K-san’s Long Run: From Bangkok to Barefoot Shoes

How a Japanese friend’s extraordinary journey inspired a small change in my own life

I had a Japanese friend whom I knew as K-san. He had a vegan restaurant in Bangkok called Bonita, and he was a marathon runner with a particular enthusiasm for barefoot-style running shoes.

In September 2026, I finally bought a pair myself. Now I understand the enthusiasm: I am enthusiastic about them too. It is still early days, and I cannot claim that a new pair of shoes has transformed my health. But the experience has reminded me of K-san—and of just how far he took his love of running.

The runner behind Bonita

K-san’s full name is Atsuyuki Katsuyama. He and Neung, Pawannarat Katsuyama, opened Bonita Cafe and Social Club in Bangkok in June 2012.

Their description of the café connected vegan food with movement, rest and peace of mind. That combination feels close to what I want to explore through The Healthy Aging Project: everyday choices that work together, rather than one supposedly miraculous ingredient or product. [1]

Running was an important part of K-san’s life. Through the Thailand 100 Miles Run Club, he shared an approach he called natural running. On the club’s website, he described learning from Japanese barefoot-running coaches from 2012 onward and becoming more interested in how he used his body, rather than relying so heavily on equipment. These were his beliefs and experiences, rather than guarantees for every runner. [2]

Across the USA, one step at a time

In 2015, K-san turned a long-held ambition into a remarkable journey.

He started on 25 April, his 48th birthday, and finished on 12 July: 79 days later. Bonita’s own account records a distance of 5,026 kilometres from Los Angeles to New York. Another post rounds the distance to approximately 5,030 kilometres. Either way, this was a run of roughly 5,000 kilometres across America. [1,3]

His route followed the historic Route 66 from Santa Monica, California, to Chicago, before continuing east to New York City. Route 66 was one part of the journey; it does not itself extend to New York. According to the account shared on Bonita’s website, he ran in minimalist shoes and raised funds for two Thai charities supporting people affected by HIV and cancer. [3]

That same account says he had already participated in around 100 marathons and ultramarathons during the preceding 30 years. His trans-American run grew out of decades of experience. Friends, family, sponsors and a project team helped him make it possible. [1,3]

What impresses me is the patience behind such an achievement. One day’s running would not get him across a continent. He had to keep going, day after day.

His enthusiasm reached me

K-san’s story stayed with me. Last month, it finally found its way into my own choice of shoes.

I am not planning a run across America. My ambitions fit rather more comfortably inside a normal day. But I like the idea that an ordinary change can make us curious about how we move.

My enthusiasm is a personal response to wearing the shoes. Whether they improve my strength, balance or comfort over time is a separate question.

Give the feet time to adapt

Barefoot-style shoes are still shoes. They typically have a flexible sole, little cushioning, a low or zero heel-to-toe drop, and room for the toes. They offer some protection from the ground while allowing more movement than a stiff shoe. Designs vary, so the fit matters. [4]

They also change the demands placed on the feet and lower legs. Research does not justify promising that they prevent running injuries. A review published online in August 2026 found increased injury risk during runners’ transition to minimalist footwear, including problems affecting the forefoot, Achilles tendon and calves. [5]

A sensible starting point is short, comfortable walks, increasing use gradually rather than suddenly changing all footwear or running distance. Persistent pain is a reason to stop and seek advice. Anyone with reduced foot sensation, circulation problems or an existing foot condition should discuss a change with a qualified clinician.

The advantages of barefoot-style shoes

The appeal is practical, provided the shoes fit well and suit the person wearing them.

• Room for the toes. A wide toe box can feel less restrictive and lets the toes spread within the shoe.
• Flexibility. A flexible sole allows the foot to bend more freely during movement.
• A lighter, less bulky shoe. Minimalist designs usually reduce weight and material around the foot.
• Potential to strengthen the feet. In a small 2021 study, adults using minimal footwear for everyday activity over six months increased their measured toe-flexion strength by about 57% on average. Participants were aged 18–55 and were told not to run in the shoes. That result is encouraging, but it is not a promise of the same improvement for me at 71, nor proof that the shoes prevent falls. [4]
• Enjoyment. For me, this is already a benefit: I am enthusiastic about wearing them. A change that makes movement more appealing can have a place in a healthy routine.

K-san crossed a continent. I have started with a pair of shoes. Different distances, but perhaps the same useful beginning: curiosity, followed by a first step.

Sources

1. Bonita Cafe and Social Club: About Us — the café’s founders, opening date, distance and dates of the USA run.
2. Thailand 100 Miles Run Club — K-san’s own account of natural running and his training influences.
3. Bonita: Media archive — account of the route, minimalist shoes, previous races and charitable purpose.
4. Curtis and colleagues, Scientific Reports, 2021: Daily activity in minimal footwear increases foot strength — footwear characteristics and the six-month strength study.
5. Sánchez-Del Río and colleagues: Injury risk associated with the transition to minimalist footwear in runners — systematic review published online 10 August 2026.

Draft for Healthy Retired. Personal experience is distinguished from research findings; historical running details are attributed to Bonita’s published accounts.