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It’s all about the CORE – a great isometric strength building workout for runners

Try two rounds of this workout. It may not look like much on paper but it’s absolutely amazing how strong you can get from using your own body weight with no equipment at all! This workout is terrific for runners! If you race you may notice how your arms and abs can tire when you [...]

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geese

An Icy Scenic Run with Gorgeous Ice Images from Mother Nature

Route (newly made up today) : French Country Run Activity: Run Started: Jan 10, 2011 1:29:36 PM Stopped Time: 0:00 Distance: 7.76 miles Fastest Pace: 7:54 /mile Climb: 184 feet Calories: 736 Official Route: Yes Clothing Worn: Vibram Treks (yes, still wearing Vibrams the whole winter! Coldest day in them so far has been “feels [...]

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S-NO-W Fun Run Jan 8, 2011 2:30:30 PM

S-NO-W Fun Run Jan 8, 2011 2:30:30 PM Route: Race 5 Mile Snow Fun Run, Lake Geneva,WI Activity: Run Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/3302/7a27/4b65/7a5d/Runmeter-Run-20110108-1430.kml Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/dZ0F6C Started: Jan 8, 2011 2:30:30 PM Run Time: 36:13 Stopped Time: 0:00 Distance: 5.00 miles Average: 7:15 /mile Fastest Pace: 6:10 /mile Climb: 48 feet Calories: 453 Official Route: [...]

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Run into the New Year Race 10K Dec 31, 2010 12:00:11 PM

Route: Race 10k Activity: Run Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/3302/7a27/4b65/7a5d/Runmeter-Run-20101231-1200.kml Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/fXryMs Started: Dec 31, 2010 12:00:11 PM Run Time: 43:32 Stopped Time: 0:00 Distance: 6.20 miles Average: 7:01 /mile Fastest Pace: 5:50 /mile Climb: 43 feet Calories: 582 Official Route: Yes Notes: I was on a high after this race. Im happy to see [...]

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First snow run of the season and first snow run ever in Vibram Five Fingers ... oh, and a touch of barefoot too!

First Snow run of the year! First run ever in Vibrams and a short time actually BAREFOOT

I’ve been really really looking forward to the first big snow of the season … sometimes the first snow takes the form of drizzle or freezing rain mixed with snow, but this snow was wintery picture and running perfect! I watched the weather report for a few days prior to when the storm was scheduled [...]

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The little runner necklace that my Mom and Dad gave to me when I first started racing, 31 years ago. I now wear it once again, without taking it off. .. It always served as my Good Luck emblem ... Thank you Mom and Dad for always believing in me and for instilling belief and hope in me that has lasted in all of my life, throughout my life ... Running has been one of my teachers along with the nature that I run through and photograph .. along with my wonderful animal friends.

A race more like it (with a good cause to help childhood cancer): No plan other than to have fun (vibram KSO running)

Route: Elf 10k Race Ocononowoc (Race Results) .. A race and benefit for Children with Cancer Activity: Run Google Maps URL:http://j.mp/hIy0Zn Started: Nov 28, 2010 9:00:42 AM Run Time: 45:51 Stopped Time: 0:00 Distance: 6.32 miles Average: 7:16 /mile Fastest Pace: 6:49 /mile Notes: So this is more like it ! This race was great and [...]

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Chilly Post Thanksgiving Day run ... Vibram Treks are still keeping my toes toasty!

Black Friday: Shopping kick or endorphin high? Some shop, I prefer to run!

Run Time: 45:24 Stopped Time: 0:00 Distance: 5.24 miles Average: 8:39 /mile Fastest Pace: 7:07 /mile Climb: 33 feet Calories: 494 Official Route: No Notes: Bitterly cold wind today as we set off on a post Thanksgiving Day run. The run is 5.5 miles (tracked via car but my GPS now states it’s 5.24 to [...]

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Part of the fun in running for me is the sense of adventure. It's fun to be running along and turn left or right to make a new trail part of my route.

Running What I FEEL is like DANCING with the Earth

Running based on how I feel is a dance with the Earth. Feeling the earth, its hardness or softness, its wet or dryness, is a massage to my feet that travels up my body as a whole. It’s most invigorating to set my “schedule” in each moment. I may find an interesting new trail or [...]

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the Race in Animated Story :)

Running my Own Race – Just Run …

Just Run – Running My own Race between A and B I did my first race in roughly seven years last Saturday. A Turkey Trot trail 10K .. With no idea what to expect, yet still somehow expecting to be somewhere between where I had started from and where I had ended just seven years [...]

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Kettle Moraine Blue Loop - 8.66 miles

Vibram Running – Transitioning is an experience … when you feel yourself getting stronger and faster, the transition is worth the wait!

Try the Kettle Moraine Blue Loop or any of the many trails in the Nordic Kettle Moraine ! I went running in the Kettle Moraine today as kind of a whim… Didn’t really think about handling hills more aggressively yet or the extra 1.6 miles above my 7 long ( while still adjusting my tendons [...]

