail but, the mountainous trails of south central PA are not kind to these minimalist shoes.  I think my feet are pretty tough, I mean I can walk across gravel and trails without discomfort.  I'm no Cody Lundin but, I would say my feet can handle more punishment than most.  Anyways, the FiveFingers were no different than going barefoot on the Appalachian Trail.  I tried it, barefoot and FiveFinger'd.  The trail was just too much for either.  The rocky trails and uneven ground put my feet and knees to the test and I eventually had to go to my cross trainers to continue hiking.  I know my pace on a trail has some factor in my discomfort but, there is no denying that there is little protection against large jagged rocks growing up from the earth.
As of this week though I believe my FiveFingers have finally wore out.  I have used them to run twice now and experienced blisters each time.  I have notice they do not fit as snug and actually move a bit on my left foot.  Which happens to be the same shoe I've had to repair twice.  I have asked FiveFinges if the shoes, like most running shoes, have a lifespan.  I haven't received an answer as of this posting.  I am a bit sad by this but, will continue wearing them around the house and out.  Running in them is not going to happen though.
Overall, I am happy with Vibram FiveFingers.  Though I've had to repair them a few times and their customer service was a bit of a blow off, I still feel the product served their purpose.  I have no idea how many miles I put on them and I'm not sure if the particular shoe I have was intended to be used on mountainous terrain.  I would have like to have seen them last longer, of course, and perhaps if I had strictly used them for running they would have.  I do intend to buy another pair to be used strictly for running and eventually get a pair of their Classics for everyday wear.  I've never worn my running shoes as everyday shoes so why should I think FiveFingers different.  After a year of use I'd rate them 8.5 / 10 if I was asked.  I place them higher than any other running shoes I've worn and can't wait to get a new pair.

Appalachian Trail Experience - Part 2

The trail has definitely pushed my legs to their limits and beyond.  I walked off the trail limping and completely drained and sore.  My intent today was to push myself to it's limits and I painfully succeeded.  I hiked a total of 24.9 miles in a little over 7 hours.  Not a great pace but, somewhat respectable.  I hiked through Michaux State Forest, more like mountains really.  There was very little flat ground and was given a number of opportunities to rock climb.  I knew starting out in the morning that the day would punish me but, I wasn't expecting the punishment to be so grueling.
For this hike I wore a pair of New Balance cross trainers.  I am upset with myself for not wearing my Vibram's but, I knew that I'd never finish the day if I wore them.  My feet were still really tender from the previous days of trekking in them or bare foot.  It was awkward for a while hiking in them.  It was a bit odd not being able to "connect" with the ground but, I was so thankful within the first hour when I came to a quarter mile of medium sized rocky part of the trail.  In my Vibram's it would have been a slow and careful navigation to avoid any real pain but, with the cross-trainers on I jogged.
My pace for the first half of the day was quite fast, around 5 mph.  For most hikers the average pace is between 1.5 to 2.5 mph for the given terrain and pack weight I had with me.  I remember passing other hikers along the path and hearing comments like, "What the f#ck?" "is he serious?" and one older gentleman told me to slow down.  I was too "in my own world" to give any recognition to my fellow hikers and just would simply wave, say hi and pass them quickly by veering off the trail to pass.  I wasn't waiting for anyone and was focused on my mission.  I had a long hike ahead of me and didn't really want to be hiking in the dark.  Little did I know my pace also was a hinderance.
The thing about keeping a quick pace in the mountains there are a lot of rough terrain to watch for, steep climbs and tough descents to manage.  I am lucky that I have been able to maintain quick foot speed since playing soccer in my youth and am a strong hill climber with the help of a couple years of cycling under my belt, descents though, I got no game.  I don't have a problem going downhill technically but, even though I am descend onto my midfoot the impact is still tremendous.   My knee started feeling the impact by late morning. I ignored the pain and kept pressing onward.  Big mistake.
By mid afternoon my knee had swollen and I was having trouble fully extending my leg.  I had a noticable limp and I wasn't even thinking of a quick pace.  I just wanted to get to the end of the trail to my pick up location.  I was hiking through the woods audibly chastising myself for my foolishness.  But, in that time as things slowed down.  I began to see things I don't normally see.  The wooded mountains began to form into the beauty they are known for.  I finally for the first time, saw this beauty.  My quick sprint like pace through the mountains the days before and even this morning had hid this artwork from me.  Now, I was viewing its' spendor through new eyes.
Though I was in pain and pretty uncomfortable I was still able to enjoy the remarkable landscape passing before me.  The rock formations that for centuries have been touched by only a limited number of souls.  A deer eating in an open section of oaks and maples.  Even a rattlesnake sunning itself on a rock formation exposed to the afternoon sun.  Most of this would have gone unnoticed if I hadn't been hurt.  The pain sucked but, was also a blessing.   It forced me to see hiking in a different light.  Much of what I do, I do as quickly as I can.  By slowing down I was able to savor the experience to embed a memory I'd hope to never forget.
My respect to those who trek out into the wild is at an all time high.  To expose oneself to nature and allow oneself to be vulnerable demands respect.
To the hikers who traverse the Appalachian Trail from start to finish I salute your endevours.  I am impressed not only by your physical abilities to do so but, by your resolve to endure all 2,180 miles of some of the East coasts roughest terrain.  To the hikers I passed by in a blur, good luck and I hope your journey is rewarding.  To the Marine I met in Boiling Springs, I admire your overcoming adversity and limitations to endure and push through.  

