Thursday, October 02, 2008

There's a sucker born every minute... (and I'm a sucker for any fitness kit)
My friend Liz suggested I check out these shoes, and I think they will really help me (and are just, so ooh cool new shoes!!) They are designed to simulate barefoot walking on uneven ground, like the Masai tribesmen of East Africa, the idea being that this will activate muscles that atrophy when we walk on hard, even surfaces wearing conventional shoes. Hence the name BMT (Barefoot Massai Techology).

Struggling as I do with tight calf muscles which result in plantar fasciitis, anything that lengthens those muscles and tendons has got to help - and the second benefit is better posture. I've found that if I slouch, I tip over forward!

I went shopping with my sister, fully intending to buy a pair of street shoes and, well, the trainers were on sale... and she encouraged me... so I bought two pairs!! (in photos) I did manage to resist the private lessons to learn to run in the trainers...

Well, the street shoes are not obviously strange looking, and once I got over falling forward all the time, I like them. They sort of feel like the Earth shoes I wore back in the 70's, with the heel lower than the foot. However, running in the trainers is pretty odd, but for my cross-London 3 mi commute run, really OK. I don't think I'd recommend them for fast or long runs, because they are heavy and you really can't lean forward in them to push off. But, hey I'm having fun.

5 comments:

Petraruns said...

You know Drusy I've been thinking of trying those. Was very tempted by the FitFlop this summer and am still thinking about the MBTs... I'm hoping to buy a bike next week in the US though so am trying to curb fitness spending, just a bit..

And I'm sure that all of us out in Chicago would LOVE to be on the runners roundtable. I haven't checked but will send them all an e-mail about it. We'll be recording some audio for the extra mile as well, I'm sure. G

Alisa said...

I've seen these around.

Why is that all the stuff that's good for your body is ugly? Stiletto's so pretty but soooooo killer!

lizzie lee said...

Can I say they are ugly? I hope they are REALLY good!!!!!!

Drusy said...

Yeah, they are pretty ugly. And I find myself rocking back and forth when I'm standing around in meetings or waiting in queues. I suspect it is pretty irritating - sort of like people that jingle change in their pocket..

Stuart said...

My MIL, she has bad knees, got a pair these last year when she was in the US and she loves them