Finding Progress in Uncertainty

Tags

2020, bullet journal, covid-19, free-writing, habit tracker, hiking, progress, racing, running, writing

The training looks a bit different for me these days. In the past, I researched and implemented training plans for whatever upcoming race looked interesting for me. Hal Higdon tended to be my go-to for effective (and free!) plans. As I progressed through the plan, I marked off each exercise, each week, building my weekly mileage until race week.

Somethings Special About July

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binge worthy, books, covid-19, four somethings, international travel, july, library, link-up, plans, preparedness, reading, travel, tv, west highland way

Sometimes finding the beauty in the ordinary can be difficult. This year is certainly no exception. Sharing what I’ve loved, read, treasure, and what is ahead helps me reframe the month, to see the beauty I may have missed.  Heather hosts her Share Four Somethings link-up and I love the motivation to look back. Sometimes I have to dig deep to find the good, and those months I appreciate this discipline.  

The Confident Woman in My Photos

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10 things to tell you, body image, my darling love, scotland, travel, west highland way

When I look at the pictures from that vacation I don’t see me, not really. Sure, the woman in the photos looks like me and is creating memories I currently possess. But she seems far more joyful and confident than I consider myself to be.

Learning to Redefine Failure on the West Highland Way

Tags

failure, hiking, inspiration, marriage, scotland, west highland way

While walking the West Highland Way, I made a wrong turn and got us lost. Isn’t that just about the worst-case scenario on a hiking trip? Horror movies are made of such.

I’d like to tell you that instead of freaking out, I reviewed the map, appreciated what the wrong turn had given us, and continued on our trek, better for the experience. Instead, I pouted, sulked, cried, and lashed out. After none of those things helped, I stood up, wiped my eyes, and just kept moving.

Musical Vacation Memories

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hiking, music, scotland, songs, travel, west highland way

Anyone who ever sat with a tape deck trying to record a song off the radio understands the power of the perfect song. Jay and I have several “vacation” songs that never fail to make us smile. We crank up the volume and remember the events surrounding us hearing the song, but more importantly the context of the particular vacation where we heard the song.

Vantage Points of the West Highland Way

Tags

bag pipes, hiking, pain, scotland, story, storytelling, west highland way

I’m already starting to forget.

Thanks to Margaret Feinberg’s Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God, I learned about the West Highland Way. I revisited the book, and her testimony of experiencing God on the trail, just a few weeks before Jay and I tackled the trail ourselves.

Preparing for Our Scotland Adventure

Tags

books, cozy mysteries, non-fiction, reading, scotland, travel

Fresh off of Camp McFradd’s hop across the pond – Scotland in general and the West Highland Way specifically – I thought I’d share a bit of the homework that went into our journey.

Throwing Down the Gauntlet

Tags

training, virtual run

I’ve been stalled out in my fitness ventures as of late. A social media post I saw a few weeks ago (origins and attribution having long since left my brain) suggested that part of the problem might be the struggle, or lack thereof, of my goals.

Champion

“Champion” by Carrie Underwood and Ludacris popped up first on today’s Spotify workout playlist.

First off: huh? This duet is a thing?? I must live under a rock.

Also, so intense! No stopping me! I was made for this! I’m the best!!

Brushy Mountain Trail – The Not-So-Short Way

While this past weekend wasn’t my first trip to the Brushy Mountain summit, it was the first time I actually enjoyed the experience.