Unforgettable Runs: The Trails of St. John USVI

A novice runner might remark that it's best to stick to the treadmill when vacationing on the tropical island of St. John.  But if you are passionate about running and are up for some hills, then this post is for you.

The incline running on St. John is no joke.  Think I'm kidding?  Click HERE for a peek at Jacob's Ladder, the name of the hill that I started most of my runs with last week (we stayed at the Westin, which is shown in the video as well).  The video goes on to show the hills that I ran if I decided to turn left out of our villa- and running up that hill is no less of a feat.

My point?

Get ready for some fun!  It's a challenge, but the running is gorgeous and the views are spectacular as your rise and fall with the landscape of the island.  The most unforgettable runs I had on the island were all via Cruz Bay.  I headed that way (up Jacob's Ladder) and made my way through town to the seaside.  It's important to note that you cars drive on the left on St. John.  That means you run on the right side of the road when there's no sidewalk.  The sidewalks can be pretty spotty, and nonexistent in the residential areas, so I stuck mainly to the roads.  Keep in mind, however, that if there is a sharp or blind turn, you should get on the side of the road that will give a car the most visibility of you approaching.  Keep alert and try to run early in the day (before 9 a.m.) to avoid the crippling heat, as well.

There, now that the moms out there- including my own- are breathing a sigh of relief, let's move on to the fun stuff: The actual trails!  There are an abundance of them on the island.  Just past Mongoose Junction in Cruz Bay, is the entrance to the national park.  Trail heads pop up frequently from that point on, but it was easiest to hop on the trails at the very first sign directly past Mongoose Junction on the right hand side.  From there, I scrambled up the roots and rocks for a very hard couple of miles before reaching Margaret Hill.  The vista from the top is absolutely worth the climb!  I was in awe, breathless as I whispered a prayer of thanks for the experience.  From there, you can choose to continue straight and make your way down, or come back the way you came.  If you turn back the way you came, definitely branch off a few minutes down.  A short trail will lead you to the road and right across the road is a short trail down to Solomon Beach and Caneel Bay Resort.  This particular series of trails is actually pretty flat, so that's a definite reprieve for the legs.

The 400 meter loop on the resort
was how I warmed up for my runs each day

 Directly to the right of this building, is where you'll find the trailheads for the national park

Another awesome area to hit is Chocolate Hole, which has some really neat views of its own.  I loved the trails, but I also hit the countryside a bit because I'm also a real-estate nerd and can't pass up the chance to see some wicked awesome houses during my run!  I will warn you though: No matter which direction you go, wild chickens; iguanas; donkeys and deer are fair game.  That's just part of the adventure!  In the direction of Chocolate Hole, if you're wanting a stretch of flat before you tackle some more altitude, turn right on Roman Road, right past the Westin on Southside.  It's a great 800ish meter loop that is gravel and relatively flat.  It was my "reward" at the end of some of my runs.

Whichever direction you go, you are bound to encounter some amazing scenery, wildlife and hills that will stretch you as a runner and individual.  Don't be afraid to get at it and explore the island!  The locals are extremely friendly and I felt very safe during my runs- aside from some chicken encounters.

I still miss the views, but I sure do love the memories.  I hope you all get a chance to visit and run on the island of St. John.  It is unforgettable, for sure.  And if this post leaves you itching for a run, check out some of my other Unforgettable Run reviews.

Live with joy!

Love,
Hannah

Unforgettable Runs: Puerto Rico

     I wouldn't call myself an expert on destination running, but I have been blessed to run in numerous exciting and offbeat places.  To start my "Unforgettable Runs" series of my best vacation running memories, I'm headed back to Puerto Rico.

Vieques is the tiny island on the right (photo credit: geog.nau.edu)

     My mom, brother, and I traveled there three summers ago, set on a week of adventure.  We opted out of  old San Juan, and instead focused on the area of El Yunque and then 3 nights on the Island of Vieques.  Though I ran throughout the trip, the most unforgettable runs I had were on this small, wild island.  For vacationers, Vieques is often skipped over in favor of the big island.  It's no wonder either, with very little amenities tourists usually look for.  For us?  We could care less about the lack of city center, fast food, or much of anything.  That's exactly why we chose Vieques.  Our choice was confirmed when we picked up the rental car (one of the two cars they had at the rental car place) and promptly came across a wild horse along the road.  While in Vieques, we stayed at the Hacienda Tamarindo, a gorgeous and homey inn with sweeping ocean views.  And that, is where I took off the next morning for my run.
     Carrying my phone in case of trouble, I made my way down the road and before long, saw four wild horses in the brush.  Now, I am terribly scared of horses, so I wasn't sure what to do.  I waited for my mom to catch up behind me, and then took off again.  Watching for any other horses (or chickens- also common) I ran towards the beach.  The run itself was great because I got great views of the ocean, and got to see native Puerto Ricans' houses along the way.  One such house was having a little "event" when I passed by.  I saw two of them sitting across the dirt road from their house on fold-able lawn chairs.  They had drinks in their hands and were gazing intently towards the house.  Confused, I slowed my pace and also directed my eyes to the house.  They were slaughtering a pig!  No joke!  In the lean-to beside the house, a man was tying down a giant hog on a table!  His knife was ready, but he smiled as I fearfully darted on my way.  Yes, I made it to the beach and saw some gorgeous stuff there, but seriously: my mind was on that pig!  When I finally ran back to the Hacienda and by the house where the pig had been, he was no more and the people were picking up there lawn chairs.  Again, they smiled and waved.  Very friendly people, but I couldn't get past that bloody pig- as much as I love ham.

