Barefoot Ken Bob

Comment from slowpokejudd
Time 01/18/2010 at 8:54 pm

I see you’re planning on going through North Dakota!
I’d love to meet you and hear your thoughts on my barefoot plodding. I live about 100 miles north of I94 but I have family that live in Fargo. I live on 2.35 acres have harmless dogs of my own with a big yard to stay in, but, like I said further north than 94. If you went across ND using HWY 2 we’d be closer. Either way I see you have a long stretch across the plains with no stops. I’d love to meet you and learn from you. My house is tiny, and pretty full (I swear the 4 kids aren’t my fault!), but we’d take you in for as long as you’d need to rest from the road.
Wherever you go through North Dakota, I’d sure love to meet/barefoot with you. We love dogs too.

Comment from Richard
Time 01/19/2010 at 1:27 am

We would be glad to put you up if you ever get downunder (Australia) for a workshop

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 01/19/2010 at 9:34 am

Richard,
Australia is a bit beyond our petrol budget for this summer’s trip…

Comment from Mick Dodge
Time 01/19/2010 at 3:52 pm

Yoish! Your welcome to stay up here at the Earth Gym, plenty of land and would be glad to introduce you to the Olympics. However, i will be in and out of here footing the Earth Wagon, you can check it out at http://singpeacepilgrimage.ning.com/ I also know man other places through out the Cascades and Olympics that would be glad to be of assistance.

So contact me at barefootsensay@gmail.com in any assistance that you need in this area.
mick

Comment from Jeff Donahue
Time 01/19/2010 at 4:08 pm

Looking forward to when you hit Massachusetts.

Comment from Theresa
Time 01/19/2010 at 4:55 pm

So, happy you are coming to MAINE! whoo hooo! Can’t wait..will have to drive 3 hours from Midcoast Maine to see ya but very much worth the trip…if your interested in seeing some of the Midcoast, right under the Camden Hills State Park, where the mountains meet the sea…we would be glad to have you stay…keep me updated with specifics of your Fryeburg, Maine vistit, thanks.

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 01/19/2010 at 5:22 pm

Jeff,
We’ll keep you updated when we know when we’ll be there (sometime in June)

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 01/19/2010 at 5:23 pm

Hey, if you’re willing to put us up, and if we have time, we’d love to see some of mid-coast Maine! We’ll keep you updated when we know our schedule.

Comment from shelley romero
Time 01/19/2010 at 7:14 pm

As parents of two very avid barefoot runners, Julian and Alex Romero, we would love to meet you and would be happy to put you up here in Albuquerque. Big house, big enclosed back yard. Let us know.
Shelley and Louie Romero
Let me know if I could help organize a workshop.

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 01/19/2010 at 9:00 pm

Thanks Julian and Alex Romero’s parents – I’ve actually met Louie, I believe, in San Francisco… anyway, we’ll keep you updated as to when we’ll be in Albuquerque.

Comment from Mark D
Time 01/19/2010 at 9:11 pm

It looks like you’ll be rolling through Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Spokane, Washington. Any chance you’ll be doing an event in that locale?

Mark

Comment from Jerry Bailey
Time 01/20/2010 at 6:19 am

Consider bypassing flat, treeless central Oklahoma for Arkansas or eastern Oklahoma. hwy75/i-540/hwy71 from Dallas will take you right into Kansas City.
http://www.nps.gov/buff/index.htm
http://www.imba.com/epics/slideshows/arkansas_index.html
http://www.runarkansas.com/

Comment from Jerry Bailey
Time 01/20/2010 at 6:31 am

Fayetteville, Arkansas has a very active tri-sport club and ultra running community. Maybe you can get Pack Rat outdoor center to sponsor a clinic on the VFFs. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fayetteville-AR/Pack-Rat-Outdoor-Center/6678689095

Comment from Susinn
Time 01/20/2010 at 7:25 am

I am barefooting it up here in British Columbia weather permitting; that snow is cold! I will watch if you make it across the 49th parallel, or get close to it! I would love to do a workshop with you.
Susinn

Comment from Tomek Falkowski
Time 01/20/2010 at 8:51 am

I just noticed that you plan on coming to Niagara Falls some time in June. I cannot wait! I am most definitely interested in attending such an event. If you need some help with logistics I would be more than happy to help as time permits (I am a college student at Binghamton, NY and away from home (Buffalo) for the semester), as I know the area to some degree. Thanks so much!