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turkey trot

Turkey Trot at Big Foot State Park, Race Course GPS

The race course for the 6th annual Turkey Trot 5K & 10K (sign up!) has been GPS plotted! For those of you interested in running the course prior to the Turkey Trot race: 1. Check out the course below (add to your GPS device to see yourself as you run it) and/ or 2. Run the [...]

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Coronado Beach run

The last barefoot run on Coronado Beach CA

The last day on Coronado … A fun morning, out at Sunrise. The tide was high so the slant of the beach was a bit steep which is kind of hard on the feet and legs but it was ok as I go back and forth a mile at a time. The waves splashed in [...]

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Got to love these HUGE oak trees that are home in Southern Wisconsin!

Beautiful scenery on the trail today at Big Foot Beach State Park

The first day of my new running club produced just Donny and me … but that’s not all bad since we are still getting lost on the course while GPSing the 5 and 10K race routes. I guess that’s not so bad seeing as we were just given a map yesterday and the race does [...]

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Big Foot State Park - beautiful miles of trails and woods.

Tracking the Turkey Trot race course at Big Foot State Park, Lake Geneva

The sixth annual Turkey Trot at the Big Foot Beach State Park is November 20. Hosted by the good folks at Clear Water Outdoor and Friends of Bigfoot, the “Trot” brought in over 500 runners to the event last year! The proceeds raised from The Big Foot Turkey Trot support the beautiful park and it’s [...]

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A look at the beautiful full moon tonight from my run in my beloved Kishwauketoe Conservancy

Running: Feel the Earth… trusting my feet to be my eyes by the light of the full moon

Today I continue to feel the amazing gratitude that comes over me when I run. It seems that when we feel that we need to crazily control our surroundings or our destiny that things indeed do seem to fall apart. After all, there really is no such thing as control .. but somehow or for [...]

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Clear Water Outdoor sponsored Turkey Trot  - 5K and 10K Trail Run

Pre – Turkey Trot Running Club, hosted by Clear Water Outdoor and Kristen Westlake

The Turkey Trot 5 and 10K (register!) races are just weeks away. Clear Water Outdoor, Don Armour, and I are forming a Running Club dedicated to the Turkey Trot runners. Below is the schedule that we plan to follow. The goal is to bring runners together, get familiar with the race course, share good times [...]

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Vibram Five Fingers Sport Treks

Transitioning Achilles Tendons to Vibram and Barefoot Running … First and most important step is patience!

Transitioning to barefoot or Vibram running from the traditional running shoe involves some time. The number one requirement is Patience, especially true for those of us who are used to going out and sailing through miles of trail at a time. I’ll tell you what  …, after being patient (or kind of patient) now for [...]

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Let go of the straps on your Vibram Sport Treks (& put less pressure on your Achilles tendons)

I have been on task with an effort to eliminate the soreness that I experience in my achilles tendons while wearing Vibrams. I am still not quite certain if it is the shoes pressing against my achilles that are the culprit to the soreness or simply the adjustment and perhaps overuse of the tendon due [...]

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IAT Day 26 “Back in the Saddle?” (Map 88 & 89 f) 8 miles

It’s been a few months since my last IAT post. Today was a trial to see how my Achilles tendon would fare on the hilly and rocky terrain that is known as the Ice Age Trail. My tendons have been doing well under my care remedy of Arnica massage 4 times a day, eccentric calf [...]

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Running “pre-dates” Kristen the photographer

Having a little bout with Achilles tendonitis has me researching my old running diaries to see my history with dealing with it .. twice… But the research has turned into a ton of fun! I’ve been a runner for 31 years and just now, with minimalist footwear (Vibrams) and barefoot I am enjoying it as [...]

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Less Pressure on the Achilles Tendon .. cut the back of your shoe

I’ve been running near barefoot for nearly 2.5 months now and have not experienced a really bad day … So I hit a few stones with my forefoot or toes, but my gait is light and childlike … that is what I love. Running light and easy versus with the feeling of weighted boxes on [...]

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“Never too Old”

I pulled up to run the Kettle Southern Nordic Trails and was instantly greeted with treats that didn’t stop. It was the 50th wedding anniversary of a couple and friends had gathered to celebrate by running a 50K (thats 31 miles) in the Kettle trails. So, you ask, if it’s their 50th anniversary, how old [...]

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A Running Route Affectionately Named “Upchucks”

Started: Aug 26, 2010 8:47:42 AM Run Time: 1:08:18 Stopped Time: 0:00 Distance: 6.65 miles Fastest Pace: 7:34 /mile Climb: 364 feet Calories: 659 Official Route: Yes Notes: I love a variety of running routes for all kinds of reasons and names I give to them usually says something about the run … Always in [...]

