Never Thought I Would EVER Use the Word GOODR In a Sentence and Other Ramblings

I have a confession to make:  I get slightly anxious when someone asks me to try a new product to give them feedback.  My conscience will not let me gloss over something and not be honest.  If I do not like whatever it is, I will figure out a way to gently give them the truth, usually starting out with something like, "It's me, not you".  You ONLY have your reputation and I take mine very seriously.  When our local sports store asked me to try a new brand of sunglasses they were carrying and told me they were only $25.00 I hesitantly said yes.  Best. Decision. Ever.  These glasses are fantastic!  I put aside my almost $200 running glasses and took a test run with my running friend, April.

It may be a cheesy picture, but this company is all about play.  I love their tag line, "To destroy the boundary between working out and having fun between the utilitarian and the fashionable".  The other photo is from our free community yoga class, "Class on the Grass 2018".

In 3 days I ran, hiked, did yoga outside at a ballpark, taught a free class under the underpass and walked my dog, Miles ToGo.  My sunglasses are affectionately named, Mick & Keith's Midnight Ramble in honor of the Rolling Stones and their epic stay at the Hotel Palazzo Murat in Positano, Italy.  I will not bore you with the details, but suffice it to say it cost over 2 million pounds and involved Dom Perignon, llamas, Saucony trail shoes, and a 55 gallon drum of Blackberry Jet Gu (200,000 pounds in case you were wondering how much Gu costs for a 55 gallon drum).  These glasses stayed ON my head and never felt as if they would fall off.

I remember running in a very expensive pair of sunglasses a few years ago and a bug lodged itself between the bill of my visor and my glasses.  I quickly swiped to dislodge the bug and my glasses went flying to the pavement scratching (and ruining) the lenses.  I remember cursing and being very angry.  For $25.00 I can take a chance swatting bugs.

I would be remiss if I didn't put all the specs for those of you (like me) who are worried about UVA & UVB rays.  These glasses have UV protection of 400 which means they block 100% of the UVA & UVB rays.  They are polarized to reduce glare and have a no slip, no bounce to them (how do they do that?)

Anyway, if you live in North Carolina, Omega Sports is now carrying a wide array of these glasses in some very fun colors and of course each pair has a unique name to (and I quote) to give you that perfect mix of inspiration and contentment.

Mick and Keith's Midnight Ramble Goodr Sunglasses  

Don't live in North Carolina?  No worries, they have a website https://www.playgoodr.com
I have even bigger news, if you go over to Instagram at  @cindyrunsmiles you can register to win YOUR very own pair of Goodr sunglasses courtesy of Omega Sports.

Suffice it to say,  r u n....don't walk to get your very own pair of Goodr glasses.

Tomorrow I am pacing the 1:45 group at the Carolina Brewfest Half Marathon in High Point, NC.  There are still a few spots available, come run with me and see the sunglasses in person (unless it is raining, lol)

Let's get social together:
Facebook:  Cindy Kearns Barbour
Instagram:  @cindyrunsmiles
Twitter: @cindybarbour1
Snapchat: cindyabarbour

*this 52 year old may have been given these sunglasses, but the opinions are solely my own and are not influenced by word FREE


Upcoming Pacing:  Carolina Brewsfest, High Point, NC
                                Lululemon Sea Wheeze, Vancouver, Canada
                                Cannonball Half Marathon, Greensboro, NC

Upcoming Racing:  Marine Corps Marathon, Washington, DC
                                 Crooked Road 24 hour Race, Rocky Mount, VA
                                 Kiawah Half Marathon, Kiawah, SC
                                 Wrightsville Beach Half Marathon, Wrightsville Beach, NC

I Went Camping Alone on Friday the 13th and Lived to Tell About It!

There is something about the Appalachian Trail that calls me like the sirens in the Odyssey.  The pathway with its white blazes beckon me to traverse the trail.  The white blazes beckon me keep moving forward.  The trail takes my spinning brain and starts to unravel and slow it down.  I feel more connected to myself and my loved ones while on the trail.  It allows me to process emotions and feelings more thoroughly.  I am so lucky to have a husband that knows how important this 2,190 mile journey is to me and never questions why.  I don't even think I know the reason why.  All I know is that I have been itching to get back on the trail.  When the weather forecast for Friday and Saturday was supposed to be beautiful throughout most of the southeast and Dan was scheduled for a couple of rounds of golf, Miles ToGo and I went for an adventure.  Miles is now 82.2 pounds and LOVES being off leash and stays very close by while we hike.  He is now old enough to carry his own food, but I hadn't bought one yet so I got to carry everything.  This time.  We hiked 43 miles in 2 days and 1 night of camping. 

 I didn't realize it was Friday the 13th until a radio announcer in a commercial was talking about Friday the 13th specials at some local bar in Virginia.  My eyes got really big when it dawned on me that TODAY was Friday the 13th.  I looked in the rear view mirror and adjusted my crown attitude.  I can run over 100 miles in 24 hours so I know I can do it.  If it meant not sleeping a wink, I think I could have done it.  I found solace in that fact.  I drove to my starting point at Grayson Highland Park and took off NOBO (Northbound) toward Route 81 where Dan was coming to pick me up to retrieve my car the next evening.