Comment from daniel
Time 01/20/2010 at 10:54 am

San Francisco that is great! i am 45 minutes away from there! i would love to attend a workshop.

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 01/20/2010 at 11:27 am

We are certainly considering Niagra Falls. But, we’ll need to find a dog-friendly place to stay overnight…

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 01/20/2010 at 11:30 am

We’ll get close, but with the dog, and being on the road for a couple of months, we probably won’t cross the border – From what I’ve read, the dog needs a health certificate from a veterinarian from less than 30 days before entering Canada…

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 01/20/2010 at 11:34 am

Would consider doing a BARE foot workshop…

Vibram Five Fingers are NOT for people who want to LEARN how to barefoot. They are for people who are already expert barefooters, or don’t want to take the time to learn to run gently without injury, before putting in the distances.

Comment from Barefoot TJ
Time 01/20/2010 at 7:29 pm

I would love to have you and your family come stay with me and my family just south of Atlanta for a barefoot running clinic/workshop in the Metro Atlanta Area. We have lots of barefoot and minimalist runners in the area who would love to learn from The Master. I would make sure to publicize this event to ensure a great turnout.

Please call me anytime. I left my contact info in a private message to you. Thank you.

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 01/20/2010 at 8:19 pm

TJ,
Great, that’s at least three people in the area so far…

Comment from Crazy Ram
Time 01/20/2010 at 8:30 pm

Psyched to see the pin in Delaware! I hope this pans out for you I’d love to have the chance to run with you! I’ll be over a year exclusively barefoot by then!

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 01/20/2010 at 9:24 pm

Delaware is looking to be pretty exciting … Dr Daniel Lieberman, and Dr. Irene Davis will be at the University of Delaware reunion. If Cathy and I make it to Delaware in time, I hope to be the “caveman” as in, “Barefoot Running … so easy a caveman did it!” also, McDougall might be there too… And I’ll hold a workshop somewhere in the area.

Comment from Crazy Ram
Time 01/21/2010 at 3:33 am

Sweet! I’m going up to U of D to participaty in a barefoot running study Dr. David is doing. I lookd forward to meeting you and seeing McDougall again!

Comment from Crazy Ram
Time 01/21/2010 at 3:34 am

Sorry, can’t spell. Should have read:
Sweet! I’m going up to U of D to participate in a barefoot running study Dr. Davis is doing. I lookd forward to meeting you and seeing McDougall again!

Comment from Justin Cannon
Time 01/22/2010 at 1:24 pm

This sounds fantastic. Unfortunately, I don’t have any room to host you, but come to Boston and we’ll stop by Trader Joes on the way to pick up Prof Lieberman from Harvard.

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 01/22/2010 at 1:48 pm

Thanks Justin,
As you may know, there’s a thriving group of barefoot runners in Boston already, and they are fighting over who gets to host us, so we should be pretty well set – unless they kill each other fighting over us – in which case, their homes will be empty anyway…

Comment from Preston Curtis
Time 01/24/2010 at 6:25 pm

Are you doin Rockport ME and Fryberg, ME?

Can’t wait to see you in Metro Boston. We are lookin for a good site now.

Comment from Preston Curtis
Time 01/24/2010 at 6:30 pm

Jim and me got in a big fight today as to who is going to host Ken Bob. We both want him to stay at our respective homes and won’t budge an inch. Ken, I have access to the beach and great smoothies. Please come to my house. OK, just kidding. Jim and me just want you to be happy and feel relaxed. Either way is OK with us. I did run with Jim today. He is good people.

