The Nike Free 5.0 Trial Run (and Dance!)

A few weeks ago, I was honored to have been invited to participate in an all-female Nike Free 5.0 Trial session. It could have been just another one of those regular Nike trial sessions that we have become so familiar with but then again no. This time, there were separate sessions for the women and the men.

Nike Free dancers (errrr, trial runners): Jaymie (TBR), me, Bards (bananarunning), Sandra (Runner’s World) and Lara (Women’s Health)

Aside from trying out the shoes by running in it, the men’s group had a fulfilling circuit training session with Coach Chappy Callanta while us, the female group had a tiring, fun, fun hip-hop dancing session courtesy of former Philippine All-Star Dance Group member Madelle Enriquez.

Us with the guys from Nike and Ogilvy! Hey we should do this again (at least until I learn how to look good dancing, lol!)

The run was short as we only were asked to run one loop around the Bonifacio High Street area but we still got almost a complete workout for that day, thanks for the Hip-Hop dance experience! It was an entirely new and super fun experience for me!

Here are some of my initial impressions on the Nike Free 5.0 that were lent to us during that trial session

• the Nike Free 5.0 comes in impressive color ways – it is actually always a give for Nike to come up with eye-candy shoe colors!
• it’s Flywire of Nike that was applied to this shoe says that it wraps the midfoot and arch underneath the foot up through the laces for a glove-like fit – This is true. Well, at least for the short time that I was able to wear it because I was able to feel the support/cushioning making me feel comfy to run in it.
• it is a minimalist shoe but has enough cushioning to protect the feet
• it has a snug-fit almost like I am wearing a pair of socks – which got me to thinking, this one is probably okay to wear even without socks on. hmmm…

Basically, that’s about all that I could say about the shoes for now as the time given for us to try it wasn’t that much. However, I still feel that with the technology that was applied to the Nike Free shoes, it won’t hurt much to try and give it a try. After all, a runner will almost at times need to run with that barefoot running feel, aren’t we?

Learn more about the Nike Free shoe collection by reading the below Official Press Release and Technical Specs. The Nike Free shoes are already available in the market and retails at Php 5,295.

DOWNLOADS:

Nike Free A-Z

Nike Free 5.0 Men’s Technical Sheet
Nike Free 5.0 Women’s Technical Sheet
Nike Free 4.0 Men’s Technical Sheet
Nike Free 4.0 Women’s Technical Sheet
Nike Free 3.0 Men’s Technical Sheet
Nike Free 3.0 Women’s Technical Sheet

PRESS RELEASE:

NIKE FREE A-Z SHARES INSIDE STORY OF NATURAL MOTION

Interactive experience highlights new Nike Free collection and includes insights from athletes Allyson Felix and Dathan Ritzenhein, the innovation and design team, and the franchise’s history

Feet are the foundation of movement. When they’re able to flex, stretch and be themselves, the natural technology we were all born with does what it was meant to do. This is the insight that led to the creation of Nike Free shoes almost ten years ago and it continues to drive design enhancements today.

This season Nike Free presents five new styles across running and training – the Nike Free 5.0+, 4.0 and 3.0 in running; the Nike Free TR Breathe for women’s training; and the Nike Free Trainer 5.0 for men’s training.

The idea for Nike Free emerged in 2001, launching years of study, testing and design to make a shoe that delivered the benefits of natural motion while protecting the foot. More than a decade later, the 2013 running shoes retain the well-known flexibility of Nike Free’s articulated outsole, and introduce three new upper designs for enhanced natural motion:

Nike Free 5.0+: Dynamic Nike Flywire technology provides secure support without added weight.

Nike Free 4.0: Utilizes no-sew overlays and a tongue-wrap fit for stitch-free comfort.

Nike Free 3.0: Nike engineered mesh improves fit and breathability with looser patterns where ventilation and stretch are needed and tighter patterns in areas where support is key.

This is just the start of the story. To learn the past and glean the future of one of Nike’s key running franchises, explore Nike Free A-Z, an interactive experience that examines key moments behind this technology’s genesis, evolution and vast influence.

Through imagery, video, and interviews with innovators and athletes, Nike Free A-Z sheds light on the design process and illustrates Nike’s constant commitment to serving the athlete. From hot knifing to dynamic Nike Flywire technology, Nike Free A-Z takes you on the journey of how a coach’s insight about natural motion led to a new performance language. View Nike Free A-Z Here: http://nikeinc.com/news/nike-free-a-z#/inline/18765.

The Vibram Five Fingers Launch

Running as a leisure sport is at it’s peak nowadays. I remember when I started running in 2006, I barely know about sports stores which carry an abundance of running-related gear or products. You have to purchase products online or have your much-wanted gear bought for you from outside of the country. Nowadays, that won’t really hold true that much anymore. There are a lot of running-specific stores now within the Metro which offers a variety of products and brands.

One exciting addition to the market is the Vibram Five Fingers footwear. The Vibrams, or VFF as it is more commonly known, is a footwear that is said to mimic barefooting but with the protection of a sole. It has generated much interest especially to runners because of the mention about it in the Chris McDougall book, “Born to Run”.

