Maybe I made a mistake by hanging out with the gorillas in Rwanda.
Because now I have my very own pair of gorilla feet.
I’ve been curious about minimalist running footwear ever since I read Christopher McDougall’s bestseller, “Born to Run,” which questions traditional running shoe wisdom, examines super distance runners and tells the story of Mexico’s Tarahumara tribe, whose runners log hundreds of miles at a time while wearing only thin sandals.
The Vibram Five Finger shoes follow that basic philosophy. It gives you the experience of running barefoot while providing a minimal amount of covering for protection from roadside hazards, like broken glass or rocks.
I’m someone who has actively tried to run for many years, but I was always sidelined by shin splints and foot pain before I could ever build any kind of endurance. It was only a year ago that I realized I was a heel striker, which I think contributed to the pain in my shins. Once I changed my running style, the pain went away. The Vibrams are just an extension of that for me.
I wanted to get back to basics and run the way humans were designed to run — without the pumped up kicks.
I had a sizable dividend check from REI that I had to use, so I sent off for the shoes a couple weeks ago. (In Palm Springs, you can check out Vibrams at the Birkenstock store, 138 S. Palm Canyon Dr., downtown.)
I bought this pair in a men’s size, because the men’s size has more length and my toes are long enough to peel apples.
After years of wearing cushioned, padded shoes, you’re supposed to ease into minimalist footwear. So I started by wearing my Vibrams to walk the dog. Then I took the dog a slow jog. Then I left the dog at home (sorry, Lemon) and did some walk/sprint intervals.
And today? It was my first time doing one whole session with the Vibrams. FUN!
Yes, they look silly. But they give me the sensation of being a manic kid again, running around the yard at top speed and enjoying every joyful second. For that, I’ll happily take the gorilla feet.