Humans have evolved as persistence hunting runners and cooperative animals. This is why we are now the most evolved species on Earth. And this is why the key to our happy and sustainable future on Earth depends on how we use persistence, cooperation, gentleness, and, of course, running.

Gentle Running and Living

by Dr Patrick Salmon, PharmD, PhD

Member of the Barefoot Runners Society

Founding Member of the Tarahumara Spirit   

Be gentle

to yourself

and others!

“Life is hard enough to add extra suffering to it”. We propose here a way to build a stronger, healthier and happier self through gentle running. Then, this “ascetic hedonism” can be translated into several aspects of life, to humbly contribute to a better world.

Natural Running is sometimes referred to as:

• Physiological Running
• Active Running

It is taught as methods such the Pose Method or the Chi Running Method.

However, it is funny to notice that, amongst vendors of Un-Natural Running shoes (with high heels and/or big crash pads) or amongst “Running Coaches” with utter ignorance of human biomechanics, Un-Natural Running is never referred to as “Un-Natural Running”, or “Pathological Running”, or “Passive Running”.

Guess what? Those guys call it “Traditional Running”. As if the way Humans are running for the last 40 years had gained the right to be called a Tradition, over the way Humans are running for the last Million years.

And so, a little like junk food, big shoes are now associated with ailments and injuries that did not exist before them. Because these big shoes are preventing the human foot and leg to work normally. Indeed, now, most runners are hitting the ground like drop-hammers, braking and thumping, instead of landing smoothly and gently.

That said, you can now go to the Gentle Running Page to learn what Natural Running is all about.

You can also go to the Ultra Basics if you have little time and want a super short recipe.

What is Natural Running?

Natural Running is Running like a Wheel

Un-Natural Running is Running like a Brick

• Weak foot
• Weak ankle, sprained ankle
• Torn or destroyed meniscus
• Hip arthrosis, hip surgery
• Back pain, vertebral disk hernia, spine operation

• Obesity
• Diabetes type 2
• Cardiovascular disease
• Chronic inflammation
• Hypertension
• High cholesterol