Thoughts From A Beginner Trail Runner

I’ve decided to give up road running. It’s boring, kills my knees, and it’s boring (Twice for emphasis). One of my buddies - check out his killer podcast - is a major trail runner and a total inspiration for me to actually run even though I hate running. If someone twice my age can start doing this and run ULTRA marathons, I have zero excuses. I’ve always been a hiker with a long stride, so trail running seems like the next step.

So here are a few things I've learned/discovered from my extremely short time trail running. (Honestly guys. I’ve only run trails about three times and I can’t even run flat out for a mile without feeling like my lungs are filled with sand, so take all this with a grain of salt.)

New Balance trail runners are good if yo have hobbit feet like me!

Actually Use Trail Running Shoes - Even on the easiest and most stable trails, I’ve eaten it hard due to less than ideal traction on a crappy pair of nikes, and had to walk off the trail with my bum covered in mud. Not the best outcome when you’re already self conscious about running in the first place.

Find a Friend Who Isn't Intimidating - Going alone is fun and empowering, but it’s nice to have someone go with you. Find a running buddy who is either at your level, or who isn’t going to push you too far when you’re just starting. Take a pal who will let you heave through the hard parts at a snail’s pace.

Paige is my non-indimidating friend.

Take Water - I sweat. A lot. I think that’s been addressed in another blog post, but yeah I lose about as much water as I take in, so I take WAY more water than the average person. This may not apply to you but I thought I’d throw it in since I take hydration a little too seriously.

It's Okay to Just Hike Fast - If you already aren’t a strong runner (I’m a prime example) don’t be discouraged by not “running” the entire trail. Just hike it as fast as you can manage and enjoy the fact that you are outside surrounded by trees.

Eyes on the Ground - You’re going to be moving fast over roots, rocks, puddles, and who knows what else. Keep those eyes on the ground or you’re gonna end up with a mouth full of dirt.

Spiders are Everywhere - Unfortunately, you’re probably going to receive a face full of spiders on literally any trail you choose. So, suck it up and like I said above, keep your eyes on the ground, for safety and for maybe a little less fear of the webs + web makers going in your mouth.

Good luck to anyone starting trail running. It’s such a fun and rewarding way to take advantage of the trails near you. If you happen to be in the area, hit me up if you’d like an extremely slow running partner, and here are some links to a few great trail running areas!

Nolin Lake State Park
Mammoth Cave National Park
Low Hollow Trail
Lost River Cave Trails

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ending a run with yoga, sunset, and a lake doesn't hurt...

When You Can't Get Ahead

Last week was not my favorite.

Let me just take you through a summarized timeline of events that occurred in the 24 hours of Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tuesday started great because I was going to see a show with two friends. However, as I got home to change clothes and then hit the road to Nashville, I found my 15 year old family cat, dead.

Not such a fun thing to see when you’re currently pumped about life. So that was scarring to say the least.. I said my goodbyes, showered off the tears and took comfort in the fact that she lived a great life and was no longer in pain from whatever illness she had been dealing with.

When I finally arrived in Nashville, I realized my car was visibly smoking and smelled…..crispy.
But I needed to Uber to the show anyway so I refilled my coolant reservoir and hoped that it just needed a rest.

After the show I decided to take the trip to Kentucky super slow. I’m talking 55 in a 70 zone. It was already midnight by the time I was leaving and the trip seemed eternal. I actually ended up stopping a rest area to power nap once I found myself falling asleep at the wheel. Eventually I made it back to “almost” home before I could see the car was majorly smoking again.

I pulled off at a creepy gas station ten minutes from my house and weighed my options. 1) deal with a tow truck and logistics at 2am  when I can’t even think straight, 2) have my parents rescue me………at this ungodly hour, or 3) ignore everything and hope I don’t blow up on the way home.

I chose number three. Probably NOT the smartest decision but I was partially brain dead and the thought of my bed kind of pushed me towards that choice. Anyway, I did make it home in one piece and fell into bed for the lovely three hours of sleep I’d get before going to work at 7am.

Dad helped me look things over in the morning and we discovered a massive oil leak. An oil leak where I would lose an entire quart within an hour and oil was visibly dripping rapidly from underneath the car. Yippee.

I was clearly not going to work today. Instead I made a call to a trusted mechanic and started driving it slowly to the garage. My mom followed behind me and we made a pit stop at a gas station to grab another quart of oil  before we dropped it off. When I opened the hood, there was an eruption of fluorescent green goo on everything. Something had exploded coolant all over the engine bay. Tow truck time.

