Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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I love my Vibrams: I use them for walking and at the gym. I am also a competitive lacrosse player, and was wondering if anyone had experience sprinting in them?

I play both field and indoor lacrosse. I think they might not be ok for indoor, because we play on cement, and that is a lot of stress on the joints. But field? Usually turf, sometimes grass.

flag	asked Jun 4 at 18:32 Ashley 1,569●4●19

I run so much better with Vibrams than my Saucony running shoes. There's a small hill (cement) next to my house and I sprint up there with Vibrams and I feel great. I don't have any joint problems so far. Hope this helps! – April S.♦ Jun 4 at 19:35

jodaro · Answer 1 · 2012-06-04 18:49:47Z UTC

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if you already have experience running in them, i think it should be fine. if not, though, you probably want to work up to it to avoid getting injured. depends a lot on what kind of shoe you are sprinting in now. lots of cushion and heel rise?

answered Jun 4 at 18:49

jodaro
81●3

I definitely can vouch for this advice. I had been wearing my vibrams for about a year, but using them for mostly low intensity activity. I decided that I wanted to do some sprints and, after a week or two of this, developed plantar facitis. It took almost a year to clear up! – FED at LiveCaveman.com Jun 4 at 19:27

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Yeah, some people are getting hairline fractures in their feet from going barefoot too fast. So be careful! – NewEra Jun 4 at 19:56

RJ · Answer 2 · 2012-06-05 01:46:58Z UTC

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sprinting on concrete is pretty hard on your joints even with proper support...

answered Jun 5 at 1:46

RJ
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Ben · Answer 3 · 2012-06-04 23:28:31Z UTC

shudders

I too wear my vibrams for walking and working out. I made the mistake recently of running in them without properly learning how to adjust my running style and tore a ligament. Don't do that. Barefoot running is excellent once you learn how to do it properly and have eased into it.

Dr. Mark Cucuzella has an excellent video on YouTube that shows how to run properly barefoot: http://youtu.be/zSIDRHUWlVo

I've found I don't have to worry as much about my gait when running on grass/dirt.

blueballoon · Answer 4 · 2012-06-04 23:44:40Z UTC

Be careful starting out. I'd try to stick with soft surfaces at first, and slowly build up. I ended up with a stress fracture in my foot because I did too much too fast on hard surfaces. (Ask me how fun that was to deal with.)

Take it slow (REALLY slow) and listen to your body. If I had to do it over again I'd ease in by doing soft surfaces every couple of days, then daily, and slowly adding in bits of harder surfaces.

ecks · Answer 5 · 2012-06-04 19:27:51Z UTC

If it helps at all I barefoot sprint on grass (no vibrams/shoes/footwear at all) without any issues. I'm also weighing in at a hefty 270. I don't tend to have any issues at all. Other than that I'm a fairly lazy dude outside of walking a few KM a week and standing at my desk. Not sure if my personal experiences help you at all.

wheelhouse · Answer 6 · 2012-06-05 03:35:38Z UTC

While I am a big proponent of barefoot running techniques and protocols, I also have played lacrosse most of my life, and I would think you want cleats. I have never thought of playing without them, and definitely notice the difference when playing pick up games in regular sneakers.

CD · Answer 7 · 2012-10-24 18:15:17Z UTC

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We play pickup soccer, and one of the guys wears vibrams (and a couple go barefoot). He switched to a trail running version, and swears by them. Definitely doesn't slip as much as the other guys, but more than those of us in cleats.

answered Oct 24 at 18:15

CD
22.1k●1●4●39

	If people are wearing cleats there is no way I'd be playing soccer in vibrams. Your friend is either cray cray or he enjoys accidental foot stompings. – Craig Oct 24 at 18:55
	why? the top of vibrams are some sort of rubber material, the top of my cleats are leather. I'd imagine there is not much of a difference in terms of getting stepped on. – CD Oct 24 at 19:57
	To be clear, I don't wear them, one of the guys I play pickup with does. Also these are the trail running versions that have rubber on top as well. Either way I agree about getting stepped on -- but he love them! – CD Oct 24 at 20:25
	Well I certainly wish you luck with your foot health. I own vibrams and cleats as well and while I dont want to be stepped on in any scenario it seems to me the cleats would offer a bit more protection. Vibrams do not fully protect the foot with rubber; there is a space at the top of the "shoe" that leaves that is made of mesh and it just seems to me that leather would go a bit further to absorb the impact of a spike to the foot. – Craig Oct 24 at 20:28
	Ya, I getcha, your friend is a loon ;) Jk. I wouldnt mind messing around in a friendly wearing vibrams--I'm just saying I wouldnt play any serious ball in 'em. – Craig Oct 24 at 20:31

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Vibram and sprints.

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