Comment from Preston Curtis
Time 01/24/2010 at 6:41 pm

Justin Cannon. Are you in Boston? What section? You are one of a few barefoot runners I have not heard of yet. Come email us at: barefootrunners@yahoo.com if you want to join us. You are welcome. Preston

Comment from Justin Cannon
Time 01/25/2010 at 12:56 pm

Hey Preston – that’s great, would love to get to know the community more. I’ll shoot you an email.

Comment from Jeepman
Time 01/26/2010 at 8:54 am

What day in June do you plan to be in Cincinnati? I’ll be coming from Indianapolis and don’t want to miss my chance to see you.

Rgs, Jeepman

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 01/26/2010 at 2:47 pm

Jeepman,
The trip is still in initial planning stages, so dates aren’t set yet…
sign up for the newsletters and we’ll keep you updated as the plans evolve.
http://runningbarefoot.org/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1

Comment from Preston Curtis
Time 01/26/2010 at 3:41 pm

Justin is now on the Metro Boston Barefoot Runners Meetup site. This is a great place to meet and help people learn how to run barefoot correctly..

Thanks Ken!

Comment from RunFree
Time 01/26/2010 at 8:08 pm

If you need a place in near Niagara Falls, I’m in Buffalo and I could surely secure a place for you to stay.

Comment from RunFree
Time 01/26/2010 at 8:09 pm

if need be of course.

Comment from sciencedude
Time 01/27/2010 at 6:31 pm

@RunFree: Excellent, another Buffalonian! I couldn’t offer a place to stay, but am working to find a suitable location. If you have any ideas, don’t hesitate to let me and Bob know, so far, I am looking at:

Buckhorn Island State Park
Devil’s Hole State Park
Hyde State Park

Comment from samroot
Time 02/04/2010 at 7:43 pm

Another Buffalo area barefoot runner down in East Aurora NY.
Definitely interested in a barefoot workshop, and I might be able to offer a place to stay, if need be.

Pingback from Cathy and Ken » New VW Jetta
Time 02/10/2010 at 10:32 pm

[...] Announcements Barefoot Ken Bob’s Running Barefoot Workshops 2010 Summer Tour [...]

Comment from Dino
Time 02/14/2010 at 12:24 pm

Buffalo calling! I see there are several of us from Western New York. I’ve also heard that there potentially interested people in Rochester (one hour away). I hope you can include the area on the trip. My kids and I love barefooting and its great to hear about others!
Niagara Falls is about half an hour from Buffalo. The Niagara Falls Parks mentioned above would be a good location, as would Delaware Park in Buffalo or both. Both offer grass and asphalt, and would have good public exposure. NF’s main parks would have lots of tourists, and the one’s mentioned above are less frequented.
Can’t promise housing at this point, but I will try to work on it. I gather the dates would potentially be in mid June?
Perhaps others from the area would like to contact me to pool our ideas, resources? Dino–dinol@localnet.com
Best wishes on the planning–hope to hear from you

Comment from sciencedude
Time 02/14/2010 at 7:50 pm

Hey Dino!

I considered Delaware because of its central location, but figured that it offered little in the way of terrain (hills that is). If you have any other ideas, please post them. In fact, I am thinking about starting a group for WNY barefoot or aspiring barefoot runners so we can mingle/pool resources. I will let you know how that goes.

Comment from Dave Carter
Time 02/14/2010 at 9:06 pm

Looking forward to the Sharpesburg, Georgia, workshop. Where do I sign up!

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 02/14/2010 at 10:00 pm

Dave,
I’m trying to avoid requiring signing up for the workshops. The more informal, the better…

Comment from Barefoot TJ
Time 02/14/2010 at 10:07 pm

Where are you located Dave Carter, general city?

