Virtual International Barefoot Running Day 2021!
By Bjorn Foten
The International Barefoot Running Day that we have come to know and love over its last ten editions has been cancelled. With Coronavirus still raging in many parts of the world and with countries everywhere in various stages of lockdown, bringing people together physically in celebration of barefoot running would not be helpful (or, in many cases, legal). But that doesn’t mean that barefoot running (or walking, hiking, climbing, whatever) stops. Connecting ourselves to the earth, to nature and to our primal selves is an incredibly important act, offering us immense physical and mental health benefits. With the world in turmoil and our overall wellbeing under unaccustomed stress, it’s never been more important to kick off our shoes and get out there (safely and responsibly).
So this year, International Barefoot Running Day is going Virtual. We invite people from all around the world to join us on Sunday the 2nd of May and free their feet! Wherever it is safe and legal to do so – in your home, garden, park, street, or local wilderness – leave your shoes behind and enjoy life barefoot. Tell your friends and family too – everyone is welcome – and let us know what you get up to. We’d love to gather your stories, pictures and videos for future posts here in the IBRD Forum and on our social media channels, so send us your contributions to [email protected] or use the hashtags #ibrd2021 and #barefootrunnerssociety on your social media posts.
Who knows - perhaps we can create the best International Barefoot Running Day yet, despite (or even because of!) the adversity we are all facing? Go Barefoot! Go Safely!
