Running in Maine is definitely an experience, especially when the weather does not cooperate. The problem is getting your body used to running in specific temperatures. There are no specific temperatures in Maine. For instance, yesterday it was rainy with a high of about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Today, it is sunny and in the 80s. That's a difference of 30 degrees in less than 24 hours! Running in 80 degree weather, after experiencing 50 degree weather, is tough for a beginner. This summer, I have yet to figure out the best way to adjust my body to the temperatures while still making gains in my program. Each warm or hot day feels like a setback and it is very frustrating!
Although, during the last stint of rainy weather, as I was on the couch watching TV, I came across a program on Maine PBS. Did you know that there are actual people who run races out in Death Valley? I had no idea that there were people that, let's say, unique. The races are usually run in February, during the "cold" season (about 70 or 80 degrees), but these diehards were running it in the summer where the temperature was a crazy 130 degrees! I still can't tell whether I am impressed with their bravery, or dismayed at their "throw caution to the wind" mentality. But, I will say one thing for them, they are definitely dedicated runners! I can respect them! And, in the words of my friend Sarah (who said it best), "I have respect for anyone who wants to run anywhere!"
I guess that is one of the biggest differences between myself and these hardcore runners. They seem to get pleasure out of their running WHILE they are running. I have realized that, for the most part, I don't. I can appreciate my accomplishment after I finish, but during the actual running I find it far from pleasurable. I know, in the end, it is good for me and it will help me lead a healthier and happier life. But, at times like today, when my motivation is out the window, I have to reflect on the words of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who encourages us to ask ourselves "Will it make you happy?" And, while running may not be pleasurable everyday, in the long run it can help make us happy! So, keep running and remember, you could always be running in 130 degree weather in Death Valley. There is always a bright side to everything!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
June 29, 2011 My Spiritual Moment in Zion
Now, I know the Grand Canyon is supposed to be the most impressive place in the lower 48. I know people flock there from all over the world to wonder at how vast it is. I admit, I went and I was impressed, but it was not my most favorite place to see when I went out West. That honor has to belong to, none other, than Zion National Park.
The day before, on our way to the Grand Canyon, my friends and I had traveled through The Great Basin Desert. It was a land both beautiful and desolate. Huge mesas lined one side of the highway, while the other side was scrub land as far as the eye could see. Much of the land that we saw had been given to the Paiute Tribe of American Indians by our own government many years ago. As we drove through this area, we kept commenting on how difficult it must be to earn a living here, how this land did not seem to have much usefulness. It was a barren wasteland that could support very little life.
I am not a particularly religious person, although I can appreciate the sense of community and the comfort that an organized religion can give someone. I tend to lean towards my own brand of spirituality, taking the best of what I have learned from others and attempting to apply it towards my own life. That is why, I was a bit skeptical that a place called Zion would be of huge interest to me. I was wrong! I have been to many beautiful places, but this is the first time I could feel what it might mean to have a "religious experience."
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| Great Basin Desert |
The day before, on our way to the Grand Canyon, my friends and I had traveled through The Great Basin Desert. It was a land both beautiful and desolate. Huge mesas lined one side of the highway, while the other side was scrub land as far as the eye could see. Much of the land that we saw had been given to the Paiute Tribe of American Indians by our own government many years ago. As we drove through this area, we kept commenting on how difficult it must be to earn a living here, how this land did not seem to have much usefulness. It was a barren wasteland that could support very little life.
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| Zion National Park |
Which is why, I did not expect that, 20 minutes from this arid land, would be a place so majestic and bountiful. The day after seeing the Grand Canyon, we drove into Zion National Park and could not believe what we were witnessing. A cold, meandering river; green trees; and green grass stuck, seemingly, in the middle of nowhere. A hidden canyon full of lush vegetation and animal life! Never, in my life, have I been somewhere that was in such stark contrast to it's surroundings. I could picture early pioneers, many of them Mormon farmers from Salt Lake, crossing the Great Basin desert, feeling thirsty and tired and maybe a bit disheartened. As they traveled, they would slowly begin to see trees and grass and know that hope might be nearby. What did they feel when their eyes first took in Zion? I think it must have been a spiritual experience for them. I think they may have felt that God had given them this place as a reward for crossing the treacherous desert. In fact, the Mormons named Zion Kolob, which roughly translated, means the heavenly place nearest the residence of God. I can see why, after toiling through deserts and rough terrain, the Mormons would have stopped here and found their promised land.