Comment from Dave Carter
Time 02/15/2010 at 6:30 am

Barefoot TJ

I’m in Chamblee, GA – part of Atlanta Metro. Just inside the northern edge of the perimeter.

I noticed you had said tehre are lots of other barefoot/minimalist runners in the area. that’s great to hear. I’m 40, was a cross country runner in high school, got severe shin splints in college (that’s what happens when you stop training and start partying too much), and for the last 20 years I’ve been told to get better orthotics, land more on the heel, etc… Discovered the Pose method a few years ago, and am trying to rework my running. All that being said, are there any organizes runs for barefooters in the area, or a message board or something?

Thanks

Dave

Comment from Barefoot TJ
Time 02/15/2010 at 6:22 pm

Hi Dave, Yes we have organized barefoot runs in the Metro Atlanta area. In fact, just yesterday, we had a 5-mile trail run through the snow around the base of Stone Mountain, then hiked/ran the one mile up the hill and then ran the one mile back down the hill. For those of you out there who know what Stone Mountain is all about, you can understand what I’m talking about when I say it was exhiliarating. Please join us at http://www.barefootrunners.org. Note we have a Georgia chapter set up. Please contact me through those means with your email address, and I will get right back to you. We have another run coming up near Emory. We’d love to have you join us!

Sorry, Ken Bob, I hope you don’t mind my using your message board to connect with other barefoot runners in my area. I’ll try not to do this too often.

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 02/15/2010 at 8:36 pm

Barefoot TJ,

It’s all about community. I’d much rather you advertise a barefoot runner’s society here, than sell “barefoot” shoes!

Also I added the website to the Links drop-down menu item.

Have fun,
see you this summer.

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 02/18/2010 at 6:49 pm

Hi all, I just added an offer for those of you whom will be hosting us, or for helping organize one of Barefoot Ken Bob’s Running Barefoot Workshops, for free advertising for your business, charitable organization, or personal website (if you want).

Comment from Barefoot TJ
Time 02/19/2010 at 12:58 am

Thank you for adding our link to the Barefoot Runners Society on your website, Ken Bob. We sure do appreciate you!

Comment from Jason Robillard
Time 02/19/2010 at 2:55 am

Ken Bob- I just wanted to echo TJ’s thanks for linking to the Barefoot Runners Society page- we really do appreciate it! Take care!

-Jason

Comment from desert runner
Time 03/02/2010 at 10:34 pm

Are you sure about scheduling the Phoenix workshop in mid-May? The temps are going to be at least 100F!

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 03/03/2010 at 7:42 am

desert runner,

This is a “summer” tour, as I am working the rest of the year.

We drive through Phoenix to get to the rest of the country, and wouldn’t it be better to stop in Phoenix in May than on the way back home, in mid-July!

We will be holding the workshop as late in the evening as practical. (we’ll be driving during the day anyway).

And, of course, we, along with the hot pavement, will be encouraging people to lift their feet very quickly…

More importantly, if you have any suggestions for a suitable park, preferably with some shade, trees, etc..??

2 years ago I was near Phoenix, in Chandler, Az, also in mid-May (105F, when we arrived in the afternoon – but, even at that, I saw one person running down the sidewalk on a shady street.). My host, and Herman (the dog), and I walked to a nearby park in the evening to play and take pictures, it was fairly comfortable, though we didn’t run much – but then again, we don’t run much during my Running Barefoot Workshops either – we focus on LEARNING how to teach ourselves how to run, rather than pounding out the miles – we might cover a mile, maybe two total, in an hour session.

So, anyway, we’ll be looking for suggestions for locations, a park with trees, maybe, something like this;

Comment from Nathan
Time 03/05/2010 at 7:43 am

Excited that you’ll be coming as close as Great Falls Montana. I’ll just skip down from Canada for the education. I am, however, having a problem subscribing to the newsletter??? I’ll try to keep my eye on the calendar… July 6th, right?

