Can you workout in the wilderness?

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Running through the wilderness either barefoot or with in a pair of shoes, enhances the jogging experience

Erwan Le Corre, who founded an international movement called MovNat or the caveman fitness routine, believed that running through the wilderness either barefoot or in just a pair of shoes, enhances the jogging experience. But does this actually make for a good fitness routine?

Ashik Jaffer Ali, an architect by profession in Tamil Nadu, strongly believes in this theory. Having set up her own marathon called Rock n Run at Kovai, she says, “We live a very pneumatic life. So being exposed to such outdoor terrain does enhance the running experience,” she says. Running barefoot also helps a person re-connect with one’s environment.
“The different terrain, the connection to mother nature, and the scenic routes, not to mention coping with the natural terrain, is a test of endurance with every muscle. Fatigue is overcome with the adrenaline that kicks in and pushes you that extra mile,” she points out.
Rakesh C., a member of the Chennai Trekkers Club, concurs, “It is a challenge to run in the wilderness. But when you live in a place like India, where the roads are a menace, and the streets are filled with traffic, running along these roads is a challenge that’s relatively similar. The concept is good and the thoughts that go into it are great, I just wish we had the terrain to try it.”