Losetheshoes.net

Nike Free Gym Preview

2012-02-08T08:06:00.000-08:00

Well Nike is jumping deeper into thebarefoot market with the launch of the Nike Free Gym. The Nike Free Gym is awomen's barefoot shoe that they are marketing towards yoga. The design of theshoe looks like they borrowed a lot of ideas from other barefoot shoes.

Below is what the Nike site has tosay about the Nike Free Gym:

The super-lightweight Nike Free GymWomen's Training Shoe delivers a barefoot-like experience plus cushioning andtraction to help you move naturally and comfortably in any direction.

Benefits

· Split-toe design allows for a natural grip and betterbalance
· Deep outsole flex grooves for a barefoot feel with traction
· Strap engages the full arch, providing the right fit for you
· Shoe lining made of natural fibers derived from volcanicrock to absorb sweat and odor

Design - The Nike Free Gym Shoe has a minimal, no-sew upper thateliminates stitching, allowing for enhanced flexibility and comfort.Strategically placed mesh provides ventilation while synthetic material at theforefoot and midfoot provide support. For a perfect fit, an arch strap wraps upfrom underneath the foot and attaches to the outside with an adjustablehook-and-loop closure.

Cushioning - Soft, cushy memory-foam heel pods accommodate a varietyof heel widths for comfort when not wearing socks. And, a molded socklinerconforms to the foot for added comfort and support.

Traction - This unique shoe helps prevent slippage inside and out. Atraction pattern inside--under the foot and big toe--reduces slip for excellentgrip when worn without socks. The rubber outsole has a herringbone pattern fordurability and multidirectional traction.

I Must say I like where Nike isgoing and I love to see the big brands producing barefoot shoes. I like howsome people have called the new Nike Free Gym a performance slipper, I thinkthat's a good name and there are alot of other barefoot running shoes that fitwell within that description aswell, I'm thinking of Soft Star shoes off thetop of my head.

The Shoes look like they are a truebarefoot shoes, they are very light, weighing in at under 5oz. The toe boxlooks wide with the spilt toe giving your toes more freedom. It doesn't looklike they are zero drop, but look close.

Here is the big question! Is Nikeembracing the barefoot movement or saying Minimal is better, still buy Nike. Ithink it's the second.

I'll look for a female reader toreview a pair, Happy Running.

Kennyo

London Olympics Go Barefoot

2012-02-08T07:13:00.000-08:00

The London 2012 Olympics will be the biggest sporting event of 2012. This year the Summer Olympics are being held in the great city of London, there's alot of hype around these set of games.

One thing that I was reading about today was pretty interesting about the award ceremonies.

The Athletes could be forced to accept any London 2012 medals in bare feet to avoid breaching contracts with personal sponsors. The reason for this is that athletes like Mark Cavendish is sponsored by Nike but with him being part of Team GB he will have to be wearing Adidas, who sponsors Team GB.

According to a report in The Telegraph, agents of Britain's top competitors have warned that athletes could take off their shoes before walking out to the podium to avoid contractual issues with personal sponsors.

One agent claimed a "gentleman's agreement" had been in place at previous Games, with sports brands agreeing to overlook footwear, but the British Olympic Association has confirmed its intention to enforce the rule. ( Of having to heaving the full team outfit at the award ceremony, including footwear)

It should be interesting to see what comes from this over the months, But Hey, worst case is that they go barefoot, which is great!

Go barefoot

Kennyo

Kigo Flit Review

2012-02-07T12:39:00.000-08:00

Why My Kigo Flits Pushed My TOMS Aside

by Pattie Baker

I first heard buzz about Kigo Footwear onFacebook. My friends were talking. Turns out Rachelle Kurimoto, the companyfounder and owner, lived nearby. Iarranged to meet her and exchanged my recently-released book, Food for MyDaughters, and a jelly jar of herbs from my garden for a pair of Kigo Flits.

A passionate TOMS shoe fan for a fewyears now, I put the Kigos on. How couldthey possibly compare to TOMS? Oh, sure, I knew they had a much bettersustainability story to them (and that matters to me). Made from recycled materials, completely recyclable. But my TOMS. What could be more comfortable than they are? What could fit better into my life than myToms, which I have in several colors and wear (and wear out) constantly?

Well, TOMS Shoes, move over and makeroom. I stand here splayed-toe in my "barefoot lifestyle"footwear and tell you that there is a new shoe in my life. And now that I've been wearing my Kigo Flitsfor two months straight, I can attest that they fit perfectly into my winterlife as they work better with socks than my TOMS Shoes,and their sturdy soles make it possible for them to truly take a beating(welcome to my world). What's more, myfeet are definitely happy feet--and I'm not talking about the penguinhere!

But you want to know what makes meeven happier about meeting Rachelle? Her thoughts about The Art of Making Mistakes. Her extraordinary, immediately-evident poise andstrength. Her positive mental and physical energy. The fact thatshe is in this world, thinking, creating, doing, and that I now consider her myfriend. And the fact that I could tell my daughters about her and her company,as another example of what's possible in this ever-changing world.

Thanks, Rachelle. When we go on that hike through the woodssoon, you know what I'll be wearing. MyKigo Flits. (Sorry, TOMS.)

Adapted from a post thatappeared on FoodShedPlanet.

Top 5 Super Bowl Ads 2012

2012-02-06T13:41:00.000-08:00

The Super Bowl was amazing, Since my team wasn't there all I wanted was a great game which everyone got. If I'm jumping out of my seat on the last play to get a better look, it's a win!

Here are my Top 5 Super Bowl Ads for this year... Enjoy

Salomon S-Lab Sense Preview

2012-02-03T21:27:00.000-08:00

Check out the video for the new Salomon S-Lab Sense, It's nice to see Salomon making something more minimal.

Spartan Race Video

2012-02-03T07:29:00.000-08:00

I love watching this video, and get pumped everytime I see it... I hope I can make it to one this summer.

Inspiration: Powerful Beyond Measure (how great are you?) from Ben McDonald on Vimeo.

Brooks Running In Japan

2012-02-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

It's been a long two days back at work, The course I was away on was a Police course but not being on the streets gets you out of the "Police" mindset. The two day shifts back were rather quiet but we work Friday and Saturday nights this cycle so it should be busy.

I was reading on my lunch break today that Brooks Shoes today announced an important mile marker in their global brand growth: It will open its first Asian subsidiary, Brooks Sports K. K., in the world’s second-largest running market, Japan.

I was surprised to read that Japan was the world's second largest running market, I guess I'll have to start doing my posts in Japanese.

Brooks has barefoot running shoes, I have just not tried them yet. I hope to get a pair of Brooks Pure Barefoot Running shoes to review soon.

Kennyo

New Logo

2012-02-01T02:16:00.001-08:00

Check out the new logo I designed, I'm pretty happy with it. I added it to a T-shirt aswell check out more below. If you can't tell from the small pic, it's made up from a bunch of tiny feet.

Kenny

Fut Glove Zum Review

2012-01-31T15:35:00.000-08:00

I have had my Fut Gloves for about a month now and have been wearing them out in our winter weather and just kicking around the house and I greatly enjoy them.

I'm always looking for new Barefoot running shoes to review, and I stumbled upon Fut Glove. I read up on this American Barefoot Running company and I was sold. I wanted to review a pair of Fut Gloves, and looking at all their styles I was interested in the Zum's. I got my Zum's and then I contacted Dan at Fut Glove and asked him what he'd like to pass along about Fut Gloves and this was his response.

Fut Glove (Dan) stated the following: A few differences of Fut Glove vs. others

Fut Gloves are built for comfort while strengthening the foot with a five toe shoe design

Fut Gloves are made with high impact rubber & EVA foam mid sole which runs from the heel through the toe areas.

Fut Gloves are constructed more like a "regular" shoe with structure and support.

Just by looking at Fut Gloves you can tell right away that their major competitor would be the VIbram Five Fingers. And in as many ways that they are the same, there's also many reasons they are different.

Fut Glove has many different styles, and the style I chose was the Zum, The Zum has flexible laces that makes it ideal for exercise and always your foot to stretch.

Here's all the Spec's for the Fut Glove Zum:

Hand Sewn Construction with 'Soft-Tech-Stitch' Providing Strength and Comfort

Cushioned Inner Sole Providing Additional Shock Absorption for Less Stress

Stain & Water Resistant Materials Provide Durable & Lasting Wear

Non-Marking highly Elastic 'India rubber' Sole Provides Flexibility and Long Wear

Breathable Double-Skinned Lycra® Between Toes for Comfort and Flexibility

Unique “Glove” Design Allows Each Five Toes to Move Independently with Protection

Protected by Aegis Microbe Shield^® Controlling Odor, Staining, Deterioration

Fut Glove Zum in the real world:

The first thing you'll notice about the your Fut Glove's is that they are alittle beefier if you're comparing them to Vibram Five Fingers. Fut Glove states that their shoes are Barefoot running shoes but offer the feel of a regular shoe.

When you slip on a pair of Fut Gloves you'll notice that they have built up padding in the heel area and in the forefoot area. When walking around in Fut Gloves they do feel like a everyday shoes, but don't forget that people are staring at you because you have monkey feet. It's a great way to strike up a conversation about Barefoot running.

The feel of this shoe is very different from the Vibram Five Finger shoes as you may not have that barefoot feel in this shoe, the ground feedback is reduced. That's not to say there is no ground feedback, but whenever you add padding you'll lose feedback.

When looking for a Barefoot or minimalist running shoe you want it to be zero drop, which means there is not a raised heel, it looks and feels like Fut glove accomplished this.

The Fut Glove Zum's are very comfortable and are a great design. When running in my Zum's I had no hot spots and they seemed to hold up great.

The Zum's may not me the best winter running shoe (I'm in Canada) because the sole doesn't offer a ton of grip and the sidewalks are alittle icy this time of year. But for your normal conditions the Zum offers ample grip.

When talking about Barefoot Running shoes you always hear people talk about the toe box, it's the space the shoe provides your toes to spread out. With Toe shoes there's no real toe box and your toes can move independently which is great.

The Zum is lightweight and made of breathable materials that make it a joy to wear.

Overall the Fut Glove Zum is a good shoe that offers some competition to Vibram and its Five Fingers.

If I was going to fault the Zum it would be for the extra padding that they added to the sole of the shoe, but it was their goal to make it feel more "regular"

I feel that the Fut Glove is a good transition shoe into the Barefoot Running world, but if you already own a pair of Barefoot shoes you may find this a little step backwards.

Kennyo

Things Barefoot Runners Say

2012-01-31T11:58:00.000-08:00

Here's a funny video by Steve Sashen on "Sh^t Barefoot Runners Say"

Vivobarefoot Evo 2

2012-01-30T11:14:00.000-08:00

The Vivobarefoot Evo II

This is a Guest Post from Banypaul, Would you like to Guest Post aswell? Click here

For some of us, barefoot running is something we can diveright in to. For others, we may need abit of a transition period between regular running shoes and running shoes thatdivide up the toe fraternity. Thistransition period should consist of wearing a minimalist shoe that is superlight and gets you close to the ground while not altogether abandoning theconcept of shoes as we have come to know them. Think of it as putting your feet in the water for a bit to get a feelfor the temperature before diving in. With this same logic, try a minimalist shoe that will ease you in tobarefoot running.

