It’s one thing to run barefoot on any outdoor terrain or surface. It’s another thing to do this safely. It’s quite another thing to do it POWERFULLY & with SPEED. Very few of our generation (especially in countries outside Africa, South America & parts of Asia) can do any of the above easily and naturally. We are quite simply to SOFT on the skin covering the soles of our feet. Too much coverage, too much cushion, too much pampering…
If you’re serious about changing the trend and venturing into the barefoot running world, understand that once you perfect total core bracing, light, compact, forward running, roughing up the skin on the soles of your feet and the technique of ‘flicking’, you MAY be ready to run 25 metres barefoot on rough asphalt or concrete.
I am focusing on the ‘flick’ technique in this blog due to my belief that the basic physics parameter of Power = Work Done divided by Time is critical to your success with my Squat-Scoot style of barefoot running. As you land on your mid-foot with the impact spot almost directly under your BENT knee & in line under your hip & shoulder, you barely remain on the surface. In a millisecond, you ‘flick’ the foot off the surface by contracting from the calf muscles followed by the hamstrings. The heel will ‘spring up’ toward the buttocks before releasing forward under the control of the gluts.
It’s the POWER of the ‘flick’ that determines the forward driving wattage that allows you to move faster, more efficiently & powerfully. Thus, you must forcefully discipline yourself to push forward with purpose off the mid-foot in order to generate more endurance speed over longer distances. If you tire, your feet with stay on the surface too long in almost a ‘slapping’ action that causes significant loss of energy.
Flick to Freedom on the barefoot running trail!
coach Jeff
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Natural Running Canada 