kangoos and barefoot running

Recently finished reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall and in it there is a reference to Barefoot Ted buying a pair of Kangoos before he stumbled upon running barefoot (pg155).  I went online to Ted's website and found one reference to this event.

This got me to thinking about running in the Kangoos. When I first started running in them I tried to come down more on my heels.  That never did feel all that stable.  I finally started to come down more flatfooted and concentrated on lifting my feet off the ground rather than trying to push off.  The spring in the boots helps you to lift naturally and as it turns out I've since seen several references advocating this technique when you run.  Lift your foot off the ground.  Don't push off. (PACE and Chi Running).

When running barefoot, you land more on the ball of your foot which allows the arch  to act as a natural spring.  So now I am wondering if one of the reasons I can run without pain in my Kangoos is because it is forcing me to run correctly?  As soon as it warms up some, I'm going out to try some short barefoot runs to see how it feels.

No answers here only questions.  Not retiring my Kangoos as of yet.

[Image: Flickr: "Barefoot"; frigginacky: uploaded-July 7, 2008:http://www.flickr.com/photos/frigginacky/ / CC BY-NC 2.0]

The Kangaroo Guy

The Kangaroo Guy has posted a commentary on using Kangoo Jumps.

Part 1:



Watch the rest of his videos on Kangoos at his YouTube site.

Replacing Kangoo parts

Rasmus has made a YouTube video showing how to replace the soles and clamps on his kangoos. I went onto the official Kangoo Site to see what instructions they had available for this process. I copied a diagram from the site to show how they suggest you put the clamps on. They show only a screwdriver. Rasmus used a screwdriver, a wrench (to use like a lever), brute force, patience and a few kids running around. Although I think the kids are optional.

I think I might add a few bandaides....cause I figure the first time I try this, there will be blood!

He is using a lot more force than the diagrams imply. I am wondering if anyone else out there has found an easier way to get the clamps onto their boots? A better tool? A better method? If so, let me know and I'll mention it here. This kind of information is helpful for all of us in the Kangoo community.

Thanks to Rasmus for sharing his process.
















Part 1



Part 2



[Image captured from YouTube Video: Part 2 - Howto exchange Kangoo Jumps T-SPRING TS Pro6 and sole for model KJarmstrong XR: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OJ0CJ8bWI8]
[Images of boots captured from Kangoo Site: http://www.kangoojumps.com/doc913.htm]

Kangoo Boots Informational Site

I keep thinking other Kangoo jumpers will post information about the boots, their experiences, their routines, etc....but still not much out on the web that I can find. This site was one of the first I located when I first heard about the boots and it has some tips and tricks. Doesn't seem to get updated all that often, but it's a place to start if you are trying to decide if these odd looking shoes are right for you.

Kangoo Jumps (Maintained by Elvis Payne. Note this is not the official Kangoo Site)

Kangoo Boots--how well do they hold up?

Rasmus, in Denmark, has put a 180 km (roughly 110 miles) on his Kangoos with long runs and lots of off road workouts. Here's a link to his video showing where they wore out and what parts he is going to replace.

His evaluation: Don't expect to get more mileage than a pair of running shoes but he still loves running in them and is going to replace the worn parts. Plan on replacing parts more often if you run off road. (Hope I paraphrased you correctly Rasmus ;-)

Kangoo Aerobics

I've started thinking about winter.

We had a lot of rainy, snowy days that kept me inside last year. I did some bouncing in the house last spring but I got to thinking I need some routines I can do in the house to forestall boredom in case it's another wet winter. I started listing out some some foot drills (like the dot drill) and some aerobics steps I could do with the boots.

No problem, I thought. I've been bouncing for twenty or thirty minutes at a time in the neighborhood. I should be able to handle some interesting footwork in the house. I was wrong. Jogging does not prepare you for some of the lateral movements you make in aerobics. I barely made it through a dot drill without taking a tumble. And after about ten minutes, I was ready to die. I stopped and decided I was going to have to work up to a more complex routine. I'll keep you posted on what I come up with.

(Of course, I guess I could order one of the DVDs from Kangoo? Nah....where's the fun in that?)

[Image: "Al is too Old for Aerobics": Creative Commons. If you use it just give me credit.]

Kangoo Jumps: Intervel Training

Video and suggestion for doing an simple interval workout with Kangoo Boots.

Other Kangoo Boot Drills?