Vibram have evolved from being the leader in sole-manufacturing for many famous shoe brands to being the conduit for the barefoot revolution

The VFF is now finally available here in the Philippines through the efforts of a company called Barefootwear, Inc.  It opened it’s maiden store at the Powerplant Mall in Rockwell, Makati a few months ago and finally, on September 22, officially launched the product with sports experts, enthusiasts and media in attendance.

The Vibram Five Fingers come in a variety of models that suits your particular sports or leisure activity

At the launch, representatives from different sports such as Triathlon, Running, Kettlebell and even Yoga related their experiences and the benefits they get from using their VFFs. Both Barefootwear Inc.’s President, Mr. Carlos Abad and Marketing Manager, Ms. Cherry Ermita talked about the Barefoot revolution being brought about by the VFFs, the different models that are available and it’s anatomy and usage.

Sports Celebrities shared their experience in using VFFs which includes ultramarathoner Ronald Declarador (far right)

Barefootwear Inc.'s President Carlos Abad presenting the VFF's anatomy

Cherry Ermita, Barefootwear Inc. Marketing Manager

It was fairly a great time to get to learn more about the product as we get to hear about different “testimonials” about how good the Vibrams are for use in several sports. Hmm, and weird as it may look, it is great even for walking too! And as a grand gesture by the people behind Barefootwear Inc., all guests got to take home a pair of VFFs of our choice for free. Generous eh? 😀 I happily took home a pair of the VFF Sprint model PLUS the added motivation to run and train more because of a new gear that i surely look forward to using!

an image of what I took home 😉

As of the moment, I have tried wearing my Sprints to the office twice and also did a good two 3-km run. And how does it feel? Saying that wearing and walking/running with it felt great will do the footwear a disservice. Taking on the VFF to wear is not just about feeling great. Believe me, there is more to it than that. 🙂 With that being the case, I will have to tell you all about my initial VFF experience on a separate post soon.

Meanwhile, here is the official presser from the VFF launch.

PRESS RELEASE

Barefoot Revolution Hits Philippines

The past years have certainly brought many revolutionary changes to the world. A prime example is the way people use shoes. For thousands of years, people have grown accustomed to wearing closed footwear. When Vibram founder Vitale Bramani invented the first rubber soles for mountaineering boots in 1935, it was the beginning of a revolution.   More than 70 years later, Vibram is still known around the world as the undisputed leader in soling technology for a wide range of quality performance footwear.   Today, Vibram manufactures more than 34 million soles annually for more than 1,000 premium footwear brands worldwide such as Nike, Merrell, Ferragamo, Gucci, Cole Haan and Prada, to name a few. 

The year 2006 marked the barefoot revolution as Vibram finally unveiled VIBRAM FIVEFINGERS, a unique footwear design that mimics the feeling of being barefoot. It allowed people to experience the sensation and freedom of going barefoot with the protection and sure-footed grip of a Vibram sole.  Made by abrasion-resistant stretch polyamide fabric and Vibram TC-1 performance rubber weighing 5.3oz. each, Vibram Five Fingers immediately took the world by storm, catching especially the eyes and feet of athletes and sports aficionados. This led to being awarded as one of Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2007. To date, the barefoot revolution has invaded Europe, North America, Australia and very recently — Asia.

This year, the barefoot revolution reaches local shores, aiming to change the lifestyle of the active Filipino one foot at a time. Barefootwear Inc, the company that distributes the ingenious footwear in the country, recently held a sports-themed media launch at the Metropolitan Club, Rockwell Makati.  The event gathered athletes, sports fanatics, celebrities and select health, sports, and fashion media personalities. Gracing the event were celebrity athletes Lorraine Lapus of the Philippine Sufing Academy, Corey Wills of Pulse Yoga, former Olympian Eric Buhain, multi sport coach and athlete Joseph Pagulayan, ultramarathoner Ronald Declarador, and Frisbee star Reema Chanco who all profess to Vibram Five Finger’s many advantages.  They related their experiences with the very unique footwear, proving the versatility of this new product. The launch highlights also included the Kettlebell demonstration by the Philippine Kettlebell Club, headed by Nico D’haenen and Running demos by the TRIMAC coaches, headed by Jay Valencia.  The activities demonstrated the many benefits of the Vibram Five Fingers such as better flexibility, stronger muscles, and improved posture among others. Guests were able to try first hand barefooting while engaging in these activities.

With only just a few months of being available in the country, expect more from Vibram Five Fingers as it continues to break new grounds.  As Barefootwear Inc.’s Marketing Manager Cherry Ermita puts it “The Filipino will never walk the same way again”.

I would again want to give my big thanks, first to Kim Faner of Eventscape Manila for the invitation to attend the launch and most importantly to the generous people of Barefootwear Inc. for the VFF Sprint and other goodies they let us take home with.

*To learn more about the benefits of barefoot running, click HERE to view my previous post.

