LookBack
In case you were busy this week and missed some Internet happening’s, here’s what went on around here:
We talked Vibrams running shoes:
Made delicious pumpkin cupcakes in less than 5 minutes:
Got organized:
Learned how to make groats & what’s up with all the other oats:
And laughed at some ridiculous fitness fails:
We talked 26 weeks of pregnancy & Braxton Hicks contractions.
Prenatal yoga.
The best pregnancy books.
And birth plans… or lack there of.
In other places around the interwebs:
Adventures in depression from Hyperbole & a Half.
NaNoWriMo & how to write a year’s worth of blog content in 30 days.
Top 10 tips for new moms…real tips.
And Brain Food 101: How to Store Bread
Anything catch your eye this week? And what are you being for Halloween?!
Running
8 months after I injured my IT band during a race, I started easing back into running using Vibrams barefoot running shoes.
Things were going fairly well, but then I ran a 5K in old running shoes- it was a mud run, and I didn’t want to ruin my good shoes. The results of the race? Not so great on the knee. But did I blame training in the Vibrams? No way! I’ve since continued using them, and hate to put on a pair of regular shoes.
Barefoot or minimalist running isn’t for everyone, but I think they can be a great training tool. Here’s some things to consider before heading out on your next run barefoot:
1. Not everybody was built for barefoot running. {When I say barefoot in this post I also mean minimalist.} As my physical therapist pointed out, some people are built to run ultramarathons, others just aren’t. It’s the same for minimalist running- some people have the right feet and alignment for it; others will just get it injured.
2. Start slow. Really slow. I’ll say the word slow again just to make sure you read it. Running in Vibrams or other minimalist shoes is completely different than running in regular shoes. Running shoes are built up, structured, and cushioned- minimalist shoes obviously are not. This changes the entire way you run, from how your foot hits the ground, to how your legs absorb the impact, and how your hips rotate.
You may be able to whip out a double digit run with no problem, but when you’re easing into Vibrams, start with a walk. Work up to a mile. Alternate wearing your Vibrams and regular running shoes. Slowly build up your mileage in the Vibrams.
3. You don’t have to run long distances in them. Say you’re one of the people that just aren’t built to run barefoot. That doesn’t mean you can’t use them at all- Vibrams are a great training tool for anybody. Running strides in Vibrams or barefoot is a great way to train your body to run with the proper alignment and to help build different muscles.
I will probably never run races or even a lot of miles in mine, but I will continue to use them as a training tool. I do my daily walks in them now so I’ll still be used to them if when I can start running again.
4. It might hurt. Even though you’re doing the same basic running motion, taking the cushioning of a running shoe out of the equation changes things drastically. Your lower calves will probably hurt at first. Make sure you know the difference between sore and pain- if you feel pain, stop before you get seriously injured.
5. Pick the right shoes. Vibrams are pretty popular, but that doesn’t mean it’s the shoe you have to chose. Most running shoe companies have come out with a minimalist shoe now- they look more like running shoes than the crazy feet-shaped Vibrams, but they don’t have all the structure and cushioning that normally accompanies a running shoe.
Try Newtons, Saucony’s Kinvara or Hattori, Nike Frees, Merrells, or New Balance’s Minimus.
6. Finally, make of this what you want, but remember that barefoot running isn’t a new thing– the barefoot running craze goes in and out of fashion every 10 years or so. This time around more of the shoe companies have jumped on the bandwagon though. So make of it what you want, and make sure you make the decision because it’s right for you, not because it’s popular.
Have you tried Vibrams or other minimalist shoes? What do you think about the barefoot running craze?
P.S.: Read about my experiences with prenatal yoga– it’s not what I thought it would be!
Running
After I got injured running last June, I found myself with some free time on my hands. I couldn’t run, so I started reading about running instead. {Self-torture much?} I picked up the infamous “Born to Run” book, and was immediately enraptured with all things barefoot running, pinole and chia seeds.
In fact, if you’ve read Born to Run and didn’t walk away completely enthralled by these things, I’m guessing you didn’t really read the book. 
You can read more about the barefoot running book here, but one of the main takeaways is that this group of ultrarunners run 100s of miles in tiny thin sandals that might as well make them running barefoot, and they never get injured. Perhaps this stuck out to me more as I was sitting on the couch with a bum knee, but I think the idea would have appealed to me regardless.
At the time I was in physical therapy for my knee. Since I had a professional at my disposable, I chewed his ear off with questions. It wasn’t hard to tell he was pretty much over the whole barefoot running and Vibrams thing; the number of injuries he’d seen had gone up drastically due to the popularity of Vibrams.
So I pushed the idea out of my head thinking it was just another passing fad and didn’t have much merit. Then one day early last spring, the husband and I were outside doing yard work. I, of course, was barefoot, as I almost always am.
I wasn’t paying much attention when suddenly I heard the husband yell out. I looked up with just enough time to see him running towards me… with a dead rat. Yes, a rat. I didn’t think two seconds before I took off sprinting towards the front yard.
It was only later when the horrible, disgusting creature was far, far out of sight that I realized what had just happened. I ran. And it didn’t hurt.
