Could you run a marathon in Vibrams? page

[Kerry Ann]

Well, I have set a goal for myself to run in the NYC marathon by the time i'm 34.. I WILL DO IT.. Do you think its ok to run it in vibrams?
I wear them all the time to walk, (have even taken like 10 mile walks in them) with no problems..
I don't suffer back pain, or joint pain.. so would it be safe to train in them?

[marthat]

I just ran the Air Force Half Marathon last weekend, and there were tons of Vibram-clad runners in both the full and the half. Not me, though, so I can't speak personally, but I ran with and past lots of "barefoot" runners.

[Kerry Ann]

oh I wanted to add that im 31.. lol

[MoBob]

Just be careful and get acclimated to VFF's.

I've had mine for over a year using them for walking, running,and sprints but lately have been experiencing plantar facitiis my docs X-rays revealed a 2mm bone spur on my left heel. So, I won't be using anymore until I heal, just cushioned running trail shoes for me and I'm 45yo. I'm also a heel striker.....

Good luck!

[Al_Kavadlo]

This guy ran the NYC marathon in vibrams...and a banana costume!



Anything is possible!

[hockeyfan7]

Most of the really fast Kenyans train barefoot.

[Owly]

My partner is running his first full marathon in his VFFs coming up. The key for him has been to do his training in them so he's used to doing the mileage with the Vibrams.

[slowcooker]

Most of the really fast Kenyans train barefoot.

Probably not on pavement though. A little cushion couldn't hurt.

[Grumpycakes]

Abebe Bikila, at 1960 Summer Olympics. His feet bare.

Darmok and Jalad, at Tanagra.

[Blah]

I have been walking and hkiking in my vibrams full time for nearly a year now, walking an hour a day almost every day and 3 hour hikes on the weekend, and I do all my sprints in barefeet.

Just recently I started training for a half marathon, my endurance would be fine, but I hadn't done any running other than sprints. I decided to build ups slowly, 2k, 4k 6k runs. After running 2k for the first time my achilles hurt a lot. Next run 2 days later it wan't too bad. Then to 4k and again it started to hurt a lot, but on the second 4k not to bad. Same deal for 6k. At that point I knew I could run the half marathon, but not in vibrams, trying would wreck my achilles. I simply don't have time left to prpare my legs to run in vibrams, so for this one I'll be in conventional running shoes, when its over I'll swap back to running in vibrams to train and stretch my achilles more (back to where it should be, had I not spent 22 years of my life in conventional shoes).

Moral of the story, do a distance run first and see how your legs take it, if your in pain part way through then you probably shouldn't run in vibrams. If not, go for gold and have fun.