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| Court of Patriarchs Zion |
My friends and I took the shuttle bus through the canyon, stopping at each stop to get out and wander around. I loved how interactive Zion was, you could touch the rocks, swim in the cool river, and wander the trails to your hearts content. One day was certainly not enough to get the full experience. Next time I will spend more, and maybe even attempt some of the hikes around the river and the canyon. For now, I will be glad that I was able to see a place this unexpected and beautiful!
Happy travels and I hope you can find a place in your life that can make you feel "nearer to God."
Happy travels and I hope you can find a place in your life that can make you feel "nearer to God."
Saturday, August 6, 2011
August 6, 2011 Baldpate Mt
Today I just couldn't get motivated to run. Now that I have officially signed up for an actual road race, bragged about it to all of my friends, and invited my family to come watch (as if this was my college graduation all over again), I've started to panic. Sure, it's easy to go jogging when you have nobody to please but yourself. But, now that I've committed to this race, I'm feeling the pressure. Especially when it seems like everyone I know is a racer or starting to race. Gosh, they make it look so easy!
So, to give myself a break, I decided to take Bella and head up into the woods for a hike. There is something peaceful about hiking that has always held the ability to calm me down. The trailhead begins not far from 5 Field Farms in Bridgton and there are several different trails or loops to choose from. You can hike the entire trail system (about 14K I'm told) or just some. Each trail segment is about 1/2 to 1 mile depending on what you choose. The terrain is gradual and much of it is spent in the woods. These are great beginner trails for anyone wanting to get out into the fresh air.
So, to give myself a break, I decided to take Bella and head up into the woods for a hike. There is something peaceful about hiking that has always held the ability to calm me down. The trailhead begins not far from 5 Field Farms in Bridgton and there are several different trails or loops to choose from. You can hike the entire trail system (about 14K I'm told) or just some. Each trail segment is about 1/2 to 1 mile depending on what you choose. The terrain is gradual and much of it is spent in the woods. These are great beginner trails for anyone wanting to get out into the fresh air.
Today I hiked up an easy trail to the summit and skipped the loops; I will save those for another day. The majority of the hike is spent in the woods and now and then you come to a spot with a nice view. The views look out over the surrounding Western Maine foothills and ponds, namely Holt and Peabody Pond. At the summit, there is a flat rocky area, surrounded by pine trees, that is perfect for a picnic.
Bella enjoyed the day immensley, crashing through the woods, chasing squirrels, and sniffing anything that was worth sniffing. She is not much of a water dog, but get her into the woods and she is in her element. Although I am not a hunter, I think she would have made a great hunting dog. Or, perhaps, a search and rescue dog as her nose seldom leaves the ground when she's hiking. I have also noticed that she, having 4 legs to my 2, can go much faster than I can, but will stop several feet up ahead to wait for me. On the way back down, she will tend to lie down to wait for me, which I find a bit insulting; I am not that slow of a hiker and she certainly will not have time for a quick nap while she waits for me.
Overall, a lovely day and a great place to clear one's head! I'm sure tomorrow I will hear the Couch to 5K training plan calling my name. But, until then, it is time for some much needed couch potato time!
"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of autumn." - Muir
June 30, 2011 or why Hippies make great hostel guests
Today found me about as far away from home as I have been in awhile. After a 6 hour plane ride and an 8 hour drive, I had arrived in Moab, UT. If you have never had the chance to see the Western half of the United States, I highly recommend it, especially if you are from the East. It can really put an entirely new perspective on things.
Moab is an interesting little town stuck, literally, in the middle of the desert. As my friends and I made our way East, on I70, we came to a sign that was a little concerning. The sign dutifully informed us that this was the last exit with gas, food or real bathrooms for the next 200 miles. Gas and food I figured we'd be ok. Our "Lil Mule" (aka: the little Ford Fiesta that could) had very good gas mileage. No, the lack of bathrooms was what I was the most concerned about.
What the sign did not tell us was that, this was going to be the very last building we would see for the next 200 miles. As we continued, the desert stretched out before us, flat and colorful and uninhabited. Giant rock formations, cliffs and mesas surrounded us in a broken, but amazingly beautiful landscape. It was what, I imagined, driving on Mars might be like.
