Barefoot Training at Hansen Dam

[PacificSurgeNJ]

Ted, how do you manage to keep weight and look muscular despite running so much? I'm a bodybuilder who's an avid minimalist runner, but I don't want to look skinny and such.

[HitTheTrailRunning]

/watch?v=evdDbUrWn1k

[asianrapper209]

Very, very interesting!

[oldpiq]

Here is what happens when I run:

- wearing Vibram 5 fingers - I get horrible pain in my shins

- wearing Brooks "Green Silence" - I get pinches in my shins but I can run through it.

- wearing no footwear at all - I get NOTHING aside from the skin damage due to not enough running barefoot.

I'm curious if someone noticed something similar. It's sucks to be so disappointed with Vibrams. I had hopes associated with these shoes.

[imreallyjin]

@oldpiq

i was also disappointed to find out that no matter how technology will advance & create ways to mimic our body, IT WILL NEVER SURPASS THE NATURE!

it's like a root canal/ tooth extraction. Sure, better than having no tooth, but never feels the way your good ol' tooth felt. Brush your damn teeth.

Run barefoot!

[landgabriel]

@imreallyjin I like gear made with modern materials that mimic nature. Now, off to build my carbon fiber boat, more biomimetic than steel because it is WOVEN.

Seriously though, hard to beat vibram for a sole material, for those times when a barrier between the feet and the ground are necessary. Barefoot as much as possible, but with the option.

[movewithtao]

@oldpiq

your shin splints are probably from having tight ankles and calf muscles. barefoot is best but I love my vibrams for when it's snowing or raining out.

Barefoot is best though!

[malisa70]

Somehow fate lead me to read Born to Run, Vibram, and finally, barefooting.

[imreallyjin]

I'm 19 year old. I ALWAYS hated running... i thought it was dumb to sweat and run with clunky weight called shoes. In fact, i never wore shoes, even during winter.

Somehow fate lead me to read Born to Run, Vibram, and finally, barefooting.

As young and brash I was, I was injured the first week i went running on vibrams.

That was 6 months ago; now i'm in the best shape of my life. I now understand my body, and feel more connected to everything... and the most important of all,

I LOVE RUNNING!

[plutoplatters]

@imreallyjin actually you're 19 years YOUNG... you'll understand this years from now. you will also remember it. 

[UBCBarefoot]

@imreallyjin this is my exact story too. running is seriously addicting.

[localSickened]

this place used to be a huge ass lake back them but people found bodies and close down the water

[laAnnavii]

I ran barefoot on concrete for my first and only time, after that I bought myself Vibrams...which I looove!

[SuLeila]

Wow. I mean, WOW! :)

Just wondering if I'll ever be able to run so seemingly carefree on surfaces like that. I'm still wincing and flinching on gravel. Ah, well, you show that it can be done, so I'll keep trying and training. :) :)

Thanks, Ted! Keep going! :)

[movewithtao]

@SuLeila

a lot of running on hard surfaces is about form. As your form improvees you will be lighter on your feet: less impact means less pain. Land on the outside of your foot, with a level foot and roll towards your toes and push off.

[1too3fore]

that dude's a goat

[xxmetioqurexx]

i go here everyday maybe ive seen you 0_0

[cuttingman6969]

maybe I'll try barefoot running on the coal silt piles of Anthracite area Pa in St. Clair and Trevorton Pa

[Latonia76]

i just want to know what the bottom of this man's feet look like lmao!

[barefootted]

@Latonia76 Unbelievably, my feet are not hard and calloused. More like multi-layered, supple, pliable leather. Yin a Yang.

[Latonia76]

@barefootted that's awesome! I swear the human body never fails to amaze me! 

[oldpiq]

I just wonder how much would Nike charge if you asked them to tattoo their logo on your ankle.

[Latonia76]

@oldpiq oh my god this had me rolling with laughter. you know they'd try anything to gain some advertisement.

