The Minimalist Runner
The concept of minimalism and the joy of running trails should be natural bedfellows. And, sure, there are plenty of parallels, not least of which is the shared idea of being free; of soaking in moments that are real, being part of something without wanting to own it.
But if you want to know the big difference, look down next time you’re out for a run. You’re wearing trail shoes, right? And, chances are you’ve got another pair or two back home? And a pair of road shoes? Am I right?
When it comes to the points of difference between minimalism and trail running, you could say shoes are where the rubber hits the road. Just ask minimalism devotee and runner Paul Ryken. ‘I’ve got one pair of running shoes, and they’ve got to last me – racing, training, off-road, road,’ he says.
And you can forget the mountains of gear most of us have. ‘I’ve got one pair of shorts, one singlet, one shirt, one pair of socks, and that’s it – that has got to last me the whole time.’
Paul says this without a trace of sadness or regret. He does not want your pity. He has eschewed commercialism during a journey which began about a decade ago, and it’s those beliefs which now drive him (including in his running), not the desire for the next colourful model, the next blingy backpack.
‘Ten years ago, I started to