This is when I finally made it to the beach that day.

     All drama aside, I will never forget how cool it was to see native Puerto Rico in such a "wild" way.  The water is clear, the sun is warm, the nature is gorgeous- the run was amazing!  I can't wait to get back and do it again!

Unforgettable Runs: Pre's Trail in Alton Baker Park, Eugene

         To say that there are some good "running spots" in Eugene is like saying there's some good seafood in the ocean.  There is a vast expanse of ocean critters; You've got fish and shellfish and even seaweed.  There are different sizes of fish, different varieties, different environments.  There's a boatload-- literally-- of choices!
     My point, other than to stimulate cravings for some grilled shrimp, is to let you know: Everywhere in Eugene is a good place to run!

Photo Credit: Eastbaytrails.com

     Before traveling there myself, I had looked up some good locations for running.  Yet, I threw plans to the wind when I got to my hotel on Thursday night and saw all the possible routes awaiting me in the wood-chipped and shade covered luxury that is Eugene.  There was no deviation from one plan however: To run Pre's Trail.

     I'll leave my personal feelings about Steve Prefontaine for another post, but it goes without saying that this man was a distance running legend.  Go ahead and watch a race.  Pre clearly ran with guts; He ran with courage, and he left no doubts about his work ethic or drive.  As a runner, I do admire that approach to racing.  It's one of the things that has made Pre synonymous with distance running.  It's also why I was itching to get out and run on the trail he most frequented while running for the University of Oregon.  There was no way I was going to leave Eugene without checking this off my runner's bucket list.
     I hit Pre's Trail first thing after grabbing a snack and setting down my suitcase at the Residence Inn.  The hotel was in prime location: Right across from Alton Baker Park.  The park was a gorgeous expanse of green grass, blooming flowers and endlessly interlooping trails that ebbed and flowed with the Willamette River to the south.  Google Maps had told me to follow along the bike trail in order to get to Pre's Trail.  After an initial struggle and a consultation with the park map, I made my way down the trail and relaxed into the stunning scenery.  The paths were lined with tall pines and deep green foliage- a happy reminder that I was no longer in the midwest  (RELATED: Book Review on "Born to Run.")

     After winding through the woods and passing by Autzen Stadium at UO, I found the marker as clear as day: Pre's Trail.

     The path itself is a runner's dream.  The wood-chipped surface leads you through shaded woods and by a large pond before spitting you out into the Oregon sunlight to follow along a small tributary of the river.  Along this stretch of the trail, there are some very unique and quirky houses along the tributary that I enjoyed as I ran by.  After a while, my body reminded me that it was nine o'clock back home and high time for dinner.  I sadly turned around and made my way
back through the serene firs and gave God another quick shoutout for creating such a breathtaking place for me to explore.
   
While The Steve Prefontaine Memorial Jogging Trail is about four miles, there are plenty of easy ways to add on mileage with the connecting bike paths.  I would argue that it's a must for any runner who's adventuring out in Oregon.  If not for the moments of quiet bliss that come from trekking through God's great creation, at least do it for the chance to run where great runners did-- and still do-- make their footprints.  Perhaps the run will spur on your dreams to one day be making those footprints yourself.

The Details: The trail is located in Alton Baker Park which is east of the Ferry Street Bridge in Eugene, Oregon and is off of Martin Luther King Blvd.  Additionally, runners can access Pre's Trail from the Autzen Foodbridge or the Knickerbocker Footbridge in Alton Baker Park.



     

      If you've run on Pre's Trail or plan to: Let me know about it by leaving a comment below!

RELATED: Unforgettable Runs: Pinckney Island Preserve, Hilton Head Island
RELATED: Unforgettable Runs: Handies Peak, Colorado
RELATED: Who's Who in Eugene, Oregon: Elite Runners at the Pre Classic

