Ideal Footwear: a barefooters perspective

Hermes (Lysippos c. 350 BCE)

So, what is the ideal shoe from the perspective of a barefooter?

Firstly, let me make it perfectly clear...nothing comes close to the perfection of the foot as-it-is.

With that in mind, here's what you should look for in footwear:

1. Lightweight - we don't need any extra weight.
2. Extremely flexible - don't control my foot thank you.
3. No support - none, we want to get stronger through good form.
4. No cushioning - none, it's not needed (see above).
5. Wide - freedom for feet to be whatever they are...always.
6. Thin-soled - we need to FEEL the ground.
7. Puncture proof - as rarely needed insurance.
8. Durable - long lasting, wear well.
9. Easy on-and-off - please.
10. Portable and easy to stow - so we can travel together.
11. Fairtrade made - thinking about the future.
12. Green - earth safe materials, recyclable, duh.
13. Breathable - so as not to suffocate.
14. Good grip - let us stay upright when things get slippery.
15. Toe articulation - I have toes for a reason.
16. Beautiful - because we never tire of beauty's inspiration.

What do you think?

BFT

Exuberant Animal Spring Trainer's Conference 2009

Thanks for being you: Laura, Mick, Kwame, Monica, Dawni, Dave, Dan, Ed, Steven, Lauren, Robin, Teresa, Frank, Conner, Wolf, Josh, Charlie, Angela, Scott.

What amazing heritage and hope our minds and bodies express.

Thanks Exuberants!

BFT

PS. To learn more about Exuberant Animal, check out Frank Forencich's book:
EXUBERANT ANIMAL: THE POWER OF HEALTH, PLAY AND JOYFUL MOVEMENT

PSS. Frank's new blog here: blog.exuberantanimal.com

Fixed Gear Bicycle Zen

Volunteer Park Seattle | photo by Don Ehlen

April 2009 has been a month of discovery...big time. I traded a Bianchi Veloce racing bike for a Fixed Gear bicycle.

As a highwheel bicycle rider for over a decade, I understand the feeling and motion of fixed gear riding...but I had never had a chance to ride a fixed gear safety bicycle. I am completely blown away. Safety bicycles have been around since the 1880s. The pneumatic tire brought a boom in sales starting around 1890 that brought us to today. Fixed geared bicycles ride like highwheels...you can't coast...(if you don't know about fixed gear bicycles and you have read this far and did not go to the Wikipedia link above, you are missing out here! You may want to read Sheldon Brown's write up on fixed gear bicycles here)

Fixed gear teaches you how to become the bicycle: You are the gear, you are the brake (for road riding, I use a front brake, but it is not as necessary as you might imagine). You learn to use your body and your technique to locomote yourself. Your body becomes strong. You become a purer, more integral part of the transference of energy into forward motion. The bike needs you as much as you need it. You become one beautiful, powerful expression of movement that is both practical and playful, art and science and human-powered speed.

I am going to be doing a lot more fixed gear riding...and turning other people on to the joy of riding a pure bicycle. Come on and join me.

BFT

PS. By the way, my FeelMax Niesas (soon to be available in the US) are excellent bicycle shoes. They work well with my Power Grip High Performance Pedal and Strap Kit.

My new fixie.

Not my best track standing, but you get the idea.

MovNat®: Explore Your True Nature™

I worked with Erwan to recreate MovNat's website. I believe that it is the place to keep up-to-date with what is happening with MovNat and to learn a lot more about MovNat's founder, Erwan Le Corre and his upcoming retreats and seminars and soon to be announced level 1 MovNat certification courses.

Erwan Le Corre encourages us to celebrate and affirm our being, our true nature; to celebrate and affirm our connections to the universe and the natural world and to become strong, healthy, happy and free in the process. I couldn't agree with him more.




His message is spreading and is sure to have a major impact on how the world sees the natural movement of humans...or lack thereof.

Enjoy your journey and check out the updated www.MovNat.com
.
BFT

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

Christopher McDougall's Book Signing Tour
May 19 - ZombieRunners, Palo Alto
May 20 - Rakestraw Books, Danville
May 23 - LA Marathon Expo
May 24 - Western States 100 Training Camp
May 26 - Powell's Books, Portland
May 28 - Seattle Running Company (I plan on being here)


Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen



This is a masterpiece. A work on running that will define running for a new generation of runners.

Christopher McDougall asks a simple question: Why does my foot hurt?

His answer spans the centuries and brings us to the cutting edge of running revelations that are as old as our genes.

Our generation of runners have seen it all. Many today thinking that to run is dangerous and that the foot is a death-trap injury appendage waiting to happen. Makes sense, for many runners running today have never known of any other way to run than with big, overly cushioned orthotic boots...cuz our feet are no good and need lots of help, right?

