I'm staying in the Residencia of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid which is about 15 miles N of Madrid. It's surrounded by a fairly large forest which has a series of trails - the outer loop is about 7 miles. To get there is about 3/4 mile on asphalt, then follows about 1.5 miles of gravel road and then trails.
The gravel road had lots of toe sized stones which made running in the Fives a bit challenging in places - but this morning I encountered a road crew who are putting down a surface of fine gravel!!! It's a perfect surface for the Fives but I got to thinking - why not try actual barefoot, at least on that approx. 1 mile section? No reason not to try especially since the Fives are so light you can carry them.
My running feels much springier, I'm much lighter on my feet and am really enjoying running a lot more - the time flies and it is starting to feel almost effortless. I now look forward to going to run which, in the past, I didn't always. As in the Born to Run book, the first challenge is "Easy"! Rooster - help me out, I don't have the book with me - what are the next stages before Fast?
Anyway, here are some random thoughts on the advantage of the Fives in no particular order:
(i) Improve running posture and if the barefooters are to be believed, which I think they are, this will cut back on injuries.
(ii) Light - it's like losing a kilo overnight.
(iii) Easy to transport - no more lugging bulky running shoes all over when travelling.
(iv) The experience of feeling the ground, being able to use one's toes while running, etc. is liberating.
(v) Legs feel (and look) much more toned. At first the calves were extremely sore but that has passed. Now I can actually see the improvement in the musculature of the entire leg.
They are pretty ugly and at first it was hard to put them on but now the toes know their places!
In August I am planning on walking part of the Camino de Santiago again - this time the Camino Primitivo (last year it was 190 miles of the Camino del Norte) and, if I can stay injury free with the Fives, I will consider walking at least part of the Camino in them.
Here is a link to a set of excellent reviews on the various minimalist shoes that currently exist.