Unforgettable Runs: Ogle Lake, Indiana

     If you've read any of my Unforgettable Runs posts (or even my most recent one, Unforgettable Runs: Indiana University, IN) you would know that I have the tendency to a.) get lost, or b.) do something stupid on just about every run I'm on.  The good thing is, I always have something to laugh about or be grateful for afterwards.  My run the day after we visited IU was no different.
     We were hiking out a Brown County state park-- it was absolutely beautiful-- but I began seeing runners as we got further onto the trail.  The fact that they were doing some real distance-- indicated by their Camelbacks full of water-- made me pang even more for a run.  I'd done a shakeout 10 min. jog that morning and had been planning to give my legs a break by doing the elliptical that night, but I couldn't resist for long.  "Man!  I wish I hadn't worn my coat," I finally remarked as we saw yet another runner go by.  My mom offered to hold my coat, so I shed a couple of layers and told them how long I'd be and where I'd meet  back up with them.  "Take your phone with you," my mom instructed as I tried to hand it to her.  I knew that it made sense, since there was no other way to contact her if there was a problem.  "I'm just scared I'm going to drop it," I worried aloud.  But I realized that it was probably important, given my track record for getting lost and what not.
     The trail itself was beautiful.  I started my run out by Ogle Lake, and made my way around the trail.  The best part was the roots and bumps along the way.  For most runners, those are a hassle to be avoided.  For me, they are a fun challenge that keeps my mind engaged and having fun.  I was thoroughly enjoying myself crossing over little footbridges and jumping over ruts in the ground.  After a mile or so, I came to a fork in the path where I could go further or turn to circle around the lake the rest of the way.  I had plenty of time left in my run, so I kept going.  There weren't a lot of people other then runners on any of the trails, but this second trail was even more desolate then the first. I love it.  The wide path thinned out to a single track, and I ran along not knowing where I was going or even how long I'd continue before turning around.  After another mile or so, I came to a large hill upward.  I charged up the hill, only to see a large platform ahead that rose from 20 or so steps.  I urged my legs up the steps and stopped at the top as I saw the trail continue upward.  I'm all for a challenge, but I'd done a long run the day before, and a hard run the day before that.  My legs were aching pretty bad by that point, so I figured it was best to turn around.  Not before I snapped a few pictures though!
     My run back to the original trail was pretty uneventful.  Again, the nature was beautiful and I was so grateful for the change of scenery in the tall trees and vast wooded landscape.  Back at the original trail, I forked left to continue my loop around the lake.  At that point though, I had to actually cross the lake, which was pretty cool.  There was a wide footbridge of planks that crossed over and onto the other side, which was on much greater of an incline.  By that I mean that the trail was hugging the side of some pretty steep drop-offs to the lake-- not too high, but high enough to provide for a pretty dangerous fall.  It was really cool though, as the trail was not at all straight and predictable.  At times, I would be weaving the side of the drop-off and a few minutes later, I would be right down by the lake.  I was almost back to the lake front where I would continue back the way we had hiked out there, when I saw the mud was getting pretty bad ahead.  I was down by the edge of the lake though, so it made sense that it was getting so darn muddy!
     A little ways ahead, I saw a nasty spot of mud.  Trying to be proactive and smart, I sidestepped it to the right.  Before I knew it though, I went down.  My feet quickly slid and I frantically looked for a tree to grab. In that split second I realized that there were none.  Come on!  I'm right next to a forest for goodness sakes! I slipped down into the mud, coming within a meter of the cold water, before I caught myself with my hands. Looking like a muddy fool, I stood in that same crouched position for a good minute.  I had been sure I was going straight into the lake, and now I was sure that any move I made would send me straight for that reality. After gathering the last bit of my dignity, I made a giant leap up to the trail and then surveyed the damage.  My purple running tights were completely covered in mud, my backside looked like a giant mud spot, and my hair and face were spotted with evidence of my little mishap.  That's when I looked down: my phone-- just a three week old baby-- was completely, utterly, covered in mud.  I'm not big when it comes to technology, but it was an investment and I take pride in being unbelievably responsible with all my possessions.  Forget the fact that I was unharmed and not soaking wet: I ruined my new phone!  I debated whether or not to touch the screen to call my mom, but finally did.  I was crying like a baby as I told her, "I...I fell...and I'm okay...but I'm covered with mud and so is my phone...it's ruined!!!"
     Ya..not one of my better moments.  Believe me, I learned quite a bit from that experience.  FYI- a muddy phone is not worth crying over when the alternative was a wet injured runner and a phone at the bottom of a lake in Indiana.  Looking back, there really is no better option when falling into a lake: catch yourself with your hands without dropping your phone or losing your balance.  By the way, the phone's fine.  Absolutely not a scratch (it had a case on it), except for some dried mud in the speaker.  I'm hoping I can blow that out with that stuff people use on keyboards.

     Anyway, I walked back to meet up with my mom and brother-- still crying-- and recounted the rest of my story.  Eventually, I ran the rest of the way back to the car.  Mostly to clear my head at that point: I was still freaked out that I'd almost fallen and mad about my phone.  Back at the car, I walked up to the top of the outlook post and stretch by a picnic table while I waited for the rest of the crew to return.  It was gorgeous to be up there surrounded by the trees and woods, and although I didn't appreciate it as much as I should have at the time, this blog is my chance at redemption!  All in all, it was a very memorable run to say the least.  It was so beautiful, scary, and frustrating all at the same time.  I'm amazed I can pack that many emotions and events into one distance run, but that makes it all the more unforgettable.

Unforgettable Runs: Honolulu and Waikiki Beach

the famous Duke Kahanamoku statue
(photo credit: gohawaii.about.com)

     I have to flash back five years for this one, but I still remember it well: Honolulu, Hawaii.  It was the trip of a lifetime, but I'll save the trip portion for another post.  Right now, I want to talk about one of the most difficult runs I had done up onto that point in my life.  I was only in middle school, and our first track meet was right when I got back from the vacation.  With that in mind, I was set to do a distance run on that particular day.  My dad and I got up early as we usually did, and headed out for what I had determined would be four miles.