We hiked some pretty hilly terrain and were rewarded with some awesome views during our hike.  Not every mile on the trail is blessed with magnificent views.  In fact, you have to work to get to  most of them.  Miles loved swimming and splashing around in the streams along the trail which were pretty full of water.

We arrived at the Trimpi Shelter which was where I wanted to camp for the night since the odds were there would be people there and it was Friday the 13th for goodness sake.  My fears were allayed as when I arrived there were already 2 thru-hikers setting up for the night.  One in the shelter, one in a tent. 

We exchanged pleasantries and I went a little farther away to set up my little tent.  My tent feels like my little magic bubble.  If I can't see any spiders, snakes, skunks, racoons, bears, bobcats and anyone else in the animal kingdom than they can't see me.  Yes, I know that sounds ridiculous but it is my reality. It has worked so far.  Anyway, there were 7 in total for the night so I felt some comfort knowing there were people around if I needed them.

I turned in at 8:15pm because it is dark and I knew we had quite a long day to hike the next day and if I had any prayer of sleep I better try and snag it when I felt I needed it.  I slept pretty soundly till 2:30am when Miles bolted upright and let out a low growl.  A growl I had never heard before.  I was wide awake with my heart pounding, but I never unzipped my tent.  Again, I was in my magic bubble.  I couldn't hear anything over my beating heart so I just decided to lie back down and try and sleep.  I slept fitfully after that and finally got up a little after 6am.

Miles and I were on the trail by 6:45am and had the best time by ourselves.  We crossed over a cute little bridge and then we saw it:  a TRAIL MAGIC bus!  If you are not familiar with the term it is simply a person or group of people who bring all kinds of food, drinks and supplies and give you handouts of whatever you want.  It is magical.  I didn't want to take anything since I was only out there 2 days and wanted to save the vast array of goodies for the thru-hikers, but he insisted and I quickly cave in and took a rootbeer and an oatmeal creme pie.  Best decision ever made. Trail magic is something I would love to do one day just to see the faces of the hikers.  Priceless.

Anyway, we were off and the rest of the trip was uneventful.  We arrived at our prescribed meeting spot (Route 615- Settler's Museum) early so I sat on the porch and called Dan.  He was just leaving so he wasn't going to be there for 2 more hours.  There was a short stretch that was 2.8 miles so that he could meet me right off of Route 81.  After a couple of phone calls, a 20 minute meditation/stretching session, we decided to go for it.  I didn't want Dan to wait on me so we actually ran a little bit of it and arrived 20 minutes before Dan got there. 

I sat with Miles on a park bench at a gas station dirty, slightly sunburned, sweaty and tired.  I hadn't combed my hair in 2 days (I did brush my teeth 3 times, I do have some standards, lol) so I know I must have looked pretty bad because nice local folk made conversation with me to make sure I was okay and that I didn't need a ride somewhere.  I thanked them and gave Dan the biggest hug when I saw him.  I didn't care how much I smelled. 

I cannot wait to get back out there.  I feel the peace, the tranquility, but more importantly I feel alive.

xoxo

New Beginnings in Life

Have you ever taken a vacation, returned, and reassessed your life only to decide that major changes do not seem scary? I took a trip to Switzerland which was not only an epic adventure, but a template for thinking globally instead of locally.  I am taking a brave, new step towards the twilight of my career and redesigning my work life.  I want to continue my passion for wellness but on a different pathway.

 Is it scary?  Yes.

Will it work?  Who knows, but I know I need to try.

I have felt scattered this past year.  Holding a full-time job, taking care of my Dad, rearing a puppy, and trying to keep my running life together has been challenging.  I love being a part of the wellness world, but I feel that I have exhausted my current skills set since beginning my career 30+ years ago.

I have had a restlessness that wakes me up at night and consumes my thoughts during the day. This is how I know I need to try and step outside the box.  I need to push my edges and create more peace and harmony in my life.

I am fortunate to have a wonderful husband who although he doesn't try to understand me, he gets me.  He sees the highs and lows and supports, encourages and celebrates with me every step of the way.  There is something rumbling in my soul and I want to explore it. He is my rock, sounding board and my safe haven. Life is infinitely more wonderful having him as my husband.

Do I have a concrete plan yet?  Heck no.  That will be a part of the fun these next number of months as I am leaving my current full-time job at Starmount Country Club December 31st (unless they hire someone before then).

I have had many different avenues to encourage people to live healthier lives:  tv, radio, newspaper column, etc.  and maybe I will do something along those lines; or not.  Who knows at this point, but I am truly excited!

I can't wait for my future to unfold and I hope to chronicle it here in the blog.  Here is where I am committed to writing more and exploring this incredible earth we inhabit for such a short period of time.

Cheers to new beginnings!

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