[swankswag]

Zulu warrior!

[blackknight509]

Shoes are overrated!!

[daokaioshin]

something important to notice is how similar this gait is to a freerunning/parkour gait.

[buildingbodies]

That looks so free! I was just reading about the benefits of bare foot training and am pretty excited for the snow to go away here :-)

[hoopataka]

We have a lovely group at Runners World Barefoot forum. Excellent information that is both anecdotal and scientifically based. Its a great group of people.

[mcmiljr]

I'm a runner. I've recently stepped up to about 30 miles a week. I absolutely love it. It pulls me out of depression. Makes me feel positive. Color seems more vivid.

But I've been developing pain in my left knee. It's pretty bad about the first five minutes of a run, then it pretty much goes away. I'm worried about this.

I hear barefoot is a possible solution. I don't doubt that shoes pervert nature somehow. I want a beginner's guide to barefoot. Got anything?

[Timsilmax]

How long have you been running, it might just be getting used to it. I, myself have had pains underneath the kneecap.

[NahTekNuhCheck]

mcmiljr - give Born to Run a read, it will explain it better than I could ever hope to (plus I'm not much of a runner anyway).

I can honestly say the book is very informative and may answer some of your questions.

[bumblesbounce54321]

from what i understand a forefoot strike can really help eliminate most pains and strengthen many essential muscles of the leg.

might be worth a shot!

[landgabriel]

@mcmiljr Also try yoga. I have knee problems and a lot of IT band issues can be cause to tight muscles. Hope you are feeling better and still running strong, a year later.

[TheNaturalRunnerVanc]

@mcmiljr Check out Robillard's Bareform (Merrell) videos on youtube, I like their approach to introductory minimalism/barefoot-style

[SoundPath]

Is there a forum that i can go to to learn more about BF running? I believe in the value of this training philosophy, but I want to make sure that I'm conditioning properly and doing it right.

[chasterb8er]

if you have a wife she must hate rubbing your feet. haha

[FORTIZ95]

is this in pacoima or sun valley?

[barefootted]

Yup!

[jaycam63]

Nice training regime! If you dont mind a word of advice please dont climb with your knees its only adding unnecessary stress to the legs. All in all it was a nice vid except for that tid bit. Happy trainings Ted!

God bless

JC

[longhairedpig]

Hey, I'd like to start that training. I already go barefoot so hopefully, it won't be too rough on my feet. I live like 40 minutes from there.

[langerCAN]

The original founder of Movement Naturelle was George Hebert based on his observations while a member of the Navy. MovNat is based on the original theories and teachings that hebert started back before WWII.

[horseheadnebula89]

ouch, but awesome.

[taly818]

HAHHAHA Damn! Did you see that? He ran over the water. GOOD TRAINING MAN

[mathematicus3141]

Damn! Did you see that? He ran over the water.

[Mercetron]

Cool video, I wish I had grouns like that around but it's mostly asphalt and... asphalt.

But the music was a bit over the top... it felt like "omg super duper overhuman powers sci-fi" kind of music... when you were just doing what billions of people has done before you ^^

[barefootted]

Yeah, I know what you mean, the music needs to go, but that's what I had at the time. TURN DOWN YOUR SPEAKERS.

BFT...the guy in the video....

[landgabriel]

@Mercetron The music seemed primal and natural to me. Very drone like, reminded me of Tibetan throat singers and didgeridoo. Hardly 'super overman sci-fi'.

[defaultuser11432]

i'm tired of wearing shoes

[Xalixco]

Cool. When I was a kid I used to walk around barefoot all the time. It got so that I could walk on glass without cutting my feet. I never appreciated it and wish I could get back into it.

This is the first time I have personally seen anybody purposely train barefoot though.

[MaxSafeheaD]

Hey Ted. Looks like some fun to be had there, you'll love methode naturelle it's right up your street =)

Erwan is SUCH a textbook of good training philosophies and ideas.

