Last year Ken and I went to some meet and greet in Boulder for outdoor enthusiasts. I spent two hours drinking beer and trying to make conversation with really fit people wearing expensive North Face jackets who all seemed to have very important jobs.
I am a social person – I really like people – but I hate the networking thing. I just do. I can’t stand small talk. This might be a flaw in my character, but it is just who I am. I am not knocking anyone who enjoys it. I just find it to be too much EFFORT. If I can’t jump right to bodily functions and how I was kicked out of hula dance class in 7th grade for having a potty mouth (true story), then I get a bit bored.
Like any married couple – Ken and I split off for the evening because we hang out together far too much and it’s good to actually talk to other people. When we got in the car at the end of the night, we did a review – Who did you talk to? What did you learn? Who was weird/funny/nice/boring/cool?
Ken said he spent at least an hour talking to a guy who made invisible shoes – “You know, he was the short guy with the long hair wearing the sandals.” Nope, not Jesus. Anyway, turns out he learned this guy, Steven Sashen, is a minimalist runner and has a company called (get this!) Invisible Shoe! In fact, he and his wife were on Shark Tank a couple of months ago! (they didn’t get a deal, though). I feel so famous being married to someone who talked to someone who was on Shark Tank.
Why do I bring this all up today? Probably because I ran into this video called, “Sh*t Barefoot Runners Say” and realized it was the same dude who makes the invisible shoes. We runners can take ourselves so stinking seriously – so I love how he can poke fun a the barefoot running movement.
My favorite line is, “Look I don’t care if it is a wedding. I’m not going to wear those FOOT COFFINS you call shoes!”
I’m not opposed to barefoot running. I’m not opposed to running with shoes on. I’m not opposed to invisible shoes or shoes with a 95” heel to toe drop.
I AM opposed to there being one and only one right way to do things – and people judging people who don’t do it their way. I think we all need to find out what works for us and stick to it. In the meantime, life goes just a bit easier and smoothly if we can laugh at ourselves.
Ever tried barefoot or minimalist running or have any desire to? No, I haven’t. I have moved to a lighter, more flexible and more neutral shoe (Mizuno Wave Elixir) and I do think this (in conjunction with form changes) has helped me to be a more efficient runner.
How’d you laugh at yourself today? I was vacuuming the stairs, with the vacuum two stairs above me. I pulled it down on my head by mistake. It hurt like hell and I almost passed out, but then it was funny.
Do you watch Shark Tank? I am kind of obsessed by this show. It is my dream to go on there one day although I am not sure what product I would pitch since someone already invented this and this.
SUAR
That is hilarious. And since I wear Hokas, I guess that puts me at the opposite end of the spectrum from barefoot running!
ReplyDeleteI run in Vibrams and LOVE them. I was having loads of foot pain that docs told me I'd have to stop running from. I was in pain every second I was on my feet at all. I tried different inserts and shoes to no avail. Was nearly in tears. Until one day I found that after walking in the sand I could walk on concrete without pain. Hm. My brain started thinking about the muscles that were activated while in the sand (I am a nerd and a PT, goes together perfectly to figure out all those body issues!) Eventually researched out form with barefoot running and to my shock I could apply it and run in place on the hard floor, PAIN FREE. Then I could do it on the treadmill, PAIN FREE. I was elated. I was NOT however up to running barefoot outside so I tried out vibrams, as ugly as I thought they were, and fell in love. I have gone up to a half marathon in them and will never try traditional shoes again. My foot pain is 95% gone and the only time it hurts is if I'm in heels too long but it NEVER bothers me while running. I share this to say two things to your readers: 1) Don't knock an ugly shoe, it might be just what you need and 2) Never ever give up on running bc anyone tells you to. Where there's a will, there's a way. :)
ReplyDeleteI watched the episode of Shark Tank and all I could think about was how "Boulder" that couple was. I looked up some stuff about them and the company after and I kept thinking "Boulder."
ReplyDelete"Ever tried barefoot or minimalist running or have any desire to?" Well, I run in Skechers GoRun - but this more because of the wide width and arch support than any minimalist aspect. I do love them, however, and live in fear every day that Skechers will stop making the original GoRuns and my hoard of shoes will not last until I can find a replacement shoe!
ReplyDeleteI have never even heard of "Shark Tank" but I did think this video was hilarious. I'd post it on my fb page, but I know 99% of my friends wouldn't get it.
I totally agree about the socializing thing. Small talk is NOT my forte, but I love being with people once I know them.