A shoe like the Vivobarefoot Evo II is greatfor getting you introduced to the world of barefoot running. It is a lightweight, minimalist shoe with afoam footbed and microfiber lining for absorbing sweat and othermoistures. So, if you lace these badboys up, they will be different than what you are used to but you will certainlybe ready for a long run through any kind of terrain. The sole may wear away a bit quick, but thatis what you get in exchange for an awesome workout in a shoe that puts yourfeet literally on the ground.

The experts at Vivobarefoot have worked for nearly a decadeto make shoes that works incognito with natural human movement and they believethey have done just that with the Vivobarefoot Evo II – and I believethem. While the VIVOBAREFOOT Evo II willnot give you quite the natural walking experience that a shoe from Vibram Five Fingers will,it is an amazing minimalist shoe that will bring a brand new, liberated feelingto someone who has never ventured into this arena of modern athletics.

Playing Tag

2012-01-28T13:58:00.000-08:00

Well I've been tagged, It's time for 11 random facts about me, - thanks Kathy!! Here are the rules ...

1. Post these rules.2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
3. Answer the questions set for you in your tagger's post.
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
5. Go to their blogs and tell them you’ve tagged them
6. No stuff in the tagging section about "you are tagged if you are reading this." You legitimately have to tag 11 people!

11 Random Facts about me
- Growing up I always wanted to be a Police Officer

- I once wouldn't cross the street because I was afraid of a cat
- I can't burp
- I work shift work but can't drink coffee
- I have a gold mouse for my computer
- I love pound cake for my birthday
- I blew out my ACL in high school
- I once had a car with flames on the hood
- I love the fall weather
- I love peanut butter on my Pizza crust
- I love to sleep in

Kathy's questions for me...

1) What is your ‘must have’ song on your playlist?

Live - Lighting Crashes

2) Name one song on your playlist that you are embarrassed to admit is there.

Katy Perry - The one that got away.

3) Given the choice would you have a housekeeper or personal chef at your beck and call?

I'd have a personal chef

4)Favorite childhood cartoon and why ... ??

TinTin - I always loved the adventures he went on with his dog snowy and I wanted to join him.

5)If you could pick any historical figure as your running buddy who would it be and why? (Anything goes ... Cleopatra, Napoleon, Freddy Mercury, Fred Lebow, Kurt Cobain... whatever)

I would pick a Gladitor, I think they lived a crazy life

6) What is your favorite board game? Are you a good sport ... or like me?

All time Risk would be my favorite board game, recently it would be Settlers of Catan

7)What is your bucket list race/tri?

Some day I want to do the Kona Ironman!!

8)If you could pick one dessert to be calorie free what would it be?

Pie... I love pie!! Blueberry and Pumkin being my favorite

9)What was worse for you in PE class? Running laps or climbing the rope?

Running laps

10)What is your favorite book to read over and over?

Bible

11)Who was your first childhood celebrity crush? How do you feel about him/her now?

Pamela Anderson - yuck

The Questions to those I tagged:

1) What is your favorite color?

2) Would you rather run up a hill or down a hill?

3) Would you rather make millions doing something you disliked or struggle at something yoou love?

4) Would you rather workout with Jillian Michaels or Bob Harper?

5) If you could one place in the world, where would it be?

6) Would you rather downhill ski or water Ski?
7) If you could be drawn into one cartoon which one would it be?
8) what child would you be off Willa Wonka and the Chocolate factory?
9) Would you rather a dream truck or a Dream car?
10) If you could stay in shape without working out would you enjoy that?
11) Would you rather be President of the biggest company in the world or start your own within its shadow?

Here is who I tagged...

Idlehide

Adam

Recover your stride
Halifax Runner Girl
Patty
Run Baby,Run
James + Stella
Run Running Runner
My Life Running
Christa
Sweat Junkie

NFL Playoffs

2012-01-22T11:00:00.000-08:00

Hey,

I have been away on a two week course for work and I took my laptop so I would be able to update the site. When I arrived there was no wifi and the week was soo busy I really had no time to update. This weekend I got snowed in and I was able to locate the hardwire cord for the Internet in my room.

I've been studying all day and hope to break later for some NFL playoff football. Now that I have Internet I'll try to get some posts up, but this week will be harder then the last.

The course I'm doing is a Drug Recognition Expert course, it's pretty cool stuff.

Below is a video from the states that gives a demo of a DRE

Breaking Bad

2012-01-12T13:22:00.000-08:00

I am finally getting over being sick. I can breathe. I can Breathe.

While I was under the weather I decided to use my lazy time to start watching Breaking Bad. My brother has been watching the show recently and was raving about how good it was. I also heard alot of buzz about it as well.

I downloaded the first season and after watching the pilot epsiode I has hooked.

The show is about a High School chemisrty teacher that finds out he's sick and starts to enter the darkside of the world to try to get money to support his family.

The last few days I watched 5 epsoides and can't wait to see the next...I recommend you check it out.

Racing The Rez Video

2012-01-06T07:30:00.000-08:00

I came across this cool video about a documentary of two High School cross country running teams competing for the state championship. The documentary follows Navajo and Hopi youths and the issues they face. Check out the trailer.

Barack Obama Running Barefoot

2012-01-06T06:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a little bit of a lazy day for me, I was really under the weather the day before but started to come out of it yesterday. I made it to the gym and the snow storm we were having here kept the crowds away.

As I flipped through some news shows and so-called news programs I saw photos of President Barack Obama running barefoot in the sand while on vacation. The first thing I thought about was how all of us run barefoot. A lot of people may look down on barefoot running but they at sometime have done it and will do it again, and the interesting thing is that running barefoot is often associated with joy, think of running in the sand, playing barefoot in the grass all good memories.

The next question that came to mind was " What is President Barack Obamas Running form?"

Unlike other Presidents it is hard to find Photos of Barack Obama running. I found a couple photos and put them together to attempt to analyze.

When looking at the first 3 photos I tend to believe that Obama is a heel striker but the cool part is when looking at the last photo where Obama is running barefoot on the beach his form improves and it looks as if he'll mid-foot strike. When running barefoot your body naturally adapts to protect itself.

Anyways, Hope you have a great day.

Kennyo

Running While Sick

2012-01-05T00:30:00.000-08:00

The last couple days I have been under the weather yesterday being the worse, this prompted me to look into the idea of exercising while sick, is it good or bad?

I always felt myself if I had a cold or was stuffed up it was a good thing to workout or go for a running to break it up, and it looks like the research supports it.

I found a article in Runners World where David Nieman, Ph.D., who heads the Human Performance Laboratory at Appalachian State University, and has run 58 marathons and ultras, uses the "neck rule." Symptoms below the neck (chest cold, bronchial infection, body ache) require time off, while symptoms above the neck (runny nose, stuffiness, sneezing) don't pose a risk to runners continuing workouts.

There's another study by Dr Weidner who took two groups of 30 runners each and inoculated them with the common cold. One group ran 30 to 40 minutes every day for a week. The other group was sedentary. According to Weidner, "the two groups didn't differ in the length or severity of their colds."

So if your sick above the neck get out there and attack it and sweat it out!

Kennyo

Fut Glove Zum Unboxing

2012-01-03T12:56:00.000-08:00

I got my first pair of Fut Gloves today, the model that I got was the eye catching Zum's. This video is the unboxing of the Fut Glove Zum's and a full review will come in the next couple of weeks.

Kennyo

2011 In Review

2011-12-31T11:06:00.000-08:00

Hello,

It's been a great year in the blogger world. I have enjoyed maintaining Lose The Shoes.net for all my readers and I am happy about all the feedback I have received.

2011 was the first year for Lose The Shoes and I'm excited to see what its second year will bring. I hope to be able to do more giveaways and offer you more great reviews. I plan in 2012 to open up the blog alittle more and show you what my life is like, I hope I don't bore you too much.

I hope you are all safe tonight, and enjoy yourselves and see you tomorrow.

My Top Posts of 2011:

- The Reebox Realflex generated alot of interest from non barefoot runners and helped more barefoot running into the spotlight.

- This year there was a little drama within the barefoot community with Vibram suing Fila over stealing their design, so that's my I think Vibram Five Fingers vs. Fila Skeletoes is a great review.

- I picked my Jinga Review as one of my top posts, because they were one of the favorite shoes I reviewed and a great company, so they deserve the press.

- And the final post I'd like to highlight is the HD video of the 2011 Kona World Championship, I hope some day to make it to Kona and this years race was amazing... I won't play spoiler but you need to watch it.

New York City Marathon Application

2011-12-31T10:49:00.000-08:00

It has always been Idlehides' dream to run the New York City Marathon, but as you know it's a lottery to get in so here comes another year to throw your name in the raffle, cross your fingers and hope you get in.

It is not a dream of mine to run the NYC Marathon but I'll think I'll apply and see what happens, it would be cool to run through NYC on a fall day and crossing the finish line of my first marathon in central park.

If you would like to apply as well the date that start accepting applications in January 2nd 2012 at 12 noon. Click here for more info

To Apply, simply go to the New York City Marathon website here.

Kennyo

Night Out

2011-12-30T18:58:00.000-08:00

Tonight we met up with our friends Tim and Steph, Tim is a fellow blogger at GoodCarBadCar, check him out.

They took as to a local cheesecake eatery ( The Sweet Hereafter) that has a cool "rocker barbie" decor, not sure if that really sounds cool but it looks awesome. Myself and idlehide got the Almond Joy Cheesecake, with Tim and Steph getting the Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake... It was soo good.

After the cheesecake we walked down the street and popped into the trail shop where they were taking down their Christmas decorations. The Trail shop is a awesome local "we have everything" outdoors shop. Tonight I fell in love, I was browsing their shoes on display and my eyes fell upon the best looking shoes I've seen in a while, my new love was a pair of Patagonia Olulu shoes. I need and must have a pair of these, they are very minimal, with a low heel drop, wide toe box and are super light. But like all love stories there's that part that will bring tears to the readers eyes... Here it is "they don't have my size!" I'll live tho, I'll be rocking these soon.

And a shout out to the awesome worker wearing the toque at the Trail shop, you made a customer of me. ( to you Americans a toque is a winter hat )

Skittles Cleats

2011-12-30T14:30:00.000-08:00

If your not a football fan you most likely don't know who Marshawn Lynch is, and maybe you don't know who the Seattle Seahawks are as well. But I'm pretty sure you know what Skittles are...

This year Lynch has been doing great in the NFL and his Love for Skittles has come to the forefront. Fans of the Seahawks have been throwing Skittles when Lynch scores and it looks like a free commercial for the candy maker.

Well last week Lynch had a pair of Skittle Cleats designed and he wore them against the 49ers, I think they looked cool but the NFL didn't think so fining Lynch $10,000.00, I guess that's pennies to a millionaire.

What would you put on your shoes if you could design your own?

Kennyo

2011 Kona Ironman World Championship HD

2011-12-30T06:39:00.000-08:00

Watch The 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship, it is the most epic test of endurance known to man. Watch here for free (in HD).