[bhow1062]

Ted, I've been walking to building my feet up on rough asphalt. My soles are getting tough but my skinny feet have no thick muscles like many people's feet do to pad the underlying bones. I find that I'm getting bone bruised easily. You have inspired me to make barefoot running part of my workout. I would like to graduate to running miles per day. Will the muscles in my feet thicken to protect my bones.

[barefootted]

Sadly, I am no expert on the physiology of the foot. All I know for sure is that barefooting works for me...thankfully.

I spent a lot of my childhood barefoot, too.

So, if anything, I would say start slow and build up slowly.

BFT

[jesusetezenshin]

Don't use your knees to climb, try to put directly your feet on.

[marcelless]

i did some barefoot training in croatia, very good.

true, nature fits us. but just like george hebert invented and designed the natural method, someone invented and designed nature. to fit us. we are made for nature. to be challenged, adventure, danger, risk, to be heroic, to love others above yourself. all these things were in the heart of man from the beginning. woman aren't this way. they want to be beautiful. they were made for each other.

[godtvisken]

i like the way you set up some of these shots, and the music fits well.

[xangrila]

kokoseq is just saying you flap your arms like a bird when you're jumping down. "...control your hands..." he says. Don't take it as an offense, because it isn't. Just keep training, an soon you'll find a more "aestethic" and functional way to keep your balance when jumping. And please, don't practice alone on desert places. Take a friend with you ok. Be fine.

[Zactastic]

when i start running barefoot im going to start on grass. as i work up my milage and traverse to the streets, do you think i should ware the five fingers, huaraches, or just start barefoot. maybe i should buy some huaraches for nasty trails and gravel parks. any suggestions? that was a great video. so fast you are!

[kokoseq]

man, sorry, but you run like a girl:-P you should control your hands;-)

[barefootted]

When you say like a girl, to which girl do you refer?

BFT

[sam24jeff]

koko, he runs like that for balance, and to counter all the pressure and pokes under his feet.

[paudibhoy1991]

this isnt Methode Naturelle.Methode Naturelle is about tranin to cope with conditions and how to get from a to b in the fastest way with only usin human functions.ur just runin about with no shoes on.

[barefootted]

Yes, we know. That's why I write that I know nothing.

You have reconfirmed what we already know.

One must learn from one's mistakes.

Like I mentioned in my reply above, if you REALLY want to learn about Methode Naturelle, go to Erwan Le Corre's website.

methode-naturelleDOTcom

[joe123sin]

nice one man, have you heard of parkour? its a focused aspect of MN, another good way of training your body (if you train in the right way)

keep up the good work

[frivolas]

yes, i'm also starting to train this way, and i still have a lot to learn and understand about NM. Anything you could share would be greatly appreciated

[frivolas]

hey man that is great! i'd love to have a spot like that nearby, just an advice: when climbing, don't use your knee when reaching the top, better push up with your shoulders at the same time you pull your hips up and to the side(left or right, it all depends on your strong side), and pull that side foot. It will be easier, faster and safer.

[barefootted]

Howdy Frivolas

Thanks for the input. Greatly appreciated.

I am still just a pure beginner when it comes to much of this stuff. I am hoping to learn much more in the near future, especially about Methode Naturelle as Erwan Le Corre explains it at methode-naturelleDOTcom

BFT

[barefootted]

Howdy Paulo

Well, I actually do wear Vibram FiveFingers (barefoot shoes) when necessary, and I make custom sandals called huaraches from a design I borrowed from Mexican Indians called Tarahumara.

But truth be told, the foot needs less, not more.

BFT

[Paulosilva73]

I almost sow that one coming,LOL

For the record: I sell athletic shoes for living.

Sending you a salute from Portugal.

keep up

[barefootted]

Foot care?

Luckily for me, my feet take care of themselves...as long as I keep them out of shoes.-)

BFT

[Paulosilva73]

Simply amazing

Did you write anything about your daily foot care in your site?