Ioloni Palace
 (photo credit: enu.wikipedia)

    The sun heated things up fast though, and as we made our way past the beautiful beach and into downtown Honolulu, I was feeling like four would be a little too far.  My dad urged me on though, and we kept going.  We passed the beautiful "Duke Kahanamoku Statue," waved to the Hawaiians surfing to the right, and kept plodding on past Waikiki beach.  The best part about the run was seeing Honolulu awake in the early morning.  It was about eight, so we began to see surfers and natives alike set to their day.  Small beach shops were opening, women were showering "Duke" with more leis, and the tourists were no where in sight.  Once we passed the stunning Iolani Palace, my dad and I turned around and made our way back to the hotel.  I waved with my beet red face as we passed the surfers again.  Almost there, I saw a small Saturday morning church service setting up on the beach and tuned my ears to the Hawaiian praise as I passed by.  Beautiful.  Seeing my exhausted face my dad leaned over, "the hotel is right around that next bend."  With his permission, I took off and sprinted the last half mile with all I had.  He found me again collapsed on the floor of the hotel room with a determined grin on my flushed face.  6 miles-- the most I'd ever done.  I was so proud, so elated, that I'd reached such a milestone.  I reveled in the glory of my accomplishment for a few minutes, and then slowly peeled myself up off the floor.  After all, it was already past nine, and I was ready to head for the beach!

Care for more?  Then check out my "Unforgettable Runs: Puerto Rico" for more!

Unforgettable Runs: Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, Hilton Head, South Carolina

One of the "points" where the trail ended, or connected
back to the main path
(photo credit: tripadvisor.com)

     After a few days in Hilton Head for vacation, I realized that my options for running routes were limited to either the beach or the limitless bike paths around the island.  The bike paths were good for a few days, until I got bored.  I either ran left out of our neighborhood, or I ran right.  Pretty awful when I'm doing long runs and the paths are straight as an arrow after a couple of miles in either direction.  For my long run of the week, I was determined to scour the internet to find somewhere I could do the 12.5 miles I was hoping to get in during the 90 minutes (RELATED: Unforgettable Runs: Handies Peak, Colorado).
     In a magical moment, I found it: Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge.  The website said that there was a long 7.5 mile loop, and plenty of off shoots that I could run for some more mileage.  Perfect!  My dad agreed to drive me there early Saturday morning, but I was nervous for the 90 minute run all by myself, when I usually run it with friends.  The week before, my long run had gone well, but with my mileage going up, my legs were beginning to feel the increase.  My dad and I prayed that the run would go well and I would see God through the nature and the ability he gives my body-- because he cares about the big things and the little things!

Part of the path near the beginning
(photo credit: trip advisor.com)

     The beginning of the path was out in the sun and looked like a dirt road with beautiful marshland directly on either side.  I was caught up in the beauty, but relieved when I hit shade after about half a mile.  The rest of the run was 90% in the shade, which I was very grateful for!  I breathed in the sweet sea air as I passed the gorgeous Ibis Pond on my right side, which just so happened to be teeming with large white birds... like: they were everywhere!  I ran really fast to get away from the birds, and soon came to the point where the path bent as I'd seen in the map (RELATED: The Seagull Lady).  I needed to go left.  Well, I couldn't go left.  Bummer: they'd closed the path.  It seemed I had to go straight, so I continued on for a good mile before the path ended at White Point.  The view was breathtaking, and there was no one but me and the water.  Running back, I realized I would just have to take lots of little paths and make my own route to get my distance in.  I was disappointed that the minimal visitor information-- consisting of just a giant map in the parking lot-- hadn't informed me that the main path was closed.  In hindsight though, I really enjoyed running out to a lot of other points on the islands.



(READ ABOUT MY OTHER ADVENTURES! Like, Ziplining in the El Yunque National Rainforest)
 

Beautiful shaded path that runners love
(photo credit: panoramio.com)

      It was so weird though because I kept thinking that there were birds rustling in the bushes.  After I'd settled into my run though, I realized that the noise I heard was a million tiny little crabs scrambling to escape my footsteps running through their little crab towns.  They were literally everywhere where sand was, but as long as I kept moving, I was good.  Even that was awesome though, because I don't usually encounter crabs when running in Ohio.  I weaved in and out of the main trail, going on a lot of the routes out to points and separate islands.  Some were flooded with water, since I was so deep in the marshland, but most were passable with minimal mud.  I even passed a few cyclists who were out searching for birds (which is cool with me since they stood as markers for me on where the birds were).      
     I enjoyed how the run was on soft terrain.  Sometimes it was grass-- with few ruts-- and at other times, it was fresh forest floor, in the woods.  I run at a hilly, wooded park at home all the time.  The difference?  This one was impeccably serene, the paths were more interesting, it was FLAT, and it was right by the ocean, surrounding me with tall and wispy Palm Trees.  Most of the paths connected to each other, so instead of going out to many points and just turning around, I was able to explore and find my way around the refuge.  No problem: 12.5 miles leaves plenty of time to explore (and yes: I got my 12.5 miles in, although my pace was a little slow at a 7:19 ave.  I'll chalk that up to my loneliness and the humidity).  I would recommend bug spray though.  Every time I stopped to tie a shoe or "relieve myself," I was swarmed with giant biting flies and mosquitos-- even at 7 a.m. 
     I was so impressed with the wildlife refuge and envious of people that can run there more often.  I am a total beach girl, and having the beach right by my side as I passed from one tiny island to the next, was the coolest thing.  I will never forget the fresh ocean breeze that blew from behind while I softly crushed palm branches underfoot.  If your in the Hilton Head area: this run is a must!

