Are you on commission with Vibram, lol

Yea, but Im being paid in slightly sore, VERY muddy, calves and minorly stone bruised feet.
Think I should have read the small print

__________________
Member of Nailsea Running Club.
http://www.nailsearunningclub.org.uk/

Did 6 miles last night in my minimus zero's which is by far my longest run in them. Also ran each of my runs this week in them. My legs feel absolutely fine this morning, no worse than after any other run which is great.

I'm not sure whether I should have bought a slightly bigger pair though. After a few miles my toes on the left strat rubbing on th tips. My toes bend generally anyway though rather than lying flat so I'm not sure whether it's just my toes or the shoes that aren't roomy enough. Nothing a couple of plasters doesn't solve though

I hate the minimus zeros... I gave the trail version and I just can't get used to then. I have the minimus 10s trail and I love then I wouldn't trade them for anything

Aww, I've been on hols and just been catching up on all your posts . We've been to sunny Florida where I did a bit of shoe spotting - just a handful of people in VFFs and the Fila equivalent (which I didn't know existed) and lots of people in flip flops teamed up with woolly black socks ().

I've posted some observations on my blog.

Albatross - totally agree with you about observing children run. I was at a kids gymnastics competition a few weeks ago, and was fascinated watching the tiny but constant movements of the toes and feet as the gymnasts maintained their balance or ran for their vaults.

Jeanette - have you tried running with completely bare feet? That would soon stop your scuffing habit !!

__________________
PBs: Half Marathon 1:58:20 (Cardiff 2011); 10k 53:16 (Cardiff 2011)
@clareontherun | Barefoot Blog
I'm raising money in memory of my lovely Mum

Yes, and funnily enough it does! I saw the lady that did the barefoot session I went to a while back again on Saturday and she said I would also stop doing it in barefoot shoes. I'm not entirely convinced but, she given me some more tips on improving technique generally so I'll persevere with that for a while and then think I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and see... Watch this space! (Might be a while yet as I have several pairs of shoes on the go at the moment and OH will go mad if I clutter up the porch with any more!)

__________________
Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. (Henry Van Dyke)

Jeanette - Scuffing of the outside of the shoe can be indicative of landing slightly forward and with tension in the ankle.

Exactly what the coach said! (Its nice to have it confirmed by someone else as well though .) I have been prescribed ankle exercises - and have noticed a difference already (not in shoe wear - too early to tell with that - but definitely getting more flexible) and am working on the landing thing.

__________________
Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. (Henry Van Dyke)

Oh go on, take your shoes off altogether and run without them, you know you want to. OH can't tell you off for more shoes then either!

__________________
PBs: Half Marathon 1:58:20 (Cardiff 2011); 10k 53:16 (Cardiff 2011)
@clareontherun | Barefoot Blog
I'm raising money in memory of my lovely Mum

Thats good to know Jeanette
Shake those feet out. Think floppy feet. And don't think of the landing, gravity will take care of getting it on the deck.
Try some barefoot on the beach/grass as its often easier to relax when your mind thinks its ok to put the feet down.

just wondering what exercises you have been given please? I need to try to strengthen (and loosen) my ankles...

__________________
current PB's: 5k PB 28:49 02/07/12, 10k PB 58:00 03/02/13, (Chichester) HM PB 02:10:56 17/02/13 (Brighton)

2013 goals - to return from injury & complete Chichester HM
500 mile challenge - 178/500

I do want to and I have - only on grass in a secluded field (as I'm a bit self conscious) at the moment but am going to persevere!

That's sounding familiar too! As per the above have only done on grass at the moment (I'm a bit wary of running on the beach as I'm always worried about what might be lurking beneath the surface of the sand). The coach actually said in some ways its better (from the point of view of improving technique) to run on firmer surfaces as softer ones, to an extent, mimic the effect of shoes. There's a really nice smooth stretch of the Camel Trail not too far from me so if I can pluck up the courage I'll give it a go on there.

Just to make sure we are talking about the same thing, my stiffness is when my feet flex upwards - if you can imagine doing a calf stretch against a wall, that sort of position. (They're stupidly flexible in the other direction - I can point my toes really well.) The key exercise for me is something I've sometimes heard referred to as the Asian squat. Basically you crouch down as far as you can but try not to lift your heels off the ground - most people have to, or feel like they're going to topple over backwards. You can improve it by holding on to a door frame to stop yourself going backwards but gradually try reducing the amount you need to hold on. (I haven't explained that very well - googling it might be a better option!).
Also going from standing up to this position trying to keep your body straight - if you raise your arms above your head this helps concentrate your mind on staying upright. At the moment I have to do this with a folded yoga mat under my heels but am going to try and reduce this.
Hope that gives you an idea - I imagine general calf stretching exercises will probably help as well.

__________________
Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. (Henry Van Dyke)

yes - that's exactly my problem... I'll have a look at the asian squat and keep going with the stretches.

I'm mid-foot land quite nicely now, but I am always scuffing the mid-sole/toes, partly because my ankles don't flex (I too can point really well) but the don't bend back) and I haven't really mastered the higher knee lift required yet... I'm thinking of getting some barefoot coaching after I've done my half in october, there's someone in worthing I was going to look at, so if there are any others in that sort of area, I would be interested please.... (between worthing and portsmouth would be great!)

__________________
current PB's: 5k PB 28:49 02/07/12, 10k PB 58:00 03/02/13, (Chichester) HM PB 02:10:56 17/02/13 (Brighton)

2013 goals - to return from injury & complete Chichester HM
500 mile challenge - 178/500

Mine had done the Vivobarefoot course (as well as being a physio) and I can't recommend her highly enough, but she's in Cornwall. There's a list of other coaches here:

http://trainingclinic.vivobarefoot.com/find-a-coach/

and there is one in Worthing (perhaps thats the one you know about already). Definitely worth it I think, however much you read/see on the internet its so much easier to get the feel of what you are supposed to be doing with someone explaining it to you in person. (Plus they can see what you're doing wrong and so tell you what you need to concentrate on.)
Interested to know how you get on so do report back!

__________________
Use what talents you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. (Henry Van Dyke)

Jeanette - It sounds familiar probably because vivobarefoot is dressed up pose method.... alledgedly.

If your ankles are stiff due to calf tightness I reckon you will struggle to loosen them with just stretching. Myofascial release would be a great help to you in increasing range of movement and flexability.