Tag: move

#TinkRuns2024, challenges, fitness and nutrition

I Run 2024 Part 1

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The hype has been building for some time. The details have been documented. The plan was set in motion. The anticipation lingers. The excitement builds. The suspense is in the air. It’s all going to be up to me. A solo goal. A goal to reach deep into my soul. A running goal that clearly relies on my soles. Just me!

Last week I ran in a practice state (Missouri). I ran stairs at the Arch in St. Louis and at another crazy tourist site. It was fun. I felt strong. I was ready for day one at least. Running shoes are packed. Layers of clothes somewhat picked out. The route is still a mystery for day one. The time is still unknown. A midnight run would be fun. Practical, not so sure.

The day has arrived. The beginning of my running the year 2024 start to finish is here. The quest. The tallying of miles. The places I will go. It starts today. It starts with me. Self-powered adventures await.

In an odd turn of events I am spending New Year’s Day in Denver, Colorado. I won’t be here for long, but will be long enough to log my first run of the year. Although I didn’t plan my first run to be in Denver, I am super excited to note my first day of adventure was on the road. I guess that means my last day of the year will hopefully be on the road as well. Bookends of the adventure!

The weather. Cold. Baby it’s cold outside. Just one mile. That’s what I’ve been telling myself. Just one mile at a time. Hitting the pavement at midnight is how I’m choosing to start this adventure of miles. It’s most likely how I will end the year as well. Destinations may be different but the night run is probably a must.

The shoes. I’m starting my year with ASICS. No real reason other than they were cushy and my feet feel good in them. They also have color and style which appeal to me at this point. I’ve tried other brands but for now this is what I have. More will follow on shoes and clothes I’m sure.

The shirt. I will have at least twelve shirts along the way. One for each month. All designed my crafty business partner to capture the adventurous spirit of I Run 2024 my way. My pace. My race. It’s that simple. I may not be the fastest but I hope to improve. I may not make the longest distance but I will chip away at my personal goal. No comparisons. Just me doing work. 

The run. It was cold and lonely. I started at midnight on New Year’s. Odd time to run and I was in unfamiliar area thus I had to be aware of my surroundings. A few homeless crossed my path. I opted for no headphones in order to hear what was around me at that hour. I was layered up but also running a mile in an altitude I’m not acclimated to had my chest burning mid-way. I finished. I was excited to start the year with some excitement.

I had a dear friend with me. Capturing the moment. Cheering me on. Lighting sparklers at the end. We might have looked a bit crazy but it was over before we knew it. Then I had to wind down for bed. It took me almost two hours. I probably won’t run again at midnight on the road but I did it this time and it was very fulfilling. Bonus of running at a hotel was the fresh fruit water waiting in the lobby after along with the outdoor firepit to stay warm while cooling down.

First run is done and the tallying has begun. I plan to take my running slow on the front end of the year but build as I feel my body is ready for more challenges. Stay tuned for my monthly recaps to see my mileage adding up or where I may be running.

One new state in the books!

adventure, fitness and nutrition

A Day of Twos

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Two shirts. Two pairs of socks. Two pairs of pants. Two pairs of gloves. Two jackets. The two layers were definitely needed to endure 22 degree temperature with wind while outside. A little pre-planning was the key to enduring the elements while being active.

A little adventurous spirit made the trek seem possible. A 10 Mile or so bike ride one way from Montana to Idaho on the new Yellowstone Short Line Trail. An ambitious goal per the bike shop owner, but one I shrugged off. I was looking forward to the experience. I wanted to say I did it. I may never have the chance again, so why not go for it.

The entrance sign has its warnings of bears and other wildlife. It also had fresh snow from the night before. Maybe an inch or so but depending on the tree cover the consistency varied which added to the variety within the outing. The first two miles or so the snow had tracks from boots, dog paws and maybe some birds and kids. It wasn’t well traveled but it was used at various times during the snowfall. This made the path somewhat bumpy on the front end. You can zoom Into the picture below to relate to the consistency.

When there was a break in the trees there was black ice where the snow melted. This made for a little glide time and concentration to avoid a spill or wipe out. Moving into mile 3-4 the trail was fresh. As in nobody had traversed it recreationally. This was one of the highlights for me. Uncharted exploration in the wide open.

The views along the pathway were nothing less than breathtaking. They looked like pictures from a travel magazine. The rushing river on the side of the path was so soothing on the ride. Time didn’t stand still but it seemed like a timeless journey. Hard to explain but when you take in so much nature you are not really looking at a clock you are just immersed in the experience.

