Friday, April 23, 2010
My Thoughts on Vibram Five Fingers. #VFF
Back in February I bought a pair of Vibram Five Fingers (VFF) shoes. If you haven't heard of them, this is them:http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/indexNA.cfm
I first heard about them from strength coach Dan John who mentioned them in an article he had written, extolling their benefits on helping him heal a back ache. Dan is a successful strength coach and entertaining writer who's opinion I generally appreciate, but more or less paid no attention to these funny looking shoes he was talking about. A few weeks later, an author, blogger, and self professed "lifestyle hacker" that I enjoy reading Timothy Ferris mentioned them on his widely read 4hourblog.com. http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/05/07/vibram-five-fingers-shoes/
No point in letting lightning hit a third time... so I went to their site, it peaked my interest, then in further search realized that these shoes had an insanely zealous cult following. There are people wearing these "foot gloves" for everything. One blog is devoted to a guy wearing them everyday for a year, no other footwear than Virbram Five Fingers for 365 days!
The shoes have found popularity with readers of the book "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall. In it he discusses the merits of barefoot running based on science, philosophy, anthropology, along with some good story telling. His book has become the Tipping Point for a growing number of barefoot runners. However, many barefoot runners have found that Vibram Five Fingers offer the perfect barefoot alternative.
The Vibram sole is unique. You may have a pair of work or hiking boots, or even regular sneakers or running shoes with a Vibram sole. Northface, Merrell, and other shoe companies regularly incorporate Vibram soles into their shoe designs. The sole is thin, relatively featureless, yet, even in wet conditions, I have not slipped yet, even in slushy ice and snow. It is felxible, allows you to feel every pebble, but your skin is completely protected.
I part with fellow VFF enthusiasts on their enthusiasm to run in them. I believe running in them is a perfectly acceptable if not preferential alternative to running in traditional running shoes, that frankly have only been around in their present state for just a bit more than the last quarter century. However, for health and cardiovascular benefits there are superior methods than traditional aerobic activities such as running.
I believe the best benefit offered by wearing VFFs is for everyday day activities. There are not many outdoor activities that they aren't well adapted for. However, the activity I was hoping and then pleasantly surprised to find suited VFFs well was lifting weights. It's largely like training barefoot. They allow much more proprioception during movement, and require much more muscular motor unit recruitment of the lower leg and foot.
Power Lifters for years have dead lifted in socks, ballet slippers, and other thin soled shoes in order to limit the range of motion during competition as much as possible in an attempt to improve their totals in competition. I would recommend these to all Power Lifters specifically to be used for dead lifting in competition.
Eric Cressey, Strength Coach and owner of Cressey Performance in Boston known for his ability to rehab shoulders and hip/pelvic dysfunctions recommends them as a prevention to common hip/pelvic issues such as muscle imbalances, improper length tension relationships, etc. that often start in the hip and pelvic region but manifest themselves in back or knee pain.
Strength Coaches Charles Poliquin of Poliquin Performance and Art McDermott in their excellent book on Strong Man Training, "Applied Strong Man Training for Sport" recommend performing variations of the Farmer's Walk barefoot for hockey, speed skaters, and figure skaters as a way to strengthen the muscles of the lower leg that grow weaker during their respective seasons due to the supportive nature of ice skates. In addition, performing barefoot is useful in strengthening the musculature that acts upon the ankles after injury.
One benefit of training in the VFFs is greater and less restricted range of motion, another is increased proprioceptive demand. Proprioception in a nutshell is where your brain thinks your body is in space. Clumsy and uncoordinated people have poor proprioception.
Most wearers of VFFs noticed increase size and strength in the lower leg after wearing them regardless of activity. Due to the factors mentioned, they force your feet and lower leg musculature to work harder.
I'm not one to give two $#^*! about other's opinion, therefore I'm not particularly self conscious about wearing them, however other than looking a bit odd and not really being made for cold or wet conditions, there are few draw backs to the shoes. They are machine washable, dry quickly, more durable than you will imagine, and provide more support that you may think.
