Barefoot Mama

"I started running barefoot in March 2008. I started one step at a time, one day at a time. I decided to start keeping a journal of sorts. Sharing my history, my journey and my adventures."

I have taken some new paths in relation to my running over the last year. This blog will still include my running adventures but I have to move on with more stories of my family and the journey we have taken together over the last year. This blog was started as a way to help me record my barefoot journey but now needs to become more than that. Please be patient as I explore ways to stay connected with family and friends.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Another Drive to Florida

Well, it's school vacation week again.

I decided to drive south with the 2 younger kids. Dad will stay home with the dogs and oldest daughter will stay home too, and work. I stopped to visit my friend Paula in Sebring, Fl. We did the Flatwoods Ramble 10M trail run, on Sunday (2/18), in Tampa. Was a VERY Flat course through the Florida Pines. Hot, around 70+ degrees at the start. I was worried about the heat so I ran a conservative first half and then feeling good I ran a faster second half. I was able to pass two girls at the finish to place 2nd Female overall. I got the trophy fr 1st Master F. I love being an old Fart! :) Spent a lovely afternoon with our friend and helped her celebrate her birthday with a birthday dinner and cake. The next day we went hiking in the highland Hammocks State Park, lunch by the lake and a drive to southern FL. to stay with grammy Hazel.

We have had a great week here in FL. went to the beach 3 times. Shopping once(because I hate shopping) and played a little tourist around town to see the sites one day as well. We went and had a great dinner with Uncle Bill, Dulce and Erica, spent the day with Uncle Bill at Hazel's and tomorrow I will try to run as many miles as I can in 6 hours in the Vista View 360, 6 hour ultra. I love being where it is warm! I've ben able to be barefoot ALL Day everyday and logged in over 30 miles of running this week. I can't wait to see if the trail is barefoot friendly at the Ultra.
Stay tuned for an update from my first 6 hour run! :)

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Runners brave cold, snow for LUV - Staff - Rockland - Camden - Knox - VillageSoup Gazette

Runners brave cold, snow for LUV - Staff - Rockland - Camden - Knox - VillageSoup Gazette

This was a summary of my resent 5K.

Where am I going and what am I doing?

Sooo,
Been busy running and taking care of sick kids. The two younger ones got the flu one right after the other! "YUCK" We're talking about throwing up and crapping at the same time kinda flu! And our Liana has a cold too. Poor little things. I think I've used enough Lysol wipes and Bleach t0 kill all the germs in the county!

On a different note, I have been doing some really fun running on the trails. Did a long 8 mile loop on single track and snowmobile tracks, did a 10 mile loop on icy snow covered trails that took us through the woods to about 1200 feet and back down. Saw lots of animal tracks. That was a fun one. Both were cold mornings at about 3-8F. But sunny and sheltered from the wind in the woods. ( I wear my Merrell Pace Gloves with toe socks for these runs)
Double track:
Single Track:
And Looking Up:
Picture above is just moisture on the camera lens. But the trail was single track and I loved how this came out.


Did a 5K last weekend just to see how my speed work was going and did pretty well. wanted to run it barefoot but the roads were wet AND cold and it was snowing so I went with my VFF. Finished 2nd in age group and 4th F overall with a time of 21:28. Not bad. Fun event called "Luv Me 5K" I got a ribbon and some chocolates! And the money was donated to the GO Malawi Team. They run road races to raise money for an orphanage.

I'm on the road this weekend. Heading to Florida to see some friends and family. The kids have a school vacation. If your in the Tampa area I'll be at the Flatwoods Park 10 miler on Sunday 2/19/12 and spending a couple days with my friend Paula near the Highland Hammocks state Park near Sebring, FL. And I'm gonna go and check out the expo in southern Florida for the A1A Marathon. This marathon was my 2nd marathon I ever ran. I hope to do some running on the beach near Pompano and relaxing by the ocean with the kids. I may even join the Greater Fort Lauderdale Road Runners for one of their training runs in the evening f I can fit it in. (My mother-in-law lives in Lighthouse Point.)

Lots of fun things happening. Here's to another road trip! :)