ReplyDeleteI also agree on your first point about barefoot running. I don't like how people who are for/against it are SO stubborn. It's like the people who argue for midfoot strikes. Just run how you run, and if it works, good! If not, experiment with other forms. I have no desire to try barefoot running, but that's just me. :o)
I'm right there with you about the whole small talk thing. My hubby is great at it. I tried Newtons and I tried the Kinvaras when they first came out. I loved the Newtons but I ended up having calf problems and the Saucony toe box was way too narrow for me. I made the switch to Mizuno last summer and I love them. I'm in the wave riders. Such a great shoe.
ReplyDeleteSaw that show too...would be an interesting experience trying their shoes. Me, I could small talk with anyone, anywhere, anytime, that's just how I roll! ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm exactly the same in that I hate events that force me into small talk. The introductory part is always so tough, but when I do find those rare people who can tolerate me, it's always so rewarding!
ReplyDeleteI've never tried barefoot running, and really don't have the desire. My ankles are weak and I feel like I would miss that support tremendously. Kudos to those who can, though!
Barefoot running isn't for me. I don't think it would be comfortable and I think the shoes are hideous...but to each their own. I need a shoe with a bit more support. When I got fitted at Road Runner Sports, they said stiff neutral or light stability. Might try Mizuno or Brooks next...I'm ok with the Saucony pair I'm in right now, but not in love with them.
ReplyDeleteI should have laughed at myself when I put something away and spilled mini m&m's all over the pantry and had to clean them up...but instead I said a couple choice words. :)
I've never tried barefoot running and don't really have plans to - I like Mizunos right now but I've tried many different shoes over the years.
ReplyDeleteYour vacuum story made me laugh (glad you didn't pass out!).
I actually was sent a pair of Invisible Shoes to try....very weird. Not a fan :)
ReplyDeleteI really like my Vibrams for all gym work-outs - cross-fit, kettlebell, even treadmill (which I avoid at almost all costs, but if forced, I wear Vibrams). I have run up to a 10K in them outside on pavement. I could take or leave that. I am not a heavy heel striker so I don't feel like it changes my form much. My husband was, however, and running in 5 Fingers has totally changed his form for the better, even now in regular runners. So, I guess my deal is I like having both regular runners and minimalists available. Perhaps this is just my way to have more shoes generally... :)
ReplyDeleteOMG, this is my favorite "Sh*t people say" video and ever since we watched it my husband and I have called shoes "foot coffins" just because that line is so good.
ReplyDeleteI have decided to start calling shoes "foot coffins."
ReplyDeleteAmen! I do not see how I could try barefoot running, I scream every day when I step on my boys legos but I do like my sneakers super light and thin - everyone under the sun tells me I need Brooks and I bought them and hated them (sorry Brooks) and went back to my light weight old Reeboks! www.colorushealthy.com
ReplyDeleteI got a pair of FiveFingers almost 3 yrs ago out of curiosity. I walked in them for a few months before even attempting to run in them. Once I started running in them, I used them for one run per week. Over time I started adding an extra run here and there. Over more time I found I wanted to always run in FiveFingers over my traditional running shoes. Since last fall, with the exception of one or two runs per month, all of my running has been in FiveFingers which averages around 60 miles/week.
ReplyDeleteI wear FiveFingers simply because I enjoy the unique running experience I get from them. NO other shoe is like them, regardless of how minimal other shoes are. The toes are what make them different in how they fit how they perform and the experience they provide. Vibram came out with a winter version, the Lontra which made me very happy because I was able to run in FiveFingers this entire winter.
FiveFingers are not for everyone, plain and simple. Like any shoe, they work for some people and they don't work for others. I never get injured, I've been running for so long that I have a good handle on what training works for me, 100% of my running is done on soft groomed trails and in spite of being fairly big and tall, my form is gentle and light footed. Add all of that together and Vibrams work really well for me.
Living in Colorado, I just don't find running barefoot practical for 6 months of the year so I don't bother trying to go through building calluses. Easier to just wear Vibrams year round, they'll protect the skin on the bottoms of your feet and keep them warm in the winter.
I don't find the shoes to be a magic running pill that will cure all problems and turn me into an Olympic runner. Rather, they are just something that works really well for me that provide an incredible running experience. Running is all about the relationship between you and the ground. Wearing Vibrams allows you to really feel and connect to the ground. Like your hands, your feet have a very high proportion of nerve endings or sensors. Allowing for the use of those sensors in your feet opens up a world that you can't really experience with traditional running shoes because they don't allow your feet to feel the ground.