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 03/05/2010 at 8:17 am

Hmmm… database seems to be down for the list webpage… I’ll try to get it back up today. Thanks for letting me know.

Comment from Nathan
Time 03/06/2010 at 8:16 am

Newsletter Subscription is back up, and I’ve subscribed. Thanks.

Comment from Pete Goergen
Time 03/07/2010 at 5:36 pm

I learned today you plan to do a workshop in Staunton, VA on June 2, and one in DC on June 3. I live in Midlothian, VA, a suburb of Richmond (about 1 hour 45 minutes east of Staunton and 2 hours south of DC). You are welcome to spend a night or two with us – we would love to have Herman, Cathy and you stay with us (I think we can even give you all a bed, but you will probably have to endure the odor emanating in the morning from my wife’s pot of coffee). Why not do a workshop in Richmond? In any event, the door is open. Let us know if you would like to join us.

Pete Goergen

Comment from Scott
Time 03/10/2010 at 7:50 am

Ken,
I second Pete, my barefoot training partner, on the hope that you come to the Richmond, VA (Midlothian) area. I too will help in any way I can. And if Herman needs anything in the food or medicine deptartments, I bet we could hit my wife up from some freebies – she’s a vet whose clinic is right around the corner from Pete’s house.
Scott

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 03/10/2010 at 8:10 am

Thanks Pete,

I am considering moving the workshop from Staunton to Richmond, (or Midlothian) (hopefully the folks in Staunton won’t be too upset). It will shorten our drive time by almost 2 hours, and while that may not seem like much, it all adds up when we’ll be traveling more than 10,000 miles!

I also played around with my google map, and looked at doing the workshop half-way between Staunton and Midlothian, but drive times did not improve for me.

As it is now, I think I’ll be looking for shortening our trips wherever practical, without getting too far from those places I have already tentatively planned on stopping…

Comment from Julia MacMonagle
Time 03/10/2010 at 8:03 pm

Hi Ken Bob,
I’m only getting started but if you’re interested in the Longmont, CO area (about 20 minutes north of Boulder) I’m sure there are a lot of people in the area who would love to meet you! I’m up for hosting in May (I see you’ll be in south Denver on the 20th) we have a happy little Border Collie, two kids (3 & 5), and a carpeted basement . If you’re interested let me know! I would love to meet you!

Comment from LJ
Time 03/24/2010 at 9:34 am

Hi Ken Bob
Do you have any age restrictions for your workshops? I have a teenager who is interested in attending with me (we are SE of Phoenix, BTW).

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 03/24/2010 at 11:38 am

No age restrictions, as long as the young have their parents or guardian’s permission (and I will probably take their word for it). We don’t plan on drinking, smoking, or anything else that adults are allowed to do, that children aren’t (probably not even much cussing)…

Comment from Barefoot Pete
Time 03/24/2010 at 4:36 pm

I’ve been to Phoenix-Scottsdale twice this month on business. A suggested barefoot running course for your tour is the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt. It has a multi-use path (double wide sidewalk) that snakes for miles around golf courses, parks, and lakes. Great for form work for all levels of barefooters. Suggest starting at Chaparral Park -Hayden Rd just South of McDonald Dr. http://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/chap.asp

Comment from H. Mark Little
Time 04/07/2010 at 7:20 am

Hello! Been out of touch with the barefoot running subculture for a few years. This is the Mark who hosted Ken for the 2005 Boston Marathon. Would love to see you out this way for your summer tour. I see Preston and Jim appear to have you set for crash space, but should that fall through, I can provide something at my place in Needham (we’ve moved across town since 2005, though).

Hope to see you in a couple of months or so! Looking forward to meeting Cathy and Herman!

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 04/07/2010 at 7:24 am

Great to hear from you again Mark,
We’ll certainly keep you in mind if Jim or Preston get’s tired of us…

Be sure to show up for the workshop in Cambridge and/or fun run in Gloucester. We can always use experienced barefoot runners to help answer questions from the multitude of newbies.

