barefoot running and living

test

2010-03-02T18:04:00Z

test

Tim "the barefoot runner" Joins facebook

2010-03-02T17:55:00Z

Join me on face book now Timothy Bourassa

If the Opportunity Presents Itself For you To Help Someone Do It!!!!

2010-01-07T21:18:00Z

What a week here at barefootrunner.net. I'll start by saying if you have the chance to help someone do it!!!! For that day may come when you need a hand and a hand may be there. Yesterday i ventured out to pick up my wife from work and there was someone outside the building that needed a jump start they asked if i had cables? I do because of lessons learned not only do i have one set but i have another set in the car also so i helped out then when i was done. I gave the stranded couple my extra set of cables. Maybe someday they will pay it forward now and jumpstart someone else at the least have cables on them anyway. Then there was today it started with a spinning bike class at the YMCA just so happened i got CPR certified last month cause im going to EMT school. Well low and behold another member at the Y collapses and I had to jump start him. He is living which is great glad to be there for him and his family. I guess my points!!!! being your never to old to learn something new and hey it might even come in handy someday. YOU NEVER KNOW someones life may depend on you to help so learn CPR and no i didnt jump him with the car that little AED unit is a great invention. Help if you are able but be safe !!!!

sincerely Tim Bourassa "the barefootrunner"

Boston Globe Article

2009-12-03T13:42:00Z

Barefoot in the dark Tims' Feet second one from left to right

With no shoes, no socks, and (they say) no pain, some find the soul of running

By Taryn Plumb

Globe Correspondent / November 12, 2009

Strapped with strobe headlamps and DayGlo reflective vests, they’re clustered in groups and work in a rhythm - just like any runners you pass on any road in any town on any given day.

But hold on here - just take a look down at their feet.

No shoes.

No socks, either.

They’re totally commando. Toes fall exposed on cracked concrete, heels land on rugged and ridged pavement, ankles bend unencumbered through the cool, late-fall air.

Joining with their cushiony-shoed compatriots for a recent night run with members of Woburn’s Shamrock Running Club, these free-spirited, unshod few represent a mini-evolution (or perhaps devolution) in the running community.

By going barefoot, they contend, they’ve truly found the soul of the sport.

“This feels good - it’s freeing, it’s natural,’’ Gloucester 46-year-old Preston Curtis, wearing long sleeves, shorts, and no shoes, said after a 5-mile run through Woburn’s nighttime streets. “We were designed to run this way.’’

Your body doesn’t need the aid of synthetic leather or rubber - it’s already equipped with everything it requires to run properly and safely, say barefooters.

In fact such “support,’’ padded and pillowed into athletic footwear, isn’t helpful, say the shoeless. It can be damaging, by working against the natural gait and changing the way the body absorbs the shock of repetitive footfalls.

“We weren’t born with shoes,’’ 42-year-old Nancy Kinney of Woburn said. “It just feels so much more natural.’’

Still, Americans love their sneakers. Last year, we bought 334 million pairs of athletic shoes, according to the American Apparel and Footwear Association.

Despite this, increasing numbers of runners are leaving their Nikes in the closet and letting their feet go nude. (And for the more tentative ones, there’s a bridge between shod and shoeless - Vibram Five Fingers, essentially gloves for the feet.)

Just do a quick Web search: You’ll find dozens of sites dedicated to the movement, as well as hundreds of instructional videos and forums. Some schools are even trying it, including the track-and-field team at Portsmouth Christian Academy in Dover, N.H.; others are using it as an engine for charity work. A Vermont man, for example, is now running across the country to raise money for homeless youth.

Meanwhile, the science community is also tapping into the trend, with researchers, including Harvard University’s Daniel Lieberman, studying the effects on gait, skeletal structure, muscles, and joints when running with shoes and without.

“When I started, it was much more fringe,’’ said Edward Faulkner, a 28-year-old from Somerville, who ditched sneakers 2 1/2 years ago and recently ran the Cape Cod marathon barefoot (and in 3:07). “It’s become much more respected among runners in general.

