#el-x

Except that it rained as soon as we met up and stepped out of Woodlands MRT station. After a good near 45 minutes of sitting and watching the rain subside, we headed for the tracks in our Vibrams. The EL-X soaked in the water and it was a squishy running experience. However, grip was fine and the EL-X wrapped around my feet like a second skin. While sprinting, I was overly concerned about the puddles and imagined myself stepping into one, losing grip, then slipping and cracking a bone or two.

That didn't happen. The EL-X stood up to the task.

Now, Vibram pal went through the same condition as me. Our last toes were in pain while wearing the Vibrams. Years of footwear not keeping up with our feet growth meant that we had last toes which were misshapen. The toe didn't grow up to be a tall, striking lad. No, it grew up as a man who got hammered and grew width-wise instead. Vibram pal conquered that pain.

I have to go through that rite of passage.

I will need to break in the EL-X before hitting it hard again. My calves hurt and it is a challenge to stand up after sitting down. Even my thighs feel the stretch. Perhaps sprinting in new Vibrams after having worn cushioned shoes all this while isn't such a great idea.

Then again, I am not courting pain and injury. My joints feel fine. At least they feel fine now. I'm hopeful that constant activity in the EL-X will see the toe pain go away, along with strengthening of the calf muscles.

Originally, I had my sights on shoes from Vivobarefoot. The distributor somehow closed his head office today when I went to the place with a pal. So, it's off to Novena Velocity mall where we looked around at minimalist running shoes. Because barefoot is actually beneficial to your health and body.

Never did I suspect nor thought that I'd get my hands, and feet, on a pair of Vibram FiveFingers. The EL-X caught my eye when I strolled past the rows of VFFs. After also looking and trying a pair of Vivobarefoot shoes, I looked at the VFFs and decided they would fit nicely into my regime.

One, VFFs are minimalist and offer the second-best feel of going barefoot. Offering enough protection, yet allowing you to feel the ground and every bump and imperfection of surfaces, you feel different.

It's like learning how to walk again. I shall update again when I dive straight into jogging tomorrow with said pal, who also rocks a Vibram FiveFingers KSO in black.

May the EL-X last me more than a year. The lightest and most minimalistic shoe is the EL-X by a wide margin and I hope they stay that way, until Vibram releases new models. I look at shoes so differently now.