The Story Behind RunBare

Michael & Jessie skip around puddles on slickrock in Moab, UT.

In the Summer of 2009, Co-Founders Jessica Lee and Michael Sandler launched the Barefoot Running Club in Boulder, CO. The club's huge success inspired Jessica and Michael to launch a RunBare, barefoot wellness school to help people looking to heal, to get active again, to overcome adversity, reconnect with nature, and find a different way of living. In April 2010, the duo hit the road on a 130+ city tour spanning 5 months. They drove across the country with their two dogs, Pumpkin and Sawa, a modest Suzuki hatchback and 4x6 trailer, speaking at outdoor retailers like REI and EMS and specialty running stores like Fleet Feet and Road Runner Sports.  Three weeks after hitting the road, Barefoot Running: How to Run Light and Free by Getting in Touch with the Earth was released in May 2010. Barefoot Running has sold over 14,000 copies and is now available in bookstores nationwide.  On September 20th, 2011, Crown Publishing, a division of Random House re-released Barefoot Running, helping RunBare reach an even broader audience.

What's in store for RUNBARE in 2011?

• Talks at running shoe stores, clubs, conferences and other venues worldwide.

• Barefoot running and walking clinics worldwide. Check out the Events Calendar here!

Michael Sandler

Chief Coaching Officer

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 around ADD/ADHD, Michael experienced a life altering accident. While inline skating down Boulder Creek Trail, a father and toddler stepped in front of Michael's path. To avoid a collision, Michael jumped backwards, landing on concrete. 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... 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, Michael became a walking miracle.

In 2006, a week out of his living room hospital-bed, Michael set the record for finishing the Bolder Boulder 10K on crutches (and a broken arm). Two weeks later, Michael finished the Denver Half Marathon on crutches 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’, as 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 barefoot running up Flagstaff Mountain passing road cyclists. He's capable of running 50+ miles barefoot and is currently averaging 80-100 miles 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 with 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 and by promoting a more natural form, gives us greater feedback from the ground, and by keeping us lower to the ground, it prevents 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.

Jessica Lee

President

Jessica Lee holds a bachelor's degree in Learning and Organizational Change from Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy.  Following graduation, she served two years with the U.S. Peace Corps as  Youth and Community Development volunteer in St. Vincent & the Grenadines.  Her favorite project included launching a 4-H Club, which raised and sold chickens.

Back in the U.S., she spent a summer as a bicycle tour guide in Alaska before settling in Colorado where she became a jane of all trades, working as an REI Sales Specialist, managing a coffee shop, baking Italian artisan bread and volunteering with Leave No Trace, a nonprofit that promotes environmental education and responsibility.

Eventually, Jessica settled into a focused career as a marketing professional in the renewable energy industry.  In 2007, she ran the Bolder Boulder 10K and felt crippled with knee pain after the first 3K. After this unpleasant experience, she decided to give up the sport and focus her athletic endeavors into cycling. This lasted until she met Michael and became inspired to run again, finding a pain-free joyous experience in barefoot running.

Our Mission: Healing Body, Mind & Soul One Bare Foot at a Time

The mission of RunBare is to promote and inspire healthy lifestyle changes and improve overall physical awareness, fitness, and performance by encouraging individuals to spend more time outdoors barefoot, grounding with the Earth and connecting with oneself.

Our Core Values

• We are dedicated educators, who aim to help our clients run for a lifetime.
• We inspire and motivate our clients.
• We care about our clients' health, happiness & overall well-being.
• We create opportunities for our clients to surpass their personal expectations.
• We encourage children and their families to spend more time in Nature
• We support social & environmental responsibility.