After seeing the young woman jumping rope wearing a pair of Kangoos, I got to thinking that maybe there are other exercises you could do while wearing the boots. I know that there are aerobics type routines available on DVD and offered through some clubs. I was wondering in particular if there was any information on using the boots in a dot drill or something similar.

Found this one video from the official Kangoo site called power training. It's given me some ideas to explore.

[Image captured from video: Power Training Video: http://www.kangoojumps.com/pags.php?d=O533O533&video=123]

Kangoo Jump Rope

After I put my simple Kangoo video up last week, I did a some searching to see if there was anything new on YouTube related to my favorite bouncy boots. Found this one of a young woman jumping rope in her Kangoos. I am going to try this. Maybe not in slow-mo, but soon. I'll let you know how it turns out.

kangoo update

I've been sick a lot this past six months. Lots of colds and a particularly nasty sinus infection that just wouldn't go away. This is my excuse for not completely testing my Kangoo boots that I bought in February. I'd get a run in and then be laid up for a while. Summer came on with me being in terrible shape.

So I started off with the plan of bouncing a few times a week. Travel, another cold and a unrelated back injury have kept me from doing that consistently. But, now I am back on track. I bounced yesterday even though my back isn't a hundred percent yet, it was not noticeable while I was exercising. My workouts are currently about thirty minutes. I've worked up to about half running and half walking. I expect that to be mostly running by end of the month.

What I've noticed so far.

• Able to exercise even when my back is bothering me. I also am able to get out on the road even if my knees are tender. I wish I had tried just walking daily with the boots when I first hurt my back. I think that would have been helpful. Although, if I went down for any reason, I'd of been like a turtle on it's back until helped arrived.
• Short run is a good workout. Remember I am overweight and out of shape. With that in mind, I feel like I get my heart pumping and give my legs a good workout for the short time I'm on the boots.
• When I first started bouncing, I'd feel it in my hips and thighs after a workout. Now as I increase my time running, I feel some soreness in my shins. No soreness anywhere else. Wonder if this is related to the gait you are forced into when running in the Kangoos?
• As I increase my time running I am beginning to notice some hot spots developing. I am wearing heavy hiking socks but I may need to experiment with some lube on my feet or buckling the boots differently. More on this as I build up my time.

I love running again. It has been years since I could get out and do this. If I can do no more than go out a couple times of week and run in the boots for a half hour or so, I'd be a happy camper. If these boots help me work back into a modified running program again, I'd be ecstatic. Either way, I'm still happy with the purchase.

The video below shows the buckle mechanisms a little closer than you may have seen elsewhere. I made this shortly after I got the boots which is why I am dressed for the cold. I also try to demonstrate how to stop. Tried to show some things that I never saw when I was thinking about buying the boots. Hope it helps.

Kangoo: First time outside

It was overcast this morning and the temperature was hovering around 24 degrees' Fahrenheit. The ground was dry. There was no wind. I figured it was now or never as snow is forecast. I dressed in layers and buckled up the Kangoo Jumps and headed for the street. Let me warn you about stairs! My only close call today was going down the steps in front of our house. A little tricky the first time.

I did a simple walk/run circuit exactly the same way I would if I was starting a running program. Walk a short distance. Run a short distance. Repeat. My route is through a suburban neighborhood so I normally walk a block and then run a block. With this kind of program, you gradually increase the amount of time you run and decrease the amount you walk until you are running the entire distance (or time).

First thing. Practice stopping. When I came to a street I needed to cross I ended up stopping a few feet into the street. Luckily, no cars. After that I worked on coming to a complete halt. It's kind of like going from a fast jog to a slow jog until you are jogging in place.

Second thing. Be prepared for people to stare at you. It reminds me of when I first started running back in the early seventies. People would honk their horns or yell funny comments from their cars. Families in their front yards would stop what they were doing to stare at the crazy man. Today I had several people about snap their necks as they turned back to look as they drove by. It was too early and cold for anybody to be out on the streets but I expect I will get stares and comments. Hard on a shy guy like me. If it lets me run. I'll deal.

Third, the workout. I feel like I am lifting my feet higher. Almost like I'm marching. I am thinking a little harder about how I am placing my feet and working on coming down more towards my heel and letting the natural curve of the boot help push me forward. I also feel like I am running a bit bow-legged. This might be in response to the size of the shoes or it might just be that I am over thinking it. Still no pain or discomfort in my knees or back.

