The event logistics went off without a hitch, the weather was unbelievable, the enthusiasm from participants was off the charts, the running clinics with Barefoot Ted and Jason Robillard were packed, Dan Lieberman’s presentation and panel discussion were a home run, and the run itself was a blast. It was all just so, so good.

Some stats:

• About 265 people ended up registering for the run, and we had around 300 people at the run itself.  I don’t know if this qualifies as the largest official barefoot or minimalist running event, but it well may.  (If you don’t count recess at any number of Kenyan schools.)
• Over 25% of participants came from outside the tri-state area (NY, CT, NJ), which is awesome. Truly a destination event. Arkansas, California, Florida, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Alabama, Sweden, one guy even re-routed his trip from Israel through NYC for the run.
• From conception to execution, we pulled off the event in about two and half months. And we only had the site up for people to register for about one month. Not bad…makes you wonder what we can do next year when we actually have some time to plan and promote!
• Barefoot Runners NYC was founded on November 7th, 2009…less than a year ago.  What a year.
• Terra Plana ended up raffling off over $2,500 worth of shoes and apparel.  With contributions from Tip Top Shoes, Injinji, Luna Sandals, and all of our barefoot running leaders, we had well over 50 prizes.  (As someone joked, it’s not that lucky people won something — it’s that unlucky people didn’t win.)

A few memorable funny moments:

• In Daniel Howell’s excellent Saturday AM talk, he compared wearing shoes to smoking cigarettes…while in a shoe store surrounded by shoe salesmen. I thought he was going to get a shoe horn to the head. Possible to use a different metaphor, Daniel?
• Barefoot Ted found a crabapple tree during the run, and started passing out crabapples to runners. Also, Ted ran part of the course backwards backwards…which is definitely not the same as running it forwards.  (Said another way, he was running backwards, around the course in the wrong direction.)
• Dan Lieberman ran one of the longest distances of any of the 250+ runners. 17 miles or so, gearing up for the New York City Marathon. Now that’s an academic who doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walks.  (And runs the run.)
• Erwan Le Corre kindly helped me carry cases and cases of bananas up six flights of stairs to my apartment. Let it be known that Erwan’s banana carrying capacity is double mine.  Not that there was any doubt…I just wanted to quantify (in bananas) how much stronger Erwan is than I am.  250 bananas stronger.
• Jason Robillard wore his running kilt to the run. Apparently when we told Jason that Governors Island was going to be breezy and to dress accordingly, he did. Think Marylin Monroe, but more Scottish and manly.  But just as sexy.
• I fell deeply in love with my new ThunderPower 400 Megaphone. (Tagline: “You WILL be heard!”) Even if the event had bombed, I still would have had this wonderful, wonderful toy. You’ll see the megaphone surface in a few of the blog reviews.

Comments, blog posts, and reviews:

• Barefoot Ted: “First Annual NYC Barefoot Run was a HUGE success. Loved it and look forward to going again next year.”
• Jason Robillard: “Attention all barefoot/minimalist runners- start making plans to attend the 2nd annual NYC Barefoot Run. This has been an amazing experience thus far!”
• Daniel Howell: “What an amazing 1st NYC barefoot run. If you didn’t make it this year, you MUST make it next year!”
• Erwan Le Corre: “Fantastic people, event, weather, experience: 1st annual NYC barefoot run, beautifully organized by John and his sister Maggie Durant.”
• At Birthday Shoes: “I plan to be back next year.”  (And we want you too next year, Justin Owings.)
• Paleo Playbook: “The star of the show was Dan Lieberman, the Harvard University scientist who studies the anatomical efficiencies of human locomotion. In a truly remarkable presentation, he covered the science behind the sport from early human history up to Newtonian physics.”
• Fifth Ape: “It was an amazing event.”
• Hunt Gather Love
• Nathan Matthews
• Barefoot Fresca

Photos and video:

I’ll let you know when we have official video and pictures ready, but here are a bunch of participant pics and video.  I’ve also put a few down below.

• Photos here, here, here, here, here, and here.
• Short video of Day 1 (Barefoot Ted clip) and Day 2 (start of the race)

And some very essential thank you’s:

• Dan Lieberman, Barefoot Ted, Erwan Le Corre, Jason Robillard, and Daniel Howell – Thank you for taking a risk on an unproven event!  You helped set the tenor of the run as: scientific and skeptical, collaborative, educational, and fun.
• Volunteers – Our volunteers were the best.  From ordering bibs and banners, carrying boxes of bananas all over the city, finding a store that sells ice on Sunday at 6am, selling t-shirts, registration, hosting out-of-town runners, doing bag check, pounding in signs, everything.  Couldn’t have done it without you.  Barefoot Runners NYC rules.
• Vivobarefoot – Patty and Ralph at Terra Plana were awesome. They approached me at our Christopher McDougall run about this, and they immediately got the vision of what this event could become. The Lieberman lecture and panel discussion at their store was truly exceptional.  My only regret is that the Terra Plana store isn’t going to be large enough to host talks next year, because we filled the store this year with 100+ people.
• Tip Top Shoes – Danny and Lester Wasserman wrote us a check in our first year, with no track record, and about a month before the event. They have a history of spotting things that could be big: they were the first independent retailer in NYC to stock VFFs, their account number at Birkenstock is 150 or so — so they actually looked forward to being first.  We’ll be running out of Tip Top this winter.
• Injinji and Vita Coco – Both Injinji and Vita Coca stepped up at the last minute to contribute product to the run.  Injinji donated a bunch of socks to the raffle, and Vita Coco contributed some delicious coconut water (that disappeared very quickly).
• My sister, Maggie Durant – Maggie put more time into this event than any other person, including myself. I could not have pulled off a world class event in just two months without her.