Ah. This is probably healthy

Triple A loaded Boone onto the truck and took him to the doctor. After the garage had time to look at the car, they let me know the damage. I needed new cam seals, a new radiator, and a new timing belt. And that’s all stuff they would need to put in before they could tell if my head gaskets were trashed. Grand total: $1100 (and more if the head gaskets are doomed). Time to cry a little more.

24 hours of emotional mess. Dead cat - Sad. Amazing show with friends - Joy. Car issues at 2am - Fear, impending doom of new credit card debt. Frustration, anxiety, and hopelessness.

I can’t even tell you the amount of money I have poured into this car. This car that I wanted so desperately that I searched for three years before pulling the trigger on it. This vehicle that I dreamed would be my constant companion, home on the road, and possibly my ticket to living in a new state…...and it has been nothing but maintenance. I know that is the story for an abundance of car owners, but it just seems like it happens to me a lot more than the average Jane. Every time I start to get a handle on my existing debt, loans, car payment, and savings, Boone decides to suck every penny out of me. Why you gotta be like that, dude?

.

But here’s the thing. It doesn't matter. When you keep feeling like you take one step forward and two steps back, you’re going to make it. If you look hard enough you can find good in even the most frustrating circumstances. That’s not easy, I know. And anyone who knows me in real life knows that I’m not very good at doing that.

Let’s take a look at the previous 24 hours and see the other side of the coin. My cat was a wonderful friend and she is no longer in pain in this world. My car didn’t break down on the side of the road, nor did it blow up causing me injury. My boss was completely understanding of my situation and there were no consequences for me calling out of work. My mom bought me a consolation iced coffee and I got to spend quality time with her.  Both of my parents were willing and able to help me get my car to the mechanic and also to ferry me to and from work when I needed it. So even though I won’t have a penny to my name for who knows how long, I still have a place to live, food to eat, a job to go to that will allow me to pay for these repairs, and a smartphone that works.

That’s a whole lot more than many could say.

When junk happens all at once (and really frequently) I’m not saying you can’t get frustrated. Believe me, I get extremely frustrated, anxious, and angry when these things happen. But maybe take a step back from the situation and re-calibrate. Weigh the good with the bad. Find a little peace, and then take action to do what you can to fix the situation. This year I’ve really been trying to live by a paraphrased version of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17. Even if you aren’t religious, I think it’s encouraging.

“Choose Joy. Pray always.”

Post Script:
Sunday evening I noticed my car acting sluggish. Then the engine started dying every time I came to a complete stop or put in reverse. Probably about to shell out another $1000! Pray for me y'all.

Maria Goes

Maria Goes.

     ...That's what people think about me at least. I can't tell you the amount of times that a friend or acquaintance has come to me and asked, "Do you still work? You're always on a trip or going somewhere!". This statement never fails to catch me off guard because to me, it seems like my 40 hour work week is all that I do. Wake up, coffee, desk, emails, numbers numbers numbers, clock out, eat, workout, sleep. That is the normal schedule.

     So if that's the non-glamorous truth, then how are people getting the impression that I'm constantly adventuring in the woods, mountains, or even just a new city? The answer, my friends, is the "micro adventure". A phrase coined by the inspirational Alastair Humphreys. He describes a micro adventure as " Simple expeditions and challenges which are close to home, affordable and easy to organize". 

     Despite my despairingly average week life, I try to create as many three day or two day weekend excursions as I can possibly muster during the weekends, along with a few weeknight activities to spice up the monotony of my existence. Camping, biking, hiking, road tripping. It's simple!

     I suppose that my skill set of being not only a meticulous planner, but also a photographer, lead people to believe I have an overly exciting lifestyle simply because I document the places I go, the people I'm with, and the things I see a whole lot more than the average human bean. (That was one good run on sentence, eh?)

     So, what has been the point of all of this needless information? I have made the decision to utilize the blog feature on my website that I pay for year after year but never put to use. Instead of flooding my portfolio with every photo I take, I will add them to blog posts where I will re-cap the "adventures' that I experience. Follow along, leave a comment, and ask some questions, and even subscribe if you'd like! I'm happy to share the things that perk up a young (semi) professional's life.

(Photos below are from 2017 excursions)