Appalachian Trail Experience - Part 1

One of the most famous trails in the United States, the Appalachian Trail. Stretching from Georgia to Maine and travels through some of the more spectacular east coast wilderness. Countless hikers set off and traverse parts of the trail and fewer take on the entire trail from start to finish. The thru-hikers, as they are called, take an average of 5-7 months of their lives to complete the trail. I am hoping to place among them in the near future.

For the past summer I’ve been hiking more and more getting my body accustomed to the rigors of the trail. Gaining endurance on the steep climbs and increasing my strength and resolve to handle the rugged terrain. This past weekend I’ve pushed myself to traveling further and faster than I normally hike. I’ve also forgone my normal shoes and gone either bare foot or with my favored Vibram FiveFingers. They are my go to shoes, the ones I wear as much and as often as I can. They have replaced my running shoes and have improved my running ever since. But, I must admit I’m beginning to think that the minimalist shoes just aren’t enough for the sort of hiking I do.

I am not sure if I’m odd or if my way of hiking is outside the norm but, I like to hike to a pretty quick tempo. I don’t just meander through the woods and stop to smell the roses. I use my peripheral vision and don’t really focus on any one thing when I hike…I sort of scan everything in front of me as I hike. Stopping only when I pick up something the piques my interest. I also, hike at a fairly fast pace of 4 m/hr. I do this for cardio mainly. I am really in a mindset to get in shape and pushing the limits of my body…so hiking at a fast pace seemed logical. Call me weird, ok.

Anyway, I hiked over 25 miles in the course of two days. Not as much as I’d have liked but, time was limited. My honest opinion was some seriously sore feet during my hikes. I’m not going to down play anything just because I like Vibrams but, damn was I cursing myself for not brining other shoes. The terrain was so uneven and so rocky that the Vibrams just dulled the pain my feet felt with each step. Though I didn’t stop to rest at any point along the way I really don’t think I’ll wear them for anything more extreme than a trail run on a non-mountainous area. The terrain in the mountains was just too much for the 3.5mm Vibram TC-1 performance rubber soles to handle.

Vibram does make a model called the KSO Treks which have 4mm EVA midsole and TC-1 rubber. I’m not sure that .5mm is going to help my cause. I don’t know anyone else who has used the Vibram’s in mountainous conditions to compare experiences and most of the hikers I ran into had comments ranging from me being a little out there to being completely nuts. I’m sure if they could see me cringing while hiking down a trail with golf ball sized rocks they’d think I was a masochist.

Even though it is extremely painful in the Vibrams I am still apprehensive to wear my normal hiking shoes. I just don’t enjoy the hindrance of movement I get with the New Balance 801’s I have worn in the past. I also am extremely susceptible to blisters in them. Doubling my socks might help but, I really don’t like blisters. I ended up baling hay in my bare feet this year because of blisters. Though not bad, bare feet just limited my ability to bale hay and walk through the field quickly.

I’ll have to decide quickly what I’m going to wear. I plan on hitting the trail again tomorrow and want to go all out in the mountains to work on my leg strength.

My overall opinion of the short 25 miles I’ve hiked on the Appalachian Trail…well I’ll post that tomorrow. Till then, stay healthy.

