I got part way through my day before realising Its my birthday today. No, Im not here fishing for BD wishes. Instead, I came to give you folks a present. Something simple from my secret survival skill set.
Besides, I have had the Best Birthday present already. Today, is the first truely nice day this year. The sun is shining and I can feel warmth on my face. No chilling wind today. The birds sing from the woods. As I walk back into the house, I am greated with the smell of a hot apple Pie. Im not a winter person so today is like being greeted by a long lost, deeply loved friend. All is right with the world. I have a very dark, painfull and haunting past so moments like these are presious beyond words. I survived...and its a beutifull day.
The simple survival skill I want to share today is something called Boy Scout Running. I havent met anyone else that knows this simple, yet effective tecnique. I cant find it anywhere on the web though I didnt look too deeply. The first and only mention I have ever read about it was in the classic survival book, Pulling Through by Dean Ing.
The tecnique is simple. Running wears you out. Large distances can be covered faster than walking and greater distance than running , even for those that are not in peak fittness. Its a simple pattern.
Run 20 paces, then walk 20 paces, run 20 paces then walk 20 paces. Its that simple....and mind bogglingly more effective than its possible to picture from those words untill you try it out.
I first tried out the technique about 8 years ago wile living in my Zombie Apocalypse Special School Bus, In Whistler. It was about 4 k from town to my camp site and after I had walked it enough times, it always seemed rather time consuming. I decided to try and run it one day. Fail! My cardio sucked from being a proffesional driver. The pack plus a day stress relief certainly didnt help. I decided to try it out. Wow. Was I ever suprised that I showed up 5+ times faster, that I actully made it, that I diddnt keel over at the end panting and sweat drenched...and that I didnt keel over dead of a heart attack. It was like finding the Holy Grail.
If you find it too much for your personal health or age or are over weight, just cut it down to 10 paces running and 10 walking. After a wile you wont need to count as its simply a matter of reading your own body. Short Run, Short Walk.
I have tried other techniques like Wolf trotting...and even Skipping wich is more effective than my rampant masulinity allows. I searched out the ancient ninja running patterns that allowed them to cover hundreds of mile...with no luck. Then I had my A## handed to me by Boy Scouts. Well, forget all about Espit de corps. Here is a shout out to "Be Prepared"
You will have to try it before you can apreciate it.
I just took a bite of the pie. Wonderfull. My own apples, picked from my own trees, sliced and frozen last fall by my own hands, baked by my loving Mrs C5. I'll leave you now to get a little more peacefull sun on my pale winter face. Yes, All is right with the world 😎
I have a Tactical Harness and I have a Tool Belt. The Tool Belt is more Useful.
Also called the "Airborne Shuffle"
or
"Commando Shuffle"
Happy Birthday
Thanks, Wild R, and good stuff. That will be much easier to sell to some young buck that i have to tell to "Pick up the Pace" or more important "Slow the Puck Down". I'll get alot more respect and alot less eye rolling if I tell them its the "Comando Shuffle" 😆
Many dont know thats its long been tested that a man can run down a horse over a long enough distance if they set the right pace.
I have a Tactical Harness and I have a Tool Belt. The Tool Belt is more Useful.
Sounds Interesting! I'll give it a shot in the woods! Thanks!
Sounds Interesting! I'll give it a shot in the woods! Thanks!
Thanks Cc. Make sure you come back to the post after youve tried it to give a little report of your experience, good or bad, so future readers will get more input than just my own. All the best
I have a Tactical Harness and I have a Tool Belt. The Tool Belt is more Useful.
Thanks for bringing this back to my memory. My dad taught my sister and I that when we were kids. Was really effective. I still do it when I am covering distances but had forgotten why 🙂 Also realized just now that Yup my dad was a Scoutmaster and that's why we learned it.
Thanks for the re-memory!
I just read this again and remembered a variation to this theme;
You can travel faster and farther with a Horse as well. Riders used to ride a certain distance, dismount and either run or quick walk beside the horse, then back on then off, same pattern. Saves the Horse and the Rider.
Don't remember what you call it, but there is an actual name for it with a Horse and Rider combo.
the ninja running technique is this and I can count on one hand the number people that I have seen master it and they were all monks.
HAYAGAKEJUTSU - RUNNING SKILLS
Also included in Himitsu iri is the art of "Hayagakejutsu," which is the method used to develop greater speed and stamina when running. These techniques require that the Ninja go through a set of rigorous training sessions that are designed to increase speed by applying different principles of body weight distribution. These running techniques combine stealth and speed. To initiate this technique, the Ninja assumes a low Hiryu posture with the upper body leaning deeply forward. As the warrior runs in this position, he is not only using the power of his legs, but also his upper body because it actually pulls the body forward into a faster run. The body must not bob up and down as the Ninja runs and the arms should not move at all. Instead, the arms should remain as motionless as possible so as not to attract unwanted attention. The legs are the only part of the body that alternate motion.
It is one of the hardest skills to learn as it requires you to use and have mastered many other techniques that combine into this one technique! In theory you are so far forward you are falling to the ground increasing the force of gravity on your forward momentum.
I like this reminder so much I will put it on the Alberta page.
The Airbourne Shuffle (oh I've been watching the Bourne Identity again 😀 ) is very effective. The Ninja technique is taught in many martial arts.
Moving with a firearm shouldered at a steady pace is a skill that takes practice. Shooting on the move and being effective is also a perishable skill.
Being able to make good time with a heavy pack on can use up lots of energy. Now twist your body from side to side to cover your flanks and you have the shuffle.
Scout running will be a great way for people with minor health issues (couchpotatoytis) to cover ground in SHTF. It will also be a great way to ease into a get back into shape plan for those who need it. (feetupTVbuttytis, stuckinanofficechairytis, studentforlifeytis)
For a group of people trying to G.O.O.D. the person on point can cover a lot of ground in advance of the main group using this technique.
Hmmm, maybe I should rethink the quiet part...