Christopher tells a great tale using an obscure race and race director, a tribe of beautiful people and a rag tag group of ultra runners to weave a story that brings us to a place where rediscovery of our primal connection to running...free of marketing and big bucks and bad science...leads us to new possibilities and a change of thinking that is applicable to any human being wishing to locomote herself on two legs.

This book is at-one-and-the-same-time an adventure tale of impossible possibilities and a cutting edge running research journal entry.

Take a wild trip and read this book. You're gonna love it.

BFT

PS. The book I am reading is an uncorrected proof. Actual book to be published on May 7, 2009.

PSS. Did I mention I am one of the most garrulous characters in the book? Buyer beware.

PSSS. For the latest information about the race, i.e., the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon, be sure to check out Caballo Blanco's website here: www.caballoblanco.com you can read this year's race report here.

Link below takes you to Amazon.com to preorder ORDER:

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Super Athletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

Link below to audio book preorder ORDER:

Born to Run AUDIOBOOK

Original cover photo by Luis Escobar...Billy with Caballo seated

....
BUY VIBRAM FIVEFINGERS

"No Evidence" on Running Shoe Safety

Note: For my minimalist and barefoot running friends, this is not new news at all. BFT

By Danny Rose, Australian Herald Sun

AUSTRALIAN joggers are being warned there's no hard science underpinning what they wear on their feet.

Scientists at the University of Newcastle wanted to find independent studies on the safety of sneakers that have cushioned heels and other features to prevent the ankle rolling in.

Dr Craig Richards said an analysis of the global pool of sports medicine research turned up nothing relating to the commonly used, and recommended, sports shoes.

"Since the 1980s, distance running shoes with thick, heavily cushioned heels and features to control how much the heel rolls in, have been consistently recommended to runners who want to avoid injury,'' Dr Richards said.

"We did not identify a single study that has attempted to measure the effect of this shoe type on either injury rates or performance.

"This means there is no scientific evidence (the) shoes provide any benefit to distance runners.''

Dr Richards said Dutch researchers had previously found between 37 and 56 per cent of recreational runners become injured at least once each year.

These injuries mainly affected the runners' legs and feet, and Dr Richards said the standard preventative recommendation was to wear what was called a PCECH shoe - a sneaker with pronation control to prevent the ankle from rolling in and an elevated cushioned heel.

"Not only can we no longer recommend a PCECH shoe, but the lack of research in this area means that we cannot currently make any evidence-based shoe recommendations to runners.

"To resolve this uncertainty, running shoes need to be tested like any other medical treatment, in carefully controlled clinical trials.''

Dr Richards' findings are published in the latest edition of the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Link to story above:

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25171370-5005961,00.html

Also, more information about the Dr. Craig Richards can be found in this article:

Aussie study challenges claims for hi-tech running shoes

And here is a link to his British Journal of Sports Medicine article:

Is your prescription of distance running shoes evidence based?

BFT

Why run barefoot?

This is a nice little video demonstrating why barefoot or minimal running is beneficial.

From YouTube: Same runner, same day, with no instruction given in between videos. On the left, correct nice SHOE LESS forefoot strike. On the right, incorrect, with SHOES, heel strike, braking, straining. Sneakers are designed to affect the way our foot strikes the ground, yet in this video you see it affects what we do in the air. Try this experiment yourself.

BFT

Highwheeling at Volunteer Park, Seattle, WA

Finally got my 56 inch highwheel back in commission. My goal...do an Ironman as-if it were 1890...the last big year of the highwheel bicycle, i.e., only using technology readily available in 1890.

Also, I found out today that the modern 24 hour distance record is within reach, 252 miles, set by Jamie Woodward at Mackinac Island, MI. I am thinking it might be fun to give it a shot.

However, apparently the real 24 hour record was set in 1887 by a 5' 6" 147lb rider named Stillman G. Whittaker a 19th century highwheel bicycle and early safety bicycle champion. He rode 323 miles in 24 hours on the road on his highwheel.

It turns out that the record was set by a Czech rider and highwheel bicycle builders, Josef Zimovčák, in 1996. He covered 324.67 miles (officially measured), breaking a record held for over 109 years!
Updated March 17th, 2009
It looks like in 2002 Manfred Cizek of Vienna, Austria broke Josef Zimovčák's 1996 record of 324.67 miles ridden in 24 hours. Manfred seems to have ridden 339 miles on a highwheel in 24 hours!

I am deeply intrigued by the athletes of the Victorian Age. Pushing the limits of what was possible on machines that were the cutting edge of technology. What a time.

I believe it is a better way to cycle, more comfortable, more analogous to walking or running, more upright, more human.

BFT...looking for a sponsor for his 1890 Ironman dream...

