Tag Archives: barefoot

Why a barefoot running book?!

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Of course people always want to give you crap about things. That’s just human nature.

So write a book about how to barefoot run (and not just any book, THE BEST BOOK), and you get people saying – “Oh, but you’re wearing shoes now!”

They’re absolutely right, and there are a few reasons why wear shoes, but let’s focus on the purpose of the book.

The book shares all of the tips, tricks, and secrets my friend Charlie Reid and I discovered the hard way – by jumping into barefoot running with both feet…HARD.

This was back in early 2009. We were inspired by the hit book Born To Run by Christopher McDougall, by our participation in Exuberant Animal – where we were taught specific methods and techniques by the Barefoot Sensei, Mick Dodge. We also picked up some lessons from a guru and now good friend Barefoot Ted McDonald.

We were in San Francisco, so we were mostly wearing Vibram’s, and taking jaunts in the park here and there completely barefoot. As soon as I got a pair of Ted’s sandals, I was hooked. I wore those as much as any other shoe I had.

Charlie and I decided we were going to go for the ominous Leadville race. Of course, neither of us are what you’d call “endurance-types.”

So we set off into SF, and across the Golden Gate bridge, for short runs.

Then we went off the rails…

And that’s where we learned our lessons. The ones we share in the book.

The lessons we follow now to keep us able to barefoot, even though we do wear shoes and sandals quite a bit.

Check out the book, and if you have any questions, leave a comment below.

The Best Book on How to Barefoot Run now available on the Amazon Kindle Store!

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Hi all!

Just wanted to share the news – The Best Book on How to Barefoot Run by Charlie Reid and myself, is now available on the Amazon Kindle store.

For those who don’t know, the book is a detailed summary of everything Charlie and I learned as we progressed back to barefoot running – the history of shoes, biomechanics of barefoot running, how to do it safely, and an 8-week program!

Since the book (and accompanying videos on YouTube) represents 3 years of each of our lives, countless hours of effort, hundreds of dollars spent on minimalist footwear, books and seminars, and hours of research time, the $7.99 price is a STEAL.

Get the book and let me know how you like it!

The Best Book on How to Barefoot Run!

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It’s up and available for purchase!

The Best Book on How to Barefoot Run, written by Charlie Reid and yours truly, covers the history of the shoe and barefoot running, evolutionary considerations, foot function and health, strength training, and an 8-week running program.

The one thing we really tried to do was to focus on getting YOU the reader back into your body, and into your own experience of barefoot running.

Go buy the book and let me know what you think!

Exuberant Animal Video Sampler and Trainer Certification Path

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Exuberant Animal released a Video Sampler yesterday, along with an announcement and outline of the EA Trainer Certification Path.

Having been part of EA for the past three years, and a member of the development team both for the video and trainer path, I’m incredibly excited for these first steps to be done.

Please go take a look, and buy the video! The EA games are fantastic games for many reasons (that I’ll be outlining in future posts) – but the best way to figure out their effect is to try them for yourself!

If you’re a movement specialist, and you’re interested in changing the paradigm of training in the world today, sign up for one of the two (one East Coast and one West Coast) trainer jams happening this October.

Most of all – HAVE FUN!

The Caveman with Fallen Arches

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Frank Forencich, on the Exuberant Animal blog, asks “Have We Gone Mad?!”

He’s responding to an article in the New York Times that chronicles that author’s experience with flat feet and podiatrists.

Frank raises some good questions, I encourage you to head over there and check out his post.

Insulating ourselves to death?

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I recently had the pleasure of hosting Barefoot Ted here in SF.

While we didn’t get to discuss this topic while he was here, I’ve been thinking about it since, and figured I’d share these thoughts, and see what everyone out in the web-world thinks…

I ordered some leather huaraches from Ted’s site, and was pondering my choice of leather over the Vibram rubber soles that he offers, and that I think he (and many others) prefer to the leather.

I was thinking more about the leather/rubber debate, and started to think about these things:
leather is a natural material, and is not much of an insulator…especially compared to
rubber, which is a powerful insulator.
(I’ll refrain from the “production” debate for these materials here)
our blood contains hemoglobin, which has at its center an atom of iron (in the heme)
iron responds to electromagnetic charges.
the earth is a giant electromagnet (its core is partly iron)
when we stand on the earth, we receive that electromagnetic flow through our blood (iron).

further…
“polarity therapy” in massage says that one side of the body is positively charged, and the other negatively charged
if that’s the case, when we move on two (bare) feet, we alternately contact the electromagnetic field of the earth with our oppositely-charged sides, creating a current through our body
when we run, that current is even more divided (a true “alternating current”), since we completely separate contact with one side for a period in a running-gait.

further still…
bone forms along lines of stress
that’s because bone is piezoelectric
that is, the lines of stress cause an electric charge to flow through bone
that electric flow is what directs the osteoblasts to break down the bone in places, and the osteoclasts to build in other places.

and…
though the “proof” is controversial, man-made electromagnetic fields are known to disturb natural bodily functions, for instance
high-tension power lines may be related to an increased risk in cancer
microwave ovens can have effects on people
the electrical impulse through natural stone walls has been linked by some to the presence of “ghosts” (as electromagnetic hallucinations)
etc.

final questions:
what happens when we insulate our bodies from the earth’s electromagnetic field
what happens when we don’t…

2010 Resolutions – Best of 2009 Fitness List

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It’s that time of year…or slightly past it!  Time to make resolutions.

