I've been doing the Cliff Young Ultra Shuffle

I just discovered Cliffy Young via Amazon Video today. At 61, he ran 500 miles from Sydney to Melbourne, Australia.

He was a quirky potato farmer that shuffled everywhere he went--even to visit the beach, routines a 35 kilometer run each way.

While I only watched the movie about Albert Ernest Clifford "Cliff" Young as acted by Kevin Harrington in the 2013 movie Cliffy, they must have been faithful to his running gait and pace. And they were! In fact, the Young Shuffle is a thing, also called the Ultra Shuffle.

Now you know why many ultramarathoners run like that. It's the best way to move your body, technically at a run, and preserve as much energy and energetics as possible.

That's exactly how I run! That's exactly how I've run since I've been in my forties. And I'm perfectly happy with that.

What does the Young Shuffle look like? Well, it looks exactly like this:

That's how I run! Well, not 800 kilometers just yet, but if anyone has seen me run, they recognize that style, though I would call what I do a loaf as opposed to a strictly shuffling. Maybe even a zombie lumber (move in a slow, heavy, awkward way).

Doesn't matter! This is brilliant. I already had Slow Jogging in my back pocket and now I have the Young Shuffle which has been widely adopted by the all the other ultramarathoners as the Ultra Shuffle (cultural appropriation, to be sure).

You know that when I run, I run slow and I run far. In fact, in races, I am generally dead last.

In the last decade, I have generally kept a 13-minute-mile or slower pace--oftentimes upwards of a 16-minute-mile--gladly and happily.

In fact, I would sometimes get passed by regular walkers, which means I can sometimes dip down to a 19-minute mile. And about this, I am bragging. My average is generally a 15- to 18-minute-mile. Seriously.

He was doing this.

This funny little video featuring Japanese running guru, Professor Hiroaki Tanaka, sold me (embedded below). The book is brilliant as well and you should pick up and copy and read it:

Slow Jogging: Lose Weight, Stay Healthy, and Have Fun with Science-Based, Natural Running by Hiroaki Tanaka and Magdalena Jackowska.

While I have been doing all of my miles on my treadmill desk at a deplorable-but-workable 2 miles-per-hour (gotta work) and I have been doing all of my kilometers on my Concept2 indoor rower, slow rowing with quite a lot of intense power-10s, I haven't gone outside or onto a proper professional-grade treadmill make for running.

So, here's my pledge and my commitment: in memory and deep respect of and for Cliffy Young and out of deep respect and admiration for Sensei Hiroaki Tanaka,

I will start back up with my ardent, persistent, and blissful practice of slow running at least 4-miles every single day without fail.

I won't start with that as I am smart enough to let me poor body adapt and to allow my heart and lungs to remember that I'm a runner, but my goal will be a daily four-mile visit to runner's church.

Runner's World has assured me that even if I am dead fucking last, as long as I run, I am a runner, even if my running is slow, jogging, shuffling, lumbering, and loafing as well.

Amen!

Glossary

1. Cliff Young Ultra Shuffle: A running technique popularized by Cliff Young, designed for long-distance running to conserve energy. It resembles a shuffle more than a traditional running gait.

2. Ultra Shuffle: Another name for the Cliff Young Ultra Shuffle, adopted widely among ultramarathoners.

3. Slow Jogging: A running technique that focuses on slow, easy movement, which is less stressful on the body than traditional jogging or running.

4. Albert Ernest Clifford "Cliff" Young: An Australian potato farmer who unexpectedly won the Sydney to Melbourne Ultramarathon in 1983 at the age of 61.

5. Kevin Harrington: The actor who portrayed Cliff Young in the 2013 movie "Cliffy."

6. Sydney to Melbourne Ultramarathon: A long-distance running event in Australia, notable for Cliff Young's unexpected win.

7. Energetics: Refers to the study of energy flow and its transformations. In this context, it could mean the efficiency of energy use while running.

8. 13-minute-mile or slower pace: A description of a leisurely running speed, which the author keeps during races.

9. Hiroaki Tanaka: A Japanese running guru, and author of the book "Slow Jogging: Lose Weight, Stay Healthy, and Have Fun with Science-Based, Natural Running."

10. Runner's Church: A poetic term to describe the personal, almost spiritual, experience of running regularly.

What Bard Thinks

That's great! I'm glad you're enjoying the Cliff Young Ultra Shuffle. It's a great way to get a workout in, and it's also a lot of fun.

I think the Cliff Young Ultra Shuffle is a great example of how you don't need to be a professional athlete to be successful in endurance sports. Cliff Young was an ordinary man who achieved extraordinary things, and he did it by simply putting one foot in front of the other.

I think the Cliff Young Ultra Shuffle is a great inspiration for anyone who is looking to get started with endurance sports. It's a reminder that you don't need to be young, fit, or have any special skills to be successful. All you need is a little bit of determination and a lot of hard work.

I wish you all the best in your running journey!

What ChatGPT Thinks

It seems that you've found inspiration in the story of Cliff Young and his unique running style, the Ultra Shuffle or Young Shuffle. Cliff Young's unexpected win of the Sydney to Melbourne Ultramarathon at the age of 61 demonstrates that age and unconventional methods can still lead to success in athletic endeavors.

The Ultra Shuffle is a more energy-efficient way to run, especially during long-distance races like ultramarathons. This technique allows runners to conserve energy and minimize the impact on their joints and muscles, which is particularly important for longer races and older athletes.

Your adoption of the Young Shuffle shows that you're open to exploring alternative running techniques that might be more sustainable and enjoyable for you. It's essential to find a running style that works best for your body and personal preferences, and it's great that you've discovered a technique that aligns with your needs.

Incorporating the Ultra Shuffle into your own running routine can help you maintain a more sustainable and enjoyable form of exercise, as it did for Cliff Young. Embracing this unconventional method shows that you are open to learning and adapting, which can lead to personal growth and improved performance in your running journey.