The First Sockwa Experience - Barefoot Running Shoes in India (Post # 5)

After some wait, I received my red Sockwa G2 pair day before yesterday. Was eager to experience them on the tarmac since that's what I had in mind when I ordered.

If you ponder about the name, you get the essence of these shoes. They snug like socks and work like shoes.

I ran 4 kms and skipped for about 10 minutes. I've done the same quite often in other makes like Vibram's Five Fingers, Vivo Barefoot. Here's a little comparison. Mind you, the context is Indian roads and conditions.

VVF have a thicker, harder sole. When I run in those I run watching my surroundings - the tree, the birds, the buildings, the people - more than the terrain. With VB, very much the same but I have to watch out more frequently to avoid stepping on the little stones. Wearing Sockwa, my concentration and eyes were fully on the tarmac. For how light and thin they are, they induce you into concentrating on the activity. I won't claim but I suppose they would aid the runner in focusing on the running form, for otherwise running just won't be pleasurable.

I also think I could have ordered size 12 instead of 11. My foot measurement is close to 27.4 cms, or may be 27.5 cms. However, the make is such that a size smaller or bigger might not make a hell lot of difference. Most importantly, they won't hurt the toes.

A nice gift to myself this winter. 2013 will see me very often in my red Sockwa. :)

I've written about VFF and VB as well, just in case you are curious. Check the posts here.

Shoekill

A few days back, I felt an urge at 3:30am to find out what makes these sports shoes so expensive. I thought, let me read up on the internet. But I had done that on a couple of occasions earlier too. And I lost all that I had learnt.

It struck me that there are a couple of pairs which I've stopped wearing. I picked one, grabbed my scissors and went dissecting an actual shoe. So this is the result. You can count the number of components in a typical shoe.

There's designing of course, lots of stitching and most importantly, moulding. Add to that there's quite a bit of 'complexity' too. They call it technology. Compare the above design with the one below.

Significantly less number of components and when you look closely, significantly less complexity. Besides, these red shoes proved to be far more relaxing and fun when worn for long hours. And while running they help me develop a form which is less injurious than the form I adopted coz of the heavily technologized shoes above.

Interestingly, the red shoes should cost, by virtue of its simplicity, should cost less than the technologized shoes. But no. Not yet. In fact, significantly more. Those in the thrall of technology are yet to appreciate these, and so I reckon volumes are limited. Early adopters gotta pay. And they are happy paying.

The thing is whether you can get your market to appreciate the nuances. And how sooner?

Invisible Shoes

For anyone who has been into running, and has had to grapple with small or big injuries induced by running, and has spent a good deal of time picking appropriate/perfect running shoes, this is a must watch/read. And for those who are interested in marketing and communication of any sort, this is a must must watch/read.

The oxymoron called INVISIBLE SHOES. And this is a positive note (I mean no contempt coz of it's oxymoronity). Click on the link and check. You'll see 'shoes' like these.

Shoes, these are shoes? And invisible, we are saying?

These are huaraches. (This isn't news, these are already quite popular.) If you were asked to wear huaraches by a Mexican tribesman, you would've frowned. A flaunty burly inebriated guy might have even kicked that tribesman with his Nike pairs :).

In the context of running and shoes-obsessed runners, the way to cut through was take a relative position. Compared to the stuffy big running shoes, of course they can be said to be 'invisible'. They are sandals but for guys wanting 'shoes', the way to make them look at this option is to call it a 'shoe'. And to charge whatever they are charging (which isn't a big deal), the prices of current crop of shoes is a good benchmark.

I might get one of these soon enough :).

Barefoot Running Shoes in India (Post # 4)

Shoe-mania that I have, especially for the ones meant for running and workout, I've been trying the barefoot types from various brands.

I received the FILA Skeletoes just a couple of days back. They look similar to Vibrams FiveFingers. And the quality is also good. Haven't gone running yet but they feel good and sturdy.

I use the red VivoBarefoot for running often and they don't disappoint. Very light and airy.

The Vibrams pair was the first in the series of barefoot shoes I've tried. My experience in these has been the best so far. Vivo has softer soles than the Vibrams. When on the ground, I like the slightly harder soles better. For general purposes softer soles are fine but while running, Vibrams feel better.

In each of the above-tried shoes I have one and the same problem. Since I sweat rather profusely, obviously the shoes start emitting an unpleasant smell. So I have to wash them rather frequently. Let's say after every second run.

So, in my search for the perfect (where I feel closest to the ground, in which the soles feel fairly sturdy and in which I can wear socks) barefoot shoes, I came across Merrell. Since this is the normal age-old shoe shape, wearing socks is easy. I found out that Merrell shoes use the same tough Vibrams barefoot soles. But the disappointing part is, like Vibrams FiveFingers and Fila Skeletoes, Merrell Gloves (yes, they call these shoes Gloves) are not available in India!

So I reckon when I get a chance, I'll get these. Most likely, my search for the perfect barefoot running shoes might be answered for some time at least.

Red hot/cool Vivo Barefoot Shoes

Got my Vivo Barefoot pair a couple of days back. Have had a run and a couple of walks :) so far. Very very comfortable.

That grey shoe-like thing lying beside the shoes, is the inner-sock with a sole. This inner-sock makes the shoes 'puncture-resistant'. But the shoes can be worn without this also if one likes, especially in watery conditions I guess.