Mt. Lukens Barefoot in the Snow

Erwan Le Corre and I climbed the highest mountain within the city limits of Los Angeles, Mt. Lukens at 5074 feet, on the 10th. About halfway up we found ourselves in the snow...barefoot. We continued on to the summit barefoot and shirtless. After a break at the summit, we dressed warmer, put on our FeelMax Niesa footwear and headed down. About 3 hours and 30 minutes. 8.8 miles round trip.

The back country of Los Angeles...different than you expected?

Ocean in the distance, downtown LA to the left

Le Corre sprinting near the summit...see barefoot prints?

FeelMax footwear a welcome relief after climbing up barefoot.

BFT near summit...wearing my climbing uniform...Hansen Dam in background.

Erwan Le Corre near summit.

Our trail about halfway up...and it only got deeper as we advanced.

Wild Rugged Los Angeles - Barefoot

From the top of the Verdugo Mountains looking down on LA

Barefoot Ted and Erwan Le Corre at the summit of the Verdugos.

BFT with Sesi Genen (Snow Shaman) in Trail Canyon | Photo by Ben Fury

BFT, Ben Fury & Erwan Le Corre

The River

The Falls


Later I learned how to do this balancing without arms out

I took Erwan for a run in the Verdugos after he had been in LA for a few days. The Verdugos are definitely a challenging terrain for bare feet, but he adapted quickly. Our hike started by heading up a little explored creek bed and running into an abandoned marijuana farm!!! We are lucky to be alive.

Thanks to Ben Fury for taking me and Erwan for an excellent barefoot hike up Trail Canyon with his dogs Koko and Sesi on Sunday. It was a perfect day with a break in the rain. The river and mountains just as gorgeous as can be. Erwan was able to share with Ben his fitness and natural movement philosophy called MovNat, Explore Your True Nature...see www.movnat.com

We got so inspired by the hike, we decided to do a similar hike the two days later going up Stone Canyon to the peak of Mt. Lukens, highest point in the city of LA.

BFT

Running in Seattle with FeelMax Shoes

Volunteer Park snow run

University of Washington Husky Stadium in the background

Up the Interlaken

Through the park on the way home

Tiger Mountain rocky trail | Photo by Laura Houston

Excellent feedback through sole - good for balance feel

My dirty, well-used FeelMax Niesas (set for European release June 2009)

1 mm thick puncture-proof sole

Howdy Folks

I am testing out a new shoe from a family owned company in Finland called FeelMax.

See www.feelmax.com (not yet available in the USA)

I have the latest version shipped to me directly from their factory in Thailand.

I am VERY impressed with this shoe and will be writing more in the coming
weeks.

The version I have has a 1 mm thick sole made out of a Kevlar impregnated material developed by Continental for FeelMax. Amazing stuff.

Mine are VERY easy to get on and off. The feeling is amazingly close to barefoot. 1mm sole is very thin and very durable.

Happy.

BFT

PS. Read more here.

Verdugo Mountain Tree Planting - Coulter Pines

View from the newly planted trees' perspective, downtown LA to left

I had an opportunity to join with a group of about 30 volunteers to go to the top of the Verdugo Mountains and plant some trees in and around the Experimental Forest on January 10th.

I helped plant three Coulter Pines also known as Big Cone Pines (Pinus coulteri) on the side of a fire road that runs along the crest of the Verdugos. They happen to have the largest pine cones of any pine (see here). These beautiful trees will look down on a fantastic panorama that includes downtown Los Angeles and the ocean!

Since these trees grow about 1 foot per year, I look forward to coming back regularly and seeing the progress. A big thank you to the City of Glendale's Dave Moreno and Jeff Weinstein for hosting the event.

Sir Edgar, BFT (me) and Roger Klemm after planting
(if you look closely, you can see my FeelMax shoes with 1mm sole I am testing)

Sir Edgar (Eddie) | My Siberian Husky Friend

Introducing Eddie to Hansen Dam

My favorite lookout, Hansen Dam

Barefooters paradise...Hansen Dam

Eddie is very comfortable running at my side, Weathertop Farms

Sir Edgar with his new mama in Seattle's Volunteer Park

Sir Edgar Earl Grey, also know as Eddie, came into my life this month. He is a Siberian Husky. He spent the first week with me in Los Angeles before moving up to Seattle. More about him as time permits.

BFT

MovNat.com - Methode Naturelle 21st Century Style

Erwan Le Corre has launched his website and released his latest video to the public.

I have been corresponding with Erwan since 2006 and have been anxiously awaiting the formal introduction of his school of physical fitness.

According to Erwan, Movnat is:

an education system that empowers zoo humans to experience their true nature. Our true nature is to be strong, healthy, happy and free.

Please take a moment to visit Erwan's website www.MovNat.com. I plan on becoming a certified MovNat instructor.

BFT

BFT's Newsletter - January 2009