Finding balance in 2017 = 2 weekends/month NOT marathoning

After receiving the best possible news ever (NO cancer), unexpectedly suffered a mental letdown.  Not sure — is this normal after being hyper-focused ‘bout one’s physical health for so many months?  Strange, but true.

Dog-sat my grandpup (while Ash & Tom horseback’d in snowy Estes), binge-watched a bunch of documentaries on Netflix – plus logged a lotta miles [’cause every day’s a run day]. Lotta miles = happy endorphins, soooo [luckily]…Sunday afternoon, dark cloud passed & found myself refocused on the future.  BIG potential trip planned — details later 🙂

Sunday next: snow hiking in Colorado’s newest State Park, Staunton State Park in Conifer (established 2013).  Hadn’t pre-planned a new hike since my 52-week hike year, when every weekend was a new hike.  Researched whether trails were ‘dog friendly’, retrieved trailhead GPS coordinates & backpacked snacks/water for two.

day plan: altitude, thin air, mental reset/fixin’ the head

8300ft base, Ponderosa pine, montane meadows, easy up-n-down trail.  Missed the trail split to the Old Mill Site soooo [unfortunately]…hiked an extra mile-half on Border Line trail, return hiked on Scout Line trail.

The trail leading to the old mill site is one of the more challenging hikes in Staunton State Park.  The final .9 miles of this trail is hiker-only, a peaceful segment apart from busier multi-use areas.  The hike features multiple historic properties, including cabins, an old bunkhouse and remnants of a sawmill.

My take: steep climb in SNOW — no switchbacks & almost a full mile UP.  Gradual climb, not a 14er, but still an elevation gain of 782ft. YES!  Hike reward: avocado/sprouts sandwich, large flat rock aside a 1930’s bunkhouse.  Sunshine & snow, nothing better.

Next weekend, marathoning – winter destination: Michigan

Bro Fest – Jan 2017