Barefoot from Montreal to Argentina

“And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.”- Khalil Gibran

Many of us as kids remember the joy of running barefoot on cool, soft summer grass. The freedom and thrill of it in our innocent years – something it seems more and more people are rediscovering.

Joseph Michael Liu Roqueñi, who lives just outside Montreal, is one of those people.

He plans to run from Montreal to the southernmost tip of Argentina, starting in May, without shoes. Joseph has been studying at Concordia University and has been training with the breeze running over his bare feet (in all four Canadian seasons) since last summer.

I caught sight of this curious story online and decided I had to go track down this shoeless Joe and find out about his story and his …feet.

Joseph was born in Richmond Hill, Ont. in 1981, but his mother, who was born in Mexico, grew tired of the Canadian winters and moved the family back to Mexico seven months later. Joseph grew up in Mexico and attended the Universidad Panamericana until 2002. In 2002 Joseph followed two of his brothers back to Canada.

In Mexico he had played ice hockey but in Canada he gave up the winter sport in favour of cross-country running. Joseph ran with Concordia’s cross-country team, competed twice at the provincial level and in 2011 he got his time down to a 1:23 half-marathon. This is when he also started running barefoot.

Bare feet

Joseph says he ditched the shoes and socks and started on a treadmill, then went running on pavement, and even in the snow. Joseph is said to have said he finds it a natural way of running and that sneakers are also too expensive and take up a lot of space in his bag.

With his passion for running growing, Joseph got the idea of running from Montreal to Tierra del Fuego (Argentina). He also of course wants to do it without shoes. That is 19,000 kilometres, about 450 marathons, in roughly two years (though he is hoping to finish in 18 months).

The plan that Joseph has put together will require him to run 25K with a bag, barefoot twice a day for 5 days a week and consume 6000 calories a day.

I got a hold of Joseph and had the privilege to ask him a few questions and am sharing his story and his answers with you.

What drew you to running barefoot and how does it make you feel and why is it better than with shoes?

Barefoot running is a process that takes time. I have nothing against shoes as long as I find the right ones for me but that is precisely the problem. Every time I buy a new pair of shoes a new injury appears. I wrote an article “the Wild running Chexican” that shows part of the research I’ve done on barefoot running and you’ll probably find some answers there.

I wouldn’t assume running barefoot is better. You have to go on a case by case basis. Every person has a unique body structure, body type, and a very unique way of running. That is why shoes are so controversial, because shoes are not like t-shirts, where a standard size can fit many. It’s funny that when we go to the optometrist we have no problem accepting that we need a very specific pair of lenses adapted to our own unique eye need. Running shoes should be similar to prescription glasses, they should be made specifically for you since we are all very different. Some people have one leg longer that the other one, wider foot, longer toes, there are hundreds of combinations if you consider all the factors.”

Most running shoe companies market and sell shoes in a 4×3 matrix — having neutral, guidance, stability, and motion control on one side against maximum, moderate, and performance on the other side of the matrix which gives 12 different types of shoes manufacturers make.

In reality, a runner encounters the following factors as the most common in runners: weight, shoe length, foot width, pace, foot type (arch), stride type, toe-heel angle, landing, leg axis, ankle flexibility, arch flexibility, and knee angle in motion. If we only consider these 12 factors and plug them against maximum, moderate, and performance, we estimate 36 different type of shoes. Why are companies making only 12 different types? In reality, most companies only have four types — neutral, guidance, stability, and motion control. This has a reason and it’s called manufacturing cost reduction when producing with the same platform. It is more convenient for companies to produce a standard shoe than a personalized shoe, but we don’t run standard, we run personal and there is nothing more personal than running with your own body mechanics.

Why are running barefoot for 19000 kilometres? What made you decide to do this?

I am most probably not running the whole 19,000K barefoot, and I didn’t ditch my shoes and socks to run barefoot. I normally alternate shoes and no shoes depending on how I feel. I have run in all seasons including snow with an 11K run being the longest barefoot run on the snow I’ve done so far.

I will attempt to run barefoot as much as I can. If my body and conditions allow it I am willing to do the full 19,000K. There are realities that will prevent me from running barefoot such as overheated pavement or serious injury.

There are two main reasons why I decided to do this expedition barefoot: first, because Jesper Olsen has already ran around the world twice, but not barefoot; and two, because the logistics and cost of bringing shoes is quite complex. I wear minimalist shoes, meaning, they wear out faster therefore a minimalist shoe will last a week maybe two with the amount of mileage I do, which computes into up to 76 pairs of shoes that I’ll have to pay for and have them shipped to where ever I am. The cost per pair of shoes including shipping would be about $11,400. Running mostly barefoot cuts my budget by about $10k. I’ve been trying to get sponsors since last summer; and I’ve got a lot of my gear and equipment covered but shoes are a real pain in the ass. Now that my run is public as barefoot, it’s even more difficult to get shoe sponsors. Shoe stores won’t give a dime to this project because they sell running shoes right? And I am not wearing any (laughs).”

I’ve contacted the owner of invisible shoes, a sandal “huarache” that apparently is the closest to barefoot running and they claim in their warranty that if the huarache wears out before 5000 miles they will replace them at no cost. So I am trying to get this guy to sponsor me. I will only need 4 pairs, this is a perfect fit for this trip.

What do you think the hardest part of your adventure will be?

The mental challenge facing myself isolated most of the time in a two year journey. Food logistics will also be very challenging, too.

Any advice for someone inspired by your story – who wants to start running barefoot?

Running barefoot takes time. Time to let your body adapt to start using those muscles that you never used because they were so comfortable while the shoe was doing all the work for you. The best way to do it is gradually, progressive and slowly. Take your time.

There are two factors you have to consider to adapt and they are very different — one is the muscles, and the other one is your skin, which will have to adapt to the friction of different surfaces. Be prepared to have huge blisters and maybe a few cuts. Once you develop those calluses, there is no technology in shoes that can excel better than your feet. When nature created us it wasn’t part of our specifications to have shoes. In fact, shoes didn’t come in the box with us; what was in the box when we came to earth is a pair of feet that are meant to last for as long as you live, so long as you give them proper care. Rest is crucial in any type of performance because fatigue is always a factor that will make the system fracture.

_________________

Life is often too short and I admire and am inspired by those who follow their dreams or attempt to challenge themselves. It’s what makes life interesting and makes a great running story. Run on, Joseph.

Joseph leaves for his barefoot adventure in May of this year. If you want to know more about him or his trip or help support him, check out his website: http://www.runningtotheendoftheworld.com/

Do you have a running story to share?

legsnlungs@hotmail.com

See you on the roads or in the blogosphere.