Running Interval Training fail

2011-12-29T06:53:00.000-08:00

This morning I got up early by my standards and headed to the gym. I was planning to get a good run in because I have been slacking of late. I got this great Interval Training workout from Idlehide this am and jumped on the treadmill.

I thought I would start off with the beginner workout as I had been slacking of late, about 2mins in I flipped the paper over to the intermediate Interval training workout because the beginner was way too easy.

Well about 20mins into this intermediate workout I noticed that I was hardly sweating... Am I in that good of shape? No!! lol

At about the 30min mark Idlehide came over thinking I was on the beginner workout and was surprised to see that I was on the intermediate workout... What was wrong?

Well I found out the my treadmill was Canadian, and instead of running in MPH I was running in KPH which is alot slower... Anyways it was a good warm-up for my weight workout.

Hoping to get my Fut gloves soon to review.

Kennyo

Happy Holidays

2011-12-27T19:07:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and didn't eat too much. Me and Idlehide had a great time down at my moms with our family. Hope you all have a great New Years as well.

New posts coming soon
Kennyo

Air Jordan 11 Release

2011-12-24T06:28:00.001-08:00

Us in the Minimalistic Shoe world can be a little crazy about our shoes but we have nothing on Nike Air Jordan fans.

Nike's latest Air Jordan basketball shoe has triggered pre-Christmas stampedes in shopping malls across the United States, resulting in several arrests.

In Tukwila, Washington, a suburb of Seattle, police used teargas to tame around 2000 people who surged into the local mall in the early hours of Friday morning to get their hands on the coveted Air Jordan 11 Retro Concord.

"I've been doing this for 15 years and I’ve never seen such a large crowd and such an unruly crowd," Officer Mike Murphy of the Tukwila police department said.

Well I know one thing for sure...if you run barefoot you won't have to get teargased to buy shoes..

Kennyo

Running In The Snow

2011-12-24T02:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was our first big snowfall here in Nova Scotia, about 10-15cm's of snow fell on the ground right around rush hour. What a big first snow fall means to emergency workers is alot of accidents...

Yesterday in all of the zones in the city Police responded to 110 accidents, that is a ton of dented cars, I guess it was a early Christmas for auto body shops..

All these accidents made me think about proper traction while running in the winter so I wanted to throw together a quick post before work this morning.

Here are a few things to think about before heading out in the snow:

This is almost natural to Forefoot runners but shorten your running stride and keep your feet lower to the ground. You will run more efficiently and reduce the risk of slipping, falling or
straining muscles.
Try and stick to the snow that is less packed together, this can be more dangerous than loose snow.
If you are planning a "normal" run just shorten it alittle because you'll be working harder in the snow.
You'll really notice those stabilizing muscles yelling after your run, stretch them out afterwards.
Dress in layers, start with a sweat wicking base layer, DO NOT wear Cotton as this will soak up moisture and keep you wet and cold.
Relax and focus on the road ahead, enjoy the run and be safe

Hope these few tips helped yoo out,

Happy Running
Kennyo

idlehide.: Home for the Holidays Virtual 10K

2011-12-22T09:03:00.000-08:00

idlehide.: Home for the Holidays Virtual 10K: Dinner last night was a success! The ham was so yummy- pre cooked so we just put it in the oven for a few hours on low so it was a flaky tex...

Click above to read about a Virtual 10k

UPS Stole Christmas

2011-12-21T11:15:00.000-08:00

Update: UPS got back to me and basicly said "too bad soo sad" they are keeping the package and said contact the shipper for a refund, well if I could contact the shipper we wouldn't be having this problem as well!!

Well I have been waiting on a package for the last month, there was some mix ups between the shipper and UPS so the package was not delivered.

Today I received my first contact from UPS they were asking me for money to cover Customs and Handling for the package I have yet to receive.

So I call UPS and they tell me that the package has been " abandoned" and in order for me to get the package the shipper must call them and allow them to deliver "MY" package.

The issue is that I have been trying to contact the shipper for almost a month and can't get ahold of them... So this means they can't call to release my package.

The customer service rep offered this as reasoning why they can't deliver the package " It would create chaos"

So to sum this up, in the next few weeks my package will be destroyed and everyone wins minus me.... Plus UPS wants their shipping costs..

Be careful with UPS

Kenny

Adidas ClimaCool Ride

2011-12-20T15:17:00.000-08:00

Recently I received a bright red pair of Adidas ClimaCool Ride sneakers. The Adidas ClimaCool Ride is Adidas offering to the minimalist shoe market.

Adidas offers the following statement about the ClimaCool Ride:

Light, durable and made to keep your feet fresh when you run. These adidas CC Ride running shoes have a lightweight mesh upper, allover CLIMACOOL® ventilation, adiPRENE®+ in the forefoot for more efficient propulsion and adiPRENE® under the heel for cushioning.
Just as a quick intro to the Adidas ClimaCool Ride review, as soon as I opened the box for my ClimaCool Ride's I was in love. I must say that the Ride's are on of the best looking Minimalist running shoes on the market. My pair of ClimaCool Rides are a bright red that get comments wherever I go.

For those that don't want to read my full review I'll sum it up here, The Adidas ClimaCool Ride's are a great looking lightweight, flexible running shoe. The Adidas ClimaCool Ride is not a true minimalist running shoe. I would say that the Ride would be placed in the intro category, a great transition shoe to the minimalist running shoe world like the Reebox Realflex or Nike Free. The Limitations of the ClimaCool Ride is that the sole is a little too thick and the toe box is too narrow.

Full Review:

Look: The design of the Adidas ClimaCool Ride is something that is welcome in the minimalist running shoe market, in the past barefoot shoes or minimal shoes were a little dull. But the Ride sneakers come in 26 bright colors that all look awesome and are great for matching with your cool running gear.

Comfort: The ClimaCool Ride wins a gold medal on the side of comfort. The shoe fits well and is well cushioned (Wishing it was less cushioned to make more minimal) and well ventilated. The Ride offers an impressive 360 degree ventilation system, the easiest way to see this is to wear a bright pair of socks and you'll see how vented they are.

Adidas offers that the ClimaCool material achieves 20 percent reduction in in-shoe moisture and 12 percent drop in foot temperature, two critical factors against foot disease and discomfort, I'm not 100% sold on the fighting disease but I'll read on it a little more.

Weight: The Ride comes in weighing in only at 8.9 ounces, which is a nice weight but I would have liked to see it come in a little lighter.

Sole: The Sole of the ClimaCool Ride looks like a winding road, it has deep flex grooves that are in place to offer flexibility. The sole of the Ride is a little thick for a minimal shoe, so if your looking for that ground feedback you may want to look else wheres. But as a comfy shoe the Ride offers cushioning to absorb shock.

Toe Box: The Toe box of the Climacool Ride is what I would say is rather normal. I am used to some of the other minimalist running shoes that offer a larger toe box so personally I find the Climacool Ride alittle narrow.

Heel Drop: The Adidas Climacool Ride is not a zero drop heel shoe but it's heel is not overly raised but I would like to see Adidas offer a zero drop heel next time.

On the Road:
In order to complete this review you have to take this shoe out on the road. When running in the ClimaCool Rides right off the start you notice how lightweight and flexible the shoe is. One thing that I didn't notice as much as I would if running in other minimal shoes was the ground feedback. The Ride has a thicker sole so the ground feel is a little muted.
As I mentioned earlier I found that the toe box to the ClimaCool is alittle narrow so that I found I felt alittle constricted when running in the Ride. One downside to running in the Climacool Ride is that you'll get it dirty, the Ride is too pretty to get dirty...lol

So to sum this review up the Adidas Climacool Ride is a good looking lightweight, flexible transition shoe to the minimal running shoe world. If you're a beginner to minimal running the Climacool Ride may be for you, but if you're a hardcore barefoot runner this may be a step back.

Enjoy and Happy Running
Kennyo

Top Obstacle Course Races

2011-12-19T12:17:00.000-08:00

In 2012 I'm hoping to complete a Obstacle Course Race, I've been looking around to try to find a race that's close to me. So this post is a result of me browsing the web and finding alot of cool races.

I just last year heard of these obstacle course races, obstacle course racing is becoming an extremely popular event for people to test their inner strenght and determination. Obstacle races offer something alittle different then just running km after km.

In order for me to become a Police Officer I had to complete a obstacle course under a certian time, I loved training for it and it gave me a great sense of accomplisment after getting a good time. But my police test wasn't extreme as some of these course, some of these course have fire, electicity, mud, barb wire and lots more of crazy stuff.

So below I list the top Obstacle Course Races I found.

The Spartan Death Race - This is the highest level of Spartan Challenge. The Spartan Death Race is designed to present you with the totally unexpected, and the totally insane! This endurance race is comprised of mud runs, obstacle racing, trail racing, physical challenges and mental challenges all in a +48 hour adventure race. 90% of you will not complete this endurance race. Please only consider this adventure style race if you have lived a full life to date.
Tough Mudder - Tough Mudder events are hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. With the most innovative courses, half a million inspiring participants, and more than $2 million dollars raised for the Wounded Warrior Project, Tough Mudder is the premier adventure challenge series in the world.
Warrior Dash - Warrior Dash may be the most popular of the Obstacle course races, it is more main stream maybe because they don't advertise that "you may die"...lol Warrior is more of a fun day but don't get me wrong their obstacles will challange you.
Spartan Sprint - Spartan Sprints are muddy 3+- mile events with 10 or more obstacles. The challenging sprint races are a great way to get off your couch and start living. Beginners to hardcore warriors, and marathon runners alike come out to test themselves on the insane obstacles!

Run For Your Lives - Run For Your Lives race is a one-of-a-kind course that is 5K long and has some great obstacles. The unique aspect is that throughout the course there are zombies that are trying to get you.

Enjoy
Kennyo

Happy Birthday Lose The Shoes

2011-12-19T10:53:00.000-08:00

Well Lose The Shoes turns 1 yr old today!
I'm thankful to all of you that read my reviews and check in on my life, the last year has been fun.

I'd also like to wish a Happy Birthday to anyone out their celebrating their birthday today, maybe Jake Gyllenhaal or Criss Angel are reading this who share my birthday.

Here are some links to highlights of the year:

- Lose The Shoes got shirts
- Yummy KoHo Bars
- Jinga Shoes review

Hope you had a great year with me and will check back throughout my second year.
Kenny

Fut Glove Shoes

2011-12-15T09:01:00.000-08:00

I'm exciting that in the next little while I'll be receiving a new pair of Fut Glove Shoes, Fut Gloves are called the "New Barefoot."

I am always looking around the web for new minimalist running shoe companies, 2011 has seemed to be the year of Barefoot shoes. The thing about trends is that a lot of times companies will jump out of the woodwork creating a poor product just to make a few dollars, but the thing that excites me about Fut Glove is that they appear to be creating a high quality product, and it seems like they listen to customer feedback and make changes with a true understanding of Barefoot Running.

When Looking at Fut Glove it's easy to see who their competition will be, Vibram Five Fingers had the market on toe shoes cornered, but it's great to see competition it helps make the product better for the users.