My First 5K

After the Chocolate Miracle 5K race exhaused in Hershey, PA

 I ran my first 5K race one week ago today.  I was a bit nervous.  How will I finish?  Will I bonk? Will I be able to hang with guys my age even or will I get passed by somebody I perceive to be more out of shape than me?  Ok, I was more nervous than I let on but, I'm happy to say according to the result boards at the race I did better than I thought.  I came in 69th, with an unofficial time of 24 minutes 21seconds making that my fastest 5K ever!  It was definitely an experience I want to repeat and will make some adjustments too.  Experience is absolutely the best way for me to learn.

The race benefited the Children's Miracle Network and took place in good ol' Hershey, PA.  Home of, yes you betcha, Hershey Chocolate.  I was fortunate enough to have my wife and boys with me to keep me company during the pre-race shuffle.  Otherwise I would have probably put my headphones in my ears and fallen asleep.  I had woken up at 4 o'clock to eat and get ready.  Packed the suburban by 5:15.  On the road by 5:30, to get there by 7 o'clock.  Race began at 8 o'clock.  I had plenty of time to register, pin my number (165) on and make sure I was hydrated.  It also gave me time to scope out the other runners.

There were a ton of people there of all ages.  I was a bit disappointed that I could only find one other runner in Vibram FiveFingers.  She ended up 3rd overall for the women.  It was easy to spot the cross country runners.  A group of guys in their late teens / early twenties congregated by a tree.  You could just see it in them they ran and were good at it.  I found out later just how good when they passed me half a mile from the turn around, most of ‘em chit chatting as they ran effortlessly.  By that time, I was doing everything I could just to stay breathing.  

There was a short ceremony right before the race, which I'm sad to say most of us missed cause the sound was so poor.  We all knew when to go though.  I tried starting as close to the beginning as I could...I hate being stuck in a crowd.  

After the half a mile we had thinned out pretty good.  I almost cried when I passed the first mile marker and a guy yelled my time as 7:13, I was shocked.  I normally run a static 8:50 - 9:10 mile.  I was cruising.  

The second mile I had lapsed into a +8 minute mile.  I could feel the heat finally hitting me.  The air was thick and made breathing a challenge.  I've always had difficulty breathing well in distance running.  I just don't feel I'm taking in enough oxygen.  Went to my doctors a while back and after a battery of tests, my lungs are healthy and work perfect.  It didn't feel like they were perfect the day of the race though. Then there was the distinct sound of someone coming up from behind me.

There is something to be said about hearing someone running behind you.  When you hear their heavy breathing and shoes hit the asphalt just over your shoulder that just pushes you.  I remember passing a guy and scaring the crap out of him cause he couldn't hear me coming.  He caught up with me after the race to talk about it.  He said he normally hears the footsteps of someone approaching but, never heard mine.  I told him it was the way I ran because of my shoes. My heels barely strike the ground.  I am a minimalist runner and wear Vibram FiveFingers which enable me to run naturally thus, quietly.  I think I talked to a dozen or so runners about my shoes that day. Most had questions of comfort and if I had any pain when I ran. “Nope,” I told them, “and I’ll never go back to standard shoes again.”

The last stretch of the run was the worst, it was a slight incline back to the starting line. Slight in reality but, at that point it felt like a mountain.  My legs were aching and because I was wearing a knee brace my right calf muscle was beginning to cramp.  ACL replacement back in ‘05 left my knee with little to no meniscus and I didn’t want to take any chances of potential injury.

I took my bandanna off, wrung it out and stuffed it in my waistband.  I was hot and couldn't get cool enough.  I was was tired, sore and felt like i couldn’t take a breath but, by the time I reached the last 200m I hit a zone.  

My body felt the finish line.  I was being pulled to it.  It was within my grasp.  I could feel my stride lengthen. My pace began to quicken. I felt weightless.  I passed two runners as I continued to gain momentum.  Two more runners behind me and I was in a full sprint.  I had run track in school, the 200m and 400m so I was in familiar territory but, had never done it after just running 3 miles.  Even so I drove through the finish line in full stride on the balls of my feet as fast as I could.  

I remember passing the clock and it reading 00:24:20.  I added another second just in case I missed something.  I was out of breath completely as I gave one of the girls waiting at the end of a tunnel they had set up, the tag off my bib.  That is how they kept track of our placing.  I was overjoyed with my time but, wanting to collapse.  I just had to keep moving though.  Soon, my wife and kids came to my rescue with a bottle of water and support.

