Eco-Chick · The modern girl's guide to living green & fabulous.

Barefoot Walking and Running: Best of Both Worlds with Vivo Barefoot Sneakers

My Viva Terras. Cute on the trail or off.

Last summer, I was walking up from the beach at Gay’s Head on Martha’s Vineyard. (They’ve renamed the place Aquinnah, but I’m sticking with the original name, thank you very much) and then headed up the steep dunes, and over the top. When I got to where the sand meets the more rocky soil, I stopped to put my Chakos back on, but then decided to go barefoot instead.

As I walked up the path, seagrasses waving in the setting sun all around me, I could feel what was beneath my feet change. It started more sandy, and warmed from the sun, then small pebbles cropped up, and as I went around a bend, I felt the ground cool and dampen and the pebbles recede into the soft, more claylike walkway. As I headed up another rise, warmth again seeped between my toes, and as I reached the road to wait for the bus, the concrete burned my feet and I put my shoes on.

On that ten minute walk, I remembered something I knew as a child, which is that you miss tons of information from the earth when constantly wear shoes. I used to spend entire summers essentially barefoot (I grew up at the end of a dirt road in the Hudson Valley) and when I was 8 I could have told you how long it had been since rain from the viscosity of the mud that pushed between my toes since I spent hours I playing in the wetland next to my house. I don’t know if I could tell you that now, though I’m certain I could learn again.

Men’s Vivo Barefoots at the Terra Plana store.

So when a couple months ago I heard about the barefoot running movement, and the new book, Born to Run, I was intrigued. The premise is that our fancy $200 uberpadded sneakers are actually BAD for our bodies when running, and can actually cause or exacerbate injury. Which makes sense if you think about the fact that we have only been wearing such contraptions for about 20 years (flat, unpadded Converse All Stars were the sneaker of choice for basketball players for years). So I went hiking with a friend in Connecticut and took off my sandals and did a bit of trailrunning with naked feet, which was fun as long as I was careful (and this forces one to focus on each step, which is interesting). And then…

More »

Bill McKibben Talks Climate Change and 350.org with Colbert

I LOVE Colbert, and I am a long-time Bill McKibben fan; his new organization, 350.org is fighting climate change by encouraging initiatives that bring carbon down to 350ppm or lower (we are at 390 right now), which is the safe level for continued healthy and prosperous life on Earth.

Global Warming? What Global Warming?

The arctic is now an island, plus Smart Cars take over San Francisco!

An Eco-Chuckle

I’ll admit, I’ve been feeling pretty bummed about the slow pace of change in this country with respect to environmental issues, so I thought I’d share some of these funnies with you. Hopefully you haven’t seen all of these yet!

Nice Punchline!

Green Team! If you haven’t seen this, get ready to busticate!

Ali G. Saves the Trees….’Nuf Said

For kids, but I thought it was cute!

That Boy Gots Balls of Steel

I’m a liberal…no surprise there…Chances are if you are wearing the “C” on your sleeve as opposed to the “L,” you’re missing out on one fine fellow: Steven Colbert. I was watching some videos on Current TV as of late, with an old highlight on Colbert’s stand-up at the White House Correspondent’s dinner.

Current pointed out the website, Thank You Steven Colbert, a blog clearly dedicated to the size of Steven’s manhood.

See a short piece below:
Randall Says:
May 1st, 2006 at 11:43 am

Thank you, Mr. Colbert, for being the only correspondent with the BALLS to salute the President in the manner he deserves. ”

Truthgobbler Says:
May 1st, 2006 at 11:43 am

“Gargantuan brazen balls.”

Anonymous Says:
May 1st, 2006 at 11:42 am

You, Sir, have an absolutely huge pair. Well done.

Bonzai, The Evil Joker Says:
May 1st, 2006 at 11:41 am

Kudos from far away Romania! It really took balls to pull the stunt you did! Though this is the first time I’ve heard of you, you have my respect!

L Says:
May 1st, 2006 at 11:40 am

I think we should open a store that have your BALLS for sale so that “real journalists” can know what that truly is…

I love you STEPHEN COLBERT….

Melanie Dexter Says:
May 1st, 2006 at 11:36 am

You, sir, are a Patriot. I am bringing up my children to worship you as the god you are. Thank you for your mighty, mighty cojones.

Curious now? Check it out on GOOGLE VIDEO
*Note the pict above, left ball hangs lower, which is anatomically correct. Go ahead girls, eyeball them up on your guy.