Vibrams Follow-up + another picture of my brothers :)

I love the responses I’ve been getting about running in Vibrams. And I think the majority ruled that it’s pronounced “VIE-brams” not “VEE-brams.”

So, to address some questions I’ve received about Vibrams:

• I am a pronator and have always run in stability shoes. Asics, to be precise. The Asics 2100 series to be very precise, including the 2120, 2130, 2140, and 2150.

• I am switching between my Asics 2150 and the Vibrams. No, I don’t know if that’s OK or counterproductive. But I’m doing it anyway.

• Last Saturday, I ran in my Asics. Honestly, it was nice just to run and not have to be so conscious of my form and landing. But my legs felt like LEAD and my SI joint starting hurting after a while. I switched to my Vibrams after 3.5 miles for one more mile loop and felt great.

• Vibrams are just plain FUN to run in.

• Maizey thinks minimalist/barefoot running is the only way to go. She’s so progressive.

• I went for a short & speedy run yesterday in my Vibrams. I was really frustrated and the run was a great stress reliever. It sounds weird, but it was like the frustration was escaping through my feet through the Vibrams, like it was just flowing from me to the ground without the extra barrier of a thick sole. Hard to describe, but I loved it.

• My left shin hurts today. I haven’t had shin splint problems in over 10 years. I’m not sure if it’s related to running in the Vibrams yesterday, Body Pump or something else.

• I plan to run in my Asics on my longer runs until I build up my foot and ankle strength by gradually increasing my distances in my Vibrams.

My loose schedule right now is:

• Monday – run in Vibrams 2 miles*
• Tuesday – Body Pump
• Wednesday – run in Asics 3-5 miles
• Thursday – Body Pump
• Friday – teach cycle
• Saturday – longer run in Asics (5-7 miles, switching to Vibrams for the last 2 miles) and/or Body Pump
• Sunday  – rest

I might toss in a 1 mile run on Tuesday or Thursday evenings in my Vibrams, mostly to exercise my the boxer dog.

I’ll probably keep this schedule for a few weeks and then try to increase the distance in my Vibrams some more.

*I built up to 2 miles gradually, completing two runs at each distance with a day of rest in between: 0.5 miles, 1.0 miles, 1.5 miles. (So I ran 0.5 miles the first time, then rested a day, then 0.5 miles again, then rested, then 1.0 miles, then rested, etc.)

And because so many asked, only one of my brothers is single. The rest are the cutest daddys to the cutest kids.

The one on the far right is single. His name is Roger. He’s a real cowboy. He loves roping competitions (which he often wins), hunting, long walks through manure, girls in tight Wranglers, and his dog Ned (who is the smartest dog I’ve ever met). He is a a successful business owner, likes to think he is a badass, and would likely kill me for posting this, but since he doesn’t read my blog, I’m safe. (Photo taken by Duston Todd)

I love this picture. I love their stances. I love that they’re in focus and I’m not. And I love their faces…to me, each expression reflect their personalities in ways that only those closest to them would know.

Do you have a workout schedule that you stick do or do you just do whatever you feel like on any given day?

Check out my guest post on Iateapie.net to see one of my favorite (& easiest to make) sandwiches. It involves pesto and avocado. Yum yum yum.

Tagged as: family, guest posts, Vibrams