As we head into the end of March, 2018 AND into the holy time of Easter, I wanted to share my run along the Medway Heritage Forest trails as a motivator for at least THINKING about going barefoot!
The last vestiges of winter (as seen below) linger in the valley behind our property in London, Ontario, Canada BUT, as the air temperature hovers around 4 Celsius, I believe spring is in the air!
Being Holy Thursday, I wanted to spend quiet time alone doing what I love – running through the bush and jumping into ice cold water (in this case, Snake Creek) – amidst God’s creation. This gives me time to be alone with God and in the presence of Jesus – if just for 30 to 35 minutes.
It was ‘dead’ quiet in the forest this morning – almost eerily silent, as a matter of fact. A light rain was falling and there was not a wisp of a wind. The trails were muddy, rugged and treacherous – PERFECT conditions for full-on barefoot running!!!
As I ventured deeper into the forest, my feet became more and more activated to the point where only the moment mattered. Everything else in my life drifted away – it was almost magical!
As I scrambled to the peak of one of the hills and hung over the edge of the cliff, I became acutely aware of humankind’s vulnerability to nature. One false step and I was a goner!! It certainly keeps one’s senses on high alert – a wonderful ‘natural’ high!!
Of course, NONE of my forays into the Medway Forest would be complete without a dunking of some sort IN the creek! A water temperature of 1 Celsius got my attention and put my nerve endings into overdrive!
The adaptability of the body to extreme conditions is quite remarkable, actually. The surprising thing to me is that more of us do NOT venture into the world of ‘controlled’ extremes. I believe we would all be healthier and happier if we did so!
Most people who know of my proclivity toward the extremes of going barefoot think that I am certifiably insane. I, on the other hand, think I am PERFECTLY sane. As I approach age 65, there are few as physically and mentally fit, healthy and active as I. Once someone proves that my way is “hazardous and dangerous to my health”, I MAY change my ways. Then again, I MAY NOT…!!!
Happy and holy Easter to everyone.
coach Jeff
Since my last blog on him, progress in all areas of physical fitness has been significant. As you can see in the photo above, he has sprouted up to 5’8″ and gained 12 pounds of muscle. He also can now easily balance barefoot on one foot with eyes closed for at least 60 seconds – a sign of vastly improved proprioceptive balance. Beyond that, he can also now run on the spot with eyes
closed for 60 seconds without traveling from the start position between the pylons (see photos above and below). This shows improved balance and better right-left muscle activation.
From there, Tej showed me his barefoot running prowess – vastly improved to the point where he lands light and pushes forward with power. When we first started, he could not run without pain!
To further test the improvement in balance, I had him go on the rounded side of a Bosu Ball and stand on one leg with eyes closed. The goal was a 10 second hold and he made it to 12 seconds on the right and 15 seconds on the left – amazing results, indeed!
I then put Tej through a series of ball reaction drills combined with running and balancing over Bosu and Stability balls – with eyes opened AND closed!! As you can see in the following photos, he performed admirably. His awareness of space and reaction time have improved to the point where I can toss a ball at different angles and from different positions and Tej can catch it without difficulty.
As an extension of his eyes closed prowess, I had Tej toss a weighted ball and basketball against the wall with eyes closed and a tension band around his knees (he had to maintain outward pressure from the knees on the band to activate his hip abductor muscles – the goal being to test his ability to sense an object coming at him in space whilst activating muscle groups at the same time). After a few misses, he locked onto the process and never missed after that.
His ball handling skills ( especially when dribbling a basketball with either hand) whilst weaving through a ladder have improved dramatically to the point where he can now play on a court with his peers without feeling left behind. This has been a huge boost to his confidence both in and outside the classroom.
Then, it was on to the chin-up bar and a series of weight-lifting drills that Tej has been working on over the past 8 months. Remember – he could not even hold himself from a chin-up bar nor lift a weighted bar or dumbbell of more than a few pounds when we first started the process. He performed 4 full chin-ups,
dead-lifted a 35 pound kettle bell
and a 65 pound squat stand.
