Natural Running School

08/08/2026

When the preparation of a mountain race is like a mountain race, a route with obstacles.

After years of bad bad luck (very little running in 5 years due to surgeries, other bad luck), I planned to do the Belledonne Skyrace (20km, 2000+), a true challenge quoi! But, during my preparation, I was 6 months in a psychiatric hospital, recovering from the past years. First 3 months, only little time a day to leave the hospital. The hospital is in an area with almost no climbs higher than 20m. Okay, we had a very basic fitness of 20m². so, as a passionate running coach, I knew how I wanted to prepare: strength, pliometrics, some cycling, and longer runs when possible. I invented specific exercises for the descends (ankle, proprioception, excentric work). As I also write courses for our trail federation, it's a nice challenge to invent new training methods.
After psychiatry, I still had 4 weeks left to that race, so I wanted to leave to the Alps immediately, to train in the mountains. But all of a sudden, a little injury popped up. that tibilais anterior muscle, which is imprtant for descends, but also for driving the car. So I completely had to change my plan. Going to the mountains would be impossible (no driving) and would be useless, 'cause what would I do if I couldn't train? Should I leave a week later, if the injury is gone? Pretty stupid: NO. If I only have 12 days left, that would be stupid to train a lot in the mountains. The last days have to be rest, and in 12 days, keeping in mind that a body needs rest between intensive trainings, the gain would be too little. So I made that complete mind switch. No mountain running before the race, change the race mindset, ... Changed to core and leg training. Let's see where it ends! Motivation is still alive and kicking!

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21/06/2026

What to take on a hot hot trail race as first aid kit? As lecturer for trail run trainers, when I knew today's race would be run at 30° and more, I took some precautions. In stead of taking just what I need, I packed with the idea that I might have to help someone who got dehydrated. So, above drinks for myself, I took an extra 75cl just in case, for someone else. I took some essential medecins (ORS, a cold pack, etc). And then I took my own stuff. Fortunately, I didn't need it.
On the photo, you see my first aid kit pocket attached to my running poles bag.

01/06/2026

Workshop trail running technique: After a long time-out, finally some first professional activity. Can you see movements that can be improved? (We do)

In stead of the just running on trails and waiting for things to happen, we create things to happen. Your nervous system learns a lot more when you are focused on technique and when you repeat a movement several times in a short time. If you repeat a new movement, like a tennis forehand, 100 times on 30 minutes, your neuromuscular system will remember the movement. If you do those 100 forehands spread over 3 weeks time, your neuromuscular system won't remember anything.
Your ankle and sensoric system will react better and learn more if you put focus on it, for example with this coordination exercise with hoola hoops exactly on the roots.
Foot placement, dynamic stability, movement control, we train so much things here. Even a slalom on a downhill where runners form the slalom, eventually standing on one leg (balance).
With and

31/05/2026

My trail runners high (very much of a internal high):
As a hughe inspirational voice, I was extremely happy when launched their legendary oldskool King MT2 again. So I got myself 4 pair of it.
Also very happy to be recognized as expert in Belgium. So I wrote the course for trail run technique for future coaches of the Flemish Trainers School. I personally want to create a certain quality which can compete with high international formations. It's not just run and suffer. It's about playing. If it feels like playing, you're not suffering. It's about training skills feeling like playing. In this course we play with hoola hoops and hurdles on the trails to train skills, even when the trails are demanding. 🤛🤘😍

So, after very difficult years, I kept holding on and believing in my plans. "I'd rather sell my house and live in a camper, then fit in a regular job and give up my running coaching plans". So here I am now, outlaw, anarchist, into nature.

With and

17/05/2026

Preparing a trail runn8ng technique workshop. If you say trail skills, you need to think about using every obstacle as a playground, not as some obstacle you need to avoid. Step on the roots, jump and land in the mud, jump over fallen trees, force quick direction changes and so on

Binnenkort geef ik weer een dag cursus: looptechnieken voor toekomstige initatoren trailrunning. Looptechnieken, dat betekent behendigheid op alle soorten ondergrond. Wortels, rotsige ondergrond, modder, bergop, bergaf, geërodeerdepaadjes,... Wie zegt behendigheid zegt spelen. Net zoals je behendigheid met een bmx of inline skates leert door te spelen, zo ook met lopen. Als docent vind ik het heel fijn om na te denken hoe je deelnemende lopers zo hard mogelijk kan prikkelen om hun technieken te verbeteren. Zoveel mogelijk obstakels gebruiken dus. OP in plaats van NAAST de wortels je voeten plaatsen, over boomstammen springen en met opzet in het meest modderige stukje landen. Kortom, feest! Spelen!
With and