Unforgettable Runs: Hilton Head, SC

     Most runs I do are unforgettable because A.) It was absolutely gorgeous, B.) God showed me something amazing, C.) I was feeling really good, or, D.) An animal attacked me.  After getting to Hilton Head around 2 a.m. Wednesday though, I was pretty sure that I wouldn't be feeling great come Wednesday morning.  Yet, I tried to remind myself that I was on vaca. and the run was supposed to be a nice comfortable long run.  In reality, it was anything but comfortable!

I ran along the main road in the center of the island.
No beach for me :(

     This run was so memorable because it was just a complete failure on my part, and I am reminded that things like that are a chance to laugh and give grace to ourselves.  First of all, I was hopelessly lost while trying to get out of the subdivision we're staying in.  I stopped a few times within the first fifteen minutes because my quads were so sore I could hardly run.  I was also grumpy and tired.
     After twenty minutes though, I finally made it out onto the main road, and began my unforgettable run that toured me around the main road of Hilton Head.  I aimlessly ran to the right, with the vague memory that this was the correct direction.  After a while, I stopped to like at a map beside the bike path.  I concluded that the round-a-bout where I was, couldn't take me to the beach-- where I was trying to run (Afterwards, my dad told me that the round-a-bout is exactly how I get there.)!
     So instead, I ran back to the left of our subdivision, passing a frozen yogurt place-- maybe the only viable moment of my run-- and stopping many a time to stretch out and just relax my poor body.  I had just about no will power and no sleep to keep me standing.
     Maybe that's why I'll forget this run.  It reminds me that I may be a collegiate runner, but I'm no better than I runner just off the street when it comes to how my training has ups and downs as well.  Rather than slow down and let my body recover like I knew it desperately needed, I pushed too hard and ended up running a 7:08 ave. pace for my 8.6 miles.  When I finally had passed all the gas stations and resorts and ended back at our house, I wasn't happy.  I was done, but I felt like I'd done nothing of value.  I'd gotten in some junk miles and I'd pushed my body too far.
     But this run was unforgettable because of what came afterwards: grace.  My dad reminded me that although it hadn't helped me, there was nothing I could do about it in hindsight except for learn the lesson.  The lesson, other than to listen to my body, seemed to be grace.  Understanding that I'm imperfect and prone to mistakes and screw-ups is hard for me, but little lessons like this are so valuable when it comes to getting back on track.  Sometimes, God uses some sore legs and a tired body to show me his love.  I believe that's what he did yesterday.  Today, I went out and felt a hundred times better, even with sore legs.  That's another blessing that I'll share in another post :)

Family Activities on Hilton Head Island

     I'm still missing the beach and sunshine that I eagerly soaked up during our family vacation to Hilton Head last week.  Since we only had 4 full days on the island, we tried to pack in as much activity as we could, and I realized that-- once again-- there were plenty of fun things to do just about anywhere we went.  If your looking at visiting this family friendly destination, take a look at some of the adventures we tried during our vacation:

FUN!

Pirates Island Golf- For our family, a round of putt-putt golf is a must on vacation.  We've putt-putted in San Diego, Tennessee, and even Hawaii, so naturally: we had to putt-putt while in Hilton Head.  My younger brother, the self pronounced connoisseur of the game, chose Pirates Island Golf.  We went there when we visited Hilton Head two years ago, and it was just as fun.  Its so fun for the whole family, and the golf holes are really interesting and fun!  Plus, if you get a hole in one on hole 8, you get a "piece of treasure."  Of course, my dad did, and received a free game as his prize.  The good news?  The man at the counter said it never expires.  He said he's seen people redeem free game coins from 40 years in the past!  Woah-- that's a long time to hold onto a plastic coin if you ask me.

photo credit: tripadvisor.com

Kayaking- This was my choice for the trip, and it was so much fun.  We went to a company located at the Broad Creek marina, and had a nice lunch at a waterfront restaurant before taking to the water.  It was lots of fun, and we paddled down to Shelter Cove Marina.  Just when I was beginning to complain about not seeing dolphins: we saw two!  They popped up every few minutes before eventually swimming away, but it was such a cool sighting.  The way back was much easier since we were going with the tide and wind.  The rates were very reasonable as well: $15 for a single kayak and $20 for a double.