When Speaking with Dan from Fut Glove he wanted to pass this message on to you about his product:

A few differences of Fut Glove vs. others

Fut Gloves are built for comfort while strengthening the foot with a five toe shoe design
Fut Gloves are made with high impact rubber & EVA foam mid sole which runs from the heel through the toe areas.
Fut Gloves are constructed more like a "regular" shoe with structure and support.

Look for the full review down the road.

Happy Running

Kenny

Lose The Shoes Shirts

2011-12-14T14:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my new Lose The Shoes T-Shirts arrived in the mail, I was pretty excited to get them and even more pumped when I tried them on.

I think all the T-Shirts look great, but that's just me. Check them out here.

Do you have any shirt logo or quotes for me? Please Share..

Cop Shop 2011

2011-12-14T11:20:00.000-08:00

I just got back from Cop Shop 2011 that's held at the Halifax Shopping Center. The program provides awesome kids from the community gift cards to the mall and a Police Officer as their personal shopper.

This is my first year participating in Cop Shop, other years I had commitments but from now on I'll make sure I make every other one.

This was definitely the highlight of Christmas for me. My little Buddy "A" had a list all done up with prices and he was so pumped when he had enough $ for the DS he wanted.

This was soo fun.

Kennyo

Obama Ugly Christmas Sweater

2011-12-14T04:59:00.000-08:00

This year ugly Christmas sweaters are becoming all the rage. I was cruising around checking out some pics and came across a Obama Ugly Christmas Sweater that made me laugh, so I thought I'd share some of the best Ugly Christmas Sweaters I found.

Are you going to a Ugly Christmas Party? Share your pics...

Kennyo

Spin Class

2011-12-13T17:55:00.000-08:00

I just got back from the spin class from you know where!!

The trainer for my normal spin class stopped teaching the class due to a new job, I really enjoyed her classes and thought they were good. The trainers name was Jenn, she could best be described as sweet Jenn, she smiled and cracked the odd joke during classes.

Now little did Jenn know she was setting me up for failure, I arrived at this new spin class and jumped on the bike. Before I could even catch the trainers name sweat was pouring off my brow puddling below me, this trainer was intense, about half way though my body was crying for me to stop. I made it through the class and I loved it, there's something about pushing your body to the limit. I'll be sore tomorrow.

After spin class I tried a new exercise I saw on Blonde Ponytails blog, check out her video below, it's a good one:

Seoul Twin Towers

2011-12-13T08:07:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the planned Seoul Korea skyscrapers?

I saw the photo for the first time this morning and my first feeling was that it wasn't right!
The plan is for two towers side by side with a cloud shaped bridge joining the two buildings, this cloud bridge looks alot like the explosion before the World Trade Center Towers fell.

Whats your feeling on these planned towers?

Invisible Shoes Review

2011-12-12T18:04:00.000-08:00

Today I'd like to offer you one of my most interesting shoe reviews yet, the review is of Invisible Shoes. Now I have not gone crazy pretending I have Invisible shoes on my feet, what I'm wearing now is a pair of huaraches by Steven Sashen of Invisible Shoes.

This review all started with a comment on my site from Steven Sashen, next thing I knew I was opening my new pair of huaraches wondering what I was going to do with this piece of rubber and string.

Well let's start with the question I'm sure you're asking.. " What are huaraches?"
Huarache sandals most likely started as a leather weave with leather soles. Originally they were a native or peasant shoe and It wasn't till the mid 1900's that different styles popped up using rubber from tires as the sole, which was easy and cheap to get at that time.

From the Invisible Shoes Website:

Invisible Shoes^® are a modern spin on the traditional barefoot running sandal — durable, stylish and affordable — and so light and low-profile it’s like you’re not wearing anything
.
Thanks to Chris McDougall’s inspiring and exciting best-selling book, Born to Run, runners are discovering the magic of barefoot running.

Many people describe how barefoot running has improved their running, healed old injuries, strengthened their feet and legs, turned flat feet into feet with arches, and much more.

The biggest problem with barefoot running, not surprisingly, is all the stuff on the ground that can hurt and cut your feet, plus all the dirt you have to wash off when you’re finished running.

That’s why you’ll want a pair of Invisible Shoes.

My Review:

I must say at first I wasn't too excited about getting a pair of Huaraches, I didn't think that running sandals were for me. Well after my review, I'm now a believer. Not only are Invisible Shoes as close to barefoot as you can get, they are comfortable and cool to wear.

The make-up of Invisible Shoes is a outsole that is a 4mm FeelTrue sole, it's a professional-grade rubber sole that has a smooth side for your foot and a patterned side that reminds me of a tire (throw back to the originals) that provides the traction on any surface.

Each of the Invisible Shoes weighs around 4.5 oz, this makes them so light that you can hardly feel them on your feet. I must say the feel reminds me alot like wearing my Vibram Five Fingers but more primal.

At first I was a little concerned that the rope used to hold the Huaraches on my feet would cause some discomfort but I hardly feel the rope when running.

One thing that you'll find tricky at first is tying your Invisible Shoes and getting the proper tightness, this will take alittle trial and error till you find the style you like, check out different tying styles here.

When reviewing minimalist running shoes I always talk about the toe box size and about the heel of the shoes, well this section will be quick...
- There's no heel, So it's a Zero Drop shoe.
- There's no Toe Box so there's plenty of room.

The best minimalist running shoes are extremely flexible and offer ground feedback. It would be hard to find any shoe more flexible then a pair of Huaraches, and with a 4mm sole you'll feel all the pebbles on your journey.

At first when I pulled my Invisible shoes out of the box I wasn't sure if Huaraches had the cool factor, but I must say every time I strap them on I appreciate how cool they are. It's funny when you run in your Invisible Shoes and you pass people that are talking, all of a sudden they'll stop talking then you'll hear them whisper, on guy even called them slippers.

So to sum this review up, Invisible Shoes are a true minimalist running shoe, they are just a piece of rubber and a rope. They are cheap and will last you a long time. They may not be for everyone but at their great price of around $19.00 everyone should try them.

Happy Running
Kennyo

1,000,000 Cards For Max

2011-12-12T12:03:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys and Gals,

Here's a great thing you can do to bring Joy to a little boys life. I just got back from emailing my card.

I got this info from Idlehide : Max, an 8-year-old boy battling leukemia, will not make it home to celebrate Christmas and has one crazy, fun Christmas wish:

He would like to receive 1,000,000 Christmas cards in the mail.

Please send Max a card, and re post and tweet this.....

Update: Julie from Peanut butter fingers blog called the hospital and confirmed this story!

His address is:

Max

c/o Hailey Remish

417 Jones Street

Belle Vernon, PA

15012

Icing Runners

2011-12-12T08:18:00.000-08:00

Today the topic of Ice has been running through my head. I am a big Dallas Cowboys fan and the last two weeks they have lost due to their kicker being iced. If your not a football fan and have no idea what it means to ice the kicker I'll explain.

When I said ice the kicker, did you picture the other team dumping a bucket of ice on the kicker? Well what they do is call a timeout right before the kicker kicks the field goal playing with their nerves, and the last 2 weeks it worked against the Cowboys.

So today I thought I hit alittle on the benefits of ice for runners.

I read alot of running blogs and you'll always see distance runners slide into a ice bath after a long run.

How Does it help?

Here's the science from Runnersworld.com, Cryotherapy ("cold therapy") constricts blood vessels and decreases metabolic activity, which reduces swelling and tissue breakdown. Once the skin is no longer in contact with the cold source, the underlying tissues warm up, causing a return of faster blood flow, which helps return the byproducts of cellular breakdown to the lymph system for efficient recycling by the body.

So basically if you ice your muscles after a long run it will allow you to run longer and healthier. You can always use ice packs or frozen peas but a ice bath generally produces a greater and longer lasting change in deep tissues and is more a more efficient means of cooling large groups of muscles simultaneously.

2011 Ironman World Championships

2011-12-11T09:07:00.001-08:00

Yesterday NBC aired the 2011 Ironman World Championship, I always look forward to watching it and maybe someday I can attend Kona myself. I found this cool video from a Film and TV composer based in Los Angeles., who also moonlights as a triathlete.

Check out his video.

Fartlek Training Sessions

2011-12-06T19:18:00.001-08:00

Fartlek Training Sessions ( From Sports Fitness Advisor)These are shorter sessions made up of jogging, walking and some fast running. They offer a nice change of pace to continuous running and they can help improve aspects of endurance such as VO2max and anaerobic threshold.

Here is the format for our Fartlek sessions...

Warm Up with 5-10 minutes of light jogging
Run for 4 minutes, jog slowly for 1 minute. This one cycle
Repeat for the prescribed amount of time (see chart at bottom). A 20 minute session would consist of 4 cycles
On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 is a very fast run, 1 is a leisurely stroll) aim for a level 7 to 8 on the runs
Cool down for 5-10 minutes of light jogging

Half Marathon Training

2011-12-06T19:12:00.001-08:00

I've been thinking about doing a half marathon this spring so I was cruising the web looking for a good training plan and came across this Marathon Train Schedule at Sports Fitness Advisor

Marathon Training Schedule

Below is the complete beginner marathon training schedule.
It's based on a 5-day week with 2 days rest. The long run is scheduled for Saturday with recovery on Sunday and rest on Monday. Your own plan might vary from which is fine. Just try to have a rest day before the long run and recovery after it.

Asking what are Fartlek Sessions? Check out here.

Notice how the distances and times for individual sessions gradually increase?

Notice also how it doesn't increase continually from session to session - there are easier weeks interspersed through out the whole marathon training schedule.

And notice how the final weeks and days of the marathon training schedule tapers off towards the big event?

You can adjust these peaks and troughs in intensity. For the most part, especially in a beginner program like this, there is no exacting scientific formula. Instead listen to your body...

Ironman World Championship 2011 Video

2011-12-06T03:24:00.001-08:00

Contest Winners

2011-12-05T12:26:00.001-08:00

Hello all,

I have done the draw, the video is below. Congrats to the winners!!

Contest Update

2011-12-04T10:57:00.001-08:00

Hello guys and gals,

The Born To Run contest has closed and I'll be drawing tonight for the books. I'll be doing it as a video post, I hoped to do it on the 1st but work was so busy..

Stay tuned,
Kennyo

Minimalist Running Shoe Collection

2011-11-28T18:48:00.001-08:00

I was reading a post the other day from The Barefoot Running University titled Why Are Barefoot Runners Such Shoe Whores?

Jason wrote: I’m a barefoot runner, yet I have a shoe collection that takes up an embarrassingly large space. Most of my peers are in the same boat. What’s the deal?

Well I don't know what the deal is but I headed to the closet and pulled out all my shoes, I have a good little collection going as well.

I know each shoe serves a purpose, for different situtions during the day. What's you favorite shoe?

From top left to right... Adidas Clima Cool, Invisiable Shoes ( review coming) Jinga shoes, Vivobarefoot Evo, Nike Free, Vibram Five Fingers Bikilas, VFF Komodo Sport.

Cyber Monday Sales

2011-11-28T05:29:00.001-08:00

Since alot of you will be looking for deals online today, I wanted to Post my Top 3 Ideas.

1) LeftLane Sports - The Best Deals on Shoes, and outdoor gear anywheres Online - Free to become a member Click here

2) LA Police Gear - Being a Police Officer I love this site, but also has ton of cool stuff for everyone.