Comment from H. Mark Little
Time 04/07/2010 at 7:55 am

Workshop in Cambridge? When is that? (I don’t see it on the tour schedule). I see the Gloucester fun run scheduled for 6:30pm on 10 June, which looks like a Thursday. As that’s mid-week, it will be tricky for me to make, but I’ll see what I can do.

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 04/07/2010 at 8:07 am

Mark,
Cambridge link (also on a weekday – sorry, there’s a lot more weekdays than weekend days)
http://barefootkenbob.com/?p=2573

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 04/10/2010 at 6:13 pm

Missed on the latest mailing: Midlothian, Va (hosting NOT confirmed)June 2

Comment from Katie
Time 04/10/2010 at 7:00 pm

Thank you Ken for working so hard on this! I’m glad you were able to make this all work, any chance you’ll be in Minnesota? Was there not enough interest in the state? I’m asking around in local running groups to see if anyone would be interested, perhaps we can make it on the calendar for the “next tour” I would certainly help with accomodations/places to hold the event etc.
Thanks again Ken and family!

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 04/11/2010 at 6:18 am

Katie,

Sorry, there isn’t enough time in our schedule, and already too much driving, for us to include Minnesota.

Comment from Katie
Time 04/12/2010 at 4:19 pm

I understand Ken, thanks for putting all of the work into this. I’ll look into Wisconsin’s event.

Comment from Ukuvox
Time 04/15/2010 at 2:01 pm

Awww, you took Madison off of the list. I have some in-laws there who might be interested in this. Oh well, at least I get to see you on April 17 in HB…maybe, I can pass on what I’ve learned when I see them in July.

Comment from octothorpesarus
Time 04/20/2010 at 10:08 am

Looking forward to your visit to Maine. I noticed the Rockland event yet to be confirmed. Is this due to time/money/interest? Is there anything we can do to help facilitate your visit?

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 04/20/2010 at 11:54 am

octothorpesarus,
We look forward to meeting you at Barefoot Ken Bob’s Running Barefoot Workshop in nearby Camden, Maine. Details and RSVP

Comment from Chaille
Time 05/10/2010 at 12:33 pm

So excited that you’re coming to GA…only 45 mins. away from where I live! I can’t wait for the clinic. It’ll be nice to be in a group who doesn’t think I’m insane!

Comment from sal
Time 05/11/2010 at 10:31 pm

ken bob,
i hope Cathy get better soon..i attended to last week’s LA workshop…it was awsome…i had quad strain and it was hurting with the shoes..but now i can at least do 15-20 min run barefoot…it feels like it is healing it…thanks i owe you one and a half leg…no donation would cover that )

Comment from Doug
Time 05/16/2010 at 8:41 pm

Hey Ken,
Any chance St. Louis or K.C. might be squeezed into the trip?

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 05/17/2010 at 3:39 pm

Can not make it to Kansas or St. Louis this trip. I’ve even had to turn down some paying offers along the way, do to limitations in time, and desire to spend some time with my family and friends.

Comment from Barefoot Tyler
Time 05/18/2010 at 7:31 am

Hey Ken Bob. Do you think I could interview you for Barefoot Runners Society at the Georgia workshop? We could do it mid-run or whatever.

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 05/18/2010 at 9:19 am

Actually my Running Barefoot workshop doesn’t entail all the much running. In fact, they are pretty much an interview of me, by the attendees.

However, We’ll probably be arriving early enough that you could interview me before the workshop, and I’ll probably answer most of your questions again during the workshop.

