Open letter to all my runner/jogger/walker friends

Dear Runner/Jogger/Walker Friends (or those who are aspiring to be)

GOOD JOB!  I am proud of you.  You are doing something to better yourself.  You are enjoying nature. Whether you run in the country or in the city or a combo of both. Whether you run for fitness or fun you are great!  Whether you run in shoes or not KEEP UP THE AWESOME WORK!  If you are aspiring to run and are just starting your journey, let me tell you something, you will become addicted, you WILL not stop.  You will at some point during a run want to give up but a little voice somewhere will say, just keep going.  Go one more block, go one more min, go one more song and just do it (I really am not a nike fan.)  No matter how old you are this is an activity anyone can do.  You are the only one holding you back.  Whether you fall behind because of work, injury, or sickness.  Don't worry you can take a break.  You can go at your own pace!  You can run by yourself or with a group.  It is a sport for all and it welcomes all!  Sometimes the field is a little crowded, but you know what that means there are that many people on your side cheering you on!  Running is a sport that brings out the best in people!  Just remember where you started and remember where you are going.  You are bettering yourself with every step you take.  You will feel like you can't do something, but just remember the week or month before.  Remember when you could only run 1 min at a time or run 1 mile at a time.  Slowly (or quickly) that builds now you are up to 5 min or 20 min or 2 miles, 5 miles maybe even 20 miles maybe you even ran a marathon!  GOOD FOR YOU!!!  No matter what remember you can always go faster, go slower and there is always water when you need it!

I started running when I was in my 20s because I felt gross about myself. I could barely walk up a mountain without stopping every 10 feet.  I didn't have the cardio skills to keep up with my friends.  Eventually I got out there and started slow.  Started reading up on running and jogging.  I started setting goal.  Today I will run for 2 min and walk for 1 min.  Today I will run around the track once and walking once. That turned into running twice and walking once. Which eventually turned into running a whole mile around the track.  At that point a 5k was my goal, just running those 3.1 miles.  At one point I had a goal of running up a certain hill.  I love crushing hills now.  After about 8 years of running my goal was to run and finish a full marathon.  I did it...as crazy as it was...I did it.  I am happy I did it.  I honestly wanted to pass out, and kill who ever it was who gave me such a crazy idea, but I did it.  I honestly don't think I would put my body through 26.2 miles again, but the half marathon would be fine.  The point is I am not an athlete by any means. I never was.  I did it though and YOU CAN TOO!  YOU ARE ALL GREAT! As you friend I AM PROUD OF WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!  Keep up the good work.

Andy - The Barefooted Genius  

RECIPES from the Barefoot Cont...GENIUS!

Hey Folks.  So I am NOT a Genius by any means, my grammar sucks, I always got C's and the occasional B in English.  I don't have a grasp on this language I. Don't. Care.  This is is me writing for fun not writing for a grade or anything.  This is just me getting myself out there.  Anyways so including running barefoot and what not I also dabble a little in cooking and try to cook as local and seasonal as possible.  Sometimes I just want to cook.  So I have a second blog with some of my recipes.  I am going to link them here as well so you can take a look!  This picture is an example of what I cooked tonight! Baked Lemon Salmon and Sautéed Asparagus.  

The ladder is on the blog...the salmon isn't, Sorry!

Enjoy! SHARE! LEAVE COMMENTS!

(hopefully you get the title...one of J's favorite cooks)

barefoot everywhere

Since its been a while (almost a year) since my last post I won't update on the boring details I will basically start over.

Last summer I went everywhere barefoot and I would run barefoot when I could or I would use my Vibram Five Fingers.  It all kind of stopped towards the end of the summer and fall when it became chilly and I had to turn them in for shoes.  I reluctantly did.  The winter was long, cold and snowy...very snowy.  I couldn't wait for a nice day to get out and go for a nice barefoot run.  I really hadn't run in a oh maybe 6 months when I decided to go out.  I decided to go shod since the towns hadn't come and cleaned up the gravel and sand from the roads.  I tend to notice when people are barefoot or running in VFF now and it brings a smile to my face.  I feel like I get on the "trends" of things and then they take off and become a fad.  This is a conversation I had with someone about the Primal diet about 2 years ago.

Me: So I am trying this eating change called Paleo where I only eat meat, veggies, eggs some fruits and nuts
Person: Huh so what about bread?
Me: nope
Person: so what about rice and stuff, aren't you hungry all the time?
Me: no I feel great actually!
Person: Well I can't live without bread!
Me: Try it Its GREAT!
Person: Nah I'll pass

About a year or so later same person:

Me: Hey how are yah?
Person: GREAT  I just started this diet have you heard about it called the Paleo Diet!  No bread or rice or sugar or anything processed.
Me: Really?  Didn't I tell you I was doing that like a year ago and you said you couldn't live without bread?
Person:  Nah I read about it on some website and saw it on Dr. Oz (or some show like that)
Me: *facepalm*

So goes my life.  I start running the whole world seems to start running.  I want to run a half marathon suddenly you can't get into them because they are so popular.  It's great I can't believe the increase in exercise, especially in my family and friends group.

The one thing I think that is not going to be gaining traction anytime soon is barefoot running.  I am kind of glad about that.  People have asked me about it and I am glad to give advice, but I would look into a book or videos on line or something a little more resourceful then me, since I am not a professional barefoot runner.  Maybe someday I can say I am but for now I will do it on my own.


SO the real reason I am posting is because I am finishing week 7 of Insanity (workout thingy).  Which I do barefoot.  I tried it for a day in shoes.  Was going to buy new shoes just to workout with but then remembered my good ole standby, my bare feet.  J also joined me doing insanity bare foot.  A few times he was going to give in to the shoes, but keeps deciding against it.  I mean really you are getting a great workout and you are working your muscles and gaining a better sense of balance and response from the bare feet.  We do have foam flooring down and that helps so we are not pounding on the cement.

Another reason for this post is my now (almost) 15 month old son is onto walking!  WOO-HOO  he is mobile and we have a barefoot genius 2.0.  Everyone asks me why I don't have shoes and socks on him!  To that I say this - he is learning to walk, he needs to feel the ground below him, he needs to know what it feels like, he needs the input from the earth, the ground, the wood floors and he needs to learn to walk.  He needs to develop the muscles in his foot.  We do have shoes for him for those occasions that call for it...picture day? Really though it's summer what better time for him to feel the ground beneath his feet and learn those sensations.  I don't care if his feet get dirty, I mean he is 15 months, we can take a bath.  Obviously we can wear shoes on the playground where there is a danger of a splinter from a wood chip or the occasional wire tread tire sticking out, but I will be on the look out for those.  Plus good quality shoes for his size aren't cheap!  I don't want something that is too stiff he needs the flexibility in his little tootsies!  His feet need to grow and shape.

So we will be barefoot together for as long as we can.  Maybe until I can get him into a pair of VFF or Vivo or I will just make him some mocs out of leather.  That seems like a good plan, then he will have some protection from the woodchips and tires...to be continuted.