3) Lose The Shoes Store - Buy some cool running themed shirts, use the following coupons for a deal: Buy 4 get 1 Free Code - XMAS5FOR4
Free Shipping - US - SHIPFREEUS Canada - CADSHIPFREE

Running Shirts

2011-11-27T17:50:00.001-08:00

Check out the new designs in the Lose The Shoes Store.

The Store can be located on the side bar, or click here..

Lose The Shoes Store

2011-11-27T17:10:00.001-08:00

Hey,

I've started a Lose The Shoes Store. I'll have running related T-shirts and other products. Check back for new designs. Click below to visit

Movember Running To A End

2011-11-27T10:35:00.001-08:00

Hi,

It's Movember, the monthformerly known as November, which is dedicated to growing moustaches andraising awareness and funds for men's health. I have joined the movement andwill be donating my upper lip to the cause for 30 days. My Mo will spark conversations,and no doubt generate some laughs; all in the name of raising vital awarenessand funds for prostate cancer.

Why am I so passionateabout men's health?
* On average men live 4-5years less than women
* 1 in 7 men will be diagnosedwith prostate cancer in their lifetime
* 25,500 men will be diagnosedwith prostate cancer this year in Canada

I invite you to support meby donating to me http://mobro.co/Gokennygo

Thanks
KennyO

Black Friday VFF Sale

2011-11-25T03:14:00.001-08:00

Check out the Vibram Five Fingers Website where some styles are 30% off with Free ground shipping

Ethical Running Clothes

2011-11-24T05:53:00.001-08:00

If you’re a keen runner no doubt you haveplenty of clothes specifically for this use. Sportswear is tricky because itneeds to be comfortable, keep you at a consistent temperature, be practical andnot break the bank. You might think that styleadvice in terms of running is unnecessary, but for many people, how youlook can make a real difference to your performance.

For people interested in ethicalconsumption, the shopping decisions are made even harder as most of the choicecomes from the huge sportswear brands. With all of the sweatshop stories thathave made it into the news over the last couple of decades it’s reallydifficult to know who to trust. There are however, ethical options out there,whether you’re concerned about social ethics or environmental ethics.

For more leisurely runners, you might behappy to wear organic cotton. It won’t have to same ‘wicking’ properties ofsynthetic fibres but it is breathable and kind to the skin. UK based brand Gossypiumseem to have it sussed, they say: “Gossypium has set itself the goal todesign attractive and stylish active cotton sports clothing for fitness,running, yoga and Pilates, using a fine blend of Organic & Fairtradecotton mixed with under 10% of Lycra”. Here you have a bit of everything –organic cotton for the sake of the environment, Fairtrade cotton for theproducers of the fibre and a bit of Lycra to benefit, you, the wearer.

Plenty of shops now have small organicor Fairtrade cotton ranges and they often come in the form of basic t-shirts,sweats and pants that could fit in well with your fitness routine. For moretechnical sportswear try Patagonia. Patagoniasell outdoor equipment and fitness wear, whilst having a strong environmentalfocus to their company.

They do basic t-shirts perfect for highintensity running or trail walking made from a Capilene baselayer. Capilene ismade from recycled polyester, can be recycled again, and is equipped withnatural odour inhibitors.

Yes,comfort comes first, but if you feel good about what you’re wearing, you arebound to feel good about what you’re doing.

Emma Waightis a PhD student and freelance writer. She writes fashion news and trendstories at www.clothes.org.ukbut her real passion is ethical fashion and sustainableconsumption.

Adidas $1 Shoes In India

2011-11-21T18:00:00.001-08:00

Do you get excited when your favorite shoes go on sale?

How excited would you be if you could buy a pair of new Adidas shoes for $1??

Adidas who is German owned, and one of the biggest sportswear and equipment maker in the world announced they will launch a shoe costing one dollar a pair in India.

Adidas has previously considered a similar initiative of selling a one-dollar shoe in Bangladesh last year, but reported losses in the initial test batch of 5,000 pairs, adding that the shoes cost three dollars to make and $3.50 had to be paid in import duty, that doesn't add up!!

Adidas wants to break into the huge market in India, whats better then selling a shoe for $1.

Kennyo

Vibram Black Friday Sale

2011-11-21T17:41:00.001-08:00

The Following message is from the Vibram Five Fingers site:

To all of the members of our Vibram FiveFingers Family: Please help spread the word that we have a special Thank You Event planned for VibramFiveFingers.com this weekend, starting Friday at 12 AM EST! Stay tuned for details!

Vibram Five Fingers Speed Colors

2011-11-18T08:09:00.001-08:00

I was just reading on Birthdayshoes.com and they got their hands on some of the new 2012 Vibram Five Fingers Speed colors.

The Vibram Five Fingers Speeds are the next shoes on my list for my personal collection.

If you want to see all the colors check them out at Birthdayshoes , my favorite is the green and yellow style.

Adidas ClimaCool Ride Unboxing

2011-11-17T18:24:00.001-08:00

Unboxing my new bright red Adidas ClimaCool shoes

Born To Run Book Giveaway

2011-11-17T09:27:00.000-08:00

This past year I have read 2 great books related to running. I feel that both books are must reads for runners. The Books are Born To Run and The Long Run. Born To Run is considered the "bible" for minimalistic running and The Run will inspire you.

This giveaway gives you 2 chances at winning, I will draw two winners and the 1st place winner will get their choice of book plus running gels. The 2nd place runner will get the other book.

How To Enter:
1) Follow this site on the sidebar...
2) Follow the LoseTheShoes.net Facebook page...(link on sidebar aswell)
3) Follow Losetheshoesnet on Twitter and tweet this contest (If you don't have Twitter, do Bonus to make-up)

Bonus Entry
1) Post a post on your Blog about this contest linking back to Lose The Shoes ( 2 bonus entries)
2) Follow this blog on Bloglovin' ( 1 bonus entry)

Once these are completed, Comment Below to Enter and the Best of Luck

Open Till Dec 1st - Will Ship Right away!

Hyundai Veloster Photos

2011-11-13T14:39:00.001-08:00

Last night I got to attend a cool photo shoot of the Hyundai Veloster. The Veloster is a sporty little car that comes loaded at a low price.

My Friend how owns GoodCarBadCar.net was back doing the shoot for his website.

The Photo beside to the right is be sitting in the backseat as the car zooms by.

The Photo's for the shoot were taken by Lou Photography, they turned out awesome, I'll link to them later when they are up on Good Car Bad Car, but check out her great site till then.

We Remember

2011-11-10T20:10:00.001-08:00

I would like to take this time to thank all our service men and women that have served and are presently serving this great county around the world.

Because of the stuff our service men and women do I can sit here and blog about shoes.

We Remember

AVIA Running Shoes

2011-11-10T19:45:00.001-08:00

I guess we do learn something new everyday, today I came across a new shoe company that I have not heard of previously. They have some nice looking shoes but I didn't see any minimalistic offerings.

From AVIA Site:
In 1979, AVIA was founded on the passion to provide footwear for serious athletes. As technology advanced so did we, developing innovative shoe designs that revolutionized athletic footwear. With such designs as the Cantilever Heel, the Anatomical Cradle and FOM technology, AVIA proved to be passionate, progressive, and at the top of the game. Today, we continue to lead the performance training movement and further our dedication to endurance sports performance.

33 by ASICS Commercial

2011-11-07T08:26:00.000-08:00

I recently found out that ASICS is the top shoe brand purshased by american runners. ( See stats here)
After hearing this, I did some digging to see what Minimalist running shoes ASICS offers. ASICS has a new minimalist line called "33" and here is their commercial ad.

Top Running Shoes 2011

2011-11-07T08:15:00.000-08:00

I recently was looking at the Running USA’s 2011 National Runner Survey. This survey gives you a glimpse into what the everyday runners out there like and are willing to spend their money on.

According to the survey ASICS continued to lead the running shoes market with 25.8%, which actually saw a decline of about 4% from the 2009 numbers.

It is nice to see Minimalist shoe companies making a move up the survey, Vibram Five Fingers brand who have gone from almost nothing to 2.1% and Newton that grew to 2.2%

The Survey also said that the average runner purchased 3.1 pairs of running shoes and 62.3% runners spent $90 or more for their running shoes in the year, is that out of need or fetish?

Running USA’s 2011 National Runner Survey

Brand	2009	2011
ASICS	29.9%	25.8%
Brooks	14.4%	16.3%
Nike	14.7%	13.7%
Saucony	11.3%	12.8%
Mizuno	8.9%	8.8%
New Balance	9.7%	8.4%
adidas	5.5%	4.1%
Newton	<1%	2.2%
Vibram Five Fingers	<1%	2.1%

Geoffrey Mutai Wins New York City Marathon

2011-11-06T15:22:00.000-08:00

Thousands of runners began the New York City Marathon and gave it their all to cross the finish line in Central Park to complete the New York City Marathon Sunday afternoon.

This years winner is Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya broke the marathon record with his time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, and 6 seconds months after running the fastest marathon ever in Boston.

Congrats to Mutai

Running Injuries

2011-11-04T13:23:00.000-07:00

I was poking around online today and came across an article by Lifehacker.com where they talked about avoiding running injuries by using proper form.

I kinda laughed because they mentioned how barefoot runners and minimalist runners are weird and extremists so people don't listen to the message they deliver about injury-free running.

The article states: the injury statistics show that out of all current runners, 79 per cent of them are injured every year. That’s insane. We’re obviously doing something wrong.This New York Times Magazine article has discovered a secret: It’s not really whether or not you run barefoot or with the latest Nikes that prevent injury, it’s the form you use when you run.

This is so true, you can wear your Vibram Five Fingers, Vivobarefoot shoes or Reebox Realflex's but if you run with improper form and heel strike you haven't made things better but worse.

Adidas Climacool Ride : David Beckham Video

2011-11-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a short but cool video of Davis Beckham in a Adidas Climacool Commercial, Here's a little review here.

Skora Running Photoshoot

2011-11-03T15:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on the SKORA website they shared some photos of their first photoshoot for their SKORA shoes this coming spring.

Read more about SKORA shoes here..

SKORA's site stated the follwoing : We were fortunate to work with an amazing sports photographer that gets what we’re about, and real runners that happen to look great in front of the camera lens.
The shoot was a great success, and we can’t wait to have the completed catalog early next year.

Kennyo

Fila Skele-Toes 2.0 On Sale

2011-11-02T11:05:00.000-07:00

LeftLane Sports offers great daily deals on shoes and other fitness items, the thing is you must be a member or invited by one. Guess what I'm inviting you all.. Just click here.

Today they are offering Fila Skele-Toes 2.0 for $34.00 thats 50% off

If you were looking to pick up a pair of Skele-Toes today is the day, Check out my review here.

Jinga Shoe Full Review

2011-11-01T20:32:00.000-07:00

I am constantly cruising the Internet reading about Minimalist Running shoes, a while back I was reading a lot of buzz about Jinga Shoes. I contacted Jinga Shoes and shortly I had a pair of Jinga's on the way to review.

