Healing Through Barefoot Running

Michael Sandler in a hospital bed one day after surgery on his shattered femur, broken hip and broken arm.

Michael Sandler, former speed skater and professional level cyclist, suffered multiple injuries over the course of a lifetime, the last of which occurred just over 3 years ago. Weeks before a planned inline skating world record attempt across the country (LA to NYC) to raise awareness about ADD/ADHD, Michael experienced a life altering accident. While inline skating down Boulder Creek Trail in Boulder, CO, a father teaching his toddler how to walk stepped in front of Michael's path. To avoid a collision, Michael threw himself up and backwards and landed mid-rotation on a cement sidewalk. The result - a broken arm, broken hip, and shattered femur. Doctors told him the usual story - he may not be able to keep his leg... he may not be able to walk again... and he most definitely would never be able to run again.

Fortunately, Michael doesn't believe in limitations. He'll be the first to tell you he doesn't believe in the word, "Can't". Slowly but surely, through a combination of determination, meditation, trust in the universe and the power of nature, along with a healthy dose of rebelliousness, Michael became a walking miracle.

Only a week out of his living room hospital-bed in 2006, he set the record for finishing the Bolder Boulder on crutches (and with a broken arm). Two weeks later, Michael finished the Denver Half Marathon on crutches (second to last) and became the only person to ever complete the half marathon on crutches.

When he finally got off his crutches, Michael gradually worked himself into barefoot running. He was still being told he couldn’t run anymore, and with a ‘leg length discrepancy’ of over 10 millimeters, struggled to find balance and overcome nagging pain. Known as ‘Mr. Plantar Fasciitis’ from before the accident, when he needed custom orthotics just to walk across the living room floor, going barefoot was a major leap of faith. The first day, he ran 100 yards. Then he iced his feet for 2 days. The second time, he ran 200 yards. Then iced for another 2 days. And so it went. Today, Michael can be seen passing cyclists while barefoot running up Flagstaff Mountain in Boulder. He's capable of running 30+ miles barefoot and is currently averaging 80-100 miles of barefoot running a week.

To Michael, barefoot running is not running at all. He says, "I don't run anymore. I dance." The benefits are multifold. Barefoot running activates many more small muscle groups than running in shoes. It allows us to run as our hunter-gatherer ancestors did - the natural way our body was intended to run. It heals old sports injuries by promoting a more natural form. It gives us greater feedback with the ground, and by keeping us lower to the ground, helps us avoid new injuries. Barefoot running naturally promotes better, more efficient running posture and allows runners to surpass any speed they were ever able to attain with shoes. While the body heals, strengthens and economizes, the spirit heals and awakens. There's something to be said about feeling the earth beneath one's feet - feeling connected and grounded with nature. Suddenly, you're thinking more clearly and you're on top of the world.