Three bridges I traveled over. They hadn’t even been installed that long. I felt pride to experience such a new rail trail. As I moved along the snow became crunchy. It had an outer layer of ice from the cold temps as the elevation rose slightly. The snow got deeper. The pedaling got harder. The wind became stronger. Mile 5-6 was the longest in my mind. Mile 6-7 was a lot of self talk about forging ahead.

The signs of others on the trail were evident. Mostly cross trail vs. the straight line I was riding. Deer prints in the snow. Some variety of birds or other critters. Always across the path never along the path. So interesting to have your mind wander as you ride and think what animal may be watching you in the distance.

Some bigger paw prints that I couldn’t identify. I’m not a trained tracker but I also know I was going to keep moving and not stop for that that photo just in case. There were many scratches or gouges in the trees. Different heights and different depths as you cruised by. These are signs of the presence of bears. I have had an abundant awareness of bears on this particular trip to last me a lifetime. Cool and unnerving in a way but as long as I did my thing and kept moving I felt okay.

Mile marker 7. 2 more miles to the continental divide. So close yet so far. As you can see the sky in picture one is blue and clear the sky is grey cloudy at mile 7. No breaks in the trees meant the wind was minimal but the chill was in the frigid air. This was the turnaround point. My cycling partner’s feet were colder than mine. Knowing the number of miles back. The temperature. The environment. The decision was made. The practical decision. The right decision. However, it was also hard to not hit the point you wanted to achieve. A life lesson of sorts. Aim high but be okay with progress vs perfection. Also listen to your body. It’s a powerful machine if used wisely.

The cruise back seemed quicker. It always does. A little downhill rest, but also the workout in the harder area with the snow, ice and existing tracks took a little more work to navigate. A few more stops to rest the bottom of my body as it’s been enduring some bumps and long riding. Yes this was required for my sanity the following day!

Then the break in the trees. The wind hit. Cold. Cold. Cold. The toes feeling it the most. More breaks to bend and flex the toes to keep them warm since they felt the brunt of the wind. Thankful for my neck gaiter, layers and glasses to block my wind. The excursion ended at my condo, in front of the fireplace to warm the toes and take a restroom break before heading back to the bike shop a mile away.

The fireplace seemed to be dimly lit but it was full of warmth. I sat there to warm up but to also reflect on what I had just completed. A monumental ride in extreme conditions. I did it. I am able to tell you all about it. I have great photos to remind me of my epic ride.

This rail trail is great for biking, running, walking and I hear even cross country skiing in another couple weeks. When traveling look for rail trails. Normally pretty flat and full of character. Great way to experience a little history. I give two thumbs up since this is a post of twos today for the Yellowstone Shortline Trail. Also you can make a donation to keep this trail pristine. The link is on photo one, if you feel the need to give.

adventure

Hike Inn

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How far will you go to stay somewhere truly unique?

What if fitness is part of the admission fee? Could you pay it? Would you?

The Len Foote Hike Inn is one of 9 backcountry inns in the US. It’s only reachable (for guests) by a 5 mile hike near the start of the Appalachian Trail. After having it on my adventure list for years, my youngest daughter and I finally made the trek earlier this spring.

How remote is the Hike Inn? It’s a little bit of roughing it, but not too bad. You have a room with mattresses, clean sheets and blankets. Two hot meals are prepared for you each day, served family style, with an option for a third trail lunch. There are dorm-style shared hot showers and composting toilets that don’t smell bad (but do come with a draft!) There are rocking chairs, board games, and books about the outdoors galore. There is peace.

When you are at the Inn, you’re encouraged to stay off of your phone, aside from taking photos. There is cell service (all the way up the trail, too!) But really, the atmosphere invites you to connect with nature and other people.

My daughter brought up fond memories of going to camp as we sat on our bunk beds. When the dinner bell rang, we joined the long table and sat next to two volunteers. An older couple, they served food, cleared plates, and gregariously talked about their commitment to volunteering at the Inn. They come up for a weekend every few months. For a couple of hours of work, you get a free stay at the Inn and a shirt.

The stay with my daughter was memorable. Relaxing. She beat me at board games. She paced me up the trail. We talked and talked and talked some more. It may have been the most we’ve talked since my days of driving her to high school or traveling together for club lacrosse. It’s amazing what long stretches of uninterrupted time together can do. The words and insights just keep spilling out. It turned out to be a rainy and cold weekend, so the sad part was missing the sunrise. Something to look forward to next time.

It didn’t take me long to join the volunteer corps at the Inn. It took many months to actually find a day when my schedule allowed me to go. Sadly, I didn’t have my girl along this time. She was already away at college. Although still beautiful, the hike is much longer when you do it alone! Yes, of course it is the same length, but I missed her company. My room was bigger and had a fan (which was desperately needed on the hot weekend I chose.) I also had power in my room and my own bathroom and shower, which was awesome.