If you are fortunate to be able to run safely in Vibrams, they are worth using even for an occasional run. They will remind you that the clumps of meat on the bottom of you legs are there for more than tying shoes onto and that there is actually a surface below your feet that your body interacts with, with each and every step.
Dana Roueche
Now if they could just combine the two!
ReplyDeleteYou made me laugh today! I'm just starting my switch from Brooks Ghost to Brooks Pure Flow, and my calves are killing me! I guess that'll take a year to go away.
ReplyDeleteYes, I love Shark Tank!
Are you kidding me? It took me almost a year to make my feet happy again, after a stress fracture and plantar fasciitis. I run in super cushioned Asics gel nimbus and go to work in my Dansko professionals. No glamour for me.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried (and don't currently plan to try) barefoot running. But I did see someone running in Invisible Shoes a few days ago!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've laughed at myself today, but I know that I did on Monday when I tried to lock my car with the home button on my iPhone.
No to Shark Tank - and actually, to most tv. But I am watching The West Wing on Netflix right now - about 3 episodes a week while I fold laundry or work in the kitchen.
Hilarious! I love minimalist but I'm not sure I could go "barefoot".
ReplyDeleteI've seen that video, it's hysterical. There is an ultra one out there, too:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq8lJEJr3xk
My favorite part: I gotta get home and put this on my blog. :)
xo
I run in Merrell pace gloves sometimes... not because I "believe" in barefoot running, but because they fit my feet better than any other shoe. Also, I guess I run with barefoot form anyway, because when I started wearing them I didn't have to change my form, and they didn't hurt. I totally agree with you that everyone should just do what works for them. I'm not for or against any of it. :)
ReplyDeleteNo barefoot running for me but I do like a shoe with a low heal drop.
ReplyDeleteI have the opportunity to laugh at myself just about every day but today...I was helping return stuff to kids from the lost-and-found at school. I gave an 8th grader a coat and lunchbox that both had his name in them. He insisted that the coat wasn't his, I insisted that it was. When I got back to the pile I realized I had picked up the wrong coat! He was right all along and I made him take a coat that didn't belong to him! He probably thought I had lost my mind. Then I came home and took a shower because, let's face it, lost-and-found is gross.
I will stick with shoes:) To each their own I guess, just seems like an injury waiting to happen.
ReplyDeleteI never got into the barefoot running thing. Maybe one day. Ill stick with my Mizunos. They make my feet happy- and isnt that what matters?
ReplyDeleteI have watched Shark Tank a few times. People come up with some crazy ideas. I dont think I would have the courage to go ask a bunch of rich people for money unless I had an amazing idea.
I swear, should we ever meet, no small talk. Straight to poop. And application of duct tape to noisy kids, wine, chocolate, coffee, and other important stuff.
ReplyDeleteRan barefoot on the beach in Bermuda a bunch. In other news, my calves and hams have been killing me. I think I overdid it, but it's feeling better. Only took two weeks after getting home.
It's a deal...duct tape and all:)
DeleteI actually have barefoot shoes from Merrell and LOVE them! However, they did take a long time to get used to. I like a minimalist shoe now, personally...however I know they're not for everyone and that's ok! (That video was hysterical!)
ReplyDeleteSarah
www.thinfluenced.com
Beth, why don't you combine the two ideas - camelflage with charcoal fart protection built right in?
ReplyDeleteI bet shark tank would snap that right up!
I need new shoes, have tried about a million pairs, but since fracturing my ankle and tearing my peronial tendon last summer training for a half marathon, I have been sidelined and miserable. I finally got the all-clear to begin slowly running, as my very young, very handsome ortho guy told me, run like you're 83 and work back down to 43 over 6 months. I think I will lose my mind in the interim, but I need some good runners with a minimal drop, lots of room in the front and a running/form coach. Ah, so much for running being FREE!!!!!
Amy P. Philly runner.
Hahaha! Would that be fart-a-flage? Or Camel-pad-ultra?? A true money maker I'm sure. Mark Cuban would swipe that up in no time.
DeleteI wear Altras and love them, but I get that a zero drop shoe isn't for everyone. Heck, I only wear them because I have a beastly foot injury that only wanted to start to clear up with Altras. Otherwise, I'd still be running in my super padded Brooks with a huge drop. So while I wear them, I'm definitely not obnoxiously preaching about them.;)
ReplyDeleteThat clip is hilarious!!! I have read "Born to Run. It changed my life and I recommended it to every runner I could get my hands on. Almost all of them became judgemental pricks after reading it. I love how people read the opinion on ONE man and decide they're qualified to pass judgement on everyone else's workout.
