During the summer of 2008 Vibram's marketing associate, Georgia Shaw, introduced me to some funny looking gloves that she told me go on my feet. With hesitation I tried a pair of the FiveFinger Flows thinking the neoprene version might find a use while kayaking. They seemed to do the trick, yet having a synthetic polymer (or anything for that matter) between my toes seemed to outweigh the benefits the irregular footwear promised. The Flows found their way into the dark corner of a closet.
A year later, a rafting trip saw a second chance for my FiveFingers. It was on this trip that I not-so-purposely used the Flows for some trail running. I fell in love. The experience was etherial, even surreal. I don't know how else to explain it. It just felt good, good enough to get over the 'in between my toes' issue. In fact, it didn't take long to get over the odd feeling altogether.
A question began brewing in my head. Do Vibram FiveFinger shoes have a place in everyday life? Well, here's my plan for finding an answer:
- A self-made challenge to wear nothing but FiveFingers over the next year. *
- A blog to record my experiences and provide reviews on FiveFingers and their use in various activities.
- An epic event, at least for me, such as my first ultra-marathon demonstrating what even a regular guy like myself can do in Vibram FiveFingers.
My goal is to increase my own health and wellness, educate myself and others, and entertain as I record my journey. Thanks for coming to 'In Between My Toes.' Your questions, stories (contact), and comments (blog) are welcome.
* Certain activities require specialized footwear. I will attempt to be as creative as possible in using FiveFinger shoes in many of the activities that I enjoy. The occasion may arise, however, where using Vibram's foot gloves will not be possible. Due to this fact I'm including flexibility in my challenge, so you can't give me a hard time for wearing boots when I am out snowshoeing.