Largely the movement is spurred by Christopher McDougall’s recent book, “Born to Run.’’ In it, McDougall analyzes the Tarahumara Indian tribe in Mexico, whose members traverse hazardous and risky terrain every day in simple sandals with thin rubber soles.

Ultimately McDougall theorizes that the modern running shoe corrupts the stride and forces runners to land on their heels, rather than the balls of their feet, the latter being better equipped to handle the impact.

This means fewer injuries occur without shoes, he contends.

It’s the same testament you’ll hear from the local ranks of the unshod.

As they’ve liberated their feet, they say, ailments like crushed toes, weak ankles that roll, knee and back pain, blisters, and toenails ripped off from sweat buildup, have all but healed.

“I was just tired of aching,’’ Faulkner said of his decision to try going barefoot.

Longtime runner Melissa Bourassa of Woburn tells a similar story - she tried going barefoot on a whim a couple years ago at the end of a long mountain race.

Before that, she had chronic problems with her hips and IT bands (tissue that runs down the outside of the thigh).

Gone now, she says.

So she’s since sworn off shoes, although she does prefer a little protection, slipping regularly into a pair of light purple Vibrams.

“My knee feels better, my feet feel better,’’ she said.

Her wallet, too. She estimated that in six months time she bought 12 pairs of shoes - all styles, all brands. Nikes, Saucony, New Balance, Adidas, Aviva, the gamut.

Faulkner, for his part, estimated that he’s saved about $500 so far on shoes.

In addition, barefoot runners say the shoeless route provides a much better workout - muscles left idle are awakened - and it’s environmentally friendly.

“You’re not just throwing away thousands of pairs of sneakers that take a long time to disintegrate,’’ said Bourassa.

Still, doesn’t it hurt?

Remarkably, no, say barefooters.

So, then, how does it feel?

“Like a massage,’’ said Curtis, who started running barefoot 12 years ago on California beaches and now averages about 25 miles a week.

“Like a pedicure,’’ said 26-year-old Paul Koenig of Manchester, N.H. Exposing the bottom of his foot by grabbing hold of his big toe, he boasted, “My feet are softer than my girlfriend’s.’’ (His soles were smooth and blisterless - albeit a little dirtied from pounding the pavement.)

Sure, at first it can be a little uncomfortable, they acknowledge, but your feet adapt, the bottoms getting toughened and eventually feeling like gel packs or soft leather.

Which allows guys like Tim Bourassa, "the barefoot runner", Melissa’s husband, to log 35 to 40 miles a week, and recently a 62-mile trek for charity.

The Woburn 39-year-old zips along back roads, busy streets rumbling with cars, and rocky, chestnut-studded trails at a clip of 8 1/2 miles per hour (averaging a 7-minute mile), even in snow and sleet.

And in his shoeless travels, he’s heard it all:

“You’re nuts!’’

“You’re a better man than me!’’

And then, Faulkner said, there are the jokesters who ask if you forgot your shoes.

Mostly, though, the reaction is shock.

“They think you have to be a tough guy,’’ Faulkner said.

The thing is, the opposite is true, according to Faulkner.

“I’m not willing to run with pain,’’ he said. “I’m much more comfortable this way.’’

But barefooters don’t advise tenderfeet to ditch their sneakers and immediately trot off at a marathon pace.

It’s very different from regular running, they say, which is clear as soon as you watch them. The pace is more tentative, strides shorter and landings gentler. They’re prancing almost, toes and balls of their feet touching down lightly and springing back up.

Intrigued? Try starting out on smooth, flat pavement, and begin with short distances, maybe a quarter-mile or a half-mile, Faulkner said.

Or work your feet in on a treadmill or track; even a golf course or the beach, Tim Bourassa suggested. Anything soft and easy.

Ultimately, “It’s like you’re starting from scratch again,’’ Faulkner said.

