Hey guys! Remember when I used to blog regularly? Also remember when I used to blog regularly about barefoot running? My, my how times have changed.

The truth is that I have limited the use of my Vibrams to walking. Why? Did I hurt myself? Find some research disproving all the supposed benefits of barefoot running?

Nope. The answer is this: pure laziness.

The thing about running barefoot or in Vibram FiveFingers is that it takes a lot of patience and forethought. You don’t just put them on and go for a run. It’s a slow process to build the strength in your feet, ankles and calves. I started getting lazy about it last year while I was training for the Pittsburgh marathon. It was easier to get my miles in while wearing my normal running shoes.

Well, after my “half-hearted” marathon, I decided to step back from races and recommit my time to minimalist running. But this time I am going about it differently.

The main change is that I shook the dust off of my Brooks Green Silence and have said goodbye to my Brooks Defyance. The Green Silence were first sold as “racing flats” but they are a minimal shoe. Now I have learned that Brooks has discontinues them and replaced them with their Pure project.

Bye-bye, Defyance. I love you for carrying me through countless races and my first marathon. Sorry for making you so bloody, but we can blame the Pittsburgh weather, ok?

Green Silence, please treat me as well as, if not better, your predecessor. I love your eco friendly and natural style. And you make me run so free! I’m sorry Brooks doesn’t feel the same way as I do.

As of now, I have a lot of miles left in my Green Silence, but I’m still looking forward to the next shoe. Here’s my plan: instead of sticking with a shoe similar to the Green Silence, I will switch to a shoe with even less support, such as the New Balance Minimus.

Dear Minimus, I covet you. Please be as awesome as you look. One day…xoxo.

Eventually I’d love to run exclusively in the Vibram FiveFingers, but I have learned that it takes a lot of commitment. Maybe over the past year and a half I have been reevaluating my running style. It’s definitely minimalist, but maybe the whole jump to barefoot running will be a process slower than I initially thought.

What running shoes do you wear? How do you feel about minimalist shoes? What about barefoot/FiveFinger running? Have you tried it? 

P.S. The pictures of the Defyance and the Green Silence are from Brooksrunning.com and the picture of the Minimus comes from ShopNewBalance.com. You should go check out shoes and let me know what’s on YOUR shoe wish list. 

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