New routines, escape the news

I woke up with a weird feeling in my ears, like they were clogged. I Googled the symptoms of the coronavirus and this is not one of them. I’m hoping it’s nothing. But it makes me think I picked up something at the grocery store, the only place I go. 

Despite morning drama, today was all about getting out of the coronavirus-induced-funk and running outside, doing my core workout, writing and reading. I did it all today. Plus tons of dog walking. 

While I walk the dogs I pick up trash. In the wake of disaster picking up trash has lifted my spirits. There seems to be so much trash on the streets in Concord. With all the wind from last night and today, I’m sure there will be more. 

What also lifts my spirits is watching Parks and Rec. I started watching the first season, again and it is seriously so funny. My favorite quote is from Leslie: “I get to build a whole park from scratch. This could be my Hoover Dam.”

this could be my Hoover Dam.

What I love about her character is she is so hopeful and always looks at her problems from a wide lens. How can I translate that in my world and get through the pandemic?

I get to write a new book. This could be my Eat, Pray, Love”. That is my equivalent to Leslie Knope’s Hoover Dam. 

My second favorite Knope quote from Parks and Rec Season 1, Episode 1 that illustrates how much I love her character:

“We’re a nation of dreamers and it is my dream to build a park that I one day visit with my White House staff on my birthday. And they say, ‘President Knope, this park is awesome. Now we understand why you are the first female President of the United States.”

What also lifts my spirits is reading stories about people doing amazing things. Jessica Wheeler Russell of Concord, wants to help by connecting people who want to help and those who need help. Wow, just an amazing story. Unfortunately the story doesn’t list her organization and I couldn’t find it while searching. 

There are stories all over about people doing kind things to others. These stories make me sane as I read news online at least 10 times each day. 

And finally, there is this from the NYT. An opinion piece written by Kiley Bense about the nuns who turned into nurses during the Spanish Flu in Philadelphia, 1918. Many of the nuns died while helping but later were honored for saving so many lives when they left the safety of their church and helped the people of Philadelphia, with no medical training. The author of the story parallels the crisis today with 1918. We need to help protect and care for people in our community, she writes. 

While most people have no reason to fear the coronavirus, we have a responsibility as a society to protect and care for those who do have reason to fear it. The sisters’ quiet, determined selflessness is what is needed now, and what we will need more of in the weeks and months to come, not only from doctors and nurses but also from ordinary people, who will be asked to alter their daily lives in ways both large and small, giving up comfortable routine for the sake of the vulnerable”. 

For now, I’m going to pick up trash. I know there is more to do and I will be a helper. 

But in the meantime, I might just stay away from the news for a bit. I just found out Showtime is free until April. I’ll be watching The Affair (love Josh Jackson) and Homeland. Escape into the world of affairs and CIA operatives. Escapism at its best.

Best ideas while hiking

Today was a good day.

I took my Winnie-dog on a hike to Marjorie Swope. My new, adopted pup Goldie has only been with me a week so she isn’t quite ready for a trip in the car to hike; a few more weeks. When Winnie left the house and saw the car running with the hatch open, she acted like a puppy dancing and thrashing about – so excited to go on a hike. 

 I drove to Marjorie Swope. Winnie and I hiked for 3 glorious miles and we didn’t see a soul.

While hiking I had a good work idea; get the team together on a group hangout and talk about our days. It turned out to be really fun listening to my co-workers who have turned into teachers. It was good to hear everyone is doing well.

It’s been one full week we have been working from home. Our team is doing the best they can in the current situation.

Now as evening approaches I am writing using my story ideas from the morning hike. I caught my two dogs finally bonding with Goldie resting her head on Winnie. [Blog post image above. Heart melting.]

We made it through the week. Thank goodness for time outside. Happy to spend the evening writing and relaxing.

Kearsarge Redux, Goldie Love

Today was a Kearsarge redux

I needed to hike something familiar, by myself and get my heart pumping. I headed back to Kearsarge with the hope of two loops. No dogs.

