Article: Run It By Jason - Hills - How should I run hills if I'm barefoot?

[barefoottyler]

Good post.



Once I get my girlfriend to record me I will post how I handle hills and the like. I may have to try the Sonic The Hedgehog idea...

 

[NakedSoleNate]

I've been using this technique (but honestly, haven't done as many as you have and might find what you describe to be more practical) of completely relaxing and leaning forward downhills, matching my body angle to the slope, and moving my legs much quicker just to keep up with the "fall"...it is slightly scary at first, until I trust myself, and any kind of breaking doesn't feel comfortable in any part of my body using this method--so I have to really commit, no hesitation, until I'm down. I have found though, that because of the "fall" even when I step "unfortunately" my body weight never has a chance to fully commit to the foot, because I can move it/adjust it with the forward momentum, to avoid injury. My arm form looks like sh!t when I do this, they are waving all about managing balance, but it's hella fun!

 

[barefoottyler]

I suppose it depends what you call good arm form. Some believe, Ken Bob and Jason especially, that arms don't really need a form and trying to put them in a form is wasted energy. I think waving them around to keep balance is perfectly fine.

 

[perryrowland]

Jason:



I watched your video on youtube and tried the downhill slalom method this morning. I liked it just to change the feel as I descended a longer steep downhill. As you say in the video, it does transfer the forces of foot strike into noticeable different parts of the foot and leg. Thanks a lot for a very helpful post.



Perry

 

[NakedSoleNate]

yeah, I'm not too worried about it ...I feel like a child running down a grassy slope :-D, smiling and laughing all the way!

 

[Ken]

Regarding your note that shod heel striking may be a viable way to go downhill: I took one of BF Ted's barefoot clinics, and asked him this same question. His answer for barefoot was a combination of sideways shuffing, slalom like you mentioned, and simply going slower. He also stated "A shod runner will always beat an equivalent barefoot runner on a hilly course due simply to the downhills."

This seems a bit like a McDougall question: what do the Tarahumarans do on downhills, or do they slow and then make it up elsewhere? And didn't BF Ted video them going downhill on one of his trips?