For a few months now, I’ve slowly eased back into running. I’ve been alternating between my regular shoes (the same model I got injured in) and my Nike Free 5.0s. The mileage in the Nikes has been very good, but still not really barefoot. Today, I went barefoot.

Armed [footed?] with my Vibram Five Fingers Flows, I set off toward the woods on this dreary afternoon. The weather was crappy enough that I didn’t want to do a regular run on the street, but I did want to run… and frolicking through mud sounded like a lot of fun.

As cliche as it may sound, the experience was like none other. Instead of feeling like I was running, I felt more like a kid at play. Strides were effortless, my injury was forgotten… Just so much fun.

I only went out for a mile and a half because the running experience is so different that it’s recommended you don’t overdo it; entirely different muscles are used as you’re forced to run on the fronts of your feet rather than your heels. Not surprisingly, my calves are WORKED.

The most odd thing was a particularly steep paved hill. I’ve never given it much thought, but apparently we very much run on our heels when going up hills. Without my shoes supporting the use of them, I was at a loss as to how to run up it. I can’t say I’ve ever experienced my feet not knowing how to hit the ground… Super weird. Later into the run, after a few such hills, I found really digging my toes in to be the best bet. How you do that on pavement? I don’t know.

Ohoh, another oddity was that for the first time in my life I ran without my 2nd toe sitting on top of my big one. I don’t know how much that effects my running overall, but it’s definitely does something [to run with what amounts to four toes].

In case it isn’t clear already, I highly recommend at least giving these “barefoot” shoes a shot. This 1.5 mile run alone has me thinking they were a great purchase and I bought them primarily to use as water shoes for the rest of my life; this running stuff is all bonus. I can’t recommend everyone go out and buy them, as they aren’t cheap, but maybe try somebody else’s or perhaps I could contact Vibram regarding a fitting/test-drive for the club?

I can’t wait until I heal up more and get used to these things so I can do some serious miles in Rock Creek Park in them. The feeling of every bit of rock, wood, and dirt under your feet… Man, so cool.