Adrenaline and adventure is no longer just a boys game - women the World over are smashing extreme sports stereotypes and pushing the podium's boundaries.
We caught up with Vivo Athlete, Maja Tesch, to find out why she can't get enough of Swimrun.
PLEASE, INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
I swim, I run and I try to live a little. I´m also a proud ambassador for ”plogging” (pick up trash while running).
I started running 2012 and discovered swimrun 2014. I did my first swimrun race at Utö 2015 and qualified to ÖtillÖ World Championships - that I won the same year.
WHAT KIND OF JOURNEY HAVE YOUR FEET GONE THROUGH DURING YOUR ‘TRANSITION’ TO NATURAL MOVEMENT?
They have become wider and more natural. Before I started to live in vivobarefoot I had some problem with my big toe but they have gradually disappeared. I have a lot more contact with the small muscles in my feet, and I have also built up the arch from a totally flat feet.
WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME?
At the moment I live in my backpack, travelling between the archipelago, a sailing boat, competitions and around the world - but I call Stockholm my home.
WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER NATURAL MOVEMENT AND VIVOBAREFOOT?
I’ve always liked shoes with zero drop but it was first after ÖtillÖ 2015 when I met Anders Nordström that I realised how I needed to build up my feet to develop my running skills. He taught me a lot about feet and and how to get my feet back into the natural shape. At the moment I run in primus FG, swimrun shoe or ultra III that I really love.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN SWIMRUN EVENTS?
I´ve spent all my summers in the archipelago and after I volunteered at Utö swimrun 2014 I was inspired to do the race myself. When I qualified for the world championships at my first competition I started to train a bit more and when I won the world championships I started to train a bit smarter.
WHAT EFFECT DID SWIMRUN HAVE ON YOUR LIFE?
I have become stronger due to all training, more courageous thanks to new challenges and happier because I made so many new friends.
WHAT IS YOUR TOP TIP FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO TRANSITION TO BAREFOOT?
Start walking in vivobarefoot shoes or just be barefoot as much as you can. Use your feet, try to connect with your muscles by grabbing things or just playing around. Run on trails and unregular surfaces – the archipelago with all its rocks and stones are amazing. Start by running shorter distances and listen to your feet – it will automatically improve your running and make you move more natural. Good luck!
AS TOLD BY MAJA TESCH.
