Confession of a Barefoot trail runner

[TheBessens]

hope there won't be any peaces of glass or something.

[Pain4rmLuv]

Hi. I was wondering what exactly where you wearing on your ankles?

[paraganek]

@Pain4rmLuv

Those are standard wrist bands.

[Pain4rmLuv]

@paraganek I notice I need some compression for that area too or else I get shin splints or leg pain. Is that the reason you're wearing it? 

[gatorsrule121]

if you notice he is running pretty lightly

[MassiveDynamic19]

what song did you use in your video?

[paraganek]

@MassiveDynamic19

The soundtrack is the Earthsong from Karunesh ( youtube dot com/watch?v=n4-9kfDiDMM)

[kirk189]

I just started running and am running barefoot, it is great! No sore shins!!

[MrrANDOM34]

love portland :)

[DanRowDubstep]

That would suck if someone had broken a glass bottle on that trail...

[S0XF0X]

@DanRowDubstep Good thing we have eyes to watch where we put our feet. Walking/running barefoot, you naturally tend to keep an eye on the path ahead.

[stattoo32]

Inspiring, thanx!

[vgcamara]

awesome man!!! I'm buying some minimals this christmas and maybe try barefoot someday (the mountain here is heavy loaded with rocks) keep up the good work!!!

[Trollolol22]

well im a cross country running geek and running those shorts strides wouldnt have gotten me 15:32 for 3miles

[uncinarynin]

Of course barefoot running is the best way to run on such natural trails!

[seanofafrica]

Apologies if this has been asked before, but what are the black items you are wearing on your lower legs, and why?

PS I ran barefoot on a grassy/muddy stretch that I knew hadn't nay sharp stones etc. It is VERY freeing, and I (very surprisingly!) had a lot of traction.

[TigreMixteco]

Crazy Gringo going Raramuri...get some!!!!!

[jokergd]

Great shots! I love your camera holding contraption, thanks to the shadow it casts I did not have to ask about it :)

Awesome running technique!

[hewston1]

thanks for the reply - I shall go spagetti in future !!

[sven31415]

Hello paraganek,

i loved your video! Nicely done. I am running in Vibram five fingers for 9 months now and finally managed to have the same speed as before. The toughest part for me was to manage the trails in the forest that were consisting of compressed dirt mixed with sometimes big stones that are pressed into the dirt. Finally i changed my running style and now my feet grab the ground and now it works well :-)

I think i will go to really barefeet in the future.

BR

Sven

[hewston1]

Amazing, how long did it take to strengthen your feet to run on hard gravel ?

[paraganek]

@hewston1

Hi Hewston, I do not think it is so much about strengthening you feet, what helps the most on hard gravel is to keep the feet and legs completely relaxed (I call it "spaghetti feet"). Since I learned to do that (and it is more a mental thing than physical), I can run comfortably because feet just mold over the gravel.

[sven31415]

@paraganek It is interesting to read about your spaghetti feet because i discovered that also about 3 weeks ago and since then it works for me (in five fingers). You need to be very relaxed in the feet or it will hurt very much.

[BayAreaBum]

have you ever gotten any posion oak on your feet?...i live in northern cali and All the parks close to me are over populated with poison oak that its not even funny... the trails are always full of fallen leaves , youd have to be crazy to run barefoot in the trails i run , i hate it haha

[paraganek]

@BayAreaBum

I am lucky there is no poison oak along that trail I run on. I got poison oak on my legs and arms twice this summer but that was from hiking in the woods and not running. I hate it too. It was not fun at all.

[Trollolol22]

Get some longer strides in there

[paraganek]

@Trollolol22

Why longer strides ? If try to do longer strides my feet start hitting the ground in front of me instead of under my center of gravity where they are supposed to be.

[williamo1980]

@Trollolol22 longer strides is against barefoot running and it's technique.

[Trollolol22]

@williamo1980 well i run barefoot for cross coumtry when we run in the grass... its hard but with the right form you dont make heel contact first, works for me

[jokergd]

@Trollolol22 longer strides are for people who want to get injured and run improperly

[thaitopfitness]

@Trollolol22 You're supposed to have shorter strides if you're barefoot running - it prevents hitting the ground too hard.

[typeclash]

Started running vibram this summer, next im going barefoot :) nice vid

[saloncolorist]

Awesome. How wonderful that must be

[Jcole37]

Beautiful trails, wish I had more like them to run one here

[MatazLMB]

Next step? Running naked! :)

[TheInadequacy]

Have you ever tried to run off-road? I mean is it possible to get foot so strong and not get injured by it?

[weecaird]

What are you wearing around your ankles??? Totally awsome video.

[shadowkitty1988]

Love it! Barefoot trail running is the best. You really get to feel connected. You feel the grooves in the earth, the roughness of dried leaves, the coolness of puddles, the soft velvet of mud, the harshness of rock, the quiver of twigs beneath your feet. Your feet are silent (unlike when you wear shoes), and you can hear the sounds of the world. It's a beautiful feeling. :)

Thank you for sharing your video, and your run. I really enjoyed it!!

[seanSgray]

What about geting worms?

[izigr]

THIS VIDEO WAS SO COOL. it really captures the spirit of barefoot running.

[loki1066]

Had many injuries from glass/stones/thorns?