I’ll send you my phone number, so you can call me a couple hours before the workshop, if that works for you…

Comment from Barefoot Brent
Time 05/28/2010 at 12:45 am

Hi Ken Bob! I’ve been quasi barefoot running for about 3 1/2 years now and have coming to the site for about 6 months. Forgive me if I’m mistaken but it seems like you are very down on the VFF’s. I am sure that a lot of newbies have inundated your page since Born to Run so I don’t want to waste your time but living in LA I don’t like being barefoot on these streets or while hiking but I feel like I’m not being a “purest” if i use my VFF’s. I’d appreciate your thoughts. Thanks

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 05/28/2010 at 12:46 pm

I’m seeing far to many beginners using minimalist footwear so they can run badly, or too far, too fast, too soon, before they have learned how to run as gently as they would if they were literally barefoot. Then they end up breaking their feet, due to excess stress, stress they would never apply to a bare foot.

Minimalist footwear is really for people who have already learned how to run barefoot – and most likely, don’t need it, except perhaps in the cold. If you want to learn the full benefits of running barefoot, you should try being fully barefoot…

It’s like trying to learn how to sing, with earplugs. You can’t tell if you’re singing in tune, or even saying the right words, because you’re sense of hearing is distorted by the earplugs. Likewise with minimalist footwear, you can’t sense precisely how your feet are interacting with the ground, so you don’t realize how much stress you’re putting on your feet, etc…

Learning to walk, run, even to stand, gracefully, gently, and efficiently is really the purpose of having all those nerve endings in our soles – they are the quality control inspectors of how we move. Sure you can ship more product without them, but the bad product always comes back to haunt you later!

Comment from George Landegger
Time 06/09/2010 at 12:06 pm

Great to see you at your NYC clinic last evening.

Thanks you

Comment from Aubrey
Time 06/10/2010 at 8:38 pm

Looking forward to Santa Barbara in July!

Comment from C. Ruckus
Time 06/15/2010 at 8:20 pm

The page for the Ithaca workshop still says that hosting is not confirmed. If its on, the workshop starts in 2 hours. Does that mean its off? I’m debating wether to head down or assume its off. (It’s a long drive.)

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 06/16/2010 at 3:00 am

Technically speaking, it said, “Sign up is not available for this event, until we have confirmed hosting and workshop location”. Then just below that was a link to RSVP (because hosting had been confirmed). Sorry, I forgot to remove the above line, I’ve been busy doing workshops most every day, driving hundreds of miles each day, and with sporadic internet connection. Wish you would have let me know a few days earlier, so I could have made the correction on time…

Pingback from Close encounters with my own kind: NYC barefoot running workshop « Barefoot Lorena • Lorena Descalza
Time 06/16/2010 at 9:25 pm

[...] Junes 8th I went to the New York barefoot running workshop of Barefoot Ken Bob´s 2010 Summer Tour. It was great to listen to and learn from Barefoot Ken Bob and be able to share experiences with my [...] review

Comment from Randy Hagenstein
Time 06/17/2010 at 9:18 pm

Any interest in doing a workshop in Anchorage, Alaska? I would be happy to help with local outreach, logistics, etc. and make sure you had a great opportunity to see more than just a bunch of feet.

Comment from Barefoot Bill Joe
Time 06/20/2010 at 10:40 pm

Barefoot Ken Bob, Can you think about possibly making a stop on your summer tour to my neck of the woods? I live in Furnace, California at the Death Valley Mobile home park estates. If you claim to be the expert in this area, I want you to show me how in the hell I can train during in this climate while running barefoot. The other day I stepped on a scorpion while out for my morning run. I am starting to think this barefoot crap is for the birds!
Thanks, Bill Joe

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 06/21/2010 at 11:23 am

I would love to stop in furnace. It sounds so pleasantly warm… This trip has been amazingly cool, only once getting up to 99F in D.C., and then it rained and cooled off before my workshop. Even Phoenix was 20 degrees cooler than when I stopped there a couple years ago.

Our current schedule is already full, and besides needing a break, my wife wants me to go with her to a conference in Las Vegas in mid-July… However, perhaps we could make a stop on the way back? We’ll see how we feel then…

While a few flightless birds definitely do prefer runnning barefoot, most birds fly much better than they run. Others, like penguins, swim far better than they run (barefoot or shod).

