Category: Adventure

KEEP OUT

I’ve been through this abandoned tunnel multiple times over the years, dating back to the 2000s at the least. We’d park nearby, do a few miles on our mountain bikes, and then come here to cool off and enjoy the scenery on the other side.

Not sure what happened. Must not have been too bad, right? Or else there’d be a real fence here, I’d figure.

GOING OUTSIDE

I deleted my Twitter account 15 days ago, but I think I watched 10 hours of video on Instagram yesterday. Not literally, but it sure feels like it.

When we used to watch four hours of television a day, which would been four or five shows as we flipped around, now we watch four hours of videos on social media platforms and it’s from 10,000 different things.

After a nice six mile run yesterday (photo above), I was wiped out. So in the evening I was scrolling, and scrolling, and scrolling. This kept me up, and then I got to bed late, which messed up my morning plans to travel for another adventure on Sunday morning.

Today I deleted Instagram from my phone. I feel like I gotta delete my account and just be done with it.

BREATH TAKING

Some inspiring videos I’ve watched recently.

Tracksmith is a running brand that’s a little more racing / roadie vibes for me, but I love their photography, branding, and videos. And writing, dear lord:

What can a place really show us? Can we discover a new way of life? Can it open us up to a new part of ourselves? In sports, hardship, strain, and suffering are a given. But can the idyllic nature of training in paradise ease some of that tension and allow an athlete to improve at an accelerated rate?

I love that sorta stuff, and I’m so glad it exists on a website, and YouTube. I’m so tired of “consuming” these amazing things on my phone.

Mind you, I did discover Lachlan Morton doing his Alt Tour a few years back on social media, but again, I’m so glad there’s this 37 minute video to watch. I followed the clips here and there on Instagram stories, but you know how that is – 15 and 30 second blips, all between our friends and the other brands we follow.

I saw some Instagram stories (again) of Lael Wilcox riding to the start of a big race again, so I looked her up on YouTube and found this wonderful video of her riding the Alaska Pipeline – 800 miles in 3 days, 18 hours, and 47 minutes.

Again.. as I ween myself from social media, I feel like watching these sorts of videos is better for my soul, because they’re more like a nourishing meal, rather than some junk from the dollar menu at the food court.

RIDING

Since my half-marathon I haven’t run. A full week without running is odd for me. I haven’t been injured in a long time, and I just sort of always get out there, but for now I’m just letting my guts heal and stuff. No rush.

In the meantime, biking is a lot easier on the bones, so I got in this quick 12 miler or so after working at a nearby Starbucks. Nice way to end the day.

DO WHAT YOU LOVE

Found this interview via CHRIS WONG’s newsletter UNKNOWN UNKNOWNS, from the 18:15 mark:

“I don’t know what it’s going to become, but do that because one day you’re going to wake up and you’re going to be 40 years old like me, and you might be dying of cancer, and you may have spent your entire life doing something that you never truly loved.”

Instant listen, and wow… so good. Lots of blog talk, and following your passion inspiration.

PAIN

Seen tonight on a nice adventure run. Got dropped off 2.5 miles outside of town, had to run back home on some sketchy roads with no shoulders. Wasn’t too painful, but always on edge when dancing on the pavement with multi-ton vehicles.

IRONTON TRAIL

I guess I really ramped up my half-marathon training, as I ran eight miles yesterday on this gorgeous, if a bit noisy, paved trail through the suburban landscape. The Ironton Rail Trail is about 13-ish miles of paved path.

Part of this trail goes right next to a shooting range. Like, DIRECTLY next to it. It’s sort of terrifying, since, well, this is America.

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