 

In this pic right above, I've worn socks as well. But they look sexy without the socks actually. My fascination with red continues. Head-turners surely :).

Adidas Adipure Trainer Barefoot Shoes

I checked this a few days back at the Adidas shop. I thought of them as 'barefoot running shoes' but they are promoted as 'training shoes'. Not sure what's the difference. They seem like you can run wearing them. You can find them online as well, here.

I would still suggest, if running is what you intend to do, go for Vivo.

Disclaimer: The author of this blog has no vested interests in either of the brands. :)

Barefoot Running Shoes in India (Post # 3)

I wrote a couple of posts earlier on Barefoot Shoes (Post # 1 & Post # 2). I wrote also that Vivo Barefoot shoes are now available in India.

A few days back I tried Vivo Barefoot shoes at SportXS. This is the one I really liked and might buy some time soon.

But what's wrong with my current pair of shoes, the Vibram's Five Fingers? Well, nothing really. Enjoying running in them. But I have to wash them very frequently. Almost after every second run. The thing is I sweat a lot and since, I can't quite wear socks in them, they start stinking very quickly.

In this Vivo model, one can wear socks as well. Very airy. Very comfortable. And though not as eye-grabbing as Vibram's Five Fingers, but fairly bright and attractive.

Even as I talk about shoes, the point is they are not really the shoes that make us run well. An obvious point this but often lost on us in our 'buying' driven frenzy. They are not the shoes, it's the running style. The technique. The form. This fabulous article talks more about form and technique and even about the shoes. If the form is not right, no shoe might help. But yes barefoot shoes force a runner into paying attention to the technique and therefore, improve it, resulting in lesser chances of injuries in general.

That said, the typical cushioned and marketed running shoes are definitely not appropriate. Time for you to consider if you are into running or developing a habit of 'running'.

Vivo Barefoot are still not available at a lot of places in India. If you've got the heart to buy shoes without trying them on, this is the place.

And btw, there are white ones too. Awesome!

Barefoot Running Shoes in India (Post # 2)

On the eve of the Mumbai Marathon, thought I should share this information. No, it is not gonna help you as immediately as tomorrow if you are participating in the event. But surely if you are taking your running seriously, if you are preparing for running long distances seriously, if you've had niggles coz of running and want to avoid them in future, and in general, if you wanna have fitter legs, this information and these kind of shoes might really help.

These are the brands available in India:

1. New Balance
   Check for the Minimus series of shoes. Want to see how the shoes look like so that you can spot them at the store, visit this page.
2. Nike
   Check for the Free series of shoes. See how the shoes look like here.
3. Vivo Barefoot
   I wrote about this brand a few days back. See how the shoes look like here. From my knowledge, this brand is available only at SportXS stores.

Will share more. Stay tuned.

And if you want to read some exciting stuff on barefoot running, check this out.

Barefoot Running Shoes in India

I've been running in these for quite a while now and a lot of people around have asked if these are available in India.

No, Vibrams are still not available in India.

They look funny, grey-monkey-like but/and therefore striking. Running in these shoes have kept the few niggles I started experiencing at bay. Though of course, running in these shoes requires adjustments and a little practice since while running you land on the front part of the foot instead of the heel. Years of conditioning to heel pounding sort of running takes some undoing.

Find out more about these shoes here.

There's reason for cheer for avid runners who can't yet manage to get hold of Vibrams. Shoes for barefoot running are now available in India. Check this out:

I got to see them right on the eve of Sabarmati Marathon 2011. Recently launched in the country. You can buy them at SpostsXS stores. You can find out more about these shoes here.

The coolest thing I found at Vivo Barefoot exhibit was this:

Amazing design. Delightful colors. And yes, I was informed that you can go running in these! I might try these out some time soon. Cheers!

Sabarmati Marathon 2010, personal glimpses

Sabarmati Riverfront - Starting Point for Marathon

Sabarmati river-bank right opposite the Starting Point

Evidential blister ;) after the run

Posing after the run :)

Medal given to those who completed the race

It took me about 2 hrs and 2 mins to do 21 kms. Not thrilled but satisfied nonetheless :).

You come to trust your body a lot more after events like these. And that trust helps. Cyclothon is the next frontier :).

  

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Want this blogger to be your running partner? Write to sidsoni at gmail dot com.

 

Sabarmati Marathon 2010 - Half Marathon Route

Half Marathon Route - Sabarmati Marathon 2010

Click on the image to see it bigger and clearer.

Am accustomed to running fair distances but didn't know 21 kms covers so much! It's one thing to go round and round and run 21 kms on a 500 meters track and another to keep running in one direction. ;)

Anyway, have a blocked nose and a confusion about which pair of shoes I should wear. :) How typical of me!

Btw, I was informed by a member of the organizing team that there are more than a 1000 runners in the half marathon category. Wow!

Sabarmati Marathon 2010

I clocked 10.5 kms in 66 minutes today!

15th Dec is the last date for registration. Click here to check registration details.

Tanning in 55 minutes

Here's the formula. Natural.

Just after I wrote my last snippet, I went for a run. I left at around 7:20. Did about 9.5 kms in 55 mins. Here's the result. And I'm not kidding. :)

You see the drastic change in skin color right above the ankle? Now, this isn't exaggeration. I hadn't gone running in the morning for quite a few days and therefore, this didn't exist beforehand.

Anyway, it was joy.