Learning to run barefoot

Posted on August 28, 2010 by Mike

On my recent trip to the US of A, I was lucky enough to pick up a pair of Vibram Five Finger KSO’s for about USD$85 + shipping.  I’d been thinking about buying them for quite some time but getting your hands on a pair in Australia (for a reasonable price!) had proved extremely challenging.  Regardless, the Five Fingers served as my impetus to get started with ‘barefoot’ running.

If you’re interested in getting a pair, please feel free to check them out here: FiveFingers KSO – Men’s by Vibram or Vibram FiveFingers Women’s KSO.

I wanted to briefly share with you my initial experiences of learning to run barefoot. Bear in mind, that I am a relatively heavy-set male (think 100+ kilos) and have never really enjoyed running all that much.  Part of the reason I wound up loving CrossFit actually!

To summarise my experiences so far:

  • Running barefoot is an absolute joy,
  • You don’t realise how badly shoes are impeding your natural running style until you actually get them off your feet,
  • You recognise that the musculature of your calves and quads are designed to absorb the shock of your landing – NOT your heels, knees and hips,
  • You recognise just how underdeveloped this musculature is once you start using it properly,
  • Your calves will hurt!
  • Start slow and build up your distances gradually,
  • Running on grass at a park is such a pleasure – you foot will spread out and act more like a claw, giving you more spring and speed from each landing,
  • Your agility improves significantly as you can change directions much more effectively when your toes can grip the turf,
  • Running barefoot is therapeutic for any ailments you might have accumulated from running WITH shoes.

I can’t recommend this more highly.  You honestly don’t need the fancy Vibram’s to get started.  They’re nice, but not essential.  Find yourself a nice patch of grass and start to FEEL the ground with your feet.  Its truly amazing.

Get your feet out of their leather coffins!  They’re capable of so much more if you just let them :)

I hope your barefoot running experiences are as enjoyable as mine.

***17/10/2010 UPDATE: Check out the below video for some useful tips on common running issues***

Posted in CrossFit, Fun, Health | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Take charge of your mobility

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Mike

One of my all time favourite CrossFit coaches has just started a new blog.  Naturally, the content is superb – relevant, quick and effective.  As someone who suffers the plight of being a desk jockey all day, I can safely say that spending 5-10 minutes a day on fixing your ‘business’ is the absolute LEAST you can do for yourself.

You can check out Kelly Starrett’s new project here: mobilitywod.blogspot.com

At present, he’s posting a daily mobility WOD design to break up your stored up dysfunction.  Get onto it!  Most of these WOD’s take less than 1o minutes and can be done before your regular CrossFit WOD.

Posted in CrossFit, Health | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Australia…not getting it done…

Posted on August 26, 2010 by Mike

http://doesaustraliahaveagovernmentyet.com/

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Speaking of getting it done…

Posted on August 25, 2010 by Mike

Knowing I’m sowing seeds, let’s see whose thumb is the greenest
If I said I mean it, I did it because I need it
Eat, sleep it or bleed it, write it down and then read it
Asphalt to the cement, your trash talk, delete it

- The Roots

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What can you do with your body?

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Mike

So after my funeral experience earlier this week, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be alive.

One of the greatest gifts of life  is our body.  Contrary to popular academic belief, your body is not simply a vessel that carries around your brain.  Your body is an amazing thing, capable of terrific things.

Over the course of the next few weeks I’ll be trying to explore some fascinating and enjoyable things you can do with your body.

In the mean time… two fun things to check out:

  1. My brilliant friend Jules has a website that can get you on your way to health and well-being: acelifestyle.net
  2. And here are some interesting things your body can do after you die! Check them out here.

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