Bourassa agreed. “You’re going backwards. You take your shoes off and you have to learn how to walk again,’’ he said

For more information on barefoot running, visit www.barefootrunner.net.

Barefoot Runner Will Run Horn Pond 36 hours straight!!!!!!!!!

2009-10-05T17:05:00Z

On October 23rd and 24th of 2009 Tim the barefoot runner will be Running Horn Pond in Woburn, Ma on Arlington Road. I will be collecting canned and boxed goods in both parking lots at the pond on both days during the daytime to benefit the Woburn Council of Social Concern the Local FOOD BANK in town. I will be barefoot and will be running 36 hours continuously, besides bathroom breakes and a quick bite to eat. Come out and cheer me on run for a few laps or just bring those canned and boxed goods and donate them! AND HELP ME FEED THE HUNGRY BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS!!!!!! THANKS SO MUCH IN ADVANCE

TIM

Of Course its LEGAL!!!!!! BECAUSE ITS BETTER!!!!!

2009-09-02T13:04:00Z

Is it illegal to drive a vehicle barefooted?

In: State Laws [Edit categories]

www.TotalDUI.com'" onmouseout="window.status=''" href="http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=l&ai=BfIBKCW2eSvLCN6aBlgft7MHsCOqK-XWirKnCDMCNtwHQ6V8QARgBIP6qvwYoAzgAUKvOteH4_____wFgyY7riISk7A-gAe7E7usDsgEQd2lraS5hbnN3ZXJzLmNvbboBCjMwMHgyNTBfanPIAQHaAUVodHRwOi8vd2lraS5hbnN3ZXJzLmNvbS9RL0lzX2l0X2lsbGVnYWxfdG9fZHJpdmVfYV92ZWhpY2xlX2JhcmVmb290ZWTgAQLIAqiJ7wmoAwHoA0voA6kB9QMABAAE9QMEAAAA&num=1&sig=AGiWqtyZGwijnyewestVDpncFHFx_M-FjA&client=ca-gurunet_wikianswers_js&adurl=http://www.totaldui.com/pc/%3FGCID%3DS19000x001&KEYWORD%3DDUI%2Blaws" name=&lid=GAds_Mid-Page&lpos=NotLgd_Ans>State DUI Laws
DUI Laws Can Be Tricky. Local DUI Lawyers Can Help You Understand.
www.TotalDUI.com

[Improve]

American States

Alabama:
Barefoot Driving: Operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is permitted. Exception: motorcycle rider.

Ohio:
Barefoot Driving: Operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is permitted but not recommended.

California:
Barefoot Driving: Operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is not prohibited.

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware,Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming: Barefoot Driving: Operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is permitted.

District of Columbia

Barefoot Driving: Operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is permitted.

American Territories

American Samoa, Peurto Rico, Virgin Islands: Barefoot Driving: Operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is permitted.

Guam:
Driving Barefoot: No information.

Canada

Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, New Foundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory: Barefoot Driving: Operation of a motor vehicle by a driver with bare feet is permitted.

