The 100-Up as demonstrated by Christopher McDougall
Vibram FiveFingers Available Online
I know that this has been a long time coming, but we are finally able to sell Vibram FiveFingers online. Vibram typically only allows dealers to sell online after they have been a dealer for one year, which would mean that we would have to wait until March 2012 to sell online. Well, do to the fact that we have the best Reps in the industry, they were able to special request that Born to Run sell FiveFingers early. Their request was approved and we have now made our entire inventory of FiveFingers for sale online.
As a side note, we launched our online sales of FiveFingers on August 24th, but do to an over site in inputing the products we forgot to enter the weight for each product. This made it impossible to actually buy them once a customer made it to the check out page. We have corrected this issue and there should be no problems now.
Natural Running Center
The Natural Running Center has just launched! Its web site combines the world’s top running scientists, clinicians, coaches, and a half-dozen stores that completely embrace better running form and less shoe.
Four months in development, the Natural Running Center is led by its three co- founders -- executive director Mark Cucuzzella, M.D., who is the owner of the nation's first minimalist shoe store (Two Rivers Treads in Shepherdstown West Virginia); creative and editorial director Bill Katovsky, who is an editor, author, and creator of Zero Drop; and web and shoe reviewer editor Nicholas Pang of www.minimalistrunningshoes.org,
According to Dr. Mark Cucuzzella: “The current natural running movement is the confluence where doctors, other health professionals, coaches, and runners are now joining and discovering the injury-prevention formula. The Natural Running Center (NRC)will provide physicians, healthcare providers, coaches, and runners with the tools to educate and inspire everyone to relearn how to run and improve their health.”
Why is this movement occurring now? Cucuzzella explains, "In most large-scale change involving health issues we have waited for the top-down declarations. This is where academia announces important discoveries and tries to move the discovery into a physician’s daily practice. This is a slow process and on average it takes 10 years for an important medical discovery to become routine in a clinician's practice. Instead, the movement toward a healthier and sustainable way to run is occurring in a popular, bottom-up revolution. This is where the people, in this case the runners, are the gathering force. While shoe companies have finally taken serious notice here with a wide variety of new designs and models, it's the runners themselves who have discovered the positive benefits -- changes that are literally happening underfoot. These runners come from many backgrounds --barefoot, legions of Chi Runners, all those newly adopters of minimalist shoes, devoted fans of Chris McDougall’s bestseller Born to Run, and formerly injured runners who are running pain-free for the first time in ages."
Cucuzzella adds, “There are important scientific work and writings supporting the principles of proper gait movement patterns and the dysfunction triggered by elevated heel and overly cushioned shoes. We wish to share this information in an accessible way the average runner can understand. The essential core message of the Natural Running Center is that we want every runner to be able to make an healthy, injury-free transition to better running mechanics."
The regular features and departments of the Natural Running Center include the following: detailed shoe reviews (over 60 models -- barefoot style, minimalist, neutral/transition, and walking/casual); footwear education and training tips by coaching and gait experts; articles by NRC''s health, science and medical advisory board members; separate pages for all natural running stores that are partnered with the NRC; and much more.
Go here-- Natural Running Center.
Merrell Trail Glove Review
I have now been wearing the Merrell Trail Glove since early 2011. Since getting the shoes I have run several hundred road miles and several hundred trail miles and have worn them casually in many situations. I have run a 50K and 10 mile race in them, and I they spent 3 long days at Disneyland. With all this in mind I feel that it is time that I now give a longterm review of the shoe.
In short, these are one of the best pair of shoes I have ever worn, but that doesn't mean they are without flaw. The shoes quickly became my favorite trail shoe after I first got them. I had previously been running trails in my VFF Trek's, which are still a fantastic shoe and my favorite shoe to hike in, but the extra tiny bit of EVA and the layer of Kevlar in the Trail Glove made trail running a bit easier on the feet when running in rocky areas, which the trails I run of full of. This comfort does come at a bit of a sacrifice to proprioception, but not so much that I feel like it alters my running form. I think Merrell nailed it for the right amount of cushioning to ground feel ratio.
I also love the way the shoe hugs the foot up until the toes and then has a extra wide toe box. Because the shoe hugs the foot so well I I feel super nimble when running. This is great for changing directions quickly, running up and down hills, and for reducing friction. In fact, on my 50K I didn't get a single blister!
The traction on the bottom of the shoe, with the sole being made by vibram, is great. Other than the absolute muddiest conditions, these shoes will grab any terrain very well.
One of my favorite features is how comfortable and good looking the Trail Gloves are to wear casually. I spent 3 long days on my feet at Disneyland and every night I would be astonished at how my feet didn't hurt like they would when I used to wear traditional running shoes in the same situation.
The durability of these shoes is fantastic. I have seriously put these shoes through the ringer the last several months and they still are in great condition. The sole is hardly worn out and after a wash they look almost as good as new.
So I have said a lot of pros, but what are the cons?
My biggest complaint is how easily dirt gets inside the shoes. Every time I come home after a trail run my socks are caked in dirt in the toes area and the inside of the shoe is caked in dirt as well.
The laces need to be about 2 inches longer. I barely have enough lace to tie my shoes comfortably.
They get wet easily. This makes sense, since they are so low to the ground. They don't get wet as easily as Vibram FiveFingers though, which is a plus. They don't hold water either. The water quickly drains and they seem to dry out at about an average rate. It would be nice if they dried a bit quicker.
Here is my quick look list at the pros and cons of the Merrell Trail Glove:
Pros:
- Hug the foot perfectly
- Wide toe box
- Just the right amount of protection to ground feel ratio for trail running
- Light weight
- Great Traction and Durability via Vibram Rubber
- Good Looking
- Nearly blister free
- Machine Washable (I don't think they advertise this, but I have washed mine several times)
- Comfortable all day shoe
- Can wear them anywhere
- Extremely versatile
- Dirt gets in easily
- Short Laces
- Get wet easily
In conclusion, I think Merrell has set the new standard for a minimalist trail running shoe and with the soft shell and gore-tex models coming out this fall there won't be much of a con list left.
Dan Fairbanks
CEO and Co-Founder
Born to Run
Seattle Location
The lease has been signed for our Seattle location! The address will be 213 Yale St., which is right across the street from the flagship REI. The previous tenant was a Spa, so we have a pretty major remodel to do, but we hope to be open sometime in July. We are very excited to bring the Born to Run experience to the Seattle area. This new store will also become a popular hang out spot for Barefoot Ted.Recent Articles
- The 100-Up as demonstrated by Christopher McDougall
- Vibram FiveFingers Available Online
- Natural Running Center
- Merrell Trail Glove Review
- Seattle Location
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