Earlier today, during half time of the Sunday night football game I went running in my Vibram Five Finger KSO’s. I went a bit further than I initially intended because I felt a lot more comfortable once I go a little into the run.
I went maybe about 3 miles. I made a cut off my normal path down a different street that shortened the run a bit but still gave me a decent work out. My stride was noticeably different but comfortable.
I have been working on strengthening my ankles & shins since I primarily run on pavement. I have always worked with weights on my legs or done leg raises while lying on my back to take pressure off my knees. When in the gym or when I had a gym setup in my home I always did leg raises to keep my quads strong.
The last year plus I have been doing specific exercises to strengthen my shins and ankles from the shin splints and ankle strain I feel once I start ramping up my runs. This is why I think I was feeling comfortable enough to run as long as I did in my initial Vibram five finger run.
Funny thing is I didn’t feel the strain on the back of my ankles I normally do during my runs. I feel a few different muscles have been used but it feels really good, like a good gym workout on unused muscles but a much more minor muscle strain that I thought.
I always wondered why I never got tired when I was younger but had shins & ankles issues when running track. After finding out about barefoot running & Vibram Five Fingers and the research it sounded like it addressed the issues I have when increasing my runs.
I’ll have to keep it going to see how it all works out.
September 13, 2009
by dhoytt
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