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Writing this blog has been a great reflection on the last 15 years. Over 20 years of running. 15 years in LUNA Sandals. And so much has changed through that.I first discovered LUNA Sandals and started running in them in 2010 when I read the book “Born to Run”. Now it has been 15 years of discovering a new way of running and being alive.

It's the "why" behind running

When I first started running, I was in my 20s, close to a burnout in my Social Work jobs. Every morning I would go running barefoot on the beach. As I ran into the sunrise, I felt so much more alive and happy. And that kept me going.It was this feeling of aliveness and calmness that running on the beach brought to me. A clear mind. Moving freely.

Fran's Story:

As the years went by, I continued running every morning. By myself, really early so no one would see me.I grew in confidence. I grew in understanding who I really am. My mind became clearer and calmer. Something opened in me. Over time. Even on days when I felt tired and I wasn’t sure if I can run, I went out anyway.I think because my Why has been so deep in me, I kept it going over so many years. I ran not for exercise or weight loss or fitness or to prove myself.I ran because somehow I felt the most alive doing it. I remembered that there is more to life when I ran.

Fran's LUNA pick: 

When I then discovered LUNA Sandals, I was already on that path.But the sandals took me even further.Over the years I started writing with Liv and Ted on a regular basis.They told me about this race in Mexico that I knew from the book too. They asked me to come.But it was so far away. Somehow it felt out of my reach.I always told myself that I wasn’t ready. I didn’t run races or long distance.

That continued over many years. As I started running more & further, I also dared to take more steps in other areas of life.Until one day some years ago I sat down at the fire at night, having reached another turning point in my life.I didn’t know what next. I only knew that I was somehow asked to go further. I asked for a sign. Some days later I got a message about the race in Mexico. And this time I said yes and signed up for it.

It changed my whole life. I not only ran my first marathon there in sandals. I also ran my first Ultra Marathon four weeks later in the US. Also in sandals.I met my now husband while running. The rest is history. We are now married and living in the US together. Running has been such a force in my Life. My spiritual practice. My reminder of what life really is. My calm space of connection every day. 

What I learned over all those years is: When we dedicate ourselves to something like this, something so physical and deeply human, we learn who we really are. We realise we can go so much further in all areas of our lives. Doors open where we couldn’t see them before.

And we experience that life is about taking steps & taking risks out of our comfort zone all the time. That’s where we grow. That’s where we experience amazing life moments & sunrises & breathtaking sunsets. Running in Lunas has taught me that when we have the courage to take new steps, we discover what life really is. We stay on the path of what truly matters to us. And in that we are free. In my work as a mentor & facilitator, I always ask my clients about their connection to their bodies. How much they move outside in nature & find joy in feeling alive. And often when there isn’t much energy in life, that’s also where it comes from. Lack of movement. Lack of connection to the body. To what it needs. To looking after it for good energy.

Our bodies are our doors to the world. We sense it, we taste it, we feel what is going on. But we are so used to ignoring the signals when something isn’t working. Our bodies will take us so much further. When we listen. When we look after them. Running has taught me that I can only run long distances with my body & mind & soul as a team. Then we can go far in our lives. We can travel & be away from home and still feel home in ourselves. Oh, and another beautiful thing: Magic happens even more when we run together. My husband and I literally met running for the first time. We talked while running. We discovered we had a lot in common, even in our cultural differences.Running together over long distances brought us closer very quickly. Witnessing each other at breaking point. And helping each other going further every time. A true training for life!

He proposed while we were on a run.And the first thing we did after our wedding… was going for a run :-) 

We see the most amazing places running together. My husband loves when I get what he calls “Sandal looks”. People doing a double take when I run past them in sandals.Sometimes I get weird comments too. We laugh about it. It’s part of doing your own thing.

I know you might think: Isn’t that a bit much to say that running and LUNA Sandals have changed my life? I know it sounds a lot. But that’s literally what happened. I am planning to run way into old age. In sandals. Inspiring others to find their own way too, taking new steps & going further. Message me if you are on that path too. Or if you want to start on that journey, but don’ t know how. Let me know where your Lunas are taking you. Maybe our paths will cross one day :-)

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