Today I ran 4 miles in my new RunAmocs. Keep in mind that I have been running barefoot and in Vibram KSOs, gradually increasing my mileage for a year now. There was that episode of the broken toe during the summer that slowed me down some (injury UNrelated to running); and I wasn’t breaking the two mile mark until I got some interval training from my fantastic husband. Then, about two weeks ago Sunday, I ran 4 miles in my Vibrams in the snow, ice, and SLUSH on a .56 mile looping asphalt path.
To be honest, only about a third of the way was unavoidably arctic. For the first 2 miles, I was happily skipping and hopping over icy patches where I could. Even where I couldn’t, I managed to choose the most solid or dry spots to place my non-waterproof feet. On the ice or snow, I was careful about slipping, definitely feeling the advantage of using the whole foot. The very bare looking footprints in the snow must have caused some questions for walkers who didn’t see me or notice my unusual footwear.
After a couple of miles, though, I was tired enough that I was not lifting or placing my feet as well and they were getting wet since the top of the Vibrams is a breathable mesh. I was warm overall, not noticing the cold of my feet until the end of my run. Then, as I removed my Vibrams, I discovered my feet were numb on the outer half, lengthwise. They warmed up within 30 minutes without repercussions, but I wondered about avoiding this in the future.
Hence, the RunAmocs. I used the Design Your Own option, choosing a smooth brown leather. They have a Vibrams sole, albeit completely flat, but thin enough (5 mm) to allow for both good flexibility and a decent feel of the ground. When they got to my house, within two weeks of ordering them, I sprayed them to make them water resistant.
Since I want to wear them for an outdoor run this Saturday, I was pushing things some to try them out. I first wore them around the house this morning with a pair of smartwool socks for a couple of hours before going for a run outside. I literally forgot I had them on. There was not any place where they put pressure on my foot or leg, even with the laces tied securely. The front of the shoes is nice and wide, leaving the toes very free.
Around 10 AM, I donned my new ear warmer headband, put Kiwi on the leash (her story begins here), and headed for Wilson Springs fishing ponds. The ground (.9 mile asphalt loop) was dry today, so I didn’t get to test against moisture, but I can unequivocally say that my feet were comfortably warm. They were dry inside the shoe, too, thanks to the excellent socks. I did start to get a blister on my longest left toe in the last half mile, but not anything serious. No matter how good the shoes are, repetitive use of the feet is going to cause friction somewhere. This blister reminds me of what resulted when running totally barefoot in the summer. I read one wearer’s account of running in summer RunAmocs, saying he only had problems with rubbing and blisters when he wore socks, but I am loath to give up my wool socks in the winter.
So, I think I’m ready for the 2.5 mile Christmas Fun Run, on Saturday, now. Its supposed to snow about 3 inches the night before, but the forecast is that it will still be 32 degrees at race time, not warm enough to create slush. Ho, ho, ho!!
