The Vibram & Toe-socks Chronicles.....

Do you remember reading about my misadventure of running in my Vibram KSO back in Melbourne without any sort of barrier between the epidermis of my sole and the KSO....and the blisters that accompanied that "foolish" attempt...?

Well...if you don't remember, here's a picture of those blisters!

Anyway, when I was in Singapore pre-SCSM and met up with the likes of VFF-believers Mo-maniac and Amelia, and I mentioned about my little abraded foot problem, Amelia suggested that I seriously consider toe socks.

Well...this wasn't the first time I was advised to go toe-sock with my VFF.

My Dailymiler blister-aversive buddies have been urging me to sock-it with the VFF but I was too stubborn (as always..sigh) to heed such wisdom.

But coming from Amelia...having completed many (MANY!!!!) full marathons in those Vibrams of hers, an ultra and a trail race in them as well......while wearing toe-socks (and swears by them).....I don't think I can ignore such good advise any longer.

Currently the most famous of all toe-socks are the Injinji's:

They go for about RM50-ish per pair and most runners swear by it as it never gives blisters while running shoe-shod.

I never bothered with it as I am usually blister-less in my cheap Nike socks that I've bought at the sales rack at Al-Ikhsan.

Wise Amelia suggested not to bother with the pricy "designer toe-sock" and get some cheapo ones at Sox World....that goes for about RM15-20 per pair.

Still....I thought it was a little pricy for something experimental....(although forking out for a fake pair of Vibram Sprint costing over RM200 on the internet for experiment sake.....nah, didn't have a problem with that), I decided to try sourcing for the toe-socks at an even cheaper alternative stores.

Thus, in comes the 100 Yen Shop!!!!

With cheap goodies galore inside......you're guaranteed to find ALMOST anything you'd need.

Perhaps except weed and heroin.

And I was right.....I did find what I need!!!!

My RM4.90 toe-socks!!!!

So cheap, I bought two pairs!!!

Sure...it ain't Dri-Fit....and it doesn't have a fancy label attached to it.

And everyone I mentioned it to looked at my cheapo toe-socks with doubt etched on their face.

But I figured if these socks work in preventing those dreaded blisters, then MAYBE perhaps I'll upgrade later to the "designer" ones...(ie Injinji). MAYBE.....

So I took my VFF (the fake ones) and my el-cheapo toe-socks for a test run on the dreadmill on the gym for an 8km run.

No problem.

Then I took it out on the road for a 5km run.

No problem.

On Tuesday, I took it out for a 10km run with Wendy, sorta as a prep run for our MR25 this Sunday, and amazingly.....I found myself not only WITHOUT blisters and in comfort, I was also running a whole lot faster than I thought I could!!!

Of course, my calve muscles ache a little each time post-running in the VFF.

But I'm sure eventually, the feet and legs will get used to running "barefoot".

Currently, there are tons of supposed "Vibram"going for affordable on the internet.

The ones in Singapore sells for SGD180-ish which after converted to our humble Ringgit, it would be over RM400!!!

Not cheap at all.

The supposed "Vibram" are going for RM300-ish on Facebook (I've been tagged many times on someone's profile pic or photo catalog).

I doubt their authenticity......but honestly like the wise words of a crazy bald Singaporean dude who thinks he's occasionally Kenyan, it's just about the piece of rubber underneath.

So no biggie.

But if you're seriously considering getting a fake pair....get them online.

They are SO much cheaper!!!!

(I can't believe I'm pushing the sales of fake items online...gosh I hope I don't get sued)

And once you're convinced your feet are made for barefoot running, only then invest in an authentic pair.....or go au naturel and REALLY RUN BAREFOOT!!!!

By the way....a list of fake Vibram online....click HERE!

Later!!!!