Well, after researching these bad boys, and after talking to some people I know that use them, I
decided to give the
Vibram FiveFinger Shoe a try. The Model I purchased was the
KSO, along with some
Injinji Toe socks (to reduce any possible friction rubs). The idea behind this odd looking shoe is the "barefoot running" movement. Naturally, we land on the ball of the foot when we run. However with padded running shoes, most people tend to heel strike. Heel striking produces a lot of stress that travels up through the heel to the shins through the knees up to the hips and lower back. Non of these body parts are designed to absorb shock. Many people muse this is where frequent joint injuries come from
(there is no conclusive scientific evidence to support this, but then again there's none to deny it either). Having had my fair share of issues with my knees in the last years, the promise of a pain free and more enjoyable run (and running career) sounds good to me! There is nothing to lose!
My coach Jeremy also is a believer in the running barefoot model, however he runs with minimalist running flats (same concept as the fivefingers, but in a shoe form. No padding to encourage natural movement. I would eventually like to switch to that also, because it is very much easier to use during triathlon transition. For now the fivefingers are being used as a tool to bridge the gab from padded running shoe to flat). After discussion with him, I started incoorporating my new shoe into my workouts. The idea is to start with short distances, like 1/2 mile at first, to not over stress the achillies and the calf muscles. These are not used to the stresses of barefoot running but build up relatively quickly. I am up to a mile and 1/4 in the fivefingers before switching to my running shoes for the
remainder. The key is to focus on transfereing the proper running technique of forefooot landing to the traditional shoe also.
I don't know if its a purely psychological effect, or a truly physical happening, but when I switch from the fivefinger to the mizuno shoe I feel different and more uncomfortable within minutes. It's not a acute pain I feel, but my knees and hips feel different. Like I said, that might all be in my head. But I like it! I hope to be 100% in barefoot style shoes by the time outdoor running starts and I would LOVE to compete in my races this year in this style footwear. We will see if the proper mileage can be added in safely to achieve that.
Other than running, swimming and biking are also going well. I will post an update on my current average weeks workouts next time.
There she sits. 2011 Cervelo P2 with 2011 Reynolds Strike Wheels. More details tomorrow!
bearing in mind this is all aerobic base training. I'm currently alternating one day of spinning onthe trainer, and the next swimming and running. Rinse, and repeat. My spins are usually 60 minutes long, all aerobic. The running is usually 30minutes and increasing slowly to prevent any injuries that have plagued me last year. Also, with the fivefinger shoes, my calfs are still pretty sore after 30 minutes! The swimming was the hardest to pick up again, after a 3 - 4 month break from the water. I am currently around 2500 to 3000 yards a workout and every time I feel better in the water, but my times are still not where they where last year. But the comfort and familiarity of the water is back, which is nice.
decided to give the Vibram FiveFinger Shoe a try. The Model I purchased was the KSO, along with some Injinji Toe socks (to reduce any possible friction rubs). The idea behind this odd looking shoe is the "barefoot running" movement. Naturally, we land on the ball of the foot when we run. However with padded running shoes, most people tend to heel strike. Heel striking produces a lot of stress that travels up through the heel to the shins through the knees up to the hips and lower back. Non of these body parts are designed to absorb shock. Many people muse this is where frequent joint injuries come from 
(there is no conclusive scientific evidence to support this, but then again there's none to deny it either). Having had my fair share of issues with my knees in the last years, the promise of a pain free and more enjoyable run (and running career) sounds good to me! There is nothing to lose!
remainder. The key is to focus on transfereing the proper running technique of forefooot landing to the traditional shoe also.
do just that, my goggles where dislodged and the right eye filled with water completely. The left was about ½ full but I could see out of it (and I closed that eye when breathing). I kept the right eye closed and decided to go at it with the goggles full instead of fixing the situation, because it was such a short swim. Pretty much right away, 2 guys in my wave pulled about 5 body lengths ahead of me and they ended up building that lead to about 10-15 lengths by swims end. No other complications during the swim and I left the water 3rd with about a 20 length lead to the next swimmer. 
place for several minutes we turned out of State Park and headed up Rt280. I was passed by 2 competitors early in the race, one on a fully aero, carbon Cannondale with Zipp’s and an aero helmet (he ended up way ahead) and the other on a Wal Mart special Mountain Bike, riding with gym shorts, no shirt and no helmet (yea…not a USAT sanctioned event!!!), holding his iPod and working his head phones. Yea that one hurt just a little. He stayed ahead of me, but within sight the entire bike stretch, sometimes close, sometimes he gained on me. Later in the bike portion, I had a total of 3 other riders pass me and the 4 of us and Mountain Bike guy finished the bike ride pretty much as a group. Later, when talking to some of them, I learned that 2 of them where from the 2nd wave of athletes. The bike ride was a pretty steady uphill, with some flat spots and also some small downhill sections. Max speed was 33mph for just a bit, and avg was in the 18.9mph area. Was not a hard bike, but not easy as it was generally uphill. 