Overview:
I'd like to start off by saying that Jinga Shoes are not designed as a Minimalist running shoe, they are designed as a minimalist lifestyle shoe. The reason that I am writing this review is that due to their great minimalist design people see Jinga Shoes as a option as a minimalist running shoe.

The shoe materials are all made and produced in Brazil, Jinga Shoes are definitely a minimalist shoe having no heel, no arch support, no extra cushioning and they are super lightweight and very flexible.

Unlike some minimalist shoes that look odd and get alot of stares, Jinga Shoes look cool in my opinion and you can pick a style to match your taste as they have multiple color schemes.

History of Jinga Shoes:

Jinga is from ginga a Brazilian Portuguese word meaning, loosely, an art of moving that is personal and individual; your rhythm, your style; something creative, fluid, exuberant and graceful.

Jinga Shoes have their roots in dance, known for their flexibility and lightweight, weighing less than 300g per pair and the upper of the shoe allows your foot to move freely as our feet were intended to do.

A big part of Jinga Shoes is about investing in impoverished communities. Both founders of the company have spent time volunteering in low-income communities in the South and North-east of Brazil and have experienced first-hand the hardships the people living in the low-income urban communities (commonly known as Favelas) experience. To read more about how Jinga shoes help read here..

My Review:

Like I stated when I started this review, Jinga Shoes are crazy comfortable, the thing about Jinga shoes is they are not comfortable because they are loaded with padding, it's the opposite, Jinga shoes are truly minimal but being properly designed they feel great on your feet.

I would definitely recommend wearing Your Jinga Shoes barefoot, there are some of my Minimalist running shoes that I rather wear with socks but Jinga Shoes feel awesome on your feet.

Sole: The sole on Jinga's are super flexible and thin, they offer the protection needed but don't limit that ground feedback that you want. Jinga's have a insole that is removeable so if it gets alittle stinky you could hand wash it. Also if your looking for more ground feedback you could keep the in sole out.

Upper: The Upper on Jinga's are light and flexible, I actually wonder how they keep their form. The upper is very comfortable on your barefoot, and there are no hot spots that I picked up on that would cause blisters.

When Speaking with the people at Jinga Shoes they stressed the fact that Jinga Shoes were not designed as a minimalist running shoe. I understand why Jinga Shoes stressed the previous point, because if you compared their shoes to other minimalist running shoes it would not be fair. But the thing that is great about Jinga Shoes is that they are greatly designed shoes so you have to try them as a running shoe.

I've gone running in my Jinga Shoes and they do hold their own. Jinga shoes have a good lacing system that allow you to adjust the feel you want for running. Jinga shoes are comfortable and I felt no hot spots that would cause blisters. At this point in my use I see no durability issues, but I could see if I used them long term as a running shoe there could be some issues, but again they are not designed for running. The final thing I noticed as a running shoe they don't have the sole that you would want of some wet surfaces, the sole is more of a "dance" sole that slides across the floor smoothly.

How would I make Jinga Shoes for running?

The Sole:

I mentioned above that the Jinga sole was very flexible, and I love that I would not change it, but to improve this sole for running I would add some more texture to it to provide some grip. I would also like to see the the front of the sole to wrap up the front of the shoe alittle to aid with durability.

Upper:

There is very little I would want to change with the upper, you don't want to mess with a good thing. I would maybe add some reflective strips for safety and make one of the design stripes that go the length of the shoe breathable mesh.

I also thing a nice addition would be to make the tongue attached to the shoe loosely just to stop it from shifting in a long run, and maybe add a more athletic collar around the shoe.

Overall the Jinga Shoe is already a great shoe for running but with a few simple additions it would be amazing. I'm not sure if Jinga is moving that way but I hope they do.

So to conclude my review I'm going to keep it short and Sweet.. Buy a pair of Jinga's !!

I don't see myself using my Jinga Shoes as a running shoe, but as a everyday casual shoe I have nothing better in my closet.

Enjoy

Kennyo

VivoBarefoot Ultra Shoe Review

2011-11-01T02:37:00.000-07:00

I recently reviewed the VivoBarefoot Evo's and greatly enjoyed them. I came across a review recently of the VivoBarefoot Ultra, the VivoBarefoot Ultra is the Minimalist running shoe that I'd like to review next.

The review is from Wired.com and is a great review, check it out here...

The Vivo Barefoot Ultras are true minimalist running shoes. They aim to give you an experience that’s as close as possible to running in bare feet. There are other shoes feeding this craze, like Vibram’s famous FiveFingers toe-shoes and Merrell’s Barefoot runners. As any fan of barefoot running knows, some of the design choices made by these shoe manufacturers are dubious, as they apply radical technologies and materials in their attempt to lighten the load or arrive at their minimalist goals.

Reebok Realflex Has The Money

2011-10-26T14:48:00.000-07:00

The Reebok Realflex may not be the best Minimalist Running Running on the market right now but it diffinitly has the most marketting dollars behind it.

Reebok has recently launched their RealFlex shoes in India. A mammoth 8500 sq ft OOH advertisement spread across the length of the Dhaula Kuan metro station showing multiple shots of the RealFlex shoe taken from different angles is not only jaw dropping but also brilliantly executed.

India has one of the largest populations in the world, and if Reebok can get a fraction of Indians to put on their shoes they will be laughing.

Prince Harry Likes Barefoot Running

2011-10-25T07:52:00.000-07:00

Vibram Five Fingers have gone from being considered weird and ugly to now being accepted.

I have posted before different celebrities that were walking around wearing Vibram Five Fingers. Celebrities are one thing but what about Royal approval?

It was reported that Prince Harry bought a pair of Vibram Five Fingers while he was recently in San Diego, California. Prince Harry is in the states for a advanced helicopter training course. Maybe we'll see the Queen mother in a pair soon.

VIVOBAREFOOT Evo Review

2011-10-19T17:48:00.000-07:00

Today I'd like to share my review of the VIVOBAREFOOT Evo that is considered one of the top minimalist running shoes on the market.

First Impressions:
As I stated above VIVOBAREFOOT is considered the elite shoe within minimalistic running shoe circles, and the Evo is their Cadillac. When I took the package containing my Evo's from the delivery man I was surprised with how light the package was, did they send me a empty package?

You can see the unboxing video here..

I removed the shoes from the box and they were extremely light (8.2oz), some will complain that they are too heavy for an elite minimalist running shoe but I am happy with them, any shoe around 8oz or less I'm happy with.

Removing the shoes from the package I was impressed with how stylish they looked, I must say they looked even sexier when I put them on.

Evo Design:

Like I mentioned above the Evo has a great look for a minimalist running shoe, it almost looks too good to beat up running miles in it. When buying a shoe in the $150.00 price range you expect it to be well put together and durable, which the Evo is.

The upper is made from TPU Hex Flex cage with the collar and lining made from a breathable thin mesh that I find comfortable on a barefoot.

The insole is 3mm and is machine washable which you'll enjoy if you choose to go barefoot in your Evo's. The Evo's are like traditional shoes and have a tie up lacing system.

The Evo Sole is designed to be used on any terrain and is sturdy under foot. The Sole thickness is 6mm which I wish was just alittle thinner but 6mm's is still great.

As mentioned above the Evo weights 8.2oz's but if your looking to shed alittle more weight you can remove the insoles and it gets you down to 7.7oz.

The tongue on the Evo is well designed, just bulky enough so you don't feel the laces, even when wearing them barefoot.

One thing that I found interesting about the Evo is that it is a 100% vegan shoe, so no leather or other animal products were used in the making of the Evo and the soles are made from recycled rubber and the liner is from a environmentally sustainable Sorona yarn.

Performance:
I have worn the Evo in every situation and environment possible to get the true feel of how the Evo performs.

I mentioned earlier that I love the look of the Evo with a pair of jeans, and as a casual shoe I give the Evo top marks. But just wearing the Evo as a casual shoe is like buying a corvette and only driving it in a parking lot, you have to open it up.

The Evo is a great minimalist running shoe, the Evo has a large toe box so when you're running and your foot makes contact with the ground it gives you ample room for your foot to expand naturally. The shoe is light and flexible so it flexes well during running. The Vivobarefoot Evo provides great great ground feedback, maybe not as much as some of its competitors but it's enough to stimulate your foot.

I've tested the Evo on many different surfaces, details below:

When running on loose gravel I find that you don't need to be as mindful of what your landing on, as the sole is a little thicker in the Evo, a minimalist running shoe earns its keep on gravel because of the sharp rocks and the Evo scores high.

When I ran on pavement I found the Evo to perform great, the shoe offers enough protection from the hot pavement and some feedback, the Evo also did not slip on wet pavement.

I find the best place to run barefoot or in minimalist running shoes is on trails or any natural surface, that's truly where we were born to run. When running on trails the surface is constantly changing and different levels of traction are needed. When you look at "normal" trail shoes they always have a ton of grip on them. The Evo provides great grip for the minimal amount of sole to work with. I found the Evo offers better grip on trails then my Vibram Five Fingers Bikilas.

I found the the Evo alittle lacking when it came to cross training or crossfit type of activities. I just didn't have a lot of confidence in the Evo when going side to side.

I ran on wet grass and I was pleasantly surprised that I had no issues, I found the shoe did not slip out from underneath of me and I was able to keep my normal pace.

I did find that the Evo was alittle slippery on wet tiles or hard wet surfaces.

Overall I found that the Evo performed well on all surfaces tested.

I would like to conclude in saying that I greatly enjoyed the Vivobarefoot Evo and I will continue to wear it. The Evo lived up to its hype as one of the top Minimalist running shoes. The Evo is on the higher end of cost coming in around $150.00, this price will scare some people away. For those of you not willing to pay $150.00 for the Evo, look for the Evo to go on sale it's well worth adding to your collection.

If there was anything I could change about the Evo it would be to add from reflective material to the shoes, reduce the price alittle and make the sole alittle thinner.

Hope you get to try one out, and whatever you do, keep it minimal.

Kennyo

Reebok Opens Store In Abu Dhabi

2011-10-16T20:45:00.000-07:00

Reebok has announced the opening of a shiny new store at Mushrif Mall in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi was named the richest city in the world by CNN.

The opening of the retail outlet is in direct response to the growing demand by people in this area for the newest and best things from the west.

The New store is 165 square meters, the store will offer all of Reebok's fitness gear and apparel along with Reebok's minimalist running shoe line, The Reebok Realflex.

I find it hard to picture a pair of Reebok Realflex's popping out from under a traditional middle eastern wardrobe.

Are Minimalist Running Shoes Better

2011-10-11T06:55:00.001-07:00

I read recently on the New York Times Times site a article asking if barefoot shoes are truly good for you? Here's the opening to their article.

Barefoot running may be trendy, but for scores of runners who train on urban streets or rocky trails, running without foot cover isn’t an option. As a result, many runners have switched to minimalist sports shoes that add a thin layer of protection without detracting from the feeling of running barefoot.
But do minimalist running shoes really reduce wear and tear on a runner’s body?

The article talks about a study that was commissioned in Wisconsin where they had the subjects switch to Vibram Five Fingers, the interesting part was when the subjects came back after using their Vibram Five Fingers they still ran with improper form, heel striking.

The thing about minimalist running shoes is that you need proper form or you'll cause your body damage.