[paraganek]

@loki1066

No injuries on the trail. Once in a while I get a small glass sliver when running on pavement but that is not a big deal.

[energymonkey]

Amen, brother! I run for smiles, not miles!

[sagacious13]

Video & music are a great mix. Awsome video. Name is a bit misleading. How long is the distance of the trail? Looks like a great variety of terrain.

[metubesock]

Inspiring & grounding video. I think a better title might be "Savoring the Trail." I didn't hear any confessions. I love the music. I've seen quite a few requests for the title or artist name but no response. Why are you holding back on this?

Thanks for sharing your love of barefoot running. Nice piece of work.

[paraganek]

@metubesock

Sorry, I thought I had posted about the music track but apparently it must have been on some other site.

The soundtrack is the Earthsong from Karunesh (youtube.com/​watch?v=defckYq9s80)

[metubesock]

@paraganek

Thanks.

[marioneto50]

The music only makes it even better!

[JustinZ80Z]

Thanks for rubbing it lol, i dont know what a trail run taste likes. Unfortunately i live in Florida which just sucks, hot and humid don't go!

[JeffrySummer]

Taste like success! Keep it free...

Peacefully Stay, Paraganek!

-Jeff

[satyrpain]

Man, I love Oregon :)

[ongawesgone]

There's a trail within miles of my home that I've been walking for over ten years now. Unfortunately, gravel has been put on some sections of it, and I think it is planned to be fully graveled. Reason is, so that hikers won't "get their shoes/feet wet or dirty while hiking." WAAAHH! Learn the trail(s) in all weather and dress accordingly. Don't ruin a forest trail by "civilizing" it. Besides, the gravel gets washed away by rain, anyway. Waste of gravel. I don't like manicured trails.

[brettlegree]

Awesome video... this is why I plan to move where there is no snow, so I can do this all the time (when it is -40... well, you can't do this!)

[sonsofmosiah]

@brettlegree Don't be such a wuss! Get out there in that snow and ice and run barefoot!

[brettlegree]

@sonsofmosiah Yeah, you're right :) I shouldn't be such a Nancy about it... heh heh...

Oh, yesterday was awesome for barefooting, though. I went to visit an old friend of mine for the day at a rustic cottage resort about an hour from my home, and it was a nice mixed bag of terrain there for the old feet.

I came home with my soles just coated in pine sap - awesome!!!

[TURTLEDUDE919]

...once it was at the gravel i cringed....how the hell can you run through that rock?



[ChoconutBwownie]

@TURTLEDUDE919 Lol, you get used to it. 

[flyinturk]

so peaceful! There is nothing like feeling a connection to nature while barefoot running :)

[oboros42]

nice relaxing video. I like the grabby-toes as you run up the hill

[TheKirstenLewis]

I would love to know the name of the song and artist of this awesome soundtrack! I would be so wonderful if someone could post it :-)

[pjgh93]

Beautiful! Your trails are very manicured - I would truly love trails that wide and that smooth. Here in northern England, our trail are much narrower, more rugged and often overgrown; certainly rigged with thistles and nettles. Our woodland trails are more like this.

Very serene and a beautiful video. Thanks :)

[starbase606]

Again, a great video. One of the very best. My mother is going is having a knee replacement, replaced next week. she has been doing a daily meditation with this clip each day. thank you.

[starbase606]

Wonderful BFR video. You have lovely form. I also love the trails. I have been re-bruising under my 2nd and 3rd metatarsal. Any hints? Lots of rocks around here.

[paraganek]

@starbase606

Thank you. Bruising under 2nd and 3rd metatarsal could be a sign of Morton's toe. Is that your case ?

[starbase606]

Thank you for your reply. I did some trigger point massage on the muscles under the foot, just in front of the heel. It wonderfully made the metatarsal pain go away.

[MrChiropodist]

This video is the reason why I get out of bed in the morning. I know exactly how the dude in it feels. Cool music, too.

[Kamuigod2001]

I love this video. The beautiful trail scenes and the great music and of course the awesome barefoot running! Inspirational for me to keep barefoot running.

[paraganek]

Everyone is different so you will have to find out what works best for you.

A good guide I started with is here: therunningbarefoot-dot-com/pag­e-d

I started on pavement and switched to trails after 6 months.

[oldpiq]

@heywannamakeout Hey! Myhorrible shin splints went away instantly after I kicked my shoes off. Try running down the driveway and you will see, maybe...

[paraganek]

Not at all. Calluses are a sign of either a bad running form or wearing shoes too much. My feet (as any other barefoot runner's feet) have soft leathery plantar skin with thick developed muscle layer underneath.

youtu.be/HLlEJIrKrzI?hd=1

[richmiller74]

Beautiful trail and impressive barefoot running. I can only hope to reach that level.

[BOBCARLOLINK]

Looks all so effortless.. after a barefoot run my calfs hurt like hell. I think I need to build up slower and be patient. Thanks for the inspiration!

[llimch]

Paraganek, Good effort and enjoyed it. Thanks. I wonder what is the name of the soundtrack? Very inspiring!!

[pedalero]

beautiful and inspiring! congrats!

[kjhuhtala1]

Looks like so much fun! Thanks for sharing! Can't wait to run some trails myself, I love mud.

[gjbarefoot]

Great video - loved it