Barefoot Running Style

A brief video developed by Dr. Mark Cucuzzella in association with Northward Advance on the science and art of barefoot running and what we are trying to teach- a Barefoot Running Style. For more information see Two Rivers Treads Center for
Natural Running and Walking Site www.trtreads.org - Produced by Northward Advance
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEW CHANNEL: / northwardadvance

[@MoGoldstein]

Oh, how beautiful! I remember running barefoot as a kid and even in college. It was wonderful! ...Eventually, enough "experts" convinced me how dangerous it was, taught me a "proper" heel-strike form, and sold me some big squishy shoes(the Brooks BEAST, aptly named). Needless to say, I soon developed chronic injuries (Which I foolishly blamed on the years of barefooting!), and sprained my ankles repeatedly! Now, as I approach 40, I am happily re-learning to run pain free Again:)

[@LulzInducer]

It's kind of like the Matrix when Neo is awakened from the Matrix, and he asks why his eyes hurt, and Morpheus replies that it's because he's never used them. It's so sad how few of us have been able to experience the beauty of our natural form to its fullest capacity due to societal norms (most of which are entirely insane, in my opinion).

[@johnmarston130]

Facts

[@BatkoBrat]

I can't even mention barefoot running STYLE to those that are still in "The Matrix" without being labeled as conspiracy theorist. It is like they think I have some kind of need to be different so I make things up lol 🤣

[@lachlanogrady]

Well said!

[@constantinliar]

This video smells like freedom

[@markcucu]

Thank you all for the nice comments on our video. I think the pace is about 6 min/mile which is exactly waht I ran for 26 miles in Boston a week after we shot this (2:37:00 age 44). On arm carry...use elastic recoil and stretch/shortening reflex by simply driving back lightly. the arms then spring forward in relaxed effortless way. this is the parallel movement to the hip release where you simply allow your hip to extend back as you touch the ground and they too return like a rubber band.

[@ABrotherOfThor]

Everything about this video makes me feel good.

[@richardsenelly4209]

I don't run every day, but when I do I run quietly. Run lightly my friends.

[@SimonWoodburyForget]

It's insane really, barefoot running is so light and quiet, that you could sneak up on someone while *running* 3 m/s. I can hardly myself think (let alone hear the birds) when I'm *walking* in my normal shoes. It feels as if you're running on a fluffy white cloud, and yet you're running on hard flat pavement.

[@francescprats3847]

still amazed. I discovered the video 7 years ago and still enjoy watching it.

[@epidemia2007]

(UPDATE).The dislikes are from the tennis shoes companies.

[@markcucu]

Appreciate all the wonderful and insighful comments that continue to flow from this video. On the question below...i started cutting the heels off shoes 5 years ago. Have 30 years of competitive running behind me. The pace is not faster now but the effort and the beating is removed. Mark

[@brunhilde1]

Beautiful video, gorgeous music and excellent information. What a way to see the running technique actually being done. Totally inspired me ... going outside now! Thank you!

[@Ozajaynish]

Today I tried barefoot running first time in my life. To be honest I was afraid of it . But my experience was very pleasant. Pain in my knees went away immediately. P.S. I ran 6km barefoot without any injuries

[@cefeder1]

Be careful with the transition into barefoot runnning. Take your time - don't do too much too fast :)

[@austinstein4066]

One thing that helped me transition is to make sure you let your heels kiss the ground-don't run entirely on your forefeet!

[@yuleforrest6290]

You should build up muscles before changing the running style

[@tylerx8848]

@@austinstein4066 so hard to do with inflexible calfs :/

[@markcucu]

Thanks Gary for the post. Good to hear from you. Nothing misleading. The video shows where I am now after "relearning how to run" and "progressing gradually". This is the message we aim to share if you have had a trail of running injuries and have been told or think "running is bad for you". Hope all is well in San Antonio and you are staying healthy. Mark

[@G8rRanger]

Great video. I've been a VFF runner for almost 3 years, not counting the 6 months to transition. 20 year RIP (Runner In Pain). Gave it up at age 45. Now do not run for fitness unless it is part of our CrossFit regimen that day, but when I do, it is ONLY in VFFs. Don't have the guts to go completely naked! Key thing: Start slowly! Your calves will appreciate that!

[@awakingmind]

@Jouwl - I would say it's because the energy needed to swing an object increases the further it is from the pivot (it will travel a much greater distance). It's easier to return your leg to starting position if it is shorter (held up), just like a dancer spins faster when they hold their arms close. There will be less force required, and thus less stress on your body.

