This is a follow-up to the post, 10 Things I Learned from Barefoot Ted, that I wrote after taking his first Advanced Barefoot Running class. This post covers what I learned from assisting him in Beginner Barefoot Running classes. I recently had the pleasure of assisting Barefoot Ted put on two running clinics at ZombieRunner [...]

If you saw a strange, motley looking crew running in Palo Alto Saturday with naked feet, that was us. Contrary to what surely was the conclusion of most passersby, we are not the latest new age cult to hit California. We're merely fans of natural running. Brought together by a common interest in running without shoes, we had gathered with Barefoot Ted (of Born to Run fame) to learn, practice, and improve our running form and have a good time. Both goals were met.

A growing body of scientific research shows that runners experience less injuries and faster times when they run barefoot or with minimal padding. In fact, research published in Sports Science in 2001 by Michael Warburtin points out that, "Laboratory studies show that the energy cost of running is reduced by about 4% when the feet are not shod." Translate the energy saved into time over a run and you are going to experience a personal record. Add the reduced chance you'll suffer an injury and it's a big win for us runners.

I recently finished reading Born to Run, A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. To say that it turned everything I thought I knew about running upside down would be an understatement. I literally discovered that things I had just learned about running – and from some of the most accomplished coaches out there – were completely wrong. In fact, some of the lessons people taught me could very well have been contributing to my injuries!

Here is a great compilation of photos by Barefoot Ted, taken during the 2007 Ultra Marathon in Copper Canyon. And make sure you pay close attention to the words in the background music! Hilarious. This race is the one that was set up by Caballo Blanco and told in the book Born to Run. Scott [...]

I recently finished reading the incredibly eye-opening and delightfully inspiring book Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall. In it, Chris introduces us to Barefoot Ted, a big man with a big mouth and an equally big heart who used to have terrible foot pains that crippled his running ability. He began to walk without shoes [...]