www.Personal-Injury-Help.us'" onmouseout="window.status=''" href="http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=l&ai=BcYdPCW2eSvLCN6aBlgft7MHsCPj4gnXc8NqDDcCNtwHA33IQAhgCIP6qvwYoAzgAUMHg3BhgyY7riISk7A-gAdr57fYDsgEQd2lraS5hbnN3ZXJzLmNvbboBCjMwMHgyNTBfanPIAQHaAUVodHRwOi8vd2lraS5hbnN3ZXJzLmNvbS9RL0lzX2l0X2lsbGVnYWxfdG9fZHJpdmVfYV92ZWhpY2xlX2JhcmVmb290ZWTgAQKoAwHoA0voA6kB9QMABAAE9QMEAAAA&num=2&sig=AGiWqtwhPvVVE7C1eM_GmKbeohqAQbtCcA&client=ca-gurunet_wikianswers_js&adurl=http://www.Personal-Injury-Help.us" name=&lid=GAds_Mid-Page&lpos=NotLgd_Ans>Injury Law Claim Help
Free Online Injury Claim Evaluation Top injury help site since 1999.
www.Personal-Injury-Help.us
www.FindLaw.com'" onmouseout="window.status=''" href="http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=l&ai=BiP5LCW2eSvLCN6aBlgft7MHsCPzboGSqtrXYA8CNtwGgjQYQAxgDIP6qvwYoAzgAUMbs6_YGYMmO64iEpOwPsgEQd2lraS5hbnN3ZXJzLmNvbboBCjMwMHgyNTBfanPIAQHaAUVodHRwOi8vd2lraS5hbnN3ZXJzLmNvbS9RL0lzX2l0X2lsbGVnYWxfdG9fZHJpdmVfYV92ZWhpY2xlX2JhcmVmb290ZWTgAQLIAsKt7wWoAwHoA0voA6kB9QMABAAE9QMEAAAA&num=3&sig=AGiWqtwNegbkiuk4GvkYjV0USiMXq_mhzg&client=ca-gurunet_wikianswers_js&adurl=http://public.findlaw.com/%3FDCMP%3DKWC-G-HOME-Steve" name=&lid=GAds_Mid-Page&lpos=NotLgd_Ans>Michigan laws
Search laws, regulations, codes by practice areas & state.
www.FindLaw.com

TIM THE BAREFOOT RUNNER GETS HITCHED

2009-08-18T15:12:00Z

On August 22nd 2009 Tim " The Barefoot Runner " will be married to Melissa. In our barefeet of course please welcome my future bride!!!!!!!
Melissa Bourassa and again we will see you soon our next big event after our wedding, will be running at the Reach the Beach relay then off to The Lake Winnipesaukee relay the week after.

see you soon and thanks for your support and well wishes

tim the barefoot runner

100 on 100 RELAY VERMONT 8/15/09

2009-08-18T14:21:00Z

Well the relay went well for team RUNTELLMANRUN.COM. Out of the 100 miles for the relay we completed 82 out of the 100 miles on route 100 the HEAT was on about 85 to 93 degrees all day we ( tellman, ben and myself tim the barefoot runner) were on fire all day long. We started at 6 am in the morning and ended at 820 pm later that night we got bumped ahead from race officials because of time restraints. All in all we had a great relay Ben had an injury later in the day which kind of put a damper on our race time but not on the good time we had. I know this may sound strange but it was a good injury for Ben he has been waiting for his big toe to move over and pop. And I guess that is what happened now it can heal in its proper position. You can find out more about Ben Ibey and his incredible story at his site thebarefootproject.com. Tellman did an outstanding job on his part tooling out a daily record barefoot mileage of 27 barefoot miles. You can check out Tellman at RUNTELLMANRUN.COM and his upcoming project. I finished out my day at 33 miles not a record for me but close stay tuned in for my upcoming THANKSGIVING PROJECT in late October FEEDING THE HUNGRY WHILE RUNNING BAREFOOT.

THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR SUPPORT

TIM THE BAREFOOT RUNNER

BAREFOOT BEN IBEY RUNNING FOR A GREAT CAUSE

2009-08-11T11:22:00Z

Monday, August 10, 2009

Two Fundraisers

In the next two months Ben Ibey will be participating in two fundraiser runs. Both are pretty challenging. The first is the 100 on 100 in Vermont. This is a relay race travelling route 100 in Vermont from Stowe to Ludlow. I will be relaying in the ultra category with my two friends, Tellman Knudsen and Tim Bourassa. All three of us will be barefoot trading off running duties on August 15th starting at 6 in the morning. This will benefit Tellman's cause @ RunTellmanRun.com .
The second fundraiser will be a barefoot marathon at the Maine Marathon on Oct. 4th. It will be my first attempt at a barefoot marathon and I am excited. I will be running and fundraising for The Center for Grieving Children. The link is:
http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1226&AID=703&PID=89790
I will be blogging about each experience soon.
Barefoot Ben

