I am an avid barefoot, minimalist runner.

And I can never imagine myself going back to running shoes.

But a certain situation has arisen where I have been judged for my taste and choice in footwear.

I realize that Vibram FiveFingers are not the most attractive looking things, but they are thick enough on the soles to provide protection against the elements, and there’s padding on the top.

Well, according to the George Washington University Gym, FiveFingers are not acceptable footwear for the free weights room.

Why?

Because they do not offer enough protection. Protection from what? Dropped weights. I got harassed by the staff for wearing them, since it was the gym’s policy. So I spoke with the Assistant Athletic Director as well as the Operations Manager.

The Director told me that after careful inspection of FiveFingers, he’s convinced that they’re dangerous for the free weights room.

How he arrived upon this conclusion baffles me, since you’re going to break some toes if you drop a 25-pound weight on your feet, regardless of what type of shoes you’re wearing, unless they’re steel-toed.

I’ve finally realized that some thing that makes so much sense to me actually creates fear in others.

The idea of being barefoot – the way we were born to be – troubles a lot of people. Instead of actually thinking the arguments through, the irrational fear takes over. Because Vibram FiveFingers are relatively new in the market there are not enough arguments done on them to show their benefits for weight lifting, though I can say from personal experience that my balance is significantly better in FiveFingers than in mainstream running shoes.

Finishing the Annapolis 10-miler in my FiveFingers.

 
I am completely disappointed in the gym since there was very little room for discussion. When people are set on their ways, they’re set on their ways.

I feel like a sell-out for even considering ditching my FiveFingers in order to weight lift.
But at a certain point, I need to be able to do what I need and enjoy doing, and that’s lifting weights.

I did stand strong. Out of the other people who I’ve seen at the gym in FiveFingers, I am the only one who has actually written an email and arranged a meeting with the Athletic Director about the gym’s policy (bias) against FiveFingers.

The only reason I can think of that the gym is adamant about banning FiveFingers from the weight room is to prevent law suits. So my compromise was to sign a waiver of liabilities. I’d rather risk breaking all my toes than give up my FiveFingers. But chances of the school agreeing to this compromise is slim.

I don’t want to give up the fight, but there’s a certain point where I have to function in mainstream society. It’s disappointing that a Health and Wellness Center has not researched enough into the benefits of FiveFingers, especially for weight lifting, and that they’d be more concerned about liability issues than my actual health, but that’s how things work.

I have better balance on a bosu ball in my Vibrams.
I have not gotten any injuries since transitioning to them.
I have better grip and traction.
And they are beyond comfortable.

Making my way through mud in FiveFingers at Run Amuck.

 
My new goal?

Do more body weight exercises and learn more cable machine exercises. The gym’s exceptions for where and what I can use my FiveFingers on makes no sense to me, since I can use them on all cardio and weight machines, just not in the free weights room… (Any thoughts on this?)

I’ve decided that if I absolutely must enter the free weights room, I will wear Chuck Taylors. They are the closest thing that feel like Vibrams, in terms of a flat-bottomed shoe.

But I am completely open to suggestions.

And I swear. I do smile during races.

 

What are your thoughts on Vibram FiveFingers?

Do you think a mainstream running shoe offers more protection against a dropped weight than FiveFingers?

Do you have any ideas for how to get FiveFingers unbanned from the free weights room?