We hung out and encouraged the other runners as they finished.  The boys and I ate the free bananas, cookies and other snacks they had available for us.  When it was all said and done I was quite proud of myself.  I hadn't thought I'd have had it in me. Though I didn't place in my age group, I had finally gotten back into a competitive environment.  

It’s a place I’ve missed.  I'm not overly competitive, mind you. I mean I've played sports with people who’s only thought was to win, some intense personalities there.  I will admit I do have a pretty competitive side to me but, not until I know I'm ready to compete and I'm not ready right now.  Maybe not ever but, just being in the environment was enough to give me that sensation of life you cant find elsewhere.  

I am already planning my next race in August, I think, and training for my 2nd Livestrong event on August 21st.  Click the link if you'd like to support the fight against cancer!!  And for that I'm going to need stamina and mental endurance, it will be a 100 mile bike ride through Montgomery county near Philadelphia, PA.  According to Livestrong website it is the most difficult course on their schedule, such a nice way to challenge the body.  Rode 70 miles last year, of course I'm gonna push myself this year.  It's what i enjoy.  It's what this sight is really about.  My journey to discover my boundaries and my limits.

This race showed me my limits aren't static and with the right motivation can be pushed even if only a little at a time. Next time, though I'm looking to beat 24 minutes, we'll see cause August is hot but, that's just another obstacle to overcome.

The Tuscarora Trail

South central Pennsylvania in early June from the top Barkley Ridge on the Blue Mountains is a beautiful sea of green foliage.  Giving the appearance of an ocean in the morning breeze adds to the amazing sight.  My hiking partner and I had discussed this trek for about two weeks till we were able to put it to action.  Our plan was simple, walk straight up the mountain behind my house, find the Tuscarora Trail and follow it to Flat Rock Trail in the Tuscarora State Forest & finally to Col. Denning State Park where we'd be met by his girlfriend for our ride home.
We didn't set off till a little after 2 p.m. and I traveled with minimal gear not knowing what sort of terrain we'd run into at the top of a mountain.  Following the road straight up the mountain proved to be more difficult than we'd realize.  It quickly went from asphalt to dirt to rocks quickly.  Recent four-wheeler tracks helped the climb but, we still had a good workout in the process.  We reached Rattlesnake Camp at the top of the climb, it was a small shelter and fire pit located in a nice open field looking out over Perry and Cumberland counties.

Hiking was difficult, ankle strength was put to the test.

From there we located the trail, which was no easy feat.  The trail is not as well marked as we'd thought it might be and took a bit of navigating on our part to locate.  We followed the top of the range for a few hours, travel was slow and unstable.  Much of the terrain is loose rock and a great deal of overgrowth with the occasional downed tree blocking the trail.  The overgrowth made things more difficult due to us not being able to spot trail markers quickly.  I think we veered off the trail 2 - 3 times only but, had a slow go through this stage of the hike.
We didn't stop too often and when we did it was to look out at the beauty around us.  There wasn't much signs of travel through this part of the trail and I can understand why.  There wasn't as much wildlife as I had hoped.  A few deer, a wild turkey and a pheasant were all we saw.  Once the trail left the ridge of the mountain the trail became more traversable.

Flat Rock vantage point. A bit hazy but, still a great view.

Opening up and much better maintained we were able to up our pace and make up for lost time.  We had figured 5 hours to make the trail and we were a bit behind.  No stopping for lunch, we ate on the move.  We did have some concerns about our water supply since we were sweating, a lot, and only carried about 2 liters each.  Finally after roughly 3 hours of hiking we came upon our first trail sign.  To our concern it read "Col. Denning 9 miles" and we started to think we'd be turning this into a night hike.  We are still not sure why the sign reads 9 miles because with our cadence we approximated that we only traveled about 4 miles from that point to Flat RockTrail in the Tuscarora State Forest.
We stopped at a creek and cooled off a bit, reapplied bug spray and at a bit before heading back up the mountain to Flat Rock.  For those who don't know Flat Rock is a majestic view of Cumberland county and on a clear day and good eyesight you can see Harrisburg, PA to the north.
From Flat Rock we were able to make sure our ride home could pick us up by the time we finished our descent and take in the scene below.  Our final hike down the mountain was made with caution.  The trail is littered with loose rock and is pretty steep so footing is a bit tricky in areas.
We finished our trip in 5 hours and 20 minutes, tired, sore and happy with our accomplishment.  It was a rewarding trip that is definitely worth repeating.  I'm trying to talk my hiking partner in to an overnight hike...we'll see how it goes.
Since I'm always curious what others take on day trips I thought I'd share my list with everyone and encourage readers to do the same in the comments section.
Also, just a side note.  I did this hike in a pair of New Balance X-trainers which held up well considering the rough terrain.  I was hoping to do this in my Vibram FiveFingers KSO's but, haven't got them glued back together again.  If I can ever afford it I plan on getting the KSO Treks from Vibram FiveFingers, the leather uppers and heartier soles look to be my best trail/hiking shoe.
My Gear List
Camlepak 2L backpack system (one of the original packs)
My Everest waistpack
SOG SEAL Pup knife
Swiss Army Knife
Clif Bars
Twizzlers
Altoids first aid kit (homemade)
iPhone
2 bandanas
notebook
pen
picture of family
I.D. tags
bug spray 