Lastly, it was fun. I'm looking forward to getting out more. I'll get back to you on my experience as soon as I get a couple more runs under my belt.

[Image: "Al in his bouncy boots": Taken by Larilyn Meyer. No comments on the winter beard. Yes I know how gray it is. Yes I know how old I am getting to be. Look at the boots not my face!]

Kangoo: twenty minutes

Felt like my cold has finally wound down enough that I could work up a sweat without passing out. Selected twenty minutes of music, put on the Kangoo Jumps and did some aerobics. Nothing strenuous. I'd jump around for about a minute, walk for a minute and repeat.

• No discomfort in my knees.
• Didn't think to check my pulse until just now, but felt like it elevated pretty quickly.
• Occasionally would feel a bit off balance but the boots fit so firmly, I quickly regained my balance.
• Ankles never felt compromised.
• Felt it the most in my hips. I'm curious to see if this holds true when I take them out for a jog?

If it doesn't snow, jogging (with a lot of walking) will happen this weekend.

kangoo: Too sick to bounce

Been sick with a cold past three days. We've had wonderful weather here in the Denver area but I've been laying around wrapped up in a comforter drinking tea and going through a tree's worth of kleenex. Haven't had much chance to try out my new Kangoo boots. Too sick to bounce.

This morning I couldn't stand it anymore and put them on and did just a little bouncing around the house. I watched a video on YouTube that demoed some aerobic moves using the boots. Essentially, run in place, then bounce on one foot a couple of times, then run in place. I put the boots on for the second time and found that my balance was much better. I was able to do the moves from the video and I bounced for about five minutes before I had to stop and blow my nose.

Here's hoping I feel better before it snows later this week.

Kangoo: My new jumpy boots

I wrote in my Christmas Wish List that I'd like a pair of Kangoo Jumps. These are essentially ski boots with springs on the bottom. A device you might see Wiley Coyote buy from Acme, strap to his feet and in the process of chasing after Roadrunner, bounce off a cliff. I couldn't find any locally to try out but they sounded like something I could use to run a few miles a week without hurting my back or knees. Another blogger mentioned that he had purchased a pair on eBay at a more reasonable price than buying from the official store. What did I have to lose?

My pride. Maybe.

My dignity. Likely.

Loss of respect of my Kangoo-less peers. Assured.

Ahhhhhh, but for the chance to run again with the breeze blowing through my hair and the giddy feel of a runners's high. To run like the wind. To waltz with the wolves. Prance with the cheetahs. Feel the road pass beneath me as I move towards the horizon.

It was worth the risk. I started watching eBay for a pair. A set of KJ5-pro2s in my size became available for a little under $120 (that includes shipping and handling from Canada). I bought them and they got here today.



I found little information on the web about these shoes other than the info from the official website. Lots of rehashing of the same stuff with few recommendations and only one negative comment. I'll make a few posts about the boots to add to the collective knowledge available. If I had found more anecdotal information, I might not have waffled so long in my decision. I don't sell them (unless I hate them at which point this pair will go back onto eBay) so my comments aren't influenced by trying to get more folks to jump on the Kangoo wagon.

My first reaction when I pulled them out of the box was...."Wow. These are big suckers!" Maybe if I was a skier and used to wearing ski boots, they wouldn't seem so huge. They also are pretty hefty. I read that the weight is one reason for increasing the intensity of your exercise routine. They weigh in at about 4.8 pounds each. This will be a big change from my light weight running shoes.

They seem to be well built. They fit snugly when I first put them on. No slippage. Standing up the first time was a little frightening. I was suddenly some nine inches taller and felt a little unsteady. I had no trouble walking. Standing not so good. I needed to hold onto something or I felt like I was going to tip over.



I walked around for about 10 minutes (in the house) to get used to how they felt. After about five minutes, my hip joints started to feel a little tender. I think from the gait or maybe from lifting up the boots over and over? Or from playing racquetball yesterday? It felt a little bit like I was walking on my tip-toes. The manual mentions that you should avoid running on your toes. This may be something I have to work on.

I did a little bouncing and a few little jogs......my house isn't big enough to do much more. I never felt like I was going to fall while I was moving. My ankles felt fully supported and there was no uncomfortable rubbing. I figure I'll do a few more short sessions in the house to make sure I'm stable and then I'll take them for a spin outside.

I'll let you know what happens.