04-The gift of the Caveman Part 1

The Gifts of the Caveman Part One: How to Walk like a Caveman

Moving like a caveman is not like moving as a modern man. No shoes equated to having no protection for the heel. They walked differently, like an animal. They had calluses. Rarely was their stride heel to toe but mostly toe to heel. “Born to Run” by Chris Mcdougall introduced me to the concept of the barefoot movement. Walk like a caveman in order to run like a caveman.

About a year after the broadcast about the book, a good friend showed me his Vibram Five Fingers. He's gray haired. He's a bit of a hippie. And he was bouncing up and down like a kid. On the other hand, I'm about a decade his junior and a bit stockier, but in a way, similar. From my point of view, I was jealous of all his energy. My coworker and I talked with him about the shoe. The next thing I knew, my coworker had a pair. Granted, he's young. But I noticed the effortless play in his feet. When I asked how they felt, he simply leaped about, trying to hit his head on a ceiling fixture. Oh how close he was.

I got a pair. I now have three. They took effort to grow into but allow access to a world modern man knows little of. How long will it take before the wisdom of the caveman returns? I began with short walks, on the balls of my feet, with my dogs. At first, I was a ballet dancer, tiptoeing through the world. It was tough. Eventually, I got it: my gate transformed into a softer, easier, more natural stride. My feet feel like hands; my toes, as fingers. My legs changed shape. I notice bulges in places I don't remembering having. My calves rounded more like a circle than an ellipse.

Then it hit me, I remember it clearly: it was night, it was summer, it rained that day; we were at the park and I was running free, like a deer, not because I had to, but because my legs could no longer resist the urge. Seconds of bliss passed before a moment of panic struck. I was running too fast. I'm too old. I'm barefoot! I could break something, anything, any second. I began to slow and focus, but I continued to bounce from stride to stride on the springs nature provided free of charge. I have run for fun many times since.