17/05/2026

Binnenkort geef ik weer een dag cursus: looptechnieken voor toekomstige initatoren trailrunning. Looptechnieken, dat betekent behendigheid op alle soorten ondergrond. Wortels, rotsige ondergrond, modder, bergop, bergaf, geërodeerdepaadjes,... Wie zegt behendigheid zegt spelen. Net zoals je behendigheid met een bmx of inline skates leert door te spelen, zo ook met lopen. Als docent vind ik het heel fijn om na te denken hoe je deelnemende lopers zo hard mogelijk kan prikkelen om hun technieken te verbeteren. Zoveel mogelijk obstakels gebruiken dus. OP in plaats van NAAST de wortels je voeten plaatsen, over boomstammen springen en met opzet in het meest modderige stukje landen. Kortom, feest! Spelen!
Met Bart Delobel

03/05/2026

Er zijn van die dagen dat ik het niet zo op HVDW begrepen heb en er zijn dagen dat ik hem wel mag. Maar eindelijk (EIN-DE-LIJK) zegt hij eens waar het op staat. We zien in het lopen records sneuvelen aan een tempo dat onmogelijk louter een gevolg kan zijn van louter menselijke progressie. Op verschillende afstanden sneuvelen de records, maar ook op alle niveaus (wereldtoppers, nationale records, persoonlijke records van doorgedreven niet-profs. De verbetering van records is onomstotelijk een gevolg van de carbonschoenen. Bij elk sneuvelend record mag de verwondering en adoratie van de prestatie dus een klein beetje binnen de perken blijven, want die 'amai zeg, 30" sneller dan het vorige, 20 jaar oude record" is geregeld louter te wijten aan de schoen, die je in zekere zin oneerlijk of mechanische doping zou kunnen noemen.

Lees vooral de laagjes in die voordelen van carbonschoenen:
- Snelheidswinst (dat begrijpt iedereen wel. sneller is sneller)
- De schoen verlegt de impact van de belasting waardoor er veel minder spiervermoeidheid optreed. Waar je met gewone schoenen naar het einde mogelijk moet vertragen door de spierpijn van uitgeputte spieren, blijft dit uit en zakt het tempo minder. Die verbazing bij nieuwe records dat er minder verval is in de tweede marathonhelft is daarmee ook al verklaard. En daar nog bovenop, minder spierschade is er niet enkel op die racedag, maar ook daags erna. Met andere woorden, als je in je voorbereiding op cruciale kwalitatieve trainingen je carbonschoenen aantrekt, kan je de dag erna weer trainen ipv te moeten herstellen en zo boek je winst in je trainingsweken.

https://www.demorgen.be/sport/het-is-de-technologie-hoe-superschoenen-en-innovatie-het-marathonrecord-doet-sneuvelen~b41c8c09/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

Ben ik daardoor een tegenstander van carbonschoenen? Nein Mann. Ik wil wel dat we naar al die sneuvelende records kijken op een genuanceerde manier.

Hans Vandeweghe laat zijn licht schijnen over de rol van technologische innovatie in de recente marathonrecords. Van superlichte schoenen tot nieuwe voedings- en trainingsinzichten.

20/10/2025

22/03/2025

Trailrun and skyrun weekend wity the Belgian skyrun team. Workshops about technique, training and how to's in the mountains.

08/03/2025

Hughe, massive message about the power of running and a very big tank you for the powerful support .

I, Bart Delobel, want to share this story with the whole running world.
In the past 7 years, I had not 1, not 2, but 10 or more setbacks. I lost almost every life domain. I am a sports coach with a passion for running and I have been a quite successful orienteer, till I started my coaching company, but that was stolen. So I had to start all over again. I decided to put all my energy on Natural Running School, but than a serie of health issues with surgery and revalidation blocked those plans, now already about 4 years. Lots of years without running, but still holding on that I will relaunch my new project as soon as I can run again. Being without income has challenged me for years, until this point that I have to sell my house. As every life domain has been taken away, I have nothing left to hang on to but my belief in my running project.
My future plan is to go living as a digital nomad with a camper, kinda influencer, spreading loads of inspiring stuff about running, running technique, injuries, trails, etc.
I mean, I rather sell my house and give up a stable live then give up my dreams of Natural Running School. Without any visvibility, not online, not in real life, Altra supported me with shoes and outfit. Having no money means that I can not afford to keep any website online, but a draft, unpublished version can be previewed (see link in Bio, in Dutch).
It's a hughe powerful signal of to support me while being inactive and invisible for years. But they believe in my future plans. Therefore, a very very big 💟 to Altra. Their new slogan Stay Out There is exactly what my future looks like.Out on the trails.
Some day Natural Running School will be spread worldwide with inspiring content for all runners.
For now, spread the 💟 of running