Posts tagged hike

Feeling the winter blahs yet? If you’re on the East coast you probably are right about now. Winter finally decided to pay a visit this past weekend and hasn’t let up. After a day of foggy, drizzly, freezing cold mist I was feeling sleepy and craving some comfort food. Then my boyfriend sends me this video as we were just discussing how awesome Yosemite is this past weekend and it lifted me right up. What on Earth is there to feel down about when something this awesome exists?? Trip planning for this Spring to commence shortly ;)

Gizmodo

A few posts back I mentioned an all day bike ride through Zion National Park. It was incredible. I left my hotel about 8 am and biked through Springdale into the park, all the way to the far end up a long, winding hill. It was tough and cold, but gorgeous, so well worth it. Once at the top I locked my bike to a tree, stripped off my bike shorts (don’t worry, I had running pants on underneath), and took off for a riverside trail run. And then just kept repeating the process for the next 8 hours! Ride bike. Lock Bike. Run. Ride bike. Lock bike. Run. It was awesome. I snacked on nuts and fruit throughout the day, but by the time I got back to the hotel my stomach was trying to eat itself, so I decided to feed it what it wanted: PIZZA. Behold, the “Good For You” pizza from Zion Pizza and Noodle Company: light sauce, grilled squash & zucchini, sun dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, with feta & asiago cheeses. It was every bit as good as it looks. And I ate Every. Last. Bite. No joke! I ate this entire pizza :D And then fell asleep for almost 12 hours. It was incredible. I’m not sure which accomplishment I’m more proud of: the marathon bike/hike/run session? Or the prize-winning eating? I think the combination of the two is just the right balance.

A few posts back I mentioned an all day bike ride through Zion National Park. It was incredible. I left my hotel about 8 am and biked through Springdale into the park, all the way to the far end up a long, winding hill. It was tough and cold, but gorgeous, so well worth it.

Once at the top I locked my bike to a tree, stripped off my bike shorts (don’t worry, I had running pants on underneath), and took off for a riverside trail run. And then just kept repeating the process for the next 8 hours! Ride bike. Lock Bike. Run. Ride bike. Lock bike. Run. It was awesome.

I snacked on nuts and fruit throughout the day, but by the time I got back to the hotel my stomach was trying to eat itself, so I decided to feed it what it wanted: PIZZA. Behold, the “Good For You” pizza from Zion Pizza and Noodle Company:

light sauce, grilled squash & zucchini, sun dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, with feta & asiago cheeses.

It was every bit as good as it looks. And I ate Every. Last. Bite. No joke! I ate this entire pizza :D And then fell asleep for almost 12 hours. It was incredible. I’m not sure which accomplishment I’m more proud of: the marathon bike/hike/run session? Or the prize-winning eating? I think the combination of the two is just the right balance.

Have you been to Zion National Park out in Utah? No? GO THERE NOW. I was just out there for a wedding and it blew my mind. The red rock made for some really fun rock scrambling and some very different trail running than I’m used to. The peak season had just ended so hotel prices were quite reasonable. I highly recommend the Best Western Zion for very comfortable accommodations, or the Canyon Ranch Motel for some local rustic charm. I rented a bike for $35 for the whole day from Zion Cycles and was able to bike the whole lower part of the park from my hotel. It was so much fun!! I’ll put up more pics of the individual hikes soon.

I found a great new route this past weekend in Great Falls, Maryland - Billy Goat Trail! It wasn’t until the end of the path that I saw the sign that said it was “the most strenuous in all of Northern Virginia”…?!?! Why would they put that at the END of the path?! Ah well, it made for more adventure and a great workout. It should have been a hint when I encountered the Emergency Exit partway in. I didn’t take it, but it did feel good to know it was there just in case. For great views, light rock climbing, and a fantastic calorie burn give this a try!

Murphy and I at Difficult Run! I chose to use the stones to get across, Murphy plunged right into the water, whatever, we both made it and had a great run down the path, through the woods. I’ve said before how much I love my job as a Program Director for Jenny Craig, but after days  of deep, emotional talks, no matter how excited I get after motivating people, I’m completely drained by the end of the week. Nothing recharges my batteries like an hour spent out in the woods under the sun with my bf. Knowing how to relieve stress is vital for a healthy life balance. Whatever stress relief method you use, just make sure it doesn’t cause more stress. For example, if you’re stressed about finances, but then relieve that stress by going on a fun shopping trip…well, you can see the contradiction there. Exercise, on the other hand, gets blood pumping to your brain, which increases productivity and mental clarity. Your energy levels increase and you get into shape. I don’t know anyone whose stress wouldn’t be lessened a bit if they were thinking clearer and felt hotter in their jeans (and that does not just apply to the ladies). What are some productive, healthy things you do when feeling stressed out?

Murphy and I at Difficult Run! I chose to use the stones to get across, Murphy plunged right into the water, whatever, we both made it and had a great run down the path, through the woods.

I’ve said before how much I love my job as a Program Director for Jenny Craig, but after days  of deep, emotional talks, no matter how excited I get after motivating people, I’m completely drained by the end of the week. Nothing recharges my batteries like an hour spent out in the woods under the sun with my bf.

Knowing how to relieve stress is vital for a healthy life balance. Whatever stress relief method you use, just make sure it doesn’t cause more stress. For example, if you’re stressed about finances, but then relieve that stress by going on a fun shopping trip…well, you can see the contradiction there.

Exercise, on the other hand, gets blood pumping to your brain, which increases productivity and mental clarity. Your energy levels increase and you get into shape. I don’t know anyone whose stress wouldn’t be lessened a bit if they were thinking clearer and felt hotter in their jeans (and that does not just apply to the ladies).

What are some productive, healthy things you do when feeling stressed out?