Cycling- In case you don't notice the constant bicycle rolling by the main street in Hilton Head: biking is a big thing on the island.  You can ride your bike to the beach, on the beach, to eat, and to do just about anything.  I thoroughly enjoyed riding my bike around during the week, and we had lots of fun cycling up to get frozen yogurt at Yo Addiction.  During my long run, I also found out you can ride your bike on the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge (RELATED: Unforgettable Runs: Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge), which I would definitely recommend.  I absolutely loved my run there!

photo credit: americabikes.org

Running- How could I leave this out!  The bike paths were interesting to explore, as was the beach.  The most fun however, was my run on Pinckney Island.  Whether you walk, run or ride your bike there: I would highly recommend it (RELATED: Unforgettable Runs: Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge).

The Beach- This is a given, but an absolute must-- especially if your from a landlocked state like Ohio. Make sure to soak up the sun (but wear sunscreen!) and go early to take a relaxing walk on the beach in the morning.

FOOD!

photo credit: yoaddiction.com

Yo Addiction- I am a strong advocate of frozen yogurt.  If you keep the toppings limited to fruit, it is an extremely healthy dessert.  This place was so much better than any frozen yogurt shop I've ever visited though.  It had limitless toppings and very different flavors.  There were lots of berries that I put on my frozen yogurt, as well as cheesecake bites, chocolate covered acaí berries, maple syrups, cereals, and tons of other toppings, that I didn't try.  We rode our bikes there twice.

The Quarterdeck- I'm not a big "foodie," but this restaurant was really fun to eat at.  It was right by the lighthouse at Harbour Town, and had a great musician playing fun songs throughout the evening.  The seafood was great-- and I know my seafood-- and it was relaxing after a long day of fun.

Unforgettable Runs: East Lansing (Run #2)

      I will confess, there are many runs that stick out in my mind solely because I got utterly and hopelessly lost.  While I was in East Lansing on a college visit, I took this run (coincidentally: the day after my first East Lansing run/mathematical failure) from our hotel, figuring I could go check out Michigan State University's campus before we headed out of town that afternoon.  I had looked on Map My Run like all good runners do, yet I also have a terribly sense of direction- like many runners also do.  I'll try to spare you the boring details, but basically: I ended up running at least a mile onto a dead end road within the campus.  I tried to find a way out, but to no avail.  To make matters worse-- just being honest here-- I had to go to the bathroom really badly.  By the time I got lost within the urban campus, (Yes, I'm quite ashamed) I'd been running for almost an hour.  Because my math skills are even worse then my sense of direction, I had run 40 minutes out, on an out and back run.  Somehow, my confused little head chalked that up to a good 60 minute run.

   

      So, there I was: stuck at a dead end, with a mile to go before I could go to the bathroom.  I was so close to just peeing in a bush by the Education Department Building, but I saw so many people coming in and out.  My active imagination was also spinning a story of me finishing up my business while the Cross Country coach-- we'd met the day before-- walked by and saw me.  Determined not to "soil" my reputation, I kept running.  I went circles around that campus for another 15 minutes before the light-bulb clicked: Oh Ya!  I'd brought my phone!  In fact, it was right in my hand!  Then, I ran another mile because I was reading Google Maps wrong...ya-- pretty stupid girl right here.  My shining moment was standing on the street corner of East Lansing for 10 minutes waiting for my dad to come pick me up.  I was done.  Through.  And I just meekly smiled at the passing students, and tried to think "dry-as-a-dessert thoughts."
     So, In all honesty: I can't really tell you much about the run.  I remember train tracks.  Those were fun.  The campus is nice.  It's big...very big.  Other than that, um...that's all I have for ya.  Oh and in case you were wondering- I did make it to a bathroom before I wet myself.  Oh my goodness: I can't end a post with that sentence.  Um...hope you enjoyed the story :)

Unforgettable Runs: East Lansing, Michigan

Part of the trail (photo credit: lansingrivertrail.org)

     While on a college visit this summer, my dad and I ventured out for a run in East Lansing one morning.  I had found the Lansing River Trail while Googling for good trials to run, and it looked like a very promising option.  We arrived and parked behind a small Seven 11.  I had my little Iron-Kids Triatholon watch that was my older brother's many many years ago (I've since gotten a Garmin for Christmas!), so there was no telling how far I was actually going to run.  I told my dad I was aiming for 8 miles though, so we planned to meet up in an hour or so.  He was planning on getting in five-ish miles.  I took off onto the trail, and was immediately glad I wasn't in Ohio.  There was beautiful foliage, bridges over running water, and the most  beautiful scenery to run by.  I honestly won't ever forget it, because it seemed like a trail you would see out west in the way it was perfectly carved into the surrounding nature.  It was hard to remember I was in East Lansing, MI.

