Jerry Hill's CrossFit Oldtown Alexandria VA
Money, its the shoes
I love my Vibram five finger shoes. I love them as much as they stink – and they really stink.
So don’t be fooled. My biggest gains came not from walking into Crossfit, not from the great coaching we get, not from reading the Primal Blueprint; no, it’s the shoes. OK, that is not true at all. But my improvements from Crossfit are slow and steady - get a little better everyday. And although the Primal Blueprint has changed my weight and my view of food, it too is a gradual pound a week kind of thing.
But buying and wearing these babies is the single most dramatic move I have made this year.
I am sure that folks wearing the Nike Barefoot shoes feel the same way, but there is something about wiggling each toe into its own little house. My balance is better on everything from Box Jumps to Jerks. Need to stick a landing, how about having 10 independent toes for an assist. Need some pull ups, I know sneakers don’t weigh much, but they weigh more than these things. 400m sprint – even Jerry called me fast the other day, and fast is not a word people previously used to describe me. 5k run- uh, no thanks, let me get something with a little support – I am not a Masai tribesman.
Five fingers are also funky looking, and are a very visual cue that I am not wearing regular gym shoes and not going to a regular gym. Every time I strap them on, I have a chance to remember that. Hey, I still own some Asics, Nike etc. And I still have a membership to Sport & Health. But I ain’t using either very much.
Shout out to Adam H – who was first with the red and black five finger shoes. I absolutely mocked him, and dammit –I was wrong. Now if only I could work on the odor. Pure evil.
Next post – my dramatic six month before and after photos. Are you kidding me? I was flat out puffy.
So don’t be fooled. My biggest gains came not from walking into Crossfit, not from the great coaching we get, not from reading the Primal Blueprint; no, it’s the shoes. OK, that is not true at all. But my improvements from Crossfit are slow and steady - get a little better everyday. And although the Primal Blueprint has changed my weight and my view of food, it too is a gradual pound a week kind of thing.
But buying and wearing these babies is the single most dramatic move I have made this year.
I am sure that folks wearing the Nike Barefoot shoes feel the same way, but there is something about wiggling each toe into its own little house. My balance is better on everything from Box Jumps to Jerks. Need to stick a landing, how about having 10 independent toes for an assist. Need some pull ups, I know sneakers don’t weigh much, but they weigh more than these things. 400m sprint – even Jerry called me fast the other day, and fast is not a word people previously used to describe me. 5k run- uh, no thanks, let me get something with a little support – I am not a Masai tribesman.
Five fingers are also funky looking, and are a very visual cue that I am not wearing regular gym shoes and not going to a regular gym. Every time I strap them on, I have a chance to remember that. Hey, I still own some Asics, Nike etc. And I still have a membership to Sport & Health. But I ain’t using either very much.
Shout out to Adam H – who was first with the red and black five finger shoes. I absolutely mocked him, and dammit –I was wrong. Now if only I could work on the odor. Pure evil.
Next post – my dramatic six month before and after photos. Are you kidding me? I was flat out puffy.
Comment
-
Comment by markdavis on July 24, 2009 at 2:50pm - They are in the machine now (at work which is a nice perk). Gotta wash these every two weeks or so - or after 5 straight killer days like this week.
-
Comment by Jerry Hill on July 24, 2009 at 2:11pm -
Great post!
Can't "weight" to see those pictures.
Are 5fingers machine washable?
About
Badge
© 2009 Created by Jerry Hill on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
You need to be a member of CrossFit Oldtown Alexandria VA to add comments!
Join this Ning Network