He completed the sequence with a progressive bench press from 50 to 75 pounds, squats of 60 to 75 pounds and angled chest flyes from 5 to 20 pound dumbbells. 
I had Tej finish with some barefoot running to see how his technique held up after fatiguing virtually all of his main muscle groups. As you can see in the photo below, his technique held firm – I admit to being somewhat surprised by his ability to do so. Be reminded yet again that this is the same young lad who came to me 18 months ago racked in pain and unable to partake in peer-related activities. Most times in the day, Tej wears a variety of shoes but ONLY with the Barefoot-Science inserts in place. 
His parents say that the inserts have rescued Tej from a life of needless joint and muscle pain by re-aligning him into better body symmetry and balance – something that years of physical therapy was unable to accomplish. He shows the running balance and power in the photo below.
In conversation with his parents after the session, they mentioned that “now in gym class, his peers call him MVP!”. This has been quite a journey for young Tej – and his parents…and for me, as a matter of fact!! It has reinforced my belief that anyone can accomplish even the smallest of goals…IF someone BELIEVES in them AND shows them the PROPER way to ACHIEVE!! 
At age 91+, he is STILL defying the odds. I have continued weekly ‘training sessions’ with my former professor (and mentor) from Western University days. He continues to amaze with new-found skills (or at least new found to me but part of Dr. Mike’s vast repertoire locked deep inside his brain, I do believe!).
head off to London, 
I said farewell to many of my Team Over The Top clients, private training clients, business associates and neighbours – with ALL of us promising to “stay in touch, drop in for a visit etc.”, I mentioned to most that “I would NOT see them again, that once out of sight, basically, you are out of mind”. This has been borne out in six short months. Nobody has “come to visit” and few if any have reached out and contacted me even if it is simply to say “hello, I miss you”.
It was to also be a mini-homecoming. In my heart, I was hoping to have a chance to re-connect with many of my former clients AND refine their training technique as a bonus. In my mind, I did NOT feel that this would work. People have moved on. Typically, my mind won out. I sent out 50+ invitations to which I heard back from FOUR – that is correct – FOUR!! Of the FOUR, two said they would LOVE to attend and the other two said they were not available. The remainder never even replied to my request.
whom I join 2 times per week for a mix of distance road and trail runs along with my favourite – hill drills!! We meet on Saturdays at a new local running store called, interestingly enough, Backroads Brews and Shoes and Wednesdays at the downtown Running Room store for hill training.
Owned by a young husband & wife team, they actually are licensed to sell BEER
along with running gear.
Being out on the mid-western edge of town, there are road and trail routes available. Of course, there are NO barefooters but they are quite fascinated by my ability to do so quickly over all terrain even in the winter.
It is desolate in spots but scenic in other spots.
This is an interesting mix of mid to high level runners but, typically, none have spent much time locking in on technique. Thus, the old coach cannot resist but to weigh in. Thus far, they have been open to making adjustments and have been pleasantly surprised by the results.
of Oshawa – the one and only, George Grabowski (in photo below, he has his back to the camera).
We had competed against each other throughout high school and went from bitter ‘enemies’ to fast friends! Strange how that can sometimes happen! George has been amazing at helping me ‘fit in’. God LOVE him. Of course, I also play basketball barefoot – as you will notice in the photos, NONE of the gang ‘do as I do’. They DO play shirtless, though!!
My first few times out, the questions came fast and furious – but only from the ‘older’ lads (age range spreads from 28 to 73!). They typically go like this:
“do you need basketball shoes? We have extra sets. What gives with going barefoot? Don’t players simply step on your feet?” The youngsters probably thought “the old grey-haired dude has probably lost it – we’ll just leave him alone”. As the weeks have passed, the questions have ceased – now it simply comes down to “can you actually PLAY the game???”.
Is it an easy process for me to ‘move on and create a new life’ at such an advanced age? No. However, as I accept the fact that virtually nobody in my previous life gives a hoot about me and what I am up to, it is getting easier to adjust. I know with time London will be truly my new ‘home’ with new friends, clients and activities. I also know that if, for some reason, I leave London, nobody will give a hoot!!!
Natural Running Canada 