My favourite running shoes

Vibram Fivefingers SeeYa – performance-driven footwear

My feet are now free – these minimalist shoes are unquestionably not ‘over-engineered’!

Traditional running shoes indeed made me ‘soft’ – I had believed that the more high-tech foam to absorb the impact, the better...and each niggle or pain in my legs was a sign that it was time to upgrade to the next level of foam! Bulky shoes encouraged me to land on my heels as they protected me from the repetitive sharp impact of each heel-strike!

Stepping into the Vibram Five Fingers SeeYa is one of the most positive things I have done from an injury point of view – they allow my feet to flex and extend through the full range of motion rather than halt it! I feel that my stride is more efficient as I pronate far less in these minimalist shoes. They force me to run soft to the ground and allow my soles to sense and connect to the earth beneath. They ensure I feel mud, grass, pebbles and dirt – I can run appropriate to the terrain – effortless and the way nature intended!

This quote from John Van Tiggelen in his SMH article ‘Bare foot forward’ sums it up best:

"Running barefoot forces you to run lightly… that's why the Africans dominate world distance running; they know if you kick the earth, it will kick you back, through your heel, through your knee, through your hip and through your back."

The SeeYa has taken away the complex features of stability, motion control and structured cushioning…deleted all the ‘stuff’ and ensured that runners feet are given a good old ‘strength session’ each time they take a trot in these super-minimalist creations!

 

The SeeYas do two things extremely well – they allow you to run with a natural action so that the foot acts like a ‘spring’ but at the same time, they don’t allow you to land on your heels as it would be far too painful!

The SeeYas have changed the way I run – by taking a ‘paleo’ approach and leaving the high-tech foam behind, they have made me stronger and faster and allowed me to run with happy feet!

Features from Vibram FiveFingers:

·         The FiveFingers SeeYa has the same 3mm polyurethane insole and antimicrobial dri-lex sockliner as the Bikila

·         A super breathable polyester mesh upper

·         The upper has almost no structure around the ankle and heel cup to give a true barefoot feel

·         Minimum rubber thickness in the outsole maximizes “foot feel” and flexibility

·         A soft TPU midsole reduces thickness and weight for natural movement

·         A stitched-in polyurethane insole protects skin and foot tissue during longer runs.

·         For a snug fit, the lightweight, single-layer, stretch mesh upper has an adjustable hook-and-loop closure

·         3M reflective applications for night running

·         And like all FiveFingers, machine washable to keep housemates happy!