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A Variant of my "Harrier" and "Kishwauketoe"  Run

“Feeling with my feet is akin to whiskers on a cat”

Route: Kishwauketoe Varient 4 Activity: Run Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/3302/7a27/4b65/7a5d/Runmeter-Run-20100825-1141.kml Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/a7XeXL Started: Aug 25, 2010 11:41:33 AM Run Time: 35:58 Stopped Time: 0:00 Distance: 4.04 miles Average: 8:54 /mile Fastest Pace: 6:42 /mile – Yah! My pace is coming back! For years I have felt like I’ve been “plodding” in big heeled running [...]

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Minimalist footgear gave me my running back! …

Open publication - Buy e-books – Buy e-trail guides My running has been phenomenal since my first run in my Vibram fivefingers sprints. I had my first run (in Vibrams) on the Kettle Moraine Blue Loop on June 25.  Today I repeated that run in Vibram Sport Treks, which my sponsor Clearwater Outoor has provided me. [...]

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Feet led by the Heart: Minimalist Running – Feel the Heartbeat of the Earth!

As you know my blog is all about sharing the experience, whether it be pictures, trails, trail guides, or e-books, etc. So it wouldn’t be any surprise to you that I would enjoy sharing anything that gets me closer to the earth, right? Running in the Vibram five fingers has been such a delight to [...]

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The famous Riviera on a beautiful day - Lake Geneva, WI

Photos & Promos ToDay – “Nature & Human elements” around Lake Geneva WI

Current Adventure: Hiking, Running, Photographing the Ice Age Trail with sprinklings of other loop trails along the way … Not my Normal Nature Images .. but the scenic sites of the Riviera (and Stone Manor) in Lake Geneva are  loved by many local residents and visitors.. so I thought I’d share. I made these images [...]

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Levis Mounds “Two Trails in One Day” – 11 Miles

The second trail of the day … And much longer than the first. So when you see two blog posts from today, don’t scratch your head wondering if I’m just catching up. I’m not… I’m actually crazy enough to have run/hiked/photographed 2 trail systems enroute back today from the Chippewa Moraine… Levis Mounds is one [...]

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Chippewa Moraine – Circle Trail – “Lots O Lakes”! 4.5 mile loop

I gave a talk at the Chippewa Moraine Ice Age Trail Headquarters last night and fell asleep last night, a guest of Pat and Richard, to the serenade of loons and barred owls. Oh, it was one of the best night’s sleeps ever! Thank you Pat and Richard for opening your home to us and [...]

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Lake Geneva Shore Path – The People’s Path – 21 miles

Wisconsin Lake Geneva Shore Path, Lake Geneva, WI – Get your Lake Geneva Shore Path Trail Guide Here! This blog post has taken a few days to get out … sorry about that! This trail is very close to me and I am usually working with my video posts, my trails, pictures and all that [...]

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Richard Bong State Park Trails – Kenosha

Wisconsin Richard Bong State Recreational Trails – Kenosha Trail Description: Mostly prairie and  some wooded sections make up this trail system. Come prepared for bugs (deer flies in the prairie and mosquitos in the woods) in the summer time. Trail use for running, hiking and mountain biking. Great Cross Country skiing in the winter time. [...]

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Southern Kettle Moraine – Nordic Trails

Wisconsin Southern Kettle Moraine – Nordic Trails Trail Description: Mostly wooded trail system, which makes for cooler running or hiking in the summer months. However, come prepared for mosquitos in the summer time. Great Cross Country skiing in the winter time. These trails are for running and hiking (no mountain bikes) when there is no [...]

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On the Trail with Kristen – Bong Rec – Deer Flies Party Ground

I’ve tracked trails now two times in order to record the six loops at Bong. The horse flies were horrendous the first day as well as today. However today I got there just about an hour later and by the time I was on the last loop (and my last leg.. I was tired today) [...]

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On the Trail with Kristen – Tracking Oodles of Loops in the Kettle Moraine Nordic Trails

I was tracking oodles of loops today in the Nordic trails in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine.. exactly 5 different loops to be exact .. all for fun and also for the purpose of having all the tracks here tracked for the purpose of my “Take a Hike” trail guides with GPS tracks! [...]

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On the Trail with Kristen – Bong State Recreational Area 14.4 miles

Kenosha, WI: Double story today as I tracked both the red and the orange loop at Bong State Recreational Area, near Kenosha, WI. We started at 7 am and ran the red 8 mile loop and then traded running for hiking to almost repeat what we had done on the red minus a few miles [...]

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Vibram Five Fingers Report – 10 STARS!

High Five (fingers) x 2 = TEN Stars! for the Five Fingers by Vibram! .. Get them at Clearwater Outdoor online or if you are local to Lake Geneva, stop in and their wonderful and friendly staff is happy to help you with try ons and questions! .. I cannot say enough about these shoes.. [...]

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