In the study Women who used the correct form experienced lower-impact forces on the foot while running barefoot or in Vibrams. But among the women who didn’t change their form and continued to land on their heels, the impact forces created by barefoot and Vibram running were nearly twice as high as in regular athletic shoes.

That just shows that "normal" running shoes only mask the problem caused by heeling striking.

So the key to switching to minimalist running shoes or barefoot running is to read up on proper running form and take your time, because the goal is to be healthier and avoid injuries.

Kennyo

Valley Harvest Marathon Review

2011-10-10T17:00:00.001-07:00

Hello all,

On Sunday I ran the 5km race in the Valley Harvest Marathon.

The Valley Harvest Marathon is becoming Nova Scotia's best race, it's held in the fall and it never fails to be a beautiful fall day during the race. The race is held in the tiny town of Wolfville that you'll find very charming. The race course to the naked eye looks flat but has steady climbs, it twist through small towns and along the famous Bay Of Fundy. If your not too out of shape you'll enjoy the beautiful fall colors as you run.

It was a beautiful fall day here in Nova Scotia, it was sunny and 24 degrees out. To check out photos of the race and a recap visit IdleHides blog.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-10-10T08:12:00.001-07:00

Hello,
I just wanted to offer up a Happy Thanksgiving to all the readers of Lose The Shoes.

Here in Canada it's Thanksgiving and I'm celebrating by going to the Fall Fair with family.

Have a great day

Ford Ironman World Championship Live

2011-10-08T12:54:00.000-07:00

Watch the Ford Ironman World Championship live here

Vivobarefoot Evo Unboxing

2011-10-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

Check out the Unboxing of these great minimalist running shoes. Today I will unbox the Vivobarefoot Evo's.

ESPN Magazine Body 2011

2011-10-06T06:58:00.000-07:00

As I was reading my morning blogs, I came across the ESPN Magazine Body issue mentioned a few times. I clicked and went and checked out the photos.

The photos are of professional athletes naked, the photos are tastefully and showcase what out human body's are capable of.

The running link is Ryan Hall is showcased. Check out Ryan Hall Here. Pictured to the Right is Hope Solo.

Running In The Rain

2011-10-05T17:37:00.000-07:00

Some of you may know that I'm a Police Officer, and today here in the city it was pouring rain and of course I was working. Working in the rain today and getting soaked made we wonder what people like to wear while running in the rain, or do you avoid running altogether when it's raining?

I remember one day at work it was raining worse then I have ever seen and of course I had to stand in it for over an hour. I remember that day there was not a inch of dry clothing on me and there were puddles in my work boots, the funny part was at the end of it was was singing like Gene Kelly belting out "signing in the Rain" and laughing.

So where you out running today in the rain? What did you wear? Wear your minimal running shoes? What's your best running in the rain story?

Kennyo

Merrell Barefoot Sales

2011-10-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

Forbes.com reports that Wolverine Worldwide Inc.'s third-quarter profit rose 19 percent, helped by solid demand for brands such as Merrell, Patagonia and Hush Puppies.

The Barefoot Movement not only has helped peoples health, it has removed the padding from shoes and padded big companies wallets.

The Barefoot movement has given momentum to Wolverine Ins.'s expanding Merrell Barefoot Collection concept that continues to pace growth for its Outdoor Group.

Annual revenues are now forecast to grow to a range of $1.40-1.43 billion.

Kennyo

Shoe Size Conversion Chart

2011-10-03T14:43:00.000-07:00

I have received a few Questions here at Losetheshoes.net about converting your shoe size from one country to another, alot of Minimalist Running Shoes are in European sizes, so I hope this chart below helps.

Celebrities in Vibram Five Fingers

2011-10-03T12:48:00.000-07:00

I have shown you many photos of celebrities (Scarlett Johansson, Kate Hudson and more ) walking around wearing Vibram Five Fingers. I find this pretty cool because here in my hometown when I got my first pair of Vibram Five Fingers Bikilas it was hard to find anyone else wearing them.

Below shows Flea from The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Flea finished the LA Marathon on March 20, 2011, in 3:52:59.

The photo comes from Runners World, click and you can see the whole video where Flea is rocking his Vibram Five Fingers.

Fila Skele-Toes 2.0

2011-10-01T19:22:00.000-07:00

Were you a Fan of the Fila Skele-Toes? I reviewed them here on Losetheshoes.net and liked them as a minimalist casual shoe. Now Fila comes out with the new Fila Skele-Toes 2.0, will they be better?

The Fila Skele-Toes 2.0 will offer a more breathable upper shoe with thinner, stretchable two-ply nylon material, reflectors on the heel for nighttime visibility, and increased comfort with more padding. And Fila still has its patented EZ Slide feature, which combines the smallest two toes of the feet of the Skele-Toes for a great ease of entry.

I'm alittle worried about them adding foam on the sole that increased the comfort but I'm afraid it will take away from ground feedback.

My Favorite part about the Fila Skele-Toes 2.0 is that they offer a cooler look, not as childish as the first, now they are closer to the more stylish minimalist running shoes.

The Fila Skele-Toes 2.0 like the first still offer them at a great affordable price, coming in around $60.00 alot cheaper then their big brother the Vibram Five Fingers.

I look forward to getting my toes into a pair of Fila Skele-Toes 2.0 to offer a full review.

Kennyo

Minimalist Running Shoes In China

2011-09-30T21:23:00.000-07:00

Vibram is the creator of the Five Fingers, the flagship shoe for the minimalist running shoe movement. Vibram who was always respected for their great outdoors shoes saw a huge boast from their Five Fingers line that now accounts for 30% of it's global sales.

Vibram Five Fingers have always been in China. China seems to really love Vibram Five Fingers, well at least their design. As Vibram Five Fingers grew in popularity, fake Vibram Five Fingers followed, now fakes have flooded the market and are very disappointing to their buyers as the quality is terrible.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Vibram has invested $20 million in a 12,000 square-meter building in Huadu, China.

At the complex, called the Vibram Technological Center, prototype Five Fingers (VFFs) are tested. The actual VFFs are manufactured elsewhere in China.

Any Vibram Five Finger user would love the chance to tour the complex, they have every type of surface possible there to test the newest Five Fingers, I but some funky designs have been spotted there.

Hopfully Vibram can find a way to slow down the production of fake Five Fingers that have flooded the market, learn here how to spot the fakes.

Kennyo

Reebok RealFlex colors

2011-09-26T20:03:00.000-07:00

The Reebok RealFlex was one of the Minimalist running shoes that really brought alot of press along with it. When Reebok launched the RealFlex they did it right and only how a big name shoe company can. Reebok threw a lot of money at the launch of the RealFlex. Most Minimalist running shoe companies have smaller budgets and use word of mouth within the minimalist running shoe community.

I'm interested to see whats in the works for the Reebok RealFlex 2.0, so far they have just added new colors which I do enjoy. I like the all white.

Whats your fav?

Vibram Five Fingers Crossfit video

2011-09-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

Vibram Five Fingers are closely linked with the crossfit movement, if you walk into any crossfit gym you'll most likely see a pair of Vibram Five Fingers, Vibram Five Fingers were the shoes that helped start the minimalist running shoe movement.

Check out this Vibram Five Fingers Fan video.

Transition Shoes by Nicolas Couch

2011-09-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

I have been hearing a lot of buzz online about a new pair of shoes called Transition Shoes designed by Nicolas Couch, a New Zealand designer.

The thing that I really like about these new shoes is that the Transition Shoes are designed in a truly minimalist way. Most minimalist running shoes are designed with so many parts, up to 50, and chemicals that their design is not truly minimalist.

The Transition Shoes are designed with 5 parts and are free of glues and co-molded parts. The idea is when a part of the shoe wears down the user can simply take it off recycle it and replace it with a new part.

I find the shoes look a lot like a pair of Nike Free's

The creator says that Transition is a “back to basics” sustainably made running shoe that follows the barefoot style principle.

The shoe consists of an outer sole, inner sole, a body and a set of laces that tie the whole thing together.

I look forward to getting my toes in a pair of Transition Shoes to review

Kennyo

SKORA Performance Running Shoes

2011-09-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

The other day I recieved a email from Patrick Stratton, Vice President of  SKORA Inc. SKORA wanted to provide me with this updat e on SKORA's high performance minimalist running shoes.
Earlier I wrote about SKORA launching these shoes in 2011 but it is looking like it will be Spring of 2012 before these great shoes hit the stores and your toes.
From the SKORA website: At SKORA we view Real Running as running how nature intended. As the foot strikes the ground, contact is made at the midfoot, not at the heel. Compared to running in conventional running shoes (that favor a heel strike supported by large amounts of cushioning, support and a thicker heel), there is less impact energy and force shock transmitted through the body through the bones.

For years, we have been sold technology that is supposed to make the running process better than nature has intended. Despite the millions of marketing dollars spent, and countless studies, there has yet to be any conclusive proof that bags of air, gel, shock absorbers or fancy support systems work or decrease instance of injury. In fact, there are many studies that show the opposite.

From Snewsnet: SKORA will be launching its Base (MSRP: $125) and Form (MSRP: $195) shoes. Both models are built on SKORA’s REALFIT™ last with a natural arch shape, zero drop from heel-to-toe, a generous ball girth and wide toe box. Total stack height in both models is 13mm with the insole, 9mm without. These features enhance a natural mid-foot/all-foot contact consistent with a ‘barefoot-style’ of running. Both models are designed to be worn comfortably with or without socks.

The Base shoe has a high-tensile stretch mesh upper, with a whole sock fit and stitch down construction. It utilizes high-abrasion resistant sole rubber and promotes a precise fit with a nylon X-strap over the instep and an adjustable heel strap.

The Form model features a Pittards® Armor-Tan® goatskin leather upper with Pittards® sheepskin leather lining. The outsole has a 4mm tread. An asymmetrical lacing system, along with a unique tongue design, and a heel strap that matches foot shape and improves fit and comfort. The performance properties of the goatskin upper allow the shoe to form to the runner’s foot, dry four times faster than other leathers, and will always stay soft and supple with no leather treatments ever needed.

Here at Losetheshoes.net I'm excited to see these shoes hit the market, SKORA as a company seems to be doing everything right and looks like a great minimalist running shoe provider. I hope to get my toes in a pair of these soon to review for you.

Kenny

SKORA Links:
Website: www.skorarunning.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RunReal
Twitter: @skoraRunning

Kate Hudson in Vibram Five Fingers

2011-09-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

Vibram Five Fingers are becoming more mainstream, and nothing shows this better then the amount of celebrities that are slipping on a pair of Vibram Five Fingers.

The most recent celebrity found out and about in a pair of VFF's was Kate Hudson, she was leaving a Health Club in London and jumped onto a bike wearing a pair of Vibram Five Fingers Bikilas.

She was with her Fiance Matthew Bellamy who wasn't in a pair himself.

More Pics at Popsugar.com

Vibram Five Fingers Vs. Nike Free

2011-09-17T14:16:00.000-07:00

This is a Guest post by Heidi, she has a great blog check it out here..

Vibram Five Fingers:
Last October Kenny bought me Vibram Five Fingers for my birthday. We started out slow with them, a 5 minute run the first evening, a longer run (like 15 minutes) and then I finally worked my way up to 11km with them.

