Barefoot Benny Personal Fitness
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Register!
  • Testimonials
  • Running
  • Barefooting
  • Blog
  • Links

Running Clinic with Michael Sandler

6/4/2010

0 Comments

 
Wednesday night I attended a barefoot running clinic led by "Barefoot Running" author Michael Sandler. The event, hosted by the Barefoot Runners NYC Meetup.com group, attracted over 70 barefoot runners, which is pretty awesome! I arrived in Central Park and laughed to myself as a huge group of people, mostly shod in Vibram Five Fingers or just their bare skin, mulled around talking to each other. I've seen other VFF runners in Central Park and during NYRR races, but never have I seen such a large gathering of us.

Once things got underway, Michael Sandler told us about his personal discovery of barefoot running. He used to be a professional athlete who could bike, run, rollerblade, and basically do everything else that could be considered active. After a horrifying blading accident that left his leg mangled, he underwent many surgeries to repair what was left. The doctors place a titanium rod in his leg, among other things, which was a lot better than amputation, but he found it difficult to run again. After becoming frustrated with his sneakers, he took off his shoes and started going barefoot, which enabled him to feel the ground, which in turn enabled his body find a correct form which didn't cause pain. Pretty impressive stuff!

The clinic was a bit different than Erwan LeCorre's or a Pose Running session in that he focused more on how your upper body should be positioned, as opposed to what should be done with your legs. Sandler stressed these few essentials:
  • Your hips must be in a neutral position, instead of tilted down with your bum sticking out
  • Suck your belly in
  • Chest is up and out
  • Bring your arms into a "W" and then roll your shoulders down your back, leaving your arms in a 90 degree angle, with your hands near your ribs and elbows back
  • Straighten yourself up, like somebody is pulling a string from your head
  • Fall forward and take tiny steps and begin running
We practiced this starting position many times, as well as a foot strengthening exercise in which we grabbed the grass with our toes as we walked.

While there was the obvious motive to sell books, Sandler also felt very passionate about spreading the word on barefoot running. He was very genuine and engaging, and was able to cite studies and statistics about how running barefoot can improve your form, make you more efficient, and greatly reduce the risk of injury. While I've never read the book, I heard there are a plenty of drills in it to further educate yourself on how to run. I personally will not be buying the book, but for the beginner it is probably a great read.

If you're interested in learning more about barefoot and minimalist running, sign up for one of my barefoot running lessons in Central Park and find out what all the excitement is about!
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Barefoot Benny

    Barefoot Benny's blog provides both clients and fitness enthusiasts great fitness tips, barefooting news, and nutritional facts throughout the week!

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    May 2017
    December 2011
    November 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009

    Categories

    All
    Barefoot Exercising
    Barefoot Running
    Boot Camp
    Born To Run
    Breathing
    Central Park
    Nyc
    Pose Method
    Qwod
    Vibram Five Fingers
    Vivo Barefoot


    Barefoot Benny Personal Fitness

    Follow me @BarefootBenny
    Twitter me @BarefootBenny
    Vivo Barefoot
    Vivo Barefoot
    Join the Meetup.com group
    Join the Meetup.com group
    Betterfly rocks!
    Picture
    Wahanda
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Register!
  • Testimonials
  • Running
  • Barefooting
  • Blog
  • Links