[@primaltoad1]

This is the best video I have ever seen on running barefoot. I am a huge fan and can't wait to do some trail running/hiking this year. I am talking 100 mile trails here in Michigan.

[@zimfour]

This video inspired me to go running barefoot, been wearing Vibrams since April. Just got over a bout of Achilles Tendonitis. Barefoot felt GREAT!!!

[@marcelluntungan]

Just bought my first vivobarefoot shoes... I’m 57 and have the typical Indonesian flat feet. But I am very curious to feel the difference within the coming months. This video is extremely inspiring, thank you!!

[@hippoyell]

Beautiful running, inspiring clip. Thank you

[@esac17]

FYI - this video is good for showing what good running form looks like. Although I wear shoes, it really helped me out.

[@syrus3k]

The music in this video is also in the game 'Braid' which is an excellent puzzle based video game.

[@Jrobbun]

Wow, something I commented on 7 months ago. Feels like such a long time. Of course in that time-frame I have learned more.

[@juanluisrodrigueznavarro4418]

Gran vídeo. Mis dos rodillas lesionadas en 2010 ¡desgaste!, nadie sabía la solución y creo que por eso lo llaman condromalacia, dolor 24 horas!!!. Pues llevo unos 9 meses corriendo descalzo o minimalista y resulta que de esta forma no me duelen las rodillas...para mí ha sido la solución, sencilla, barata y rápida. Ánimo.

[@CaityMcCardell]

Absolutely beautiful video... an inspiration!

[@starbase606]

@delxart The guy in this video won the Air Force Marathon a couple of weeks ago. Running isn't just about time and speed. Barefoot improves form and is, for me, a sublime and wonderful experience. You may not know what you are missing.

[@vladimirdanov9536]

Somewhere around 6 months into running I asked a friend to have me filmed running. In my mind I was doing everything great; posture, foot strike, I though I looked like Usain Bolt. Until I got back home and watched the slow-mo that is. I was heavily heelstriking, wasn't moving my arms at all (as if carrying a crate or something), and my posture was the good old "sitting on saddle" type. I since then transitioned onto zero drop shoes(can't run barefoot cause the concrete in my local park is so jagged it really is bad idea), I walk barefoot whenever I can and definitely looks like that's the key to longevity. Can't say I've figured it out because there is so fucking much about running technique and posture that we're yet to discover or me at least but yeah.. just sharing my experience

[@markcucu]

You are right! here is the correct interpretation from da Vinci “the human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.” Dr. Mark

[@rangerroor]

I'd love to run where the video was filmed. The scenery seems so relaxing.

[@arkmayeekgayadday]

great video! great music!

[@JackyLedeboer]

Nice running guys!! Great vid! Fine music too.

[@VibrantWhite]

damn wish we all had perfect roads and sticker less grass lol but I barefoot run where ever I can

[@wanderotter4667]

You could try barefoot shoes.

[@Thethe0ryof]

Beautiful form, I wish mine could be that perfect

[@111Renegade111]

Beautiful sure... You'd never win the 100 m dash with this form though.

[@YeNZeC]

@@111Renegade111 You could win a marathon though, or a 5km or a 10km.....

[@YeNZeC]

@@111Renegade111 You could win a marathon though, or a 5km or a 10km.....

[@wyweb]

@@111Renegade111 why's that?

[@RK-dk5vt]

@@wyweb A sprint requires a different form: much more leaned, much more calves-only work and more aggressive and higher arm movements.

[@Genoga12]

hehe~ one of the benefit of running bare~ you are training your focus as well~ I'm a barefoot runner as I run I have run very careful to focus on the front and the road condition.

[@AnchorNJS]

I definitely couldn't pull this off in San Francisco. Good form, man!

[@gnsejr]

Great, inspiring, thank you!

[@tonyrabone4668]

Beautiful video

[@bb3lo]

Music: I do not remember the artist but you can find it in the indie video game BRAID

[@starbase606]

Beautiful running.

[@kantypadilla]

Estupendo gracias.

[@paulliong111]

Thks for sharing this impressive clip. Barefoot Paul!

[@MrJwm77]

@Rubynas My PF never got as bad as yours, but I've slowly been making the change to minimalist shoes (Merrell, but others are good too) and my PF has reduced significantly. If you're at the point where it's hard to stand, however, I'm not so sure.

[@tedallison6112]

Great stuff. I run exclusively barefoot twice a day. No pavement. Only rugged grasslands that groove into trails I engineer by running so often on them. I have a kilometer park w a steep downhill,then bog/ Swamp area coming out to a viciously vertical grass hill. I started by doing 14 rotations & am now on 23 laps-next workout will be 24x's the Swamp. Everyday after doing this,I set new 3,5,6& 7 mile barefoot time records. Sprinting full tilt uphill also upticks yr testosterone levels( scientifically proven). The only problem I have is---I simply can't run in shoes anymore so than a cat ,dog or deer can! A veritable running animal now! I won a 5K on the beach in Lincoln City Oregon( very proud of that 1-as the only non-shoe runner in the entire race!) Currently haven't be able to find a race to run barefoot here in the concrete jungle, otherwise known as Houston, Texas!

[@juliandoesitwaybette]

marks running form is beautiful! how long does it take to reach that type of stride/pace?

[@haitaozhu9518]

Great video! Love It!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@VolcanicLioness]

Ughhh!!! I am a barefoot runner but I tripped over my dad's shoes and I sprained my metatarsal tendon and now I'm stuck in a boot and forced to not barefoot run til I'm out of it. Watching this video just relaxed me yet made me more anxious to go back to it as soon as possible. Every single night I have dreams of running barefooted. Every single night. It sucks so much to not do this. God really blessed humans with the ability to run

[@chrimic]

This soundtrack is ripped from Braid, great game! Nice vid too

[@rodneysammons5544]

3:33 Stack stone wall is an art also.

[@annikashultz]

Does the music accompanying the video have 180 bpm by any chance? It sounds like it...I may add it to my running mix.

[@catiacaldeira9009]

Lindo!!!! Me identifico muito👣👣👣👣👣❤💛💚

[@arnrna]

@sjrduarte and exactly how would it do that? Compared to landing on the heel, how would it be worse the the disc, when the impact on the ground is less harsh?

[@aubreypwilliams]

Wonder approximate what pace we're seeing in the vide?

[@Qrierzentrale]

which music is in the background?

[@LulzInducer]

Go to a park or go to a road that doesn't have broken glass and nails littered about. I run in the city streets of Atlanta, Pensacola, and Seattle, and I've never stepped on broken glass (I avoid it by watching where I step), I've never seen a single nail (and Atlanta is like a constant construction zone), and on pavement. I've never had a single problem barefoot. It's when I put on shoes that I feel pain. Rocks kind of suck, I will confess, but hot pavement is easy to build resistance to.

[@Rubynas]

I suffer from plantar fasciitis for a year already.I can't stand up for more than a minute, barefoot...it can be very painful. Ufff...just by looking at this guy running barefoot I almost experienced pain. Interesting video!!!But If anybody had plantar fasciitis and had tried this I would like to know.Thanks

[@DanStoner]

Antietam look like a beautiful place to run!

[@MrRorymunro]

I am an ultramarathon runner. would like to start barefoot running but have rather severe over-pronation. can I ditch the orthotics and start?

[@Jouwl]

@awakingmind You mean that the moment of inerta of the leg decreases? I can accept that... but is this something that you should be actively thinking about or is it automatic at all possible running speeds? When I get a chance of watching myself running in profile (in some window or whatever), my feet rarely reach the height of my knees. When I increase pace towards end of run, feet are at buttocks. So, think about or not? :-)

[@tylerx8848]

Wish my calves would get more flexible and stop tightining so much. I love flat level barefoot running but inclines kill me due to my lack of flexibility in my calf/soleus.

[@pavanedla2881]

Run withoutshoe its betterthan withshoe sir please replay

[@Gladiator0719]

Song name?

[@ITSbigwillystyle]

What's the second song they play?

[@slomo8888]

So...what are barefoot runners doing in the winter?

[@LulzInducer]

It sounds like you're almost gripping the ground when you run, or not flexing your foot enough. When I wear vibrams I get blisters right under my toes, but I think that's because my toe pads are too thick and they rub too much. No vibram models really fit my foot well :c To me it sounds like you're running with a bit of a "clenched" foot. I would try some exercises to stretch out your toes when just sitting down, and try to replicate more toe splaying as you run.

[@kirbsmeister2]

Nice. But to anyone else trying to make the transition: take it slow. As in "I don't even feel like I'm trying" slow. Muscles take a long time to develop, even if you feel like you've made progress in just a few days.

[@IMLovelydove23]

🏃 amazingly done 👍 ✔

[@GaryMillerUK]

For me, the good stuff is at 02:30

[@mora473db]

Tried this around the house now my left foot hurts, at the ball did something wrong

[@yongxingan]

hi how are you

[@GeetarAdam]

Yessir! Doing it is even more exhilarating!

[@aroundandround]

Who is the kid with the doctor? His son?

[@palmenable]

but it's so fun!

[@splaticon5]

Technique seems good, but I wonder whether these guys would be able to run a marathon barefoot, on asphalt, without getting blisters, using the exact same running style as in the video. THAT is the acid test for good barefoot technique. On long distances, even the tiniest flaw in technique will be amplified, which for the most part means painful blisters. (For the record, I am a barefoot runner myself. Still working on my stride though, trying to eliminate technical errors causing blisters)

[@TeboDaBebo]

but his feet look so big and stable. mine seems small relative to my size

[@jpete3027666]

@Hugh G. Rection who is running wrong, the guy in the video? If he's run over 100,000 miles with no problems I'd say he's probably doing it right.

[@SangreDeTuCorazon]

amazing im going to try it

[@yamaha893]

@RonBurgundy161 ah thats where i recognize it.

[@kngcrnk]

i like his shirt

[@barendbos]

ahh!! thanks! I wondered why I recognized it..

[@NavigatedChaos]

You do better if you don't let you heal touch the ground, you get a extra spring and can go a wee bit further.

[@MartiBrawghghgh]

Is it me or has anyone else seen the difference in their calves between a shoe and a barefoot runner?

[@AdolfoNeto]

+Martin Cordero Not only that. Mark is a very fast runner. He has been running for a long time. The other guy probably not.

[@jamietodd2560]

Yeah, it seemed like my calf muscles moved upwards toward my knees, I guess from the different load I was putting on them.

[@driftshop8690]

Cool

[@steverules513]

I get so pumped about being human when I see people run really far, really fast without shoes.

[@LiquidYogi]

Why do you guys run with your arms soo far down your bodies? I keep them up high cause I believe that's how it's done. Any thoughts on that?

[@markwachachaw5873]

nice share

[@gurkirpalsingh7376]

Just notice that there was no clunking noise while he was running , bare feet are the quietest , and there was no first heel strikes . gs

[@BlakeP16]

nice shorts

[@GeetarAdam]

Just a cautionary tale, but these guys have been doing this for a loooong time and built up to it slowly. The first time I ran barefoot, I went a mile on blistering hot pavement in 100 degree weather. My feet were hamburger when I was done and I limped around for 3 days. It takes time and effort to develop callouses and proper technique. Be forewarned!

[@bukharihizam]

Wait a minute its that music from the game Braid.....

[@MagnusVonBenz]

He is running fast!

[@sagacious13]

@gotzJazzhandz I agree. Human evolution is more so. I guess it's how one defines engineering.

[@perdahlgren9458]

Thomas Jönsson!

[@marcmongango]

que tal una fascitis plantar o desembocar en un espolon calcaneo? tiempo al tiempo...la juventud todo lo perdona y la edad todo lo castiga... si corres sin zapato que sea por arena hierba o lo mas tierra poco dura... salud y cuidaros

[@doc2allen]

Near Flawless Running Technique.......it would have to be to be doing it at this pace on paved hardtop.......the first fellas technique is a little better, his step and strike are shorter and thus cadence is higher.......the higher the cadence, the less the acceleration/deceleration and less vertical changes. Apparently the first chap has been running barefoot his whole life, it shows. Nicely done boys ! Dr. Allen, Dr. Waerlop, TheGaitGuys

[@superuber27]

Ha! Music from Braid!

[@layer8man]

I'm very late to this conversation, but running barefoot would be great until you step on a rock and get an excruciating stone bruise. Or, you step on an uneven spot and twist your ankle. Shoes help with both of these risks. Unless a person has perfectly smooth roads to run on, like this video, it could be very risky to do this.

[@Elul205770]

critics have obviously never had authentic shin splints (not tibilias anterior muscle cramps)

[@boberjackie]

I use to run like this but then my dad was like "walk like a man!" I was "STFU dad" but being an asian son I didn't actually say that. now after I watched this again its starting to come back to me. I think of it like running like those Elites in Halo

[@manuelgarcia1635]

why is the second runner wearing shin sleeves?

[@TheCrazyCatHouse]

Why not

[@SanDiegoRT]

I love running barefoot. However, whether you wear shoes or not , running on pavement is hard on the joints.

[@JeremyHowlett]

Love the Celtic tunes! Fantastic view on the way and benefits of running barefoot.

[@TechDark]

Must hurt if you scrape your toe to the asphalt