In a world where it seems like there are an ever increasing number of distractions, gadgets we think we need to get out to run, and complexities to our sport, a new film, “Run, Like We’re Meant To” is a reminder that running is one of the most basic human movements — one that homo sapiens have been doing since the start of our existence. This short, two-minute video, directed by Filip Nilsson, is a collaboration between Tim Tollefson and Craft Sportswear and takes a humorous approach to what it is to be a runner in modern times.
[Editor’s Note: If you are unable to see the video above, click here to access it.]
We start with a caveman contemplating his existence on cliffs overlooking the ocean before he sets out running barefoot and free through a landscape of mountains, rocks, and trees — surroundings where humans have run for the vast majority of their existence, long before asphalt, pavement, and artificial turf. The caveman drinks from rivers freely, stops and smells the flowers, and runs with an instinct and sense of freedom that many of us living in present times can only dream of.
And while our caveman ultimately returns to the modern era, first with the appearance of cows in a field, then a road, and then shops, cars, crowds, and ultimately a final post-run coffee, his journey through the landscape embodies how humans used to run, and the freedom that runners can still find simply by getting out the door and putting one foot in front of the other — the same way humans have been doing for all of our existence.
Running has always been part of the human experience. All photos: Screenshots from “Run, like we’re meant to.”
Of the film, Tollefson says, “There’s something deeply human about running. It’s more than a sport — it’s a way to feel alive.” He goes on to say, “The film is an invitation to join humanity’s oldest tradition.”
And as for the actual making of the film, Tollefson says, “To peek behind the Hollywood curtain was beyond belief and a beautifully entertaining experience. It wasn’t just watching the sausage be made, I was the sausage.”
Call for Comments
- Does running bring you a sense of caveperson-like freedom?
Sometimes you don’t even need a pair of shoes to run.
