From Midlife Crisis to Roaming the Earth in Peluvas

Gil, age 61, is a longtime endurance runner who has completed a 50k race and many smaller events. He was a competitive runner in his youth, but career and raising children put fitness on the sidelines for decades. When Gil’s father went for a five-way bypass in the early 2000s, it served as a wake up call for life transformation:

“I come from a generally healthy, fit family. My parents and two siblings have always been lean and athletic. Then I got the call out of nowhere to travel cross-country to visit my dad in the hospital. I was shocked to see him tired, weak, and pale for the first time ever. I realized how fragile life was, and how nothing matters unless you have your health.

Spending time with my father during his recovery represented a turning point in my life. Our relationship had frayed over the years and it was wonderful to reconnect—even if the reason wasn’t the most fun. My father is a man of few words, but from his hospital bed he sternly recommended that I get my health and fitness in order. What a wakeup call! If you can’t respond to gentle encouragement from your partner or good-natured ribbing from your buddies about a dad bod, let’s see if your father going from badass to barely hanging on can make an impact.

For me, I realized that there is no such thing as resting on my laurels. The six-pack and impressive race times I had in my youth were simply pages in a scrap book, and I now was facing a midlife crisis. I was fat, out of shape, lazy, and with a diet that reflected my inactive, unfit life. My comeback happened one step at a time; that’s the best way to describe it. I remember running one mile and feeling terrible the whole way, but great when I returned home.

While I eventually lost 30 pounds and turned my life around with my commitment to endurance training, you can imagine how tough it was on my middle-aged body. I developed an assortment of minor injuries, including the highly annoying plantar fasciitis. After finishing my 50k in extreme pain, I knew I had to get my feet into better condition.

Peluvas were the key to my recovery. As soon as I started walking around in Peluvas, my arch pain improved and eventually went away completely. Since I’d run a bit barefoot in the past, I started testing out Peluvas on short runs and they felt great. Of course, this is not for everyone, but it’s proof that getting your feet stronger with a barefoot and Peluva-inspired lifestyle can help runners who use whatever cushioned shoes they prefer. 

When I walk or hike in Peluvas, I feel like I’m connected to my primal ancestry. They are super-durable and comfortable on land, and even when I’m getting them wet in the river. I am a Peluva user for life–there’s no other shoe I would rather be walking the planet in!"

Gil M., Detroit, MI

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