Young Shuffle: The Forbidden Ultramarathon Running Technique

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This information is part of a Beginners Guide to Ultramarathon Running Masterclass intended to optimize long distance running, which costs $1,200, so pay attention CLOSELY:

The Young Shuffle is a special running technique made famous when the a 61-year-old farmer named Cliff Young used it to win a 544-mile ultramarathon wearing rubber work-boots.

In terms of movement and biological energy, Shuffle is the most efficient way to run an ultramarathon.

I’m James Pieratt, one of the world's top hybrid athletes, and today I’m going to tell you why the Shuffle is so powerful and teach you how you can use the shuffle to GREATLY increase your distance as a runner. And be sure to stick around until the end to hear learn how I tested this technique by using it to run a 500-mile trail ultramarathon.

Build to a smooth pace, your foot rolling through each small step in a flowing stride. Don’t load up too much on your calf or knee and be sure not to bounce too much. This wastes energy and fatigue local muscles unnecessarily. Instead focus on creating a flowing stride with a harmonious rhythm between your steps and breathing. While the Young Shuffle is technically slower than other running styles, it is also much more efficient and therefore allows you to go a lot further without stopping. This can give you a big advantage against conventional runners over ultramarathon distances.

Control your tension. The Young Shuffle is the most efficient way to run, but clinching your muscles, your hands or your jaw is a sign of tension that will drain your battery much sooner. So, keep a smooth, flowing disposition to your body and release any tension wherever you find it.

In addition to being the most energy efficient way to run, the Shuffle is also an excellent way to run over rugged ground and steep terrain, where a long, athletic stride will regularly falter or leave a runner vulnerable to injury. It can also be a great technique for runners with a history of joint injuries, as the Shuffle is smoother and involves less impact than other forms of running.

One drill you can do to teach yourself how to properly do the Cliff Young Shuffle is to find a very slight downward slope to practice on. Don’t worry about your pace and don’t over-analyze every small detail. Just let your body discover the motion using the cues we’ve talked about create a smooth stride with small rolling steps, sync your breathing with your steps, control your tension and let it flow naturally, using the subtle decline to help your body find its most efficient stride.

I used the Young Shuffle to run a 500-mile Ultramarathon on the Pacific Crest Trail, with more elevation gain than I had climbed Mt. Everest twice, and it remains my favorite running technique for my wilderness ultramarathons. If you want to hear more about that, be sure to check out my video Thug Life: The Final Chapter, which covers the whole event from start to finish.

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#running #runningtips #cliffyoung

[sheriashley]

Cliffy Young was a true blue bloody Aussie legend from my home state of Victoria Australia 🇦🇺 Cliffy used to chase sheep up and down steep hills of his family farm — this just came to him naturally & he used to run Everywhere in gumboots!! The organisers laughed at a 61 y.o man fronting to run a marathon ; 2.5 days in as he quickly passed other runners they were not laughing at Cliffy they were applauding him!! He smashed records and belief about what was possible. He sadly died of cancer 20 years after that great marathon win. RIP CLIFFY YOUNG!!

[julianbutler]

In South Africa we call this style of running "jogging"😊 - in fact older runners like me (70+) do it instinctively!

[boostabuse]

Good old Cliff beat the record which was 7 days and he did it in 5. watch the doco on him great too watch and inspiring, while the competitors slept Cliff kept on shuffling
with no sleep, I remember it like it was yesterday,
👍👍

[vforlife]

This is how we tab in the army. Boots and weight and this is the most efficient method of running without trashing your knees. Nice to know I’ve been doing something right!

[quentinbell]

I was thinking this video would actually show video footage of the young shuffle.

[philipstevens]

We used to call this the commando shuffle when I was in the Royal Marines. We used to have to carry a shit tonne of weight and running properly was not physically possible, but this style of shuffle was and you can keep it up over all kinds of terrain.

[jameslee]

When you run bare feet you naturally do that shuffle. When you watch persistence hunters they shuffle more than they jog.
Awesome breakdown and tips!

[vtodaf]

Dude! I’m so glad that you were doing this man. I naturally think about all the stuff in a similar way that you do. I’m very grateful that all of the effort that you put into providing all this information. With all the experience involved, which is probably the best part of all of it, you’re doing it. Not faking the funk! Keep up the bad ass work thug!!!

[hendsch]

Nice tips! I did the exact same thing today. Saw it in a BBC Documentary about running. As hunter/gatherer back in the days, we only injured the animals and then ran after them in a light pace till the poor animal dropped dead in the sun. Thats why we lost our body hair they say.

[NixonAngelo]

Fun fact: humans can run longer than any animal on earth

[careerdog]

Dude you came out of left field and blowing my mind! Everything I’ve known finally distilled

[TX-OaksRnr]

To figure out the technique just take your shoes off and “shuffle” on smooth concrete. You’ll naturally find the swing and landing that protects and feels the best. Go very very painfully slow and you’ll feel it.
Been running this way for over 18 years now and at 57 and over 25k miles I have no joint pain. Slow and easy. I haven’t won any Ultras but I’ve finished them and felt great afterwards.

[johngangemi]

Tarahumara runners are known for this technique. Saw them doing this in 1980’s. Particularly efficient and energy saving on steeper ground

[stefanwolf]

I just recently got into trail running and this shuffle is the best way to go!

[pankithan]

Will implement this in my running. Thank you for sharing this!

[MadJugglerTV]

In the Marine Corps we called it the Recon Shuffle. I ran the 2013 Eugene Marathon at 255 using this technique. Not fast, but great endurance

[CaptainReilly]

Much like a wolf, they have a short loping stride and can go forever, over broken terrain.

[colbyerau]

All this advice you can figure out if you go to airborne school. Great content man, I'll keep watching.

[jimtro]

Oh how awesome!!! Back in the 80's when I was at Ft. Benning we did the "Airborne Shuffle" and it was awesome, felt like I could run forever!!! I was 18 and in great shape and I was never able to get that running style back. Thanks for bringing it back for me, I am going to hit it now!!!

[hartdav]

The "forbidden technique " is jogging?