It's hard to believe that we’re already halfway through the fall semester, snow has fallen every day this week here in northern Vermont, and only now do I feel like I’ve gained enough distance and perspective on the incredible days I spent in the Faroe Islands at the end of July. How fleeting the weeks, … Continue reading Faroes Seven Summits
It was getting warm. We were running a little low on water, and the slope was unrelentingly down and down and down -- from the top of one of Vermont's highest peaks to a mere 350 ft above sea level on the banks of the Winooski River. This past Tuesday, the 7th day of this … Continue reading Limits
In August 1922, only 12 years after the Long Trail was completed from Bennington to Johnson, VT, a group of 4 hikers (3 of Robert Frost's children and their friend) completed the first-ever continuous hike of its (then) 225 miles. Tackling the trail in a brisk 17 days, they were joined on most of … Continue reading Following Footsteps — 9 days to go
With 12 days to go to the Vermont Climate Run and with tapering starting in earnest on Sunday, I've started to hone in on 'last-minute' logistics: what will I need at each night's camp, which road crossings need to be fully-stocked aid stations (and what will I need there), at what time is it *really* … Continue reading personal resilience
My dog Dragon and I did an out-and-back run along the new Long Trail section north of the Winooski River on Sunday. We bounded up the springy softness of the recently opened single-track before turning around at an unnamed summit about 5 miles from the river. Here, the trail turns a little toward the east … Continue reading 15 Days to go!
With 25 days to go until the start of the 2018 Vermont Climate Run, I've found myself sidelined a little this week with a stubborn head-cold that's curtailed what should have been one of my peak training weeks. I came into the week strong and feeling ready for the challenge ahead, and I'm finishing the … Continue reading Pace
Climate Run Vermont is only 6 weeks away!! As I've been ramping up training and preparing for the ride & run, people have asked me, "why did you decide to run in Vermont?" and "what does Vermont have to do with climate change?" There are 2 kinds of answers. Looking north along the Long Trail … Continue reading res•il•ience
I realized last week that we're within 80 days of the 2018 summer solstice! That means that as of today, there are only 73 days until I plan to get on my bike at the Vermont/Canadian border in North Troy, VT at 4:30 am on June 20th and head south along VT