I got a shirt and the chance to work with the cook and other employees. This turned out to be more fun than I thought it might. Setting tables, serving food, doing dishes, putting things away…after years in a restaurant, it all felt easy and not taxing. Unlike the weekend with my daughter, there were no children this weekend at the Inn. There was one group of 12 moms on a girls weekend, then a few other smaller groups of friends. It was quite easy and relaxing.

The Inn is a special place. My youngest and I have talked about trying to hike to all the backcountry inns in the US. But for just a quick getaway, this one is just far enough away to restore and renew me.

Uncategorized

Shared Rides

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I was on a recent trip to a smaller-sized town with not too much to do, yet I wanted to get some exercise in while exploring. I couldn’t pack my bike for the trip thus I was a little disappointed. However the town ride share came to the rescue.

For a $3.00 fee you could unlock the bike at one of the area spots and use it for an hour or $1.00 more if you wanted to cruise beyond the initial hour. Cool concept. Easy access once you downloaded their app and paid your fee. Having this option available was key to me exploring a couple of days.

I got to see a pretty sunset. I got to see a snake on my path. I shared smiles with many I passed along the way. The snake I will say I was glad to see while on a bike vs .walking. I got to see a little about the people in the town while I cruised around too. Some visiting. Some were homeless finding resting spots not far off the trails. Just an alternate way of seeing a new place.

While on this same trip I happened to notice a large concentration of vans, box trucks and trucks in a mall parking lot. Out in the distance from where one may park to go into the mall. This got my curiosity up. Was somebody renting parking spaces? What was this fluid truck concept? See photo above. Why it was another form of ride share. Clearly not a bike yet equally purposeful to some I’m sure. Myself included. As a business owner I need to rent trucks from time to time. The ride share concept of grab-and-go is not only affordable but the ease of access seems far more appealing than your traditional Penske or U-haul type rental place.

My mind is always wandering and exploring when I’m in new places. You never know what value you may find hidden just beyond your normal landscape or routine. Keep your options open to discover and explore no matter where you are. Small towns might be more savvy than meets the eye.Just a girl on adventures choosing to share some tidbits with the world here and there. Hope you enjoyed this random post about bikes and trucks. It’s funny since I also wrote about rail travel not too long ago as well. Guess it’s travel season for this girl.

I also like to include photos when I can in a post. This sign was a new one for me. It was located just after a stop sign on the bike path. Clearly the warning sign was appropriate for the upcoming terrain yet it was funny to see a stop sign and this distinct slanted warning sign. It was accurate though.

As an added fun fact, I have opted to ride a bike on many rail trails. Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Utah, Colorado, Oregon, Ohio, Florida, and a few other states. The majority of these trails are flat which I like but I learned on this trip they can also encompass inclines. I am going to have to make it a point to hit some new states by bike.

fitness and nutrition

The Days After

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As a follow up to my experience post, I figured I would document the soreness I alluded to at the end of the post. The aches and pains are real the day after the big competition. That’s how you know you pushed your limits. When muscles hurt that you didn’t know were firing during your adrenaline-rushed day.

You may see a stiffness erupting late in the day you compete. This is just the beginning. Then you rest the night and wake up with everything tight. You need to move to loosen your body even though you feel like you should stay in bed all day. For first timers this is a whole new level of sore.

Remember we had teen athletes in our group. They would say they were in shape yet one struggled to lift their arm over her head while the other said my legs are anchors when I run. I would say their bodies would bounce back quicker than mine at age almost 50 but maybe I have built up a higher pain tolerance with age.

As you loosen you feel better but simple things like bending over, sitting on the toilet or reaching for something can really push your limits. Again it’s a new level of achy tightness. A good night’s sleep again will help tremendously. The texts from other athletes read: I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. I’m only at 50% but I moved today. I’m still sore. Communication is key in the recovery process as well to see how your gym mates are doing or to share in the woes or to make sure nothing major is surfacing.

2nd full day post-comp you normally have areas that have improved tremendously but may have lingering soreness. For me it was my quads. They improved a ton but in/out of the car was an effort. A deeper squat of any sorts showed my soreness. I leveraged Aleve at some points as well as essential oils and my quads liked the repair gel in the photo below. 

As an athlete recovery is important. Movement is also important. I didn’t skip activities rather I scaled them back during my recovery to speed up my healing overall. Or that was the plan anyway.

Today I will play tennis and see how my body fares. Specifically my quads. Yesterday the motion of the bike erg was refreshing and achy all in one but I still got it done. I may have written about recovery in the past however each comp has varied workouts thus the recovery varies, meaning my soreness may be disbursed over different areas of my body.

I am still thankful for my experience despite the soreness. I’d do it again and again as well. Have a great day and think of me as I’m recovering.