Happy Birthday

To my one and only subscriber, thank you for all of your support with my barefoot project over the past year. Your comments and advice have been invaluable in making this little blog of mine better for everyone.

I hope you have a great birthday!!

Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year to you and all of your family!!

Are Vibram Five Fingers finally available in Dubai?

In January 2010, to get some Vibram Five Fingers I had to order from the official Vibram European shop in Milan since there were no Middle East stockists. The Milan branch didn't deliver to the Middle East, so I had them delivered to my brother-in-law in London who brought them to Dubai when he visited. God knows what kind of logistical nightmare I'd have faced if they didn't fit right.

Someone has seen the light (or the $$$) and Vibram's are available from The Society Shop, a new store opened in Dubai Festival City.

http://www.vibramfivefingersit.com/news/Vibram-Five-Fingers-The-association-plans-exclusive-retail-outlets-of-the-chain-in-the-Gulf-Cooperation-Council.html

I've not yet been to the store so I have absolutely no idea what stock they have, but for anyone who has any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Update: I've just heard that The Society Shop are selling VFF's for AED 950 (£170), which is ridiculous. My advice would be to go there just to try them on and check what size suits you best, then order them from elsewhere.

Update (13 July 2011): http://barefootindubai.blogspot.com/2011/07/dubai-stockist-of-barefoot-shoes-vibram.html

Latest (June 2011): More stock are available from The Society Shop.

Fitness in Dubai features reviews of all the latest fitness programmes and local gyms, such as The Circuit Factory, 24 Fitness and CrossFit LifeSpark, as well as reviews of fitness fads, fitness tests and fitness equipment, from Vibram Five Fingers barefoot running shoes to VO2 Max testing. Ultimately, this fitness blog - as featured in Good Taste, Men's Fitness, Time Out and Shape magazines - contains everything you need to know about fitness in Dubai, UAE, in the Middle East. Bookmark it now.

Vibram's, not just for running but golf too

See the link below, Oliver Wilson wore VFF's instead of traditional golf shoes on day 1 of the Dubai World Championship last month.

http://72strokes.com/2010/11/oliver-wilson-wears-vibram-five-fingers/

However he was back in golf shoes for day 2.

Fitness in Dubai features reviews of all the latest fitness programmes and local gyms, such as The Circuit Factory, 24 Fitness and CrossFit LifeSpark, as well as reviews of fitness fads, fitness tests and fitness equipment, from Vibram Five Fingers barefoot running shoes to VO2 Max testing. Ultimately, this fitness blog - as featured in Good Taste, Men's Fitness, Time Out and Shape magazines - contains everything you need to know about fitness in Dubai, UAE, in the Middle East. Bookmark it now.

The end of Barefoot in Dubai. Vibrams left to gather dust

I’ve decided that my Barefoot Project is over.

I’m facing the facts; barefoot running doesn’t suit me and my feet. Back in July I had my gait analysed and the results showed that with my barefoot foot-strike my big toes do not take their share of my weight, which means that my 2nd and 3rd toes end up being over burdened. This is why the MRI scan I had in April revealed a stress fracture in the 2nd metatarsal.