Humans, on the other hand, really are built more for running, than for flying. But, you might want to open your eyes to see where you’re putting your foot, before you take another step.

Some students from Kuwait told me about playing soccer in the desert barefoot at 120F. There is no trick to it, besides lifting your feet quickly, you also need to start short, and build gradually, as you learn how to run.

Finally, I’m not sure I’ve ever claimed to be an expert. It’s actually kind of strange for me, after 50 years of running barefoot, to have people look at me as if I know what I’m talking about. A few years ago, I was just that crazy barefoot runner who “didn’t know what he was talking about”. And I’m still saying the same things, as I did back then.

Let me know if you ever find a bird who is born with shoes on their feet, and I’ll show you a bird who isn’t made to run barefoot.

Comment from Barb
Time 06/22/2010 at 3:51 pm

Hi Barefoot Ken Bob,
My husband and I just started getting into barefoot running 2 weeks ago. I just finished Born to Run, great book! Do you ever come to St. Louis, or do you know of anyone in this area that hold workshops? Another question, I have scoliosis and my left leg is shorter than my right. I have worn a lift since gradeschool. Right now I am just slowly running/walking on the treadmill total barefoot, but once I get my balance do you think I would be able to go without my lift all the time?
Thanks for you help and have a great day!
Barb

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 06/23/2010 at 10:44 am

To the spammer with the lewd email address, who asked “why don’t I see any barefoot runners on trails?”

Because you’re running too slow, and too far behind us:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItXYMJkLjuY

Comment from Calvin Grady Henley
Time 06/24/2010 at 6:44 am

I live in Ely, Nv and hope to make it to your St. George Stop, I am in the medical profession and the longer I live the less I like what we have been taught to pass on. I am attracted to passing on results of people who seem to be doing something healing (Jack LaLanne, Dr. Dean Ornish and after reading Born to Run and hearing you interviewed on physicalliving.com I am including barefoot runners) trying to get people to inspire themselves to find the changes that their life force may thrive with is difficult. Ely has a lot of running places and good air.

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 06/24/2010 at 4:39 pm

Looking forward to seeing you in St. George.

Comment from yellow
Time 06/30/2010 at 10:55 am

Ken Bob.. when will you know your fall dates? I’m in Portland. Hope you can make it out here in Nov!

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 06/30/2010 at 12:23 pm

patience barefoot grasshopper. I’m in the middle of the longest road trip of my life, doing workshops nearly every day, and when I’m done, I’m going to relax for a couple of weeks, then go back to work. I will start planning the details of my next trip when I am ready.

Comment from Erik Winkelmann
Time 07/02/2010 at 3:55 am

Looking forward to seeing You in Marquette, Michigan. Thankz for driving all the way up here. Sorry i just found this area on Your site. Otherwise i’d have offered a massage for all the driving You’re doing (local massage therapist in the Pt dept) . I do have time open still, email me back if it could work for You. See You tomorrow either way.

Comment from Anthony
Time 07/05/2010 at 11:09 pm

Thinking about attending workshop in omaha. I have just started trying to go barefoot (100 yard sprints), what can I expect from your workshop?

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 07/07/2010 at 2:02 am

If I told you what to expect, there’d be no reason for you to come to the workshops

But seriously, if you want to NOT make some of the common mistakes many adults make when trying running barefoot, if you want to find out, and see me demonstrate some of the basic concepts that I have learned and tested in over 50 years of running barefoot, you might be able to learn something, that hopefully can save you some grief, and lead to enjoying running even more than you thought possible… It’s free

Comment from jewel stairs
Time 08/12/2010 at 1:22 am

can you provide dates of any workshops near santa monica ca (i can travel)

Comment from Barefoot Ken Bob
Time 08/12/2010 at 3:21 pm

I haven’t scheduled any for the immediate future. But will probably start scheduling some in the Los Angeles area (including Santa Monica) starting in late-September or October.