DONT JUDGE ANYONE TILL YOU GET THE CHANCE TO MEET THEM

2009-07-29T14:04:00Z

WHO IS TELLMAN KNUDSON

Well he is a human being just like the rest of us. He has needs,wants,desires and dreams. He has family, friends, a child and a wife. Hes a homeowner, an employer, a taxpayer, an entrepreneur. Hes a man who feels pain, happiness, passion,sadness,excitement etc. Hes a person who loves his community, his state, his country. He cares about people you and me. I recently had the privileage of meeting Tellman and his close knit friends and family. He invited me in and treated me like the same an old friend and family. And i went for a run with him and another for 11 miles and to me I took away with me this one thing. DONT JUDGE THE PEOPLE YOU DONT KNOW EVEN THE PEOPLE YOU DO, FOR WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT AND YOU DONT KNOW SOMEONE UNTIL YOU GET THE CHANCE TO MEET WITH THEM AND TALK. Can i tell you I know Tellman and I know who he is NO i Cant It would take me 30 something years to watch a video of his life to do this.I can tell you he is a Man a Great Man from what i have seen and That is my opinion others may have their own so Judge for yourself but dont Judge without the FACTS like i stated ealier it takes many for the world to go round and it would be a very boring place if we were all the same Thank GOD or WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE in TELLMAN IS TELLMAN and you are you and I am I. As for me Tellman is the real deal hes tellman go to http://runtellmanrun.com to find out MORE on tellman a real HUMAN BEING a MAN a FATHER and another BAREFOOT RUNNER.

I DARE YOU TO TRY LYNN WOODS MASSACHUSETTS

2009-07-16T13:18:00Z

I thought 141 miles across Massachusetts was challenging! Then i thought i had met my match at Loon Mountain. Until i returned to run at Lynn Woods in Massachusetts on a Wednesday night run. How weird it is we dont remember the terrain our feet cover while being trapped in sneakers. I ran here last year and could remember only that it was rocky and hilly a far as footing was concerned .My fellow runners invited me back and i decided to go why BAREFOOT of course! Mistake? Well i will let you decide if you dare to try it . As my friend Jim one of my fellow barefoot runners has described " It makes every other running surface feel like running on butter."

As i've said in different videos these surfaces like Lynn Woods which is basically a rock filled mountain bike trail 5.5 miles of rough terrain. These are for the experienced Barefoot runner only. Cause believe me im not a Quitter but i felt like turning around instead i pressed on and finished it. Not only that i had no bruises no blisters no cuts etc. In fact although it took sometime for me to get through it I can say i did it. And believe me it does make ever other surface feel like" butter." So take those shoes off and WALK, RUN OR JUST SLEEP BAREFOOT.

PS I remember every square inch of my running adventures now!

keep motivated

tim the barefoot runner

Woburn Believe It Or Not?!!?!!!?

2009-07-04T21:13:00Z

photo by: Melissa       Preston Jim and Tim

                                                                                                         Can you believe it. ITs catching on what is IT? Why 3 barefoot runners in one place of course not one not two but 3. Seems like this or IT is becoming not a trend not a fad BUT the healthy way to go. IT being barefoot running of course. My friend Preston came by last Thrusday night at our weekly IA run and then to my surprise a new found friend Jim stopped by also barefoot. Turns out he heard about the barefooters and decided to take a look and meet us. Jim is new to the barefoot running way of life. hes been doing it for 3 months now cause he believes it healthier for him and he ought to know cuase he has run around the block a few times in his life. But wait look at his picture he doesnt look very seasoned instead look how good he looks and the great shape he is in.You can ask how young he really is let me tell you this hes healthy, smart and can run barefoot circles around some. GREAT JOB On your second 5 mile barefoot run Jim!!!!!! not to mention it was rainy that day and wet no blisters or bruises. Check us out RUN FREE RUN BAREFOOT!!!!!!