Barefoot Ted said just after we met on Saturday, “I like the optimism and boldness in calling it an annual event.” Damn right.  We’ll see you back here next year for the 2nd Annual New York City Barefoot Run. It’s on.

This is not your typical running race. The purpose of the run is to learn how to run more naturally, to have fun, and to stay healthy.

• If you have never run in minimalist shoes or barefoot before, you should still bring the shoes you normally run in. Try out barefoot/minimalist for stretches, but now is not the time to prove how tough you are. Start slow.
• We created a format called Run Your Distance. There is no fixed distance to the run. Everyone will start together, and then you must decide when to stop. You are responsible for listening to your feet and body.
• The run will not be timed. Feel free to time it yourself.
• Our barefoot running leaders have been planning some running mayhem. There are three ways you can participate in the event:

1. Walk – Dr. Daniel Howell will be leading a group of walkers while talking about the benefits of barefoot. This is a great option for anyone who is not a runner.
2. Run – Jason Robillard will be running a marathon, and Dan Lieberman will be running 18-20 miles. You don’t have to run that far, but this is a familiar option for most runners.
3. Wild Persistence Hunt – Apparently, Barefoot Ted and Erwan Le Corre don’t know how to run in a straight line at a steady pace. Ted will be exploring different surfaces on the island, changing directions, running in a pack, changing pack leaders, and changing speeds. Erwan will be leading a MovNat-style “run”, which may include crawling, lifting, balancing, and other natural movements.  You are welcome to follow!

• We will have a runners raffle – with more than 50 items, including:
  • Stride and gait analysis at Dan Lieberman’s lab at Harvard University
  • Vivobarefoot “Evo” minimalist shoes
  • Various minimalist running product from Tip Top Shoes
  • Barefoot Ted’s Luna Sandals
  • Free one-day MovNat Fundamentals Course with Erwan LeCorre
  • Signed copies of Jason Robillard’s The Barefoot Running Book
  • Signed copies of Dr. Daniel Howell’s The Barefoot Book
  • Injinji socks from Injinji and Tip Top Shoes

Important reminders

• Online registration closes on Friday night. Newcomers can register in person at official events on Saturday or Sunday.  $40. Cash only.
• We encourage you to pick up your packet early at Tip Top Shoes on Saturday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Packets will be available at the Governors Island Ferry on Sunday morning, but you might end up missing your ferry while you wait in line.
• We wanted everyone to be able to attend the Lieberman lecture and panel discussion at Terra Plana on Saturday night, but there was too much demand for capacity.  There will now be a lottery.  You must fill out the form here: http://bit.ly/TerraPlanaLottery by 12midnight ET Thursday, October 8 (TONIGHT).  More details below in the schedule.
• Not all subway lines are running properly, so please check here for updates.  Note: the 1 train is not running from Chambers to South Ferry (shuttle buses replace them)
• The Governors Island Ferry is located directly to the left of the State Island Ferry. And the Staten Island Half Marathon is the same morning, so don’t go to Staten Island!

Weather

• Saturday: Sunny and clear with the afternoon in the mid-60s
• Sunday: Sunny and clear with the AM in the mid-50s

Note: Bring warm clothes to the run since the island will be windy and chilly in the morning.

What to bring to the run

• Bib and “bag check” tag (attached to the bottom of the bib), if you picked up your packet in advance
• Warmer clothes (windy and chilly in the morning)
• ID (for beer)
• Camera (very scenic)
• Food (Not required. We will have fruit and snacks after the race. There will also be two food carts selling sandwiches. Cash only. If you have dietary requirements, bring a little something.)
• Cash (Two food vendors, plus cool tech tees for sale for $25.  All cash only.)
• Bag / backpack (You can check a bag/backpack and it will be watched during the race.)
• Friends and family (Spectators do not have to register and pay, but they must be able to give the name of a registered participant to board the ferry.)
• Shoes (Bring whatever shoes you typically run in. Try barefoot/minimalist for short distances.)

Note: Dogs, cats, and other pets are not allowed on the island

Check out the updated schedule and directions.

SEE YOU THERE!

Excerpt:

“I’ve heard that Barefoot Ted might lead a persistence hunt during the run.

No comment. You’ll have to come and find out.”

Says co-owner Lester Wasserman, “Tip Top Shoes was the first store in New York City to carry Vibram FiveFingers, which is why we want to be the first to support this distinctive event in its inaugural year.”

Sponsors are so critical to getting events off the ground, so please visit Tip Top Shoes at 155 W. 72nd St. between Amsterdam and Columbus.  Tell Lester or Danny Wasserman that you heard about them through the NYC Barefoot Run!

For people who are NOT runners, but are interested in the health benefits of going barefoot (or nearly so), Daniel Howell is your man.  Walking or standing, sitting or playing, going barefoot or near barefoot can help your back, posture, and overall health.

“I want to be a part of this. The more I hear about it, the better.”

Register today — spots are going fast.

More details to come, but look for a Saturday evening event with Lieberman, Le Corre, and Robillard at the Terra Plana store!