A solo hike was just what I needed to get some perspective, stop thinking about the news and just get to the top of a mountain. 

So icy!

I knew the trail was going to be icy, and it was but it was never ending ice today. At the top I decided to head down the Rollins Trail to see where it went, since I’ve never done it. I passed the Lincoln Trail, which I knew I would do next time, and part of the SRKG. [I’ll be running the 3-day Stage Race in August.] On my way back to the top I took this video.

Very windy at the top but magnificent views.

I headed down the Winslow Trail thinking that it would be less icy and I could run; nope. It was more icy than last Sunday. Less snow pack, more ice. So many people not even wearing spikes. I headed home after one loop and will live another day.

Week One with Goldie is just about over. She is becoming herself. She is a crazy puppy with a sweet personality. I just love her. Winnie just ignores her, for now.

Monday it’s back to work. I’m not sure if it will be a work from home day but it’s an option.

Kearsarge in March

It was a gorgeous, sunny day to hike to Kearsarge with Kendra, Toby and Winnie.

The Winslow Trail was nice, at first. Then came the frozen waterfalls of ice. This was not a fun section for the dogs. But we got through it and made it to the top.

The top was windy with amazing 360 degree views.

Just about to the top

Once we started heading down the Barlow Trail we got out of the wind and could really see Mount Washington and Moosilauke. The photo at the top is Kendra on the Barlow Trail looking north. Wow. Just Wow. We met amazing, kind people on the trail today; even two fathers toting their children in packs. Everyone was so happy to be outside on a such a sunny Sunday. I think Kendra will be hiking more in winter; for sure Toby loved being on the trail.

I’ll be heading back to Kearsarge and doing a few training laps during the week. It is such a hard, steep trail.The 3-Day Stage races is in about 23 weeks.

Being in the mountains just makes me feel more alive.

Heading down on the Barlow Trail. Photo by Kendra Bassi.

The Osceolas in February

I got a chance to hike to Osceola and East Osceola today. Oh my gosh. The slides are so hard.

I hiked Osceola last January and didn’t quite make it to the main peak but today, I did both peaks and feel like I really don’t need to ever do them again. Well, okay, let’s be real, I want to finish the grid in the next year or two so I have 10 more months that I have to do them in. 

My friend Mark, who I know from racing Leadville last year, was up for a challenge and agreed to hike with me. The alternative was running 15 trail miles in Concord. I needed to get out of the city and head to the hills and he was game. Thanks Mark! 

The slides were harder than I remembered from a year ago. They were so freaking hard. It was cold, too. Temperatures started at 12 degrees. I debated for hours prior to leaving Concord about bringing Winnie. I love when she hikes with me because I don’t have to worry about getting back to her. And she loves hiking. She did awesome! 

On top of Mount Osceola

There were two other dogs on the trail and they were so cute and happy. Winnie didn’t quite get along with one of them but we didn’t hike with them the entire way. (I think they didn’t get a long because they were a little too much alike; not exactly submissive but not aggressive either. Not every dog gets along and it’s okay). All three dogs just loved being on the trail with their owner and having a great day. So happy!

Mark and I started with spikes and after the first peak switched to snowshoes and then wore them for the rest of the day. On the slides I was walking like an ape, just trying to grasp a hold of anything to make me not slide down. 

Mount Osceola

We were able to hike around the chimney and reached a socked-in summit. It’s okay – that hike was so hard I was just thankful to make it alive to the summit.

The hike down was tricky. We slid down a lot,  and there were some scary moments when I couldn’t stop. But you know, it was so great to be in the White Mountains, with my dog, with my friend Mark and bag two 4,000 footers.

I needed to get out of the city. I needed to be in the mountains. I needed to have a beer at One Love Brewery and just escape life and endurance training. 

It was a hard day. It was a F**king hard day in the mountains but it was life affirming and filled with all the things I love about my life: dogs, mountains, friends, checking off shit from your to-do list. 

East Osceola

I can’t wait for the next time.