SEE you ALL soon!

regards   tim the barefoot runner

Don’t Forget To Eat Your (Sea) Vegetables

2009-06-28T23:30:00Z

Lots of us on the ‘net talk about eating real foods, but sea vegetables are more often than not left hanging. I bet most people have only experienced sea vegetables as part of their sushi and then not as the main star, but only as the wrapper. And that’s very unfortunate because these little creatures (algae exists somewhere between the plant world and the animal world) contain an unbelievable amount of nutrition with no hit to your waistline.

Barefoot Runners Trample MOUNT WASHINGTON NH

2009-06-24T16:06:00Z

Barefoot Runners Above (yours truly Tim Bourassa on right and my new barefoot friend Paul Lahham)

Trample Mt. Washington in New Hampshire's 49th annual Road Race!!!!!!!!!!

      Believe it or not the road is now over and the results are in.

Yours truly has survived with a finishing time of 2:02:46 not bad for a first time barefoot Mount Washington run for me. I was very relaxed and took it easy i ran the first 4 miles then did a run 200 feet then ran 200 feet combination. Thank you to my sponsor my brother at http://highintensitybikeshop.com/ My next race you can find me at Loon Mountain on July 5th where i will be the first to run it BAREFOOT and try to beat my time of 01:23:33   6.2 miles

Ohhh yeah and by the way after Mt Washington on Tuesday June 23rd I ran a really fast 5k at the series in lowell Ma. Barefoot posting an average mile of 7:16 and placing 4th in my age group Congrats to all the Mt Washington Racers and THANK YOU to all those who volunteered !!!!!!!

And if your look for a good bed and breakfast visit Sarah and Jeff at The Blake House @ http://www.blakehousebandb.com/

Thank you and Happy Running !!!!!!    check out my Mt Washington video on the Main Page in days to come!!!

sincerely   Tim the Barefoot Runner

The Shocking Truth About Agave Syrup

2009-06-13T21:07:00Z

Agave nectar is in reality not a natural sweetener but a highly refined form of fructose, more concentrated than the high fructose corn syrup used in sodas!

LETS NOT FORGET 6-06-1942 D-DAY

2009-06-06T20:10:00Z

“Critical Distance”

2009-05-30T19:21:00Z

“Critical Distance” is my term for the point in a race after which you are very unlikely to slow down if you reach it without having slowed down already. It refers to a phenomenon that is familiar to every runner who has ever said before a race, “If I can just hold it together until the X-mile mark, I’ll be okay.”

Tim Goes To Harvard????

2009-05-28T20:41:00Z

Well who would have thought? I recently had the honor of partaking in a study of Barefoot Running vs. Sneakers at Harvard. Cant believe i went to Harvard that should look ok on the resume LOL Anyway while the results arent in yet obviously i had to tell you all the news. There will be video of me running as a test subject in the days to come. It was very cool and interesting as soon as all is done i will share everything they share with me with you. Keep up those toes and stay on the Ball!!!!

tim the Barefoot Runner

Female Barefoot Runner Spotted in Boston!!!

2009-05-27T14:09:00Z

Thats right some people couldnt believe their own eyes! On Sunday May 24th at the Boston Run To Remember Half Marathon Melissa Nelson takes off her sneakers and runs it Barefoot! Following the footsteps of myself in a sense lol two barefoot runnersat the same race. Kudos to my fiancee for taking them off and giving it a go. Great job Melissa, Whos next could it be you I say yes give it a try start slow, start small. The only thing you have to lose is your sneakers. And check out Melissas feet on the main page of this site on video. Good day and keep running.

Run wise Run healthy Run BAREFOOT!!!!!

tim

Who is Frank Buckles?

2009-05-24T20:15:00Z

THE LAST AMERICAN VETERAN FROM WW1 AT 107 YEARS OLD