I used not to be one of those people who made resolutions.  I wasn’t very goal-oriented.  I was more interested in focusing on the moment.

But sacrificing long-term planning for the moment, I came to find, is as misguided as losing your now-focus for lots of pie-in-the-sky long-term plans.  Both, in equal measure, lead to the best results.

With that said, I’d like to say this – whatever your specific goals for 2010, have the general goal of getting in shape.  And, as far as that’s concerned, do anything!

Don’t lose your “now-focus” for long-term planning about what you want to do fitness-wise.

Here are a few ideas that might help – my review of the “best fitness stuff” of 2009.

Exuberant Animal

Jump for Joy!

While my career with Exuberant Animal and play-based fitness started in 2008 at the first EA conference, I wasn’t certified as an EA trainer till 2009, and didn’t start my foot camp till last summer.

I highly recommend any of Frank Forencich’s books, and incorporating play into your exercise routine and your life. If you want ideas for how to do this, go to any local playground and watch what the kids are doing. Better yet, join them! Alternatively, for you readers out there, you can go to the EA games page.

Vibram FiveFingers

I was introduced to the concept of “minimalist footwear” and barefoot training this year, first, by Barefoot Ted McDonald.  Then, through Chris McDougall’s great book “Born to Run” (which is later on the list).

The FiveFinger shoes offer a fantastic new way to train, with a barefoot feel.  I highly recommend these to anyone.  Ease into their use.  If you haven’t been  barefoot much in the past few years, start off by wearing them for short walks, or during your regular workout, and then going back to your normal footwear.

Injinji Toe-Socks

Monkey Socks, Anyone?

Also, I highly recommend buying the Injini socks.  My first pair of Vibrams got a little stinky (which is why I recommend the KSO’s over the Flow model).  My second pair I ordered with about four pair of Injini toe-socks.  So far so good!

The only thing about the toe-socks is, they don’t keep your feet very warm.  So, if you’re in a cold climate, you might put off till later in the springtime to try these first two suggestions out – unless you’re an indoor exerciser.

Chris McDougall’s Book – Born to Run

Great Book!

While it isn’t necessarily a piece of “fitness equipment,” everyone I’ve known who has read this book has been so inspired by it that they’ve at least tried barefoot walks (if not runs, or workouts in Vibrams).  I highly recommend this book!

Joe DeFranco’s Built Like a Badass Program

Meatheads Unite!

I’ve written about this program several times in the past couple of months.  It is far and away the best “cookie-cutter” weight training program I’ve ever seen or used.  If you’re a moderately-experienced weight trainer, buy the program and use it this year.

Kettlebells

Cannonballs with Handles

I had never been a big fan of kettlebells or kettlebell training till I used them for my Highland Games training this year.  Now, I’m a firm believer in the efficacy of this training tool.

While the kettlebells are “just another tool in the toolbox,” or “just another type of load,” they offer such a diverse array of possibilities that few other “stand alone” tools can compare in the diversity of movement (except maybe one, which I’ll be unveiling in another week or so!!).

If you’re interested in kettlebells, find a good instructor to work with.  Someone who is RKC, AKC, Steve Maxwell, or Steve Cotter certified will be able to get you started with great technique, and a kettlebell weight and program that are appropriate for your body.

Is that it?!

Bare-bones and Barefoot

Unless you can make it up to Whidbey Island, WA, to train with the Barefoot Sensei…yeah, that’s it!  I’m not reviewing every exercise program or technique I’ve ever used here, just the ones I found especially good from 2009. If you want other ideas, recommendations, or sources, drop me a line. I’m more than happy to help!

Have fun everyone!!!

Another Barefoot Seminar

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Charlie Reid and I held another talk on barefoot running at the Sports Basement in Potrero Hill this past Thursday.

First, I want to thank everyone who attended (if you’re reading this).  We had a great turnout and some great questions from the attendees.

To sum:

START SLOWLY! – if you’re like most people, you’ve been wearing shoes most of your life.  Don’t rush into barefooting.  Take it slowly.

Crawl, Walk, Jog, Run – start like a baby, by crawling.  Do bear crawls more often.  Charlie and I both really like the effect the bear crawl has on the musculoskeletal system.  Try it!  Once you’ve done that, start walking barefoot for a while before you jog or run.

Soft and Silent – your footfalls should be as soft and silent as possible.  In the beginning this will take conscious effort.  As you become more accustomed to being barefoot, it will become natural to land this way.

Gait is Speed-Dependent – it is perfectly natural for human beings to heel-strike when walking – at very slow speeds! The faster you go, the more you come up onto your forefoot.  Barefoot jogging is more of a mid-foot strike.  The walking “fox-walk” is a very special walk for special purposes…

Fast Turnover – the foot turnover speed for a good barefoot jog is about 180 beats per minute.  90 strikes per foot, per minute.  You can download a metronome program for your iPhone or other device, or get a runner’s metronome to help you get used to this fast cadence.

Is that it?!  Oh yeah – HAVE FUN!