Vibram FiveFingers KSOs, worn and photographed by Dr Rajat Chauhan

15 October 2009: Rose Garden, Hauz Khas, New Delhi

 

This is day 2 of my active experimentation with (not counting the first struggle to don) the Vibram FiveFingers KSOs.

I was supposed to pace 2 running mates today for 10km. I started early, i.e. at 5:25am, thinking I would do a bit of running on my own before they joined in. Read more…

Vibrams, worn and photographed by Dr Rajat Chauhan

13 October 2009: Rose Garden, Hauz Khas, New Delhi

Regular readers of this blog will have noticed that I waited a bit before sharing my MRF running experiences. I waited, because I wanted to see if I could survive the first few days of going minimal!

But once I donned those Vibram FiveFingers KSOs… This was the real deal! I no longer had any excuses.

When I pulled on my KSOs today, some of my running buddies — Amit K, Anita, Aseem, Benaazir (all runners training for Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, with Back 2 Fitness) — were there. They weren’t sure that I should have attempted running in them, but they don’t even bother calling me stupid or crazy anymore. They think I crossed that line a long time ago. Read more…

Vibram FiveFingers KSO, worn and photographed by Dr Rajat Chauhan

12 October: My Vibram FiveFingers KSO have arrived!

I took a step more minimal today — just a single step.

For almost a week, I have been running in less. Today I was looking to almost shed my soles.

I got a call on 9 October, at 11pm, and I disconnected the phone thinking it must be one of my many wannabe girlfriends stalking me. This happened twice. The third time I answered the phone… Read more…

Blister, by Dr Rajat Chauhan

12 October 2009: Leisure Valley, Gurgaon

By now, I am very comfortable with my 4-year-old Clarkes. So I really wanted to take them for a tougher test drive. Running and Living (a Delhi-based running group) were having their regular run in Gurgaon, so I hesitantly agreed to run there (it’s not as scenic as Nehru Park or the route from Chanakyapuri to India Gate, after all).

At 8km, a 14(-ish)-year-old kid started running with me. He was wearing flip-flops and had a box with him to collect ‘Shani devta’s offerings’. After 100-odd metres, his left flip-flop flopped. He had to hold that in his left hand and run. And the little guy managed to run in that one flip-flop and one bare foot for easily 800 more metres! This put MRF into a different perspective for me. Read more…

Clarkes sandals, owned, used and photographed by Dr Rajat Chauhan, Back 2 Fitness

10 October 2009: Rose Garden, Hauz Khas, New Delhi
Still training in the Clarkes. I started running at 5:15am today, when it was still pitch dark. Read more…