*The Vibram Five Fingers store is located at Level R1 Bridgeway in PowerPlant Mall, Rockwell. For inquiries, call (02) 513-1449 or e-mail marketing@barefootwearinc.com. You could also visit the official website at www.barefootwearinc.com.

Barefoot Running and the Vibram Five Fingers

I came to know about barefoot running from reading the book Born to Run last year. And just like many who have already read the same book , I became interested on feeling the benefits that barefoot running can give me. But then again, how can I practice barefoot running outdoors when I very well knew that I will be up to a painful experience if I attempt to do just that. In addition, just imagining the feel of the coarse road beneath my feet makes me shudder, ewww!

But before I even completely cross the idea of barefoot running in my running to-do list, I heard and read about the Vibram Five Fingers. When I first saw this shoe worn by a runner at the ULTRA, it first struck me as the “dorkiest” shoe I have ever seen. Hmmm, who would want to wear it and look like a dork eh? Fool me, I never knew then that it was the perfect shoe that can make my barefoot running dream a reality. That dorky shoe that I initially loathe can mimic barefoot running! Since then I have always made a mental note that I will have to someday try running with a VFF if and when it becomes available here in Manila,  dorky-looking or not!  😛

Lo and behold, it became available a few months back but I still have to score one and finally scratch that mental note as done. But then again, I guess it will have to wait until I am so major, major (huy, nakikiuso! :P) back to my regular running routine before I get to fulfill my barefoot running “dream”. Meanwhile, here’s a presser that was sent to me via email about the benefits of running barefoot and how you can you do that with the added protection of the Vibram Five Fingers shoe. Read on! 🙂

Vibram Five Fingers

THE BENEFITS OF RUNNING BAREFOOT

We have all been born barefoot. A long time ago, people have lived and survived without using protective footwear. But, today, because of technology and the many changes it brought, wearing shoes became an essential part of life. But beyond all the protection and the style shoes provide, we seem to have forgotten the significant benefits and sense of freedom being barefoot brings.

Shoes were first invented thousands of years ago—way back when people used to live in caves. Back then, they used animal hides and leather laces to protect their feet from the rough terrain. Millennia passed and the concept of shoes evolved in countless ways from its design, material, and even its uses. It became a necessity to shod oneself. However, no matter how things change, most people still prefer to do a lot of things barefoot. It is all because being barefoot is very comfortable. But, aside from the unrivaled relaxation being barefoot brings, it also has a considerable number of benefits, not just to the feet, but the body as a whole.

Doing activities barefoot brings a lot of advantages to the body’s flexibility and mobility. It allows people to exercise, stretch, relax, and strengthen muscles they normally don’t get to use when wearing shoes. Barefoot running also corrects the way people run—making them land on the balls of their feet—as compared to wearing rubber shoes which gives the tendency to land on the heels first. Landing on the heels of the feet releases more pressure and shock to legs and knees. Doing things barefoot also improves range of motion in ankles, feet, and toes because of movements that are more natural and free. It also heightens body awareness since the body has the sense of being freer than being shod. Balance and motion agility are also developed because doing things barefoot further stimulates the neurons and nerves that are essential to lower body movement. And because there are no heels to torture the foot heel and the ankle, it enhances natural posture and the alignment of the spine. And, most especially, it is much easier to relax and stretch after a workout if someone is barefoot.

Countless health benefits have been associated with being barefoot. That is why athletes, to attain better health and movement, prefer to do their sports without any footwear on. It is because when barefoot, movements become the movements of a child—playful and sensitive, yet purposeful and confident. A person experiences the unbound joy of stepping, hopping, and running across any surface on earth, simply to get from here to there. This is the reason why a lot of sports enthusiasts prefer to deal with their activities barefoot.

Numerous runners have been hitting the tracks without any shoes on because the benefits of running barefoot have long been supported by scientific research, coaches, and athletes who’ve offered ample evidence that training without shoes allows you to run faster and further with fewer injuries. Motion studies demonstrate that when running barefoot, one naturally lands on the forefoot, directly below the center of gravity. This results in optimum balance, increased stability, less impact, and greater propulsion.

Indeed, undertaking activities barefoot has a lot of benefits and advantages for the body. However, the feet—most especially those of the more active people—need to be protected from the many possibilities of injury. That is why some footwear are developed to mimic the feel and freedom of being barefoot. A good example would be the Vibram Five Fingers which is a proof that many people prefer to do things barefoot. With a slot for each of the toes, it actually gives all the freedom and feel of wearing no shoes on.

Many other innovations in footwear have been introduced into the market to make our feet as comfortable and relaxed as if barefoot. It is because it takes no genius to agree that—aside from the benefits of going barefoot— the feet has taken the humans a long long way and they deserve a break and the freedom.

The Vibram Five Fingers store is located at Level R1 Bridgeway in PowerPlant Mall, Rockwell. For inquiries, call (02) 513-1449 or e-mail marketing@barefootwearinc.com. You could also visit the official website at www.barefootwearinc.com.