ReplyDeleteI did love the book. I've always been a forefoot striker, so I tend to suffer very little injury but I am slow slow Sloooow. I'm cool with that. I do have a pair of Vibrams. Love them too, but 3.5 miles is the max I can do in 'em so far.
I too, get really sick of people who think their way is the only way. It surprises me not at all that what works for me doesn't work for everyone: I almost always insist on not just music, but specifically, Michael Jackson. I love Asics, cuz the toe box is wider. For me, speed is not the goal, it's endurance without injury. And I HATE STRETCHING!!!! That may not work for everyone. That's OK. You do you, and I'll do me. Let's run!
I laugh at myslef almost constantly,s o do my kids. Love Shark Tank!
Barefoot running can really be bad for some people. For example, I have relatively flat feet. I started wearing arch supports 5 years ago which have helped provide the foot support I needed.
ReplyDeleteI abhor networking/small talk; love people, just not the foolishness of small talk. Cracked up at the video, I have to have my husband watch it (but not at work)! He is totally into minimalist/barefoot running, way more than me, though I do prefer more minimalist shoes generally. That style is not for everyone, though; gotta find what works for you. Haven't laughed at myself today (yet), I'm sure I will, though. Thanks for the day brightener!
ReplyDeleteI have run (not ultra distance!) in the New Balance WT100s and 101s. Don't like the newest version of them though. Currently I run twice a week in the Brooks Pure Cadence and I adore them.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I fell over in the street on my bike (damn clipless pedals). Of course two people came over to see if I was ok. As I rode off, I saw a young guy hanging out on the corner. I said "HOW'D THAT LOOK?" and laughed.
That was hilarious! Reminds me of a commercial for the movie The Croods, guess the little girl put "shoes" on for the first time ever and screamed! Then yelled "I Love Them"! (how women fell in love with shoes i guess)!.
ReplyDeleteHilarious! thanks for sharing that one
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Shark Tank and in fact contacted the guys who were on there not too long ago...and they sent me some of their products...
ReplyDeleteread about it here...
http://alotusgirl-tracy.blogspot.com/2013/03/you-want-proof-ive-got-proof.html
That is great! Thanks for the laugh today! :)
ReplyDeleteHilarious. I'm not wearing Vibram's or Luna sandals yet,but have switched from my expensive uber cushioned running shoes to the more minimalist design, or heck, even 50-60 dollar outlet store shoes. I've had way fewer leg issues w/ the cheaper, less cushioned/fancy shoes.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to find educated people in this particular topic, however, you sound like you know what you're talking about!
ReplyDeleteThanks
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I have totally done that with the vacuum. And not just once.
ReplyDeleteAlso...in a weird ~replying to my own comment~ thing...loved the video. A great laugh well needed.
DeleteFunny... No doubt that everyone has thier own form and no one person has THE answer. My first neutral shoe was the Mizuno Wave Rider 15 but a nice "bridges" race left me with an IT injury - a great local running store put me in some Altra's which I ran with for 6 months while recouperating. In January, I put my Mizuno's back on and PR'd in a 5K. Got the newest version, the 16 a few weeks ago. What the ALtra's did for me I think was help me ease into the midfoot running form which eliminated a lot of the extra stress I was putting on my knees. Anyway - to each his own... I owe my running improvement to these guys...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.1stplacesports.com/goodformrunning.html
And I'm off to run my first "extreme" series today which includes a 10K, 1/2 marathon and 5K in 24 hours...(and the famous bridges that wacked me last year)...
I just bought a pair of Merrell minimalist shoes (Sonic Glove). I haven't tried them running yet, just wore them walking around to get used to them. I'm hoping I love them.
ReplyDeleteI'll immediately seize your rss as I can not in finding your email subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you've any?
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Thanks.
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I am so with you on the "there is only one way to do things mentality". Just because something works for one person, does not mean it will work for everyone.
ReplyDeleteAlso, did you see that Power Music has a running mix dedicated to you? :)
http://www.workoutmusic.com/new/shut-up-and-run-instrumental-pop-hits.html
Love Shark Tank, the kids are into it too, they watch it on their own. I'm trying to think of something to sell to Mark or Lori, would love to be on that show.
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