If you’re gonna be ugly, be PINK.

Eew, gross with a capital G. Five-fingered shoes.

I’d see people at the gym, hiking, running with these ghastly things swallowing up their toes and gasp. I could almost smell the stinkiness that surely lingered within…. and yes, I cringed.

Being a very new convert, I decided if they’re gonna be ugly, may as well be pink (also because it was all they had left in my size).

The Vibram five-fingered shoes are, truly, a little slice of heaven for my fat little piggies. Sure it’s taken practice knowing how to inch my feet into them, but once I learned to start with the big toe and end with the piggie, it has become a breeze. It’s also a breeze to run in them. I was told to “take it slow, you’re using muscles you normally do not.” (Similar to what happens when I waterski.) I have been overly cautious, inching my way up in mileage and honestly haven’t felt sore in the least.

Back to the caveman days, I’m now running as though barefoot and seem to feel myself aligning more evenly and feel lighter and more airy, even while carrying too many lbs. My left knee doesn’t hurt during nor after a run anymore, and I feel like I’m gliding airborne when on the elliptical. Crazily liberating.

Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall, is entertaining and compelling to read regardless if you’re interested in these ugly shoes.

“The typical human foot is an anatomical marvel of evolution with 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles and hundreds of sensory receptors, tendons and ligaments. Like the rest of the body, to keep our feet healthy, they need to be stimulated and exercised.” http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/

Ten happy toes and two thumbs up from me.