FF's mimic barefoot running, helping our feet to feel free and helping our toes to be spread apart, the way they are meant to be. The FF's are very lightweight and you almost forget you're wearing anything on your feet.

Five Fingers worked muscles in my calves that I have never (to my knowledge) activated before. It's always fun to hurt the next day after a good workout, but this pain is really something! The secret to FF's is to land on the balls of your feet to the middle of your feet, never your heel. By avoiding you heel, you are saving the heel and back of your leg from excess shock.

Any distance past 9-10 km I find these shoes start to kill, (just from the lack of support) but I am sure with consistentley longer runs I would become more accustomed to them.

Verdict: Love these for quick, short runs because of their lightweight. My speed picks up when I wear these so it is good for speed work.

Nike Frees:
I had a pair of these 2 years ago and since then invested in three different types of sneakers (a Nike shoe slightly bigger than the frees and then a Saucony chunky running shoe)

I absolutely love these shoes. They somewhat mimic the minimalistic running shoe, but with an adeqaute amount of support for longer runs. They are very comfortable and fit my feet like a glove. Also, they are pink:)

I only have one downside to these shoes, they have treads on the bottom that is a trap for rocks. The rocks start to stick out and they can be irritating because you can feel them between you and the pavement. However, it only takes a second to pick out the rocks.
Verdict: Love! I recommend these shoes to everyone, they are an excellent choice for short or long distance or even just the gym.

Have you tried either of these running shoes? What is your favourite type of running shoe?

Get 40% off Entire Purchase at Puma

2011-09-16T11:42:00.000-07:00

Looking to Buy some great Puma Gear? Here's a great deal from Losetheshoes.net

Reebok CrossFit Workout

2011-09-15T15:45:00.000-07:00

How are your workouts going?

Do you workout at your local sports club, do you attend a fitness class or do you workout at home with Erin Andrews?

Erin Andrews became the first female featured in Reebok's ZigTech campaign," referring to the exercise sneaker with the distinctive zig-zag shaped sole. (Not Minimalist)

Erin Andrews relationship with Reebok started when Andrews made a comment about Nike Football cleats during a NCAA Football game, it was an unwelcome comment on Nikes end, but Reebok liked it.

Reebok has their Reebok Cross-Fit One Gyms where they offer cross-fit workouts, this is where Erin Andrews comes in. Recently at Self.com there was an article promoting trying a cross-fit workout at home.

In the article there are a bunch of photos of Erin Andrews in Reebok gear doing each exercise with alittle write-up for each.

Cross-fit workouts are great and easy to do at home, all you need is 5-15 pound dumbbells, a towel and about 45mins. I would have liked to see Erin Andrews in a pair of Reebok Realflex's. Cross-fitters love minimalist running shoes, so I think Reebok dropped the medicine ball on that one.

I guess I won't complain too much, Erin Andrews looks good in the Zigtech's.

New York City Barefoot Run

2011-09-14T05:23:00.000-07:00

On September 25th 2001 there will be the 2nd ever New York City Barefoot Run. The NewYork City Barefoot run was started last year and is more then just a great Barefoot run in a Great city, it's a weekend of clinics, meeting and greeting and learning.

The run is not a set distance it's run what you like, you could run 1 mile or 30 miles, this makes it great for beginner barefooters as you don't feel forced to run a certain distance.

I Hope to attend the event next year.

From The NYC Barefoot Run Site:

Our Story

The 1^st Annual New York City Barefoot Run was…unconventional. Who would ever try to organize a barefoot run in New York City? And with only two months notice, no venue, no sponsors, and no budget?

Answer: Two novices who had never organized a run before.

Okay, okay — we’re not suggesting it was anywhere near as improbable or epic as Caballo Blanco organizing the first Copper Canyons Ultra-Marathon. He had to worry about a slightly more inconvenient location, narco-traffickers, and poisonous snakes. But at least Caballo didn’t have to worry about getting NYC event licenses. (And expedited ones, at that.) No one is writing any best-sellers about wading through city bureaucracy.

Mission

The last few years have seen a re-awakening of an ancient human capability: barefoot running. Before all the fancy footwear and pedometers, 5ks and 10ks, goo packets and Gatorade, treadmills and calorie counters, runner’s knee and shin splints, there was purposeful human movement.
Our mission is to reclaim our birthright. To make running fun again. To teach about about barefoot running and natural movement. To build a community. To explore human movement in all its forms.

Jinga Shoe Review

2011-09-12T05:34:00.000-07:00

*** The Full Jinga Shoe Review is now Completed Here ***

Jinga Shoes are a Brizilian shoe company that is growing in size around the world. Presently I am working on getting a pair of Jinga's to provide a proper review but they only sell them in one store in all of Canada.

Jinga is from ginga a Brazilian Portuguese word meaning, loosely, an art of moving that is personal and individual; your rhythm, your style; something creative, fluid, exuberant and graceful.

Jinga Shoes are meant to capture this vibrancy and dynamism of Brazilian culture in an aspiring and empowering brand that has positive social and environmental outcomes, combating poverty and measurably reducing negative environmental impact in Brazil .

With its origins as a dance and Capoeira shoe, the Jinga Original is an exceptionally lightweight and flexible shoe. Weighing less than 300g per pair and with both upper and outersole designed to give the maximum range of movement to your feet, Jinga shoes allow you to move more freely, as nature intended. True to their Brazilian origins, Jinga shoes are produced in a range of vibrant colours.

From what I can see, Jingas have no heel, no arch, and no cushioning in the outsole. They remind me of a slipper, that is very flexible and lightweight. From what I read the sole is only 4mm which would offer you great ground feedback.

I look forward to getting my toes in a pair of Jinga's to offer a proper review.

9/11 Memorial

2011-09-11T16:03:00.001-07:00

This morning I woke up and sat in front of the television and watched the 9/11 memorial on T.V. It's hard to believe that's it's been 10 years since that day changed the world. I was walking on campus when a friend first told me about it, I remember not believing him at first till I saw those images live on T.V.

As I sat there watching the special on CNN I thought about all the first responders that answered the call for service that day, and gave their lives. Being a Police officer I always say that no matter what you call us for, no matter what danger is ahead we'll come to your aide. The thing about 9/11 is that, not only Police Officers and Firemen fulfilled their roles as heroes, but everyday people became heroes and did things they didn't even think they could.

From Losetheshoes.net I'd like to pass along thoughts to all the families that lost a loved one on 9/11.

Top Farmers Markets

2011-09-10T13:18:00.000-07:00

Today we headed down to the local Farmers Market and picked up lots of great veggies for a great price. We picked up some local pears,carrots, lettuce and apples for a fraction of the price that we would have paid at the grocery store.

The thing about Farmers Markets is that you support local farmers, the produce you get alot of the time is organic and the prices on the local stuff is usually better.

Yesterday I was reading a article in Mens Health that referenced the top Farmers Markets in the states.

Here in Halifax we have a great Farmers Market that is the longest running Farmers Market in North America.

The Halifax Farmers market was Founded in 1750, The Halifax Farmers’ Market Cooperative is the oldest continuously running farmers’ market in North America. The first market vendors were Acadian – the original European immigrants to the land. Currently, the market has over 200 vendors selling some of Nova Scotia’s best local products including fresh produce, maple products, crafts, flowers, cheeses, meats, baked goods, coffee and so much more!

Check out the some of the Top Farmers Markets (US) below:

Small Markets (16 to 30 vendors):
City of Rockford Farmers Market, Rockford, MI
Venice Farmers Market, Venice, FL
Lakeside Farmers Market, Henrico/Richmond, VA
Lyme Farmers Market, Lyme, CT
McKinney Farmers Market-Chestnut Square, McKinney, TX

Medium Markets (31 to 55 vendors):
Historic Lewes Farmers Market, Lewes, DE
Saratoga Farmers Market, Saratoga Springs, NY
Falls Church Farmers Market, Falls Church, VA
St. Andrews Waterfront Farmers Market, Panama City, FL
Williamsburg Farmers Market, Williamsburg, VA

Large Markets (56 or more vendors):
Las Cruces Farmers & Crafts Market, Las Cruces, NM
New Braunfels Farm to Market, New Braunfels, TX
Snellville Farmers Market, Snellville, GA
Pepper Place Saturday Market, Birmingham, AL
Fayetteville Farmers Market, Fayetteville, AR

Reebok Easytone

2011-09-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

Here at Losetheshoes.net I love to offer you shoe reviews. Sometimes my reviews are more warnings then anything else. This may be the case with my Reebok Easytone review.

Shoe fads come and go, Shoe companies put a lot of money into marketing these fads to fully capitalize on them while they're in. The Toning shoe trend has been around for alittle while now and it has stayed a lot longer then I hoped.

So today I'd like to talk about the Reebok Easytones. I would first like to say that the Reebok Easytones are not a barefoot style shoe and are far from a minimalist running shoe. The reason that I am reviewing these shoes is I would like people to know the truth about them. Don't worry none of my money was wasted in the writing of this review, you can learn alot from a few laps around your local shoe store.

Reebok says the following about the Reebok Easytones "Style and breathability are beautifully combined in this athletic-inspired EasyTone. The SmoothFit hidden-seam liner ensures minimal rub and irritation, while the anti-microbial sockliner manages moisture"

So what are Reebok Easytone shoes? To keep it simple the Reebok Easytone shoes are a normal shoe upper with little stability balls on the sole that create a natural instability that makes your muscles work to balance yourself hence causing toning. I have seen some stats (of course from the shoe companies) that said the Reebok Easytone shoes cause 28% more gluteus maximus muscle activation, and 11% more calf and hamstring activation. That sounds great but at what cost?

The Reebok Easytone shoes are more for walking and won't offer the support or stability you need for high impact exercises such as running or for activities with a lot of lateral movement. The Reebok Easytones are similar to using a wobble board or balance board in a gym. They do offer different types of EasyTones, including a running version thats called Runtone.

If you put on a pair of Reebok Easytone shoes you will find them to be very comfortable, the reason being is that they have a ton of padding in the sole and the air filled toning pockets.

Whats wrong with the Reebok Easytone shoes?

Here at losetheshoes.net when reviewing shoes look for a shoe that allows your foot to function the way it was designed to do. The Reebok EasyTone shoes are just as likely as any other "typical sneaker" to alter natural foot function, and walking with “balanced pods” fixed to the bottom of your feet may even be worse for you.

Because Reebok’s EasyTone sneakers are intentionally designed create a slight instability, they can potentially increase the risk of injury to you, think about walking along a bumpy path or trying to run for the bus on a uneven sidewalk. Now when you need your balance most your shoes are working againest you.

The thing that scares me the most about these types of shoes is that parents are putting them on their childrens feet that are still developing and I fear it will harm them down the road, these toning shoes haven't been around enough to know what will happen.

What we do know is that a pair of shoes isn't enough to change the shape of your hips, glutes and thighs unless, perhaps, you strap them to your thighs with a couple of weight for some squats and lunges. If you want to tone your body, you need to build muscle with strength training and lose body fat with cardio and a healthy diet. So save your money and invest in a gym membership or cardio classes. And if you like Reebok try the Realflex's