An Outdoor Life – Page 11 – A blog about running, hiking, dogs and seeing the world

July 2, 2023July 28, 2024

Summer in the Smokies

Now that I’ve lived in Tennessee for just about a year, I’m finally settling in and it’s feeling more and more like home.

I started biking again and my running is lagging behind. It’s been a strange few months.

Typical for me, as I approach trail running season my motivation to run lessens. I just can’t get in the groove to train for a 100. Maybe 100 is just not in the cards for me.

However, biking is going well. I am nervous biking on these roads since they have no shoulder and they are very windy. The roads here are well maintained but sketchy to bike on. It’s kind of my thing to discover new places running and biking; and that is what I’ve been doing the last few weeks.

I’ve always hated driving somewhere to run or bike. I just want to run and bike from my house. This week I looked at the map and discovered a loop. And this loop has some hills.

The loop is really beautiful and scenic. I pass farms and green trees and homes. Two loops and just over 1,000 feet of climbing.

Now I just need to get brave and bike on the Old Newport Highway which has a big shoulder but a lot of debris.

I am loving the beautiful flowers popping up at my house. I moved into the house in February so it was a bit drab. And as annoyed as I am with all the problems with the house to fix, I’m pleasantly surprised at the perennials the prior owner planted. Now I just need to buy a lawn mower.

All three dogs are good and having fun. There is river access about five miles from the house so we are swimming regularly. I just love these guys:

Now I’m off to go hike in the park. Happy Summer!

May 20, 2023

Full On Spring in Tennessee, Training Update

I’ve been comparing this year to 2019; a lot.

2019 was my Golden Year, my dreams-come-true year. The Year that I accomplished so much, worked hard and realized a few things.

My Mantra for 2019 was: take each adventure as it comes and be open to all possibilities.

I need to remember this.

Reading through my 2019 journals I had dark days and great days. I was training, working hard and realizing some goals.

In 2023, I have accomplished non-athletic goals and am trying to come to terms with aging, menopause and homeownership. All very difficult and similar to chasing an athletic goal. It’s about mindset but mindset training is very hard.

But at the end of the day, I’m an athlete. I love to be outside. I love having dogs. I’m always looking toward the future, figuring out who I want to be and where I want to live.

I still think I can do everything; and it still frustrates me when I can’t.

The question isn’t can I have it all, the question is, what do I want that I can still have.

One thing missing in my life, which I’ve always had in every place I lived, is a Go-To place to walk with my dogs. I don’t have this right now. I have a fenced-in yard which is nice, but not a woodsy place to go. I have to drive 10 minutes to go anywhere. This is what I have to work on.

“For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Jeremiah 29:11

This month I said goodbye to my Subaru. It has been across the country twice, Colorado to Arizona twice. It got me to Tennessee safely and never let me down. 181,935 miles. You were a good car.

May 4, 2023May 5, 2023

Trail running in the Blue Ridge Mountains Virginia

The trip to Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains was a great discovery trip. I didn’t want to leave the dogs and I certainly didn’t want to bring Chet to be kenneled after only having him two weeks. But I did it and headed north to Virginia to run a 25K trail run.

Mark flew to Knoxville and then on Friday we headed to Stuarts Draft, VA to stay in a cabin at Sun Retreats, the basecamp for the race.

When I signed up for UROCK it was December and I thought for sure my training was heading to the point that 60 miles was a good lead up to Leadville. However, moving wrecked havoc and motivation tanked. Adopting a dog prevented me from the routine that is needed to train properly.

We ran the 25K and had a great race. It was a beautiful course.

There were several river crossings.

Gorgeous trees.

This race gave me everything I needed to get my butt in gear to meet my training and racing goals for this year.

I’m ready to train seriously for Leadville 50 and 100.

This past weekend gave me all the motivation to get to the park and run mountains, to get back to the me who loves training on trails.

Thanks to my BFF Mark who made this all happen.

And, we visited Brother Bill and Lisa and got a tour of their amazing lake near Roanoke.

April 23, 2023April 23, 2023

Spring in the Smokies, adopting dogs, running

Kassandra visited last weekend and we had an excellent time seeing all the sights: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, SkyLift Park, breakfast at 5 Oaks Farm, the knife shop and Harrisburg Covered Bridge.

An added bonus, she got to meet Chet, my adopted pup.

Getting Chet was a bit of an adjustment. I’ve been wanting a third dog for a year and now that I have the perfect house with a yard, I couldn’t wait any longer when the perfect black lab mix appeared at the Sevier County Humane Society where I walk shelter dogs on the weekend.

Chet has been here almost two weeks and all his puppy traits are still on display: puppy belly, chasing Goldie around the house, endless energy and squishy skin. I love him.

The trees and flowers are all in bloom and it is gorgeous here. The down side, Winnie-dog is itching and scratching like crazy, poor girl.

Now it’s time to get back to what I do: running, training, signing up for races. It’s a little late for the race coming next weekend but I’m still going to the UROCK race. It will be great fun to see the Blue Ridge Parkway and explore the south a bit. Once I’m back it’s getting ready for summer racing.

The weather has been perfect in the 60s and 70s. We had a few 80 degree days but mostly 60s and in the high 40s in the morning. I’m heading out on a hike in the park this morning to check off a few more miles on my 900 miles in GSMNP challenge. Hopefully we will not run into any bears.

April 1, 2023April 1, 2023

Tennessee Update: dogs, running and views

It’s been a crazy few weeks where I’m trying to figure out what I’m suppose to be.

Am I an ultra runner?

Well I ran today and back on a training plan.

Dog lover?

I’m taking care of my dogs and wanting a third dog so my young pup has a playmate.

Worker bee?

I love where I work and that is always a good thing for me.

Friend?

Kassandra is visiting in a few weeks and I have a bunch of things to do such as buying a bed for the spare room. I can’t wait to see her and show her my place.

Kassandra at Nubble Light in Maine from her trip first trip to visit me.

Hiker?

Now that I don’t live in Gatlinburg it’s tough to hike in the park. Ugh the traffic but I have to get in the park and hike/run to get ready for my ultra running season.

It’s been such a transition this last 45 days and I’m finally figuring everything out.

Here are the things that make me happy and know I’m going to get through everything to meet training goals, have fun, do what I say I will do and explore the world.