Saw a man on the train who easily weighed 280 wearing Vibrams.

I was running the other day, and this guy was running (waddling) toward me with earbuds jammed in his head, a hydration pack looped around him, face screwed up in pain, and I heard this SLAP SLAP SLAP SLAP SLAP SLAP.

Vibrams.

I was running a half-marathon a few weeks ago and I passed this dude whose feet were smacking the pavement so hard it made me cringe. Vibrams, of course. I have yet to see a legitimate runner who can manage better than 6 minute pace wearing Vibrams.

What is the story with the flapping sound? Do they end up basically being like flippers- especially if you are a hearl striker?

yeah, on pavement it sounds like someone running with sandals on. i can't stand listening to or looking at them.

Haven't worn vibams wrote:

What is the story with the flapping sound? Do they end up basically being like flippers- especially if you are a hearl striker?

I've only run in them around a store, but I would guess that since there's no heel drop and no cushoning in them, you don't have the normal "roll" that happens with heel-toe running in regular shoes.

Instead, most of these overweight-types pike their heels into the ground with every stride, dispatching shockwaves up their leg bones and into their hips. Their expensively-covered toes then flap down to attmept to initiate the next stride.

"I'm getting stronger. This is good for me. This is what everyone's doing. This is worth the money. I'm not going to be lining my podiatrist's pockets in 6-8 weeks. Born to Run is gospel.

I saw a running message board with a a bunch of insecure douche bags complaining about what someone else was wearing. What a bunch of douche bags.

I coach a group of 100 local runners. We started a year ago, and many were beginners. Most were overweight and had a goal to run a 5k.

On the first day of practice, many of them showed up in vibrams and/or sketcher shape ups. I couldn't believe it! These people were beginning a running program and they thought the vibrams would be good because they are "cool" and "light".

Unfortunately, I had to tell them that they should not wear the vibrams becuase of the injury risk and that I would give them a plan to ease into them. Many were not happy to hear this after they spent $80 on them.

I don't have a problem with the theory behind the shoe, but I wish the company would include a training plan as to how to wear the shoes when you purchse them.

I have so many people that have developed hip, knee, and foot pain after wearing them for a week.

hilltopper wrote:

I saw a running message board with a a bunch of insecure douche bags complaining about what someone else was wearing. What a bunch of douche bags.

Nah, we're not complaining. We're making fun of them. Huge difference f***tard.

haha YO wrote:

hilltopper wrote:

I saw a running message board with a a bunch of insecure douche bags complaining about what someone else was wearing. What a bunch of douche bags.

Nah, we're not complaining. We're making fun of them. Huge difference f***tard.

You know people where shoes for different reasons. Some people wear crocs. Some people were flip flops. Some people were vibrams. They're not just for training.

vibrams are for taking it up the tail pipe

another voice wrote:

haha YO wrote:

Nah, we're not complaining. We're making fun of them. Huge difference f***tard.

You know people where shoes for different reasons. Some people wear crocs. Some people were flip flops. Some people were vibrams. They're not just for training.

Where, wear, were, were... well at least you got one out of four tries right!

"I don't have a problem with the theory behind the shoe, but I wish the company would include a training plan as to how to wear the shoes when you purchse them."

^^^^^^^

This has got to be the worst idea ever. Footwear companies are among the last places I would look for a training plan. I think they should give less training advice and stick to making products.

Do you expect the waiter or chef to come over and tell you how to eat your meal?

Why do people expect a training plan with vibrams but not a traditional shoe. They are both equally dangerous - the danger just shifts to different parts of the body.

Good marketing strategy - sell a thick, motion control gizmo loaded shoe and tell consumer "strap these on and you are good to go...no thinking required"

Sell a pair of vibrams and then upsell the customer on some BS training plan or half assed form coaching.

i kinda like running wrote:

I was running a half-marathon a few weeks ago and I passed this dude whose feet were smacking the pavement so hard it made me cringe. Vibrams, of course. I have yet to see a legitimate runner who can manage better than 6 minute pace wearing Vibrams.

I can, patrick sweeney can.

, patrick sweeney's blog. I can do low fives in my barefeet, not for thirteen miles though. Probably hundreds can. I think there are people who are wearing vibrams, who don't understand a thing about it good running form. They are just say to themselves "I can just run, and my form will be good". I think most of these people are told "these are good running shoes" and no one tells them about form, or how you should transition either barefoot first, or from lower to lower shoes. And to someone who thinks heel striking is easier, I think running with a correct forefoot strike is easier. I don't have anything against someone wearing cushioned shoes if they like it, or if they haven't gotten injured. I think to force someone to wear a cushioned shoe right off the bat, is kind of bad.

If I go to a restaurant and have never eaten a poisonous fish before I might ask the waiter what parts are good to eat and what parts are not. If not I might end up in serious trouble.

Well most people have worn cushy running shoes their entire life and have never run barefoot before. The calves, achilles, and small muscles in the foot are not use to the strain. So just like overtraining can lead to injury so can the overuse of these muscles too quickly.

Back to the fish. Now parts of the poisonous fish may be really good for my health just like barefoot running may produce better form. However, if I don't ask someone how to do ease into it correctly it could lead to injury just like eating poison could lead to a world of pain.

There are way too many people who think they can slap some vibrams on and go for their regular 5 mile run. They just end up hurting themselves. Although if you have worn a cushy nike all your life and decide to buy a cushy asics there really is not much difference. So you are able to do the same things without much risk.

haha YO wrote:

Nah, we're not complaining. We're making fun of them. Huge difference f***tard.

That isn't what it sounds like. Re-read the first few posts. People are admitting that it physically bothers them to hear and see other runners wearing Vibrams. Kind of sad, really. You people are pathetic.

I admittedly have a pair, but I'd NEVER run in them on anything even close to paved. I use them a couple times a week, say if I'm doing a 10 miler, I'll run 8 in my trainers on the road and finish with 2 miles on a grass XC course in vibrams.

But no, no legitimate athletes race in them. It's really easy to run fast in them, but racing in them is mildly retarded.

When I said "they should attach a training plan", I meant they should attach some info on how to get your body adapted to waering them to avoid injury.

People think they can go out and run their normal 5 mile route in them the day they buy vibrams. People need to know that they have to build up to wearing them for an extended period of time.

ie- wear them for 5 min 3x per week the first week, wear them 10 min 3x per week the second week...and so on.

Coach,

You are missing the point. People need to ease into ANY type of shoe, so why should there be training plans ONLY on vibrams? Do you really think the first time someone runs in a motion control shoe they are already adapted to it?

Seems to me we should have these warnings on all the shoes.

screamer wrote:

I was running the other day, and this guy was running (waddling) toward me with earbuds jammed in his head, a hydration pack looped around him, face screwed up in pain, and I heard this SLAP SLAP SLAP SLAP SLAP SLAP.

Vibrams.

I actually ran the Warrior Dash with a few of my buddies this past weekend and the first section was on a somewhat paved road...as I walked by one of the earlier "heats" coming down the road I heard TONS of feet slapping the ground. I didn't really understand why until I got to the sign in/party area and saw dozens upon dozens of people sporting Vibrams. Probably not a bad idea for this particular race, but I was just suprised at the sheer number of people wearing them.