Monday, April 1, 2013

Train Running Weekend - Mixing it up

Awesome view of the trail
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This weekend Bonnie and I mixed it up and did a little trail running at Wekiwa Spring State Park. The park has several trail areas that are great for running. The trails run from about 3 miles to 13 miles long. They are filled with wild deer, turkey, squirrels, wood peckers, etc.

This weekend we ran about 10 miles on the trail. It was nice and shaded. Along the run we saw about a dozen deer and one turkey hen.


Don't laugh. 
That is about as big as deer in Florida get.
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A few weeks back I almost ran into a deer. We surprised each other. He was only about 10 feet away from me. I stayed still and he did not care I was there. He just sat there and ate and watched me. His partner was only about 12 feet away from me. She did not care I was there either. It was awesome seeing a deer so close and not having it run away. Along that same run I saw about 18 other deer and about 13 wild turkeys.
 
Why did the turkey cross the road?
He wanted to prove that he wasn't a chicken!
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This run sure beat my normal run through downtown where I can observe all the homeless people and trash laying everywhere.

Personally I think trail running makes you a better runner. Running on the uneven terrain helps you to gain balance muscles and helps you learn foot placement.


A quick dip in the 72F springs is a nice pick me up after running in the FL heat.
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Once in a while you can get a visitor near the springs.
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Another visitor near the springs
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You can rent canoes and travel the river.
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4 comments:

  1. sounds like a cool place... I'll have to add it to the list

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    1. If you like trail runs you should try Crooms Fools Run (www.Fools50.com) . That is a GREAT race.

      Kevin

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  2. Wait....you swim in the water where alligators are nearby?? That makes me crazy scared. I have two fears... crashing in an airplane, more specifically falling out of the sky and secondly, being attacked by an alligator. I know, nuts right?

    You're right though, trail running is much better.

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    1. It's Florida!! We also swim with poisonous water moccasins, brain eating amoebas, sharks, sting rays, etc... Maybe we are just tougher here in Florida.
      :-) LOL

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