The oh so tempting pond...
(photo credit: lansingrivertrail.org)

The beach part of the Hawk Island Park
(photo credit: http://pk.ingham.org/ParksTrails/HawkIsland.aspx)

     After a while, and a near heart attack from squirrel jumping up at my from a fence, I found myself in the coolest Splash Park and lake area.  I so wish we had one of those here.  Plus, there was a boardwalk that went nearly the whole circumference of the lake.  There was a small dog park as well as fishing area, and the water looked like an irresistible way to cool my sweaty self off.  That was just on the way there too, you can imagine how appealing it seemed on the way back.  That is where the run got interesting.  I passed by a cross country team, a cool looking zoo/park, and some more neat scenery before I stopped at a sign to judge the distance.  "Ok, it says 5 miles, so to get to 10, I just need to go a few more."  Don't ask me how that logic entered my head.  I can only argue that I was tired, out of my element, and burning up from the heat.  I made it 1.5 more miles before my hip started acting up and I looked at my watch  in shock.  "How am I running so slow," I wondered to myself-- misjudging my distance of course.  At that point, I turned around and made my way back.  I'm built for the longer distances, so I always do better after I've got four or so miles under my belt.  Despite the heat, the way back was pretty easy, at least until I was two miles out and saw the beautifully tempting splash park.  My legs were burning, but I knew it was socially unacceptable to either jump the fence into the park or jump into the murky lake beside the pools...

The tempting water... (photo credit: Hawk Island website)

   

     I made my final sprint and finished the run in about an hour in a half.  The first thought that rushed to my head was, "Oh, he's gonna be mad!"  (thinking of my father waiting in the car.)  Only-- he wasn't there.  I figured he'd misjudged the distance as stupidly as I had, so I sat down to stretch and do my leg drains.  Ten minutes later though, I was getting dizzy and realized that I was suffering from the heat and my 13-14 mile run.  I hadn't run that many miles before and I knew I needed some water so I wouldn't pass out.  The car was locked with my phone inside, so I sheepishly walked into the 7 Eleven and asked the cashier for some water.  She gave me a free cup and I gulped it down, giving my stomach that all-familiar ache from too much too fast.  After ten more minutes, I walked back and the cashier graciously lent me her phone, which I used to call my dad, mom, brother, dad, and mom again before someone picked up.  I asked her to keep calling my dad, and went outside to lay on a picnic table and quietly die in my exhaustion.  Finally though, I saw my dad running in--er..."slogging."  He looked like he actually had jumped in that pond.  "Rats," I grumbled to myself, "I told ya' you could have gotten away with it!"  As he explained, he had taken a wrong turn on the way back and didn't realize it for a couple miles.  Hoping I hadn't made the same mistake, he turned around, got lost some more, and then finally made it back.  Crying, I explained to him that 1. I was glad he was safe, 2. I was REALLY worried!, and 3. "I need WATTTTTEERRRR!!!"
     All in all, it was an unforgettable run to say the least.  The trail was amazing-- so much so that I just kept running and was too amazed to properly add up my miles.  Ya, let's go with that.

Unforgettable Runs: Handies Peak, Colorado

     I would have been crazy to run Handies Peak on my first few days in Colorado, but I simply must write about it first because of the sheer beauty and difficulty.  Both factors made it a run I will never forget.   It will forever stand as a memory of "Colorado 2013."  Without divulging the content of later posts-- which will be filled with great emotion and craziness-- my mom and I somehow drove a Jeep through roads made of giant boulders down through Cinnamon Pass to the trailhead for Handies Peak.  I hadn't gotten my run in yet for the day and had been planning to do so somewhere along the way.  Unfortunately, people in Colorado look at you like your a complete moron when you ask if there's a relatively flat place to run nearby (per training orders from my college coach).  So I was sitting in the Jeep wondering how I would have any energy left to do my run after hiking up Handies Peak.  For all you hikers out there, I am aware that Handies peak is one of the easiest 14ers to climb, but the label of a 14er (RELATED: What is a 14er?) is still an astute honor and as I learned that day: running rather than hiking, is a whole different ball game.
     My mom happened to have a college friend who had escaped the jail cell we call Ohio and fled to Colorado.  Clark Fox also looked at my like I was crazy when we met up with him and I mentioned that I needed to run somewhere "relatively flat."  I was beginning to realize that my running cred. was taking a hard hit from my wimpiness.  This guy had run the Hardrock 100 (Yes: that's a 100 miles....up and down mountains nonetheless).  He also qualified and is entered in the Mount Blanc ultra over in France.  Pretty intense stuff, right?  So he offered to run down the road after Handies Peak with me, which I soon realized would be the downhill run of my life.  I began thinking though, "Gosh Darn!  I'm in Colorado and I can't run downhill."  So I got that crazy idea and blurted it out as we unloaded the Camelbaks, "I guess I'll just run here."  I said it nonchalantly, having run some pretty awful mountain runs in the first few days in Colorado.  Somehow, I was thinking that I could just do my easy run up a 14er and call it a day.
     That's when Clark announced that he would run up with me.  Part of me was ecstatic at the offer.  Not only would I get to hear some serious running stories, but I'd also get to run with someone for a change.  Running alone gets pretty boring after a while!
     The other 90% of me was thinking: I'll be way too slow!  There's no way he's going to believe I'm running in college next year.  What if I push it too hard and my coach sees that I disobeyed?  But I soon realized I wasn't getting out of it, and I certainly didn't want to run downhill.  "I'd rather run too much of this uphill than run all downhill," I rationalized with my mom.
     At first, I was feeling pretty confident.  I knew that it was 2.5 miles up with a 2500 ft. ascent, but I also knew that I was right behind Clark and he was going pretty slow.  The first time I started feeling tired, I took a customary glance at my watch and realized with shock: it had been about 5 minutes.  I also looked at our pace, which was a solid snail pace of 18:00 a mile.  My mind was preoccupied with worrying at the slow pace, so that bought me another 3 minutes or so.  At that point, I decided that I was in this for the long haul and I would just go for it.
     So I began to look around at all the beautiful scenery!  There were mountains rising in every direction.  That was the cool part: the higher we climbed, the better the view got.  Thankfully, my lungs weren't hurting too bad at all.  My calves were another story though.  With a year of injuries and health problems, I had stepped off of track season pretty out of shape and exhausted.  A week off did me good, but now I was wondering what in the world I'd gotten myself into.
     This was not just a "steep" or "hilly" run.  This was-- for me-- the hill run of all hill runs.  This was like a never ending slant up into the sky.  Thankfully, I was feeling pretty feisty that day, and-- as I was hoping-- feisty enough to keep trotting up the side of a mountain.
     After a mile, my legs were sufficiently burning, but I figured I could make it another mile.  I knew that if I could make it another mile, the last .5 miles is all heart anyway.  That's just how it is in running: the last part of the race is all on God and your desire to give him your all.  Well, this was just a training run, but I don't discredit that claim for anything.  I always focus on doing my best.
     Finally, we made it to a beautiful lake.  It was alpine blue and swarming with little marmots-- all friendlier than my little foe last summer.  We paused just long enough for Clark to say, "We can wait for your mom here (who was hiking up) or run back down."  I was catching my breath when he added, "Or we can continue up to the top.  We're about halfway."  "I'm fine," I said daringly, "let's go all the way up."  To be honest though, I figured we was miscalculating.  I told myself that the website had said it was only 2.5 up so I would be fine!

