All posts tagged running

This post is part 2 of a 3-part series. See part 1 here and part 3 here. (Photo credits)

What if I told you I know of a guaranteed, foolproof way to get in the best physical shape of your life without strenuous workouts?  How would you like to achieve success at work, without grueling hours at the office?  It sounds too good to be true and of course there is a catch, but my claims are real.  I’ve learned that athletic and business successes rely on similar principles.  There is a reason why jocks become Fortune 500 CEOs.  But you don’t need a varsity jacket to apply these lessons to your own life.  In fact, I’m a born nerd who until recently hated athleticism.

I’ve always been better at business than sports and am fortunate to have sold two companies over the past eight years.  But recently, I’ve found a love for exercise and in my early thirties, I became an avid barefoot runner.  I run barefoot for a number of reasons, but most importantly, I run unshod because I like it.  It just feels good.  I once exercised to keep my weight under control, to get healthy,or because that’s what we’re all “supposed to do”.  But that’s no longer why I run.  It is precisely because I run for pure pleasure that I plan on running for a long, long time.

This post is part 1 of a 3-part series.  See part 2 here and part 3 here.

Photo courtesy of gearjunkie.com

When I run, I don’t wear much clothing.  Just my tighty whities and an old pair of Umbro shorts.  I don’t wear shoes. Why I don’t wear shoes while running is another topic, but by the looks I get, you’d think my man bits were flopping around in the breeze for all to see.  People will sometimes let out a faint gasp and point at the freak running by. I’m not naked of course, but I feel exposed and at times uncomfortable with the looks I get.

But this series of blog posts isn’t about running barefoot per se.   It’s about the lessons I’ve learned founding and selling two companies as well as my work advising start-ups. Barefoot running happens to be a great analogy to illustrate the secrets I’ve learned.  In fact,these tips can be applied to accomplishing any activity, which, like running,requires focus, stamina and skill…that’s pretty much everything.

So what did I learn exposing my feet to hundreds of miles of hot asphalt?

Lesson 1:  Feel the street

“But what if a nail or a rock jabs into your foot?”  This is the most often asked question I hear about barefoot running.  It’s a good question until you actually take off your shoes and experience what the ground really feels like under you.  You realize the human foot is perfectly adapted to run this way.  Running barefoot utilizes different mussels to tread lightly with each step.  Your feet adjust as you run, padding your way and giving you instant feedback about the terrain.