Up until then, every time I tried a short run, it would end in knee pain. I was just about giving up. But then I ran across the yard without a thought. The only difference? I was barefoot.
I took the precautions of my physical therapist, but decided they only way I’d know for sure about the whole barefoot running thing was if I gave it a try myself. I got a pair of Vibrams, and set off on a walk around the neighborhood the next day.
It couldn’t have felt better. To me it felt completely natural- I spend so much time barefoot that these shoes just felt right. Slowly, I started to jog in them. They felt great. No knee pain. I was already a mid to forefoot runner, so running without the support of sneakers wasn’t a big deal to me.
As I worked my way up in mileage, however, the knee pain would return. The difference with the Vibrams and my regular running shoes was that the knee pain would stop as soon as I stopped running- it didn’t stick around for the next few days.
So I trained for a 5k mud run in my Vibrams. {The mud run was the perfect first race back from injury since it was on a soft surface.}
If you were reading back then, you might remember my knee didn’t fair well after that race.
So did I blame the Vibrams?
Find out tomorrow.
Pssst. We finished painting the nursery! Go check it out and tell me what you think.
Running
Today’s post is from the fabulous and gorgeous Teri. Ever wonder about running in Vibrams? Teri knows a thing or two about them and has agreed to share her experience with you. Enjoy!
Hi SoS readers! I’m Teri from A Foodie Stays Fit. I’m so happy to be visiting With a Side of Sneakers.
[I should probably tell you that I don’t have blonde hair right now. But that’s another story.]
Heather and I are both NC-ers but sadly, rarely see each other! However, we did have a blast hanging out in San Francisco last fall and at a bloggy Holiday Gift Exchange dinner last December.
Today I’ll be sharing my experience about running in Vibram Five Fingers (VFFs). I’ve been running for over 10 years; the first five years in Mizunos, the last five in Asics. And last July, I started running in VFFs. Today, I’m going to share some VFF secrets with you…
10 Things You Should Know Before Buying Vibram FiveFingers
10. You’ll get blisters. It could be a result of less-than-perfect form, treadmill running, no socks, or all of the above. You just have to find solutions. I’m still working on finding a solution since I have issues wearing the Injiji socks with my VFF (they don’t feel comfortable to me).
9. People will stop you constantly to ask about them. Do you like them? Do you run in them? Do you weight train in them? Can you solve world peace in them? etc.
8. You’ll need to start with very low mileage. Even if you are in marathon shape, your first run in your VFF should be less than a mile. You can read how I built up my mileage here.
7. They’ll get stinky. But you can just toss them in the washer on a gentle cycle and air dry them. Voila!
8. You’re calves will hurt like helllll for the first 2-4 weeks. They force you to change your running gait and you’ll be running more up on your forefoot, which really works the calf muscles. It will get better, but expect some major soreness and tightness. But, you’ll soon have super-sexy calves!
7. You can run really long distances in them. Or maybe you can’t. Everyone will be different. I ran a half marathon in them but I know others who have major discomfort after just a few miles.
6. You’ll hate other shoes. When I wear regular shoes now (sneakers, heels, flats, boots, anything), I feel almost claustrophoic in them. I love the free and “connectedness” to the ground that VFFs give me.
5. Soreness is different than pain. You’ll know the difference. If your feet/calves/ankles feel achy, like they got a workout (which is kind of an odd feeling), you’re probably OK. If you feel sharp pain, discontinue using the VFF and see your doc. Some people have developed stress fractures from improper training in the VFF.
4. Your ankles and feet will be sore. You are running in a whole new way and forcing muscles to play that have been sidelined for a long time.
3. You’ll get an earful from non-believers. There are many skeptics out there that are convinced everyone needs really padded, structured shoes. And hey, some people probably do. But you are not everyone and you can decide what you want. You know how I deal with Vibram haters? Them: “You know those are so bad for your joints and feet and you’re going to get hurt right?” Me: “Huh. Haven’t had problems myself.” I don’t get into it with them because sometimes, arguing just ain’t worth it with those that already know that they know. Ya know?
2. All your running injuries will disappear. FOR-EV-ER. Or not. Who knows? Everyone is different. For me, my IT band problems are gone. I had major IT issues for over 6 years and since switching to VFF, the problem has completely disappeared. I wouldn’t say that’s a result solely from running in VFF, but more an issue I had with form. And for me, running in VFFs helped me improve my running form to where my body could run more easily without that pain. But others may experience new injuries from switching.
1. Your experience will be different than mine. I have had incredible experience with VFF and have heard multiple other success stories. But I’ve also heard stories of woe and pain. Listen to your body. Read (with a grain of salt) others’ experiences. But ultimately, you’ll just have to see how it goes for you. But i hope it’s a good switch.
If you want to read more, check out these links on my blog:
Would you ever run in VFF?
What color would you want? I love my hot pink ones. They definitely get noticed!
*Remember, I’m not a doctor or running coach, but am just sharing my experiences. Please check with your own health professional before making changes to your exercise routine and always consult a professional for injury diagnosis and treatment!
