Here’s a sampler from our trip to Catalunya, Spain.
We did quite a bit of hiking and some trail running. It was glorious.
Thanks for running with me,
Astrid
Hiking
Checking In
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Night riding!
This is our super secret local riding spot. The old rope tow is my upper body toner. The amazing dump we received for Christmas/ Boxing Day is for working those leggies.
Me and hubby riding at Okemo.
J has finally made the switch from skiing to riding. And, I’m happy to report, he’s loving it! AND we’re still married (despite advice that someone other than his wife teach him). We’d been trying to get out on the hill together for the last three winters. Since I started running last year, my motivation to stay active has been pretty high. Hence, the frequent snowboarding this season. That, and the incredible snow conditions. Hooray! I so missed riding. It’s great to get reacquainted with my old love. My Tahoe years feel like my memories again, not some tall tale I substitute for my staid life.
Thanks for hanging in there with me. I love sharing my trail love with you.
Astrid
(Almost) As Good As Running
Happy Holidays!
I haven’t posted in three weeks! Betcha thought I’d given up, huh? No? Well, I’ll tell ya about it anyway. It was cold, I had the capital F flu, and it was still cold. There, that’s it. Wasn’t so bad, was it?
I had my first day back running on Christmas. And it was awesome. I was afraid it’d be painful, but it wasn’t. My usual terrain seemed fresh and new. My lungs didn’t burn and my quads and calves aokay. Unbelievable! I guess a bit of break was just what I needed to reset my body.
I love riding, but have taken the last few years off. These pics are from today’s hike and ride! We’re in the middle of a big dump, so far we’ve gotten 12″ to 14″ of the fresh stuff. Riding felt like spending time with an old friend I missed terribly. I wondered if I’d still know what to do. It really is like riding a bike. And hubby finally got to give it a shot. We laughed and sweated and had a hilarious time. Wowza! So grateful.
I may cross country ski this weekend, so I may put running on hold for few more days. The snow is too good not to take advantage of. More pictures to come of that particular brand of hilarity. Stay tuned…
I <3 Winter
I have yet to love running in the cold. Friday topped out at a balmy 24 degrees. I needed out, though, so instead of a run, a hike was in order.
Most of the above photos are from Lye Brook Falls, here in southern VT. The falls itself is around 140 feet. It’s about a five mile round trip and pretty easy going. Aside from the flat light, it was a beautiful walk with hubs and a happy Aggie dog.
Hiking at new spots is okay. Can you tell I struggled with an adjective? I want to be grateful for having the ability to get out and go. I am. But, hiking is not running. And (more griping) running on the treadmill is not trail running. If given a choice, I’d pick hiking. Treadmill running is about as fun as dental work.
I’ve been to the gym twice in the last ten days to run indoors. It was really a blast to be back there, but the most I could last on the treadmill was 40 minutes. The real highlight was watching my reflection in the glass. For the entire 40 minutes. Ugh.
I can’t believe I miss the humidity and bugs of summer. I miss getting up with the early sun of July to run before the heat of late morning. Maybe if there was snow on the trails…
So I wait for cross country skiing. My shins are healing. My IT band rarely bothers me. I’m focusing on LOTS of stretching and portion control. I’m still running outside, but only two days a week. I gave up tracking mileage (for now). The plan is to get back into spinning and try some cross fit and Zumba. Anything to keep up cardio and stay off the TM of doom. Any ideas? I’d be grateful for feedback of what you do to keep fit through the winter.
Hope you all had an awesome Thanksgiving.
Thanks for reading,
Astrid
Jamaica State Park
Jamaica State Park is gorgeous! Falls, narrow streams, wide rivers, mossy boulders, foot bridges, steeps and flat walking trails. And an abundance of sunshine to boot. It felt like it’d been forever since we’d had a sunny day. After an emotional couple of weeks, me and Aggie soaked up the beauty with a relaxed pace. I was in no rush to be moving fast(ish).
Today’s run was more of a hike. Every few moments I stopped, pulled out my iPad and awkwardly snapped pictures with it. This was my first trip to Jamaica, and running felt like less of a priority than looking and seeing.
It’s going to take me some time to get used to running on snow, too…I was taking tiny baby steps moving downhill. Maybe I’ll invest in some screws for my old sneakers…
I’m struggling to write this evening. I’ll let the pictures do the talking. But first, I’ll say I’m glad I went somewhere new today. I needed this beautiful day to invigorate me.
I’m sure it won’t be long before I come back to Jamaica.
Thanks for reading,
Astrid
vttrailgirl 