Updates!
Whoa - I can hardly believe it’s been almost 8 weeks since I finished up hiking in the Adirondacks. Time sure flies when you’re…..crewing another FKT and trying to recover I guess! Ha!
But, a lot has happened since my last blog post. Let’s see….
Personally, I got (Earned? Ran? Hiked? Won?) another FKT! This time around, I was going for the female supported fastest known time for the 46 high peaks in the Adirondacks. If you had no idea about this, I’m sorry! I should remember to update the old blog more often.....I was on a roll for awhile! But, maybe that’s a good reminder to follow me on instagram because I tend to keep that more up to date through the nitty-gritty-busy season. I have compiled a wrap up of this adventure on this page though, complete with links to some of the media that has come of it.
This FKT was particularly special as I was raising money for the Paden Institute and Retreat for Writers of Color. One of the last blog posts I did manage to do was about how I wanted to make the outdoor space more inclusive for everyone. This was a very small step towards that, and having a deeper purpose behind my run definitely made a difference. I am very thankful for Alice Paden and her support of my fundraising venture for the Paden Institute.
It’s been 8 weeks, and one of the most popular questions I get is: what is next? I had a lot of high hopes for some things I could get right down to, but truth be told….I’m definitely still recovering. I actually had ~3 weeks after the hike where I felt great and superhuman. And then, as I continued to just give my body some time off, things took a turn and my body definitely started to really recover. Which is code for “I got pretty unfit.”
I absolutely realize that my “unfit” is still probably quite fit for the average human being, but I would have a ways to go before being able to race something that requires speed against elite competitors! As hard as it is to do workouts and feel like nothing is smooth and like you’re breathing through a straw, it’s also kind of nice. I can’t remember the last time I let myself get this “unfit,” so I am trying to embrace that it’s probably been a great thing for my body. But oof - getting that leg speed back is Not Easy!!!!
Also, it might be awhile before I start to really think about the next thing! I am still sleeping happily for 9-10 hours a night if the opportunity presents itself, and I still want a nap every now and then (which is actually unusual for me!). It’s also the BEST time of the year to enjoy the outdoors here in the Blue Ridge Mountains, so I’m looking to soak up some of that. Plus, I am spending extra hours volunteering at the polls for early voting (if you have extra time, please volunteer locally as well)!
I do have plans to write up my thoughts (as a coach, and a crew member) from Matt’s FKT he nabbed last month - 107 miles of the Appalachian Trail through Shenandoah National Park was a pretty epic 23 hours and 14 minutes. That will be next!