Do a Google search and read some blogs on them and you will find testimonies of back and knee pains being healed, foot problems being fixed, and everything else short of getting one into Heaven. I have read exactly one negative comment on the shoes that wasn't merely a critique of their looks, and it appeared the person just didn't like the idea as his "arguments" against them were pretty weak.
One caution, if you choose to get some there are a few blogs with tips for sizing them, as they must fit "like a glove!" just search VFF Sizing. The first pair I received were too big, but the return was no hassle.
All in all, it's a great product that I highly recommend.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Differences in international regulations regarding border crossings.
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Friday, March 26, 2010
12 signs you had too much to drink:
| 12 signs you had too much to drink One too many will get you every time.... |
Thursday, March 18, 2010
3 things 90% of basketball coaches do a piss poor job of:
1) Teaching free throw shooting. It's simple as hell, but coaches don't know how to do it, don't emphasize it, & don't spend enough practice time on it. Yet are pissed when they lose because of it. 2) Teachings players to use their off hand. It's pathetic when a 6'9" guy gets his shot blocked because he can't make a lay up with his left hand. Hint: It works the same damn way as the right one guys! 3) Teaching ANY kind of offense. Watch how much time is wasted on a possession by the point guard standing 30 feet from the basket dribbling. Watch how 1-3 passes are made & the ball ends up within 3 feet of where it started. Watch how many times a team runs their "offense" & ends up taking a contested shot they could have gotten by letting that player simply go one-on-one.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
NCAA Tournament
Here's my bracket: http://soc.li/wQCxGPNFirst off, the tournament committee has made some suspicious choices and pairings the last few years. Snubbing Virginia Tech and Mississippi State fits the bill of suspicion. I'm not a Mississippi State fan, and frankly don't hold Rick Stansbury in very high regard as a coach, but they deserved an at large bid. Also the East vs. Midwest bracket is silly. Midwest by far the toughest region East is a near cakewalk for either Kentucky or West Virginia. Also, Duke Louisville meeting in the second round, Pitino vs. Coach K isn't by chance. Nice subtlety there Tournament Committee. Starting with the Midwest, Kansas is a great team, but look for them to be upset by Michigan State. The Spartans have size to match up with Kansas and there aren't many coaches who prepare a team as well as Tom Izzo. He does an excellent job scouting and preparing in short periods of time. Georgetown and Ohio State should meet in the Sweet Sixteen. Possibly the best game in the tourney featuring arguably the best player in Even Turner for Ohio State. If they can get past the Hoyas, look for him to make big plays down the stretch if not a classic March Madness Bryce Drewesque moment. If Georgetown can get by Ohio State, I think they are playing well enough and the brackets line up for them to get to the Final Four. I don't see the West being very exciting, look for Syracuse to handle business.In the South, look for Richmond to make a run to the Sweet 16, and maybe the Elite 8. But I think Duke will come out of that region. Well coached, and veteran teams invariably perform better in the tournament. Also, I'm picking Notre Dame, but Old Dominion could upset them. In the East, look for 12 seed Cornell to upset 5 seed Temple. West Virginia should be able to get past Kentucky. The grind of the Big East conference season will benefit them and the cake walk of the SEC will hurt Kentucky. However, Kentucky could slip past if John Wall has a monster game, which he is very capable of. Look for New Mexico to make a run, but I don't think they'll be able to get past WVU. I felt earlier in the year that there would be at least 2 possibly 3 Big East teams in the Final Four, the brackets have worked out in a way for that to happen. Wasn't sure about Duke, but again, seeding makes a difference in the tourney. I'm picking Georgetown over Syracuse in the semis, but if Syracuse gets by them, I pick them to beat WVU or Duke in the finals. Though I think Duke will get by WVU. Duke's a veteran team that can shoot and plays with a lot of discipline. Regardless, as always the tournament will be the most exciting and dramatic sporting event on the planet. Look for Vermont to make Syracuse worry a bit early, but the Orangemen will be fine. As mentioned look for Richmond to make a run, other than them, I'm not sure who the other Cinderella will be this year. Old Dominion? Cornell? Siena? UTEP? Also, look for the Pac 10 to be a non-factor. Next weekend is annually the most exciting weekend in sports,Looking forward to it. Post your brackets if you got'em.
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