Due Diligence And A Purchase!

I’ve spent the past week researching and digesting a WEALTH of information. I even went out and ran barefoot. It was a short jaunt, maybe a quarter mile tops, but everything in my mind has changed with that one run.

The barefoot run, combined with the hours of data and musings I’ve been pouring over has totally changed my mindset on what it means to run. Before I go further with my plan, here’s some of the stuff I found most important over the past week:

http://runningbarefoot.org/?page_id=525
*this is Barefoot KenBob’s site. I’ve linked you to his post on “Beginnings” because the information he provides is so critical to what you will experience when you take your shoes off. This guy is like the godfather of barefoot running.

http://barefootted.com/
*all these “barefoot [insert name]” guys are insane. I love it! Ted has a great site with tons of information into running ultra distances that I cannot even conceive at this point in my life.

http://www.posetech.com/
*the Pose Method of running is badass. Even if you decide to keep shoes on, this is a must follow to ensure you don’t eff your joints up forever. Watching the videos on the Pose method has made me realize that my super fly stride and heel strike is probably why I’ve never been able to run without pain…

http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/
*the combined efforts of the three previous links I posted have led me to this company. This is my first purchase on this new path in running.  I chose the KSO model of the “shoe” and here’s why.

The classic seems to be adequate but in appearance alone seems that it may feel like it’s slipping off my foot while I run. I also REALLY like the fact that the KSO is closed top and has the strap. I plan on running trails, I figure they are more entertaining than concrete passing beneath you…and so the KSO will offer just enough top closure so that crap doesn’t get into the “shoe”.

I picked up the shoe online from City Sports and signed up for their mailing list while I was at it, which saved me an extra 15% on them! They ended up being $73. A small price to pay if they give me the ability to run. I’m patiently awaiting their arrival and will post an update once I have them!