We arrived in Moab late in the day, thankful that we had made it safely and no longer had to be cramped in the car. The thing about Utah, on the map the distance didn't seem so great, but in reality things were very far apart. Moab seemed such an odd place, just a decent sized town stuck in the middle of nowhere. Out on the highway, we did see cars, but it was not exactly rush hour traffic. In Moab, the streets were packed and there were people everywhere. Where did they come from? How did they get here? It is really the strangest, most random little town I have ever seen.
At first we couldn't find the Lazy Lizard Hostel, that would be our home for the night. We passed by some fancier hotels, noting with envy, the pools and air conditioned rooms. Then we spotted an A1 Storage Building, the kind of place where you rent out units to store your belongings in when you have accumulated too much clutter for your home. The directions said it was behind the A1 Storage Building, but we didn't realize how accurate that was. When we pulled in, we were immediately greeted by 2 men, wearing tie dye shirts, who tried to invite us into a game of frisbee. They looked like the sort of young men who spend their days roaming from town to town looking for adventures in the outdoors. How they fund their adventures is beyond me. We were shown to our cabin, which on first glanced looked ok. Once inside, the 3 of us began laughing hysterically when we were introduced to the wooden bunk beds, a duct taped plastic window, and an air conditioner that had been jerry rigged to move the warm air around.
Moab is an interesting little town stuck, literally, in the middle of the desert. As my friends and I made our way East, on I70, we came to a sign that was a little concerning. The sign dutifully informed us that this was the last exit with gas, food or real bathrooms for the next 200 miles. Gas and food I figured we'd be ok. Our "Lil Mule" (aka: the little Ford Fiesta that could) had very good gas mileage. No, the lack of bathrooms was what I was the most concerned about.
What the sign did not tell us was that, this was going to be the very last building we would see for the next 200 miles. As we continued, the desert stretched out before us, flat and colorful and uninhabited. Giant rock formations, cliffs and mesas surrounded us in a broken, but amazingly beautiful landscape. It was what, I imagined, driving on Mars might be like.
We arrived in Moab late in the day, thankful that we had made it safely and no longer had to be cramped in the car. The thing about Utah, on the map the distance didn't seem so great, but in reality things were very far apart. Moab seemed such an odd place, just a decent sized town stuck in the middle of nowhere. Out on the highway, we did see cars, but it was not exactly rush hour traffic. In Moab, the streets were packed and there were people everywhere. Where did they come from? How did they get here? It is really the strangest, most random little town I have ever seen.
At first we couldn't find the Lazy Lizard Hostel, that would be our home for the night. We passed by some fancier hotels, noting with envy, the pools and air conditioned rooms. Then we spotted an A1 Storage Building, the kind of place where you rent out units to store your belongings in when you have accumulated too much clutter for your home. The directions said it was behind the A1 Storage Building, but we didn't realize how accurate that was. When we pulled in, we were immediately greeted by 2 men, wearing tie dye shirts, who tried to invite us into a game of frisbee. They looked like the sort of young men who spend their days roaming from town to town looking for adventures in the outdoors. How they fund their adventures is beyond me. We were shown to our cabin, which on first glanced looked ok. Once inside, the 3 of us began laughing hysterically when we were introduced to the wooden bunk beds, a duct taped plastic window, and an air conditioner that had been jerry rigged to move the warm air around.
But, hey, what did we expect for $12 per night. We knew there would have to be some concessions. We unpacked, settled in, and took a trip down to the communal bathhouse (which reminded me so much of my camp counselor days). When we returned, an RV had parked right next to our cabin and had rigged up a plastic sheet tacked onto a corner of our building and a corner of their RV. Not exactly sure why, we immediately went inside and locked the doors, laughing some more at our fancy accommodations. A few hours later, as we were getting to sleep, we realized why there was a need for the plastic sheet as a strange, funky, 60's era odor started creeping through the holes of our cabin. A few moments later, we began to hear the drum of bongos, as the hippie party got underway. This elicited more hysterical laughter from us as we discussed how much we missed the Super 8 we had stayed at a few days prior. Who knew the Super 8 would feel like the Hilton after this experience!
So, if you are ever in Moab, I recommend visiting Arches National Park and the shops in town. But, unless you wear tie dye on a daily basis, I'd skip the Lazy Lizard Hostel.
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