Falmouth Mob Match

Today was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for a road race in barefoot shoes.

This time last year I was struggling with major calf issues due to a poor running technique - little did I know but back then I was an unskilled forefoot striker, forcing my foot to land forefoot which does little to help technique but in fact does plenty to over-strain your calves and Achilles tendons...

So to finish today's Mob Match with fresh and uninjured legs in a faster time than last year is a RESULT!

Bring on next season's Cornwall Triathlon Series!

Do you have niggling running injuries? Have you technique analysed and corrected by a certified Vivobarefoot technique coach.

Latest Client Feedback

Hi Jonno,

Just wanted to thank you for for barefoot clinic and share my experience with everyone else!

I've been running for about 2 years now and also just started triathlons (I'm a late developer, I hated school sports). About 6 months ago I heard about barefoot running after visiting a physio but had no idea how to actually do it. I spend a lot of time barefooted at home so naively assumed I'd be fine running barefoot so off I went.

One of the recent local races was on the beach so I thought "here's my chance for my first barefoot race". I did ok, I came 10th overall but this was entirely a product of pigheaded resilience and nothing to do with correct technique. Needless to say I was in pain for the whole of the next week which wrecked any further training.

I met Jonno before the race when he commented on my bare feet and explained he was a coach. After talking to him at the end of the race I booked in for his analysis clinic which we split over 2 seperate days (wrecked calfs prevented completing it on day one).

You'll be astounded, I certainly was! After the first video analysis I was ready to quit running altogether, in trainers I wasn't even a particularly efficient heal striker let alone a pro barefoot runner! Thirty minutes later and after several stretches, drills and a clear explanation about biomechanics the person on the second video was unrecognisable from the first. By the end of the second session I was much happier about what my body was trying to achieve and could replicate most of it most of the time.

It's maybe a big ask to completely change your running style in a few hours and expect to be able to do it straight away but its worth sticking with. I now notice a big change in my efficiency even if I do now have to think what I'm doing with my legs but that will soon change with a bit more practice. I'm looking forward to next season when things become automatic again having had a winter to practice the new technique.

I think if you want to make the transition to barefoot running then this clinic is a must. Running in bare feet and barefoot running are two very different things and as an unskilled barefoot runner (like I was at the beach race) you're likely to do yourself more harm than you are to gain any of the reduced injury benefits you will have heard of about barefoot running.

The Vivobarefoot shoes are also excellent, they look good and the transition to them from your 'normal' heavily cushioned, arch supported shoes isn't anywhere near as difficult as you might think.

Thanks again,

Will

St Michaels Spa and Hotel

Spent today spreading the Barefoot word with the guys at St Michaels Spa at Gyllyngvasse Beach, Falmouth. We are taking bookings for Barefoot Clinics at the spa so if you fancy a holiday in a beautiful part of Cornwall at an amazing hotel and would like to transform your running technique, contact www.stmichaelshotel.co.uk for more info.

Official VivoBarefoot Coach

Officially now registered on the Vivobarefoot website as a Certified Technique Coach.

Check out http://trainingclinic.vivobarefoot.com/jonno-gibbins/

Running Injury?

For two years, since starting to train for triathlons, I had recurring calf problems. I call them cramps but they could be more spasmodic and very painful and sometimes just annoying aches. Sometimes it was the gastroc and sometimes soleus. But there was always a problem.

I visited several sports therapists, had my running gait analysed, changed my running shoes and had calf massages every week.

Everyone had a different opinion as to what my problem was - reasons ranged from too much snowboarding and thus oversized medial gastroc, to too long a big toe or mis-firing glutes!

I spent a lot of money for all that advice and many times wanted to quit running. But I loved triathlons and was getting good results, despite having to hobble round many events.

Then finally I met Lee Saxby. Lee is the world's best barefoot running coach and after a couple of hours under his watchful eye I learned that my technique was completely messed up and that is why I had calf injuries. By the end of the session I was running with a comfortable and efficient technique - since then I have been totally injury free with zero calf problems!

I am now also a VivoBarefoot Certified Coach, having been taught by the best in business. Running is a natural form of human locomotion and we should all be able to enjoy it fully without injury - invest in a clinic with the Barefoot Running Coach and run for life.

Why Barefoot?

I'm asked all the time, "Why barefoot? Surely it hurts?"

The human foot is designed to be bare so in theory no it doesn't hurt. Of course decades of being encased in a shoe means that most feet are not hardy enough to run around on pavements and trails. In time they would adapt no problem but Barefoot Running isn't all about being barefoot - just throwing away your shoes and running is not sensible nor practical.

Barefoot running is about the technique and this can be perfected wearing barefoot shoes - ie shoes that allow the foot to behave as though it were bare.

Barefoot Running Coach is not about baring your sole and joining the hippie nation - instead we are offering you a lifetime of efficient running, fewer injuries and enjoyable running, either barefoot or in barefoot shoes.

So yes, that's why we are 'Barefoot'!