Weekend of Inspiration

I realize there hasn't been a post here in a while.  Two things happened this weekend that I wanted to share with you - happening on opposite sides of the country! 

In Colorado:
Amanda has been training for weeks and weeks for her first half marathon.  I've seen her get up at 4:30 in the morning to get ready to run the 11 miles to her work to squeeze in her long run during the day.  She gets up, faces the unknown and comes out smiling on the other side.  At one point, we woke up and there had been a snowfall and she still made the run in to work.  She even saw coyotes and foxes along the way.  She'd be nervous about the run, not sure if she'd be able to do it.  It was dark.  It was cold.  Nobody was up at those hours.  Not only would she do it, but her times would be so consistent every single time.  She is clockwork!  So proud of her for her dedication and commitment and seeing it through to the finish line of the half marathon.  No easy task.  She broke down a huge task into little manageable pieces and got 'er dun.

I wanted to be running with her so badly...Congratulations Hun!  Read her recap here:

Colorado Racing Champ!

Meanwhile in New Hampshire:

While Amanda was running, I talked to my mom who said Dad and Ty were hiking for the day.  Apparently they made for Mt. Lafayette via Little Haystack.  Lafayette is no laughing matter.  I remember doing it with dad several years ago, when I was knee high to a grasshopper, and how much of a beast it was then.  They tackled it via the Falling Waters Trail up Little Haystack and followed the ridge over to the summit of Lafayette and back down the Green Leaf trail.

Hardcore New England Hikers

I always love hiking with Dad and Ty, and I miss those trips. We did them a lot growing up. Trips up to Tuckerman's Ravine, hiking the in the Whites, trips to the Gunks in NY or Rumney/Cathedral in NH. The Trachy family hike up Mt. Kearsarge every fall in memory of my Grammy Ruth. As far back as I can remember, our family has always been outdoors. The outdoors have always been a huge part of my life, and I whenever I am outside, it feels good. It feels like family when family isn't there with you. The week has a way of winding you up, tight like a top. When I get to the woods though, it all melts away. Life becomes simple. It's you and the outdoors. Soak up the sounds and smells. It's great to be outside!

The picture above is my dad (Kit) on the left, and brother (Ty) on the right at the summit of Mt. Lafayette on Sunday, October 21, 2012.  They did a nine mile hike starting up Little Haystack and over to eventually summit Mt. Lafayette (5,260').  I did a little reading on this route after dad told me his story of their trip.  Here is the advisory:

"If you are in good shape, the weather forecast is promising, and you have a full-day available, follow the rest of crowd on the Falling Waters Trail to the Franconia Ridge Trail and ultimately to the 5260-foot summit of Mt. Lafayette, for a total round clockwise loop trip of 8.8 miles. It is possible to do this loop counter-clockwise, but we have always enjoyed this method better. Make sure to assess your stamina before considering this optional hike. This loop has sections of steep and often slippery trail, often for long stretches at a time, and can be snowy and icy until late spring. The winds along the ridge can be deadly and the weather forecast needs to absolutely be in your favor for you to partake on this rigorous hiking loop. With a hefty elevation gain of nearly 4000 feet, it will take the average hiker about six to eight hours to complete this exhausting endeavor. Before tackling any hike of this caliber, make sure that you are properly prepared and have done additional research as to what lies ahead of you."

Both of these events got me in a good way. Both stories are inspirational, and go to show what joy can be found in hard work and dedication!