Google image of SOME of the trail up Handies Peak

     So we started running again, and after a long desired flat part, we resumed climbing steeply up Handies Peak.  The path soon turned very rocky and I felt like a real mountain runner picking my way across the boulders with quick footing and fast eye-scanning.  But I was sprinting to catch up with my running buddy, who was clearly more experienced and agile on the boulders.  After scrambling past the rocks, we made it to some switchbacks.  Switchbacks, as I see them, are a pure pain for a runner.  They go back and forth which stinks because it gets a little monotonous.  Monotony is awful when you are dying for anything to distract your mind like I was.
     Looking at my watch, I realized that we were at 2.3.  Almost there!  However, the top still looked a ways away and I decided it would do me better to just forget the watch and try to survive the ascent.  I was really doing it though!  I was almost there!
     Well...I wasn't almost there.  Which I realized when I began to see the path before us climb up forever.  Just when I was about to tell Clark that I needed to walk though, I saw the top of the ridge.  Excitedly, I picked up my pace.  I was probably driving Clark crazy by running right on his heels, but I was so ready to be at the top!  My legs were burning, but I trudged on with the knowledge that I couldn't quit when I was almost done.
     My tired brain and legs were making me quite sentimental.  I had to finish!  For my self-esteem as a runner, for soon-to-be college runners everywhere, for my family, for the state of Ohio: I had to finish my run up Handies Peak without stopping!  My celebration quickly halted though when I realized that the top of the ridge didn't mean the top of Handies.  I stared almost straight up at what looked like a grueling 10 minutes of vertical death.  That's when my mind uttered the evil little phrase: "I can't do it." But I quickly shut it up.  I was sick of a year of disappointing running and debilitating injuries.  I was finally back, and I knew that it was time to prove that to myself.
     So I mustered up all my weary legs and heart had and I told God that I was going to make it and I was going to need his help.  I focused on the beautiful mountains rising for miles in every direction.  I focused on my pounding feet in the dirt.  I focused on the constant trot of Clark's feet in front of me that were expecting my footprint to diligently follow.  I knew that I was going to do it, no matter what it took.  And so I made the finally steps up the last ridge and to the top, where we slowed to a stop.  While I was a little to shy to give a scream of satisfaction, nothing could take that moment away from me.  I raised a fist in the air and relished in the feeling that my legs were about to fall off.  In a moment, I realized that I had just completed that hardest run of my life and I had run up a 14er.
     I had plenty of time to soak it in as we gazed at the surrounding 14ers and I heard inspiring stories about Hardrock 100 and Diana Finkel.  We jogged down a little to meet my mom only after Clark took a picture of me with the biggest grin!  As we slowly trotted back down the mountain I was in awe at how awesome it was.  I was on top of the world because I was exactly where I wanted to be: cooling down from the hardest run of my life on vacation and surrounded by little and immense wonders that God had placed there for me to enjoy.

At the top of Handies Peak (photo credit: Clark Fox)

     It is a run I will NEVER forget.