Living in Vibram Five Fingers

I'm not sure if they are the "new thing," or not but, I've been wearing Vibram Five Fingers for over a year and am absolutely in love with them.  It is difficult to describe the feeling of wearing Vibrams, I'm so accustomed to having them on it's un-natural to wear actual shoes.  I was never a barefoot kid growing up and was even more reliant on shoes in the years beyond being a carefree child.  I didn't even know what minimalism was until after I started wearing Vibrams.  Now I don't like not wearing them.

It all began when I started looking to loose weight.  My career had sat me behind a desk for a number of years and the hours increased, my single life style was replaced with a wife and two children and my time spent in the gym became extinct.  I was a regular at the gym, six days a week, it was my religion.  As happens to many priorities change and life gets restructured and our days of fitness are pushed aside.  The result for me was gaining about 50 lbs.  I went from a solid 185 lbs. to 235 lbs. at my heaviest.  I hadn't even realized it until after my position was eliminated in 2008 and I found myself at home, unemployed and running after a 2 & 3 year old. They kicked my butt.  I had never been one for endurance but, had never had problems being unable to "keep up."  Then there was the full length mirror my wife brought home one day and I saw what I had become.  I was shocked to say the least.

The weeks to come saw me lifting weights and changing my diet but, deep down I knew cardio was the only way I was going to actually loose what I had.  Well, being unemployed kept me from buying any fancy cardio equipment.  It was just me and my Nike's.  I realized running was my last choice.  I could do it whenever and where ever.  I wasn't bound by anything except my own body.  There was the tricky part.  I had ACL surgery in 2005 and had gone over 10 years on a torn ACL, actively gone.  My knees were pretty tore up because of the abuse I put them through so, I knew I was going to have to be very careful running.

I started slow, 1 mile here, 2 miles there, 5K around the block and found my wall.  5K was about as much as I run without actually having to put some TLC to my knees for a couple of days.  It was time to research.  I went through the internet with gusto and came upon Christopher McDougall's Born to Run and barefoot running.  I was intrigued, so much so that I had the book read within days.  I was hooked, I wanted to try this strange way of running that helped minimize injuries.  Soon after that I recieved my first pair of VFF's.  I went with the KSO's and haven't looked back since.

Today, they are my go to shoe.  I run in them, of course, but, also wear them much like one would wear their sneakers.  I have actually grown so accustomed to wearing them that wearing a regular shoe, even worse a boot, is uncomfortable.  It doesn't feel natural.  Lately, I've been wearing them on hikes.  It's been a struggle because I tend to choose some of the more difficult trails or just go off trail which tends to be a little hard on the feet.  But, like getting used to running in them I'm confident that I'll grow accustomed to the terrain.

Overall, I look forward to a long relationship with Vibram Five Fingers.  There are some downsides, I can't paint a perfect picture of the shoes.  I've had a huge problem of them coming apart.  It takes about 6 months of using them strictly for running before they begin to show signs of wear.  I've never gotten much of an answer from Vibram regarding the problem but, I've also never seen a shoe that stands up to the quality or feel of the Vibram's.  They are like wearing a second skin and am unsure that a competitor will trump their Ace's anytime soon.  Though I've only ever had one pair at any given time I know that soon I'll be purchasing a new pair and I'm having a difficult time determining just what to go with.  I just am keeping my fingers crossed on the structural integrity.