Why is it that we labour under the delusion that having black, dead, or missing toenails is a badge of honour in running? If this was our teeth would we feel the same? I doubt it. I would suggest that kicking a tree root or rock with significant force should be the only reason to lose toenails. In more than a decade, the only toenail I have ever come close to loosing was after attempting to uproot Tane Mahuta (the god of the forest) with my toe. Want to avoid turning your feet into nail graveyards? |
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The son of an LAPD detective, who grew up ensconced in the surf and skateboard culture of 1970’s California, Ted’s curiosity for what propels us has changed the course of his life, and arguably many others. Ted was in New Zealand recently to speak at RunFest. Over coffee, we had the pleasure of speaking about the relevance of barefoot running, his own well being, and a myriad of other topics. Ted could be considered a contradiction;. The president of an international running footwear company, a futurist who is investigating alternative forms of transport like the Solowheel and a noble savage who values above all else running wild.
Going barefoot is not just for hippies and the beach. It’s not some gung-ho demonstration of primal instinct. It’s the opposite of what most people think it is. It’s tender loving care for your feet.
If you’ve ever had a broken limb in cast you will have no doubt experienced the weakening and wasting of muscles. Strap your feet into a sensory deprivation chamber every day of the week and I am confident that the same will happen to the muscles of your feet. Your ability to walk and run literally rests on your feet. Wear shoes all day every day and the most important running appendage you have is likely withering away. This has become common for the vast majority the population, but, is it normal? The more structured the shoe, the less likely it is that foot is doing the work it was designed for.
How much time do you spend without shoes on? And how much of that time do you spend on natural ground?
You might be astounded to learn about the many evidenced benefits of spending time with bare feet on the earth’s surface. This practice of “earthing” has been shown to increase brain activity, regulate the endocrine and immune systems and provide constructive stimulation for the nervous system. Recent literature is even telling us that red blood cells are positively affected by the electron exchange that takes place between you and the ground when you shake your shoes off. |