"By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail"

you moving to barefoot running ?

Tim - No, not barefoot. I'm going to give the "minimalist" thing a try. I'd like to start running a few trail races, and I think they would be more fun barefoot (or with the VFFs). I read "Born to Run", and want to see if the author's claims about fancy running shoes being the cause of most of today's injuries...and I like the feel of running barefoot (but want a little protection under my feet). We'll see how it goes -- whether I give it a week or two and quit, run once in a while, or totally switch over is yet to be determined.

I lost my right big toe nail, waiting for the left one to fall off. They were blackened when I ran the Pony Express 54K back in Oct. My son said we don't really need toe nails. Hope you find some toe socks to try your VFF in. I didn't realize you have to wear socks with them. Kathie was wearing toe socks on our Sat. run. May be she can tell you where she gets hers.

Smooth -- I can't believe it took that long for your toenail to finally fall off. I'm kind of hoping that mine doesn't grow back. I've heard of some people having them surgically removed (I'm too cheap for that!). I'm probably going to get some Injinji's socks on-line. Some people don't wear socks in the VFFs -- but I hear they start to stink pretty bad if you don't. I'll probably give it a try both ways.

Finding the right shoes has been quite a journey for me...when I think I've found the right ones, they discontinue them, and eventually I run out of the ones I stock-piled.

Half of a new toe nail is already grown back underneath the one that fell off. I was surprised when it came off.

I have been wearing the same model shoes forever; but I got a blister from the new version. The blister keeps coming back on the same spot when I run over 6 miles in these shoes. I have stockpiled 3 pairs. So I guess I'll have to live with it.

GOOD LUCK finding the right ones AGAIN! I'm interested to see how the VFF works for you. So many bloggers are trying them out. It seems to take some time for the tendons and ligaments to get used to running without shoes.

I am constantly losing a toenail, but I bet it would not feel good in the VFF's! I look forward to reading about your adventures into "barefoot" running, it still terrifies me! GOOD LUCK! Oh, and way to use a coupon, i LOVE coupons!

My experience was the feet need to get used to the seams inside, but I like mine. You can always just wash the shoes.

That is the kind of sock I have. I bought mine in Hawaii, it was my souvenir... James said "can't you buy those in Utah" I told him "yes but I need them, I don't need a t-shirt or grass skirt"

I have never tried mine with socks and I always wear Injiny socks with my normal shoes. Guess I'll have to try the VFFs with socks. Like Paul said, they are made to get wet so they are easy to clean. My problem is the seems on the VFFs tend to cause sores on my feet if I wear them too long.