I totally want to work for this kid!
This baby means business… bare footed business
Transition to Barefoot Running – Xero Shoes interviews Alex Hill
Why would you make the transition to running barefoot? And what’s it like to do that?
How do you avoid doing “too much, too soon”?
Are Vibram Fivefingers the same as barefoot? The best minimalist choice?
We sat down (well, stood up, since I use a treadmill desk 😉 ) and talked with Alex Hill about how and why he made the move. Plus we get 2 special guests during our talk, and see some AWESOME feet when we do.
Alex made a “commercial” about Xero Shoes… here it is:
Do you need to call the Superheros of Health?
We take a break from our usual chat about barefoot running and walking for this:
I don’t think it’s much of a confession to say that I’m a total health and fitness geek.
I love keeping up on the research about strength training (most recently: power factor training), diet (my latest obsession: resistant starch), supplementation (lately: nothing), and anything else that could improve the quality of my life.
So, I was a kid in a candy store when I heard about “The Superheroes of Health”
Amber Rogers, from gokaleo.com has put together an incredible collection of 23 ebooks and audios that dig behind the mythology of health and fitness. Some of my favorite writers/researchers are in the mix. In fact, I already owned 3 of the ebooks in the Superheroes of Health collection. But that didn’t stop me from buying the whole package 😉
I hope that you get introduced to some great people, including Armi Legge, Chris Highcock, Alan Aragon, Amber Rogers, and a LOT more. And, more, I hope yu get some great value out of the info that Amber has put together for you.
And now, back to our regular barefoot running shoes programming 😉
Can you run long distance in sandals? You bet!
There’s nothing I find funnier than when I’m running in my Xero Shoes sandals and someone asks, “Can you run in those?”
Uh… you’re WATCHING me run in them!
Well, when I tell non-runners that some people run 100k ultramarathons in huaraches, they’re incredulous.
Now I don’t need to explain anything, I can just show this video of the La Ruta Run, a 50k and 100k race that took place in Costa Rica. Arguably, La Ruta is the hardest trail ultramarathon in the world.
Check it out… but be careful. This video will make you want to run La Ruta!
Oh, and look at the 4:18 -ish mark for Jonathan Sinclair and Melissa Gosse running La Ruta in their Xero Shoes! Hear them talk about running La Ruta here.
And check out the women running in their cheap plastic sandals!
Xero Shoes heads Down Under
Outdoor industry analysts, SportsOneSource, reported our good news:
Xero Shoes Enters Australian Market
SportsOneSource Media Posted: 1/15/2014
Xero Shoes announced that Stepping Out Footwear of Sidney will represent Xero Shoes in Australia and New Zealand.
After the Colorado maker of barefoot-‐inspired footwear appeared on Shark Tank, and since the release of their ready-to-wear Sensori line of recreational performance sandals, Xero Shoes’ expansion has accelerated dramatically, with this being the first aggressive move into international retail.
Stepping Out Footwear’s Director, Hamish Lorimer, has 20 years of experience introducing international brands to the Australian market.
“When I saw the new Xero line of sandals at the Atlanta Shoe Market, I realized immediately that this was a perfect product for Australia. The simplicity, durability, and elegance all fit with the active lifestyle we lead down here. And with 8 months of sandal-‐wearing weather, it really is, well… a PERFECT fit,” said Lorimer.
Xero Shoes CEO, Steven Sashen, said, “We know that Australia and New Zealand have a big flip flop culture. And the comfort, performance, and style that Xero Shoes provide make our products a total ‘flip-flop killer.’”
Feel The World, Inc. of Broomfield, CO, manufactures Xero Shoes, a high-‐tech upgrade on the traditional huaraches running sandal of the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico.
Needless to say, we are EXTREMELY excited about having more Aussies enjoying the fun and benefits of Barefootware®.
The one reason to avoid barefoot running
Look, I’m the first one to say that barefoot running isn’t for every person under every circumstance. Granted, I’ll say that it’s great for almost everyone, almost all of the time.
But every now and then, you need a pair of shoes.
Certain restaurants or businesses require SOME form of footwear (one of the reasons we developed Xero Shoes, in fact).
As a sprinter, I wear sprinting spikes when I need to run full speed on a track.
But this may be the best reason to wear shoes: When you need to open a bottle of wine and don’t have a corkscrew… or just want to show off in a geeky-nerdy way:
Oh, and if you’re out on the trail and don’t even have a wall, how ’bout a tree? (BTW, this video is WAAAAAAY funnier than the first 😉 ).
Will this work with a pair of Xero Shoes? Who’s going to be the first one to make a video and answer that question?
The state of running shoes in 2014
On Jan 15th, I was part of a GREAT conversation (podcast) about the state of footwear and barefootware, with 1980 Olympic marathoner, Benji Durden, Michael Sandler from Runbare, RL Smith from In-Step shoes and, of course… ME!
George Thomas from Over The Top Radio moderated and, well, not surprisingly, nobody pulled any punches when we gave our thoughts about the truth behind running shoes, barefoot running, minimalism, and “Big Shoe.”
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/overthetop1/2014/01/16/over-the-top-radio–trends-in-running
The truth about barefoot running finally revealed in an Infographic
Finally, all the statistics and information about barefoot running you need to know.
Enjoy! And SHARE!
(click to see full size)
Here’s my commentary on the infographic 🙂
The content of this post does not constitute and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions or concerns you may have about your health or a medical condition.
Merry Christmas and Huarache Holidays!
Everyone here at Xero Shoes wishes you a very happy holiday season, Merry Christmas (for those of you who celebrate it), and an exceptionally happy New Year!
Bare feet, strong feet
Dr. Mark Cucuzzella and the Natural Running Center have put out a great ebook about the benefits of being barefoot and natural movement.
According to the NRC site, the premise: Healthy Feet = Healthy Running.
I’d add healthy walking, hiking, strolling, yoga, working out… and everything else you do on your feet.
The free ebook looks at a study done in 1905 by Dr. Phil Hoffman, where he compared the feet of barefooted and shoe-wearing (shod) people, and includes commentary on the study by Mark, Dr. Casey Kerrigan, and Dr. Phil Maffetone.
It’s stellar.
And did I mention: free
Click the image below to pick up your copy.
The content of this post does not constitute and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions or concerns you may have about your health or a medical condition.
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If you somehow manage to wear through the outsole on your Xero Shoes, we will replace them for a nominal shipping & handling fee.