Fitness Friday: A FiveFingered Toe Run

Fall running has never felt nor looked so good - crisp, cooler temperatures among blue-laden, sun-kissed skies with a fire-colored backdrop. There's nothing like the wind sweeping fervently at your feet.

Running outdoors is easy for some people and can be inherently difficult for others. Either way, running outdoors can now feel much much more natural, with FiveFingers toe shoe runners available from Vibram, which allow you to feel the ground while running.

"My feet have never failed me," said Angelo Geonie, an avid runner, user of toe shoes and transformational coach. "Rather, I have failed my feet by purchasing improper footwear over a lifetime. But now I have finally done something wonderful for my feet and that is wearing Vibram's FiveFingers shoes."

These shoes, worn like gloves on the feet, are called "bear paws." They can help improve balance, agility, and proprioception ("situational awareness" or keeping your body attuned to what's going on around you) while deepening your connection to the earth.

This experience, like no other, deserves a true exploration run, at very least. Not to mention, they're a favorite to many of the special operations community and CrossFit disciples.

"I have freed my feet back to being the feedback mechanism they always have been designed to be. My running has changed into a whole new experience, that of a natural runner," Geonie said.

Three simple rules to follow when using FiveFingers: be trained up properly, be cautious and transition into toe shoes slowly. If something feels uncomfortable you might be transitioning too fast, too soon. Also, very, very flat-footed people and runners with greater than a one-inch difference in leg length should probably not wear them. Expect to build your foot, ankle and calf muscles, which can minimize lower body injuries.

This fall, try a toe run in the beautiful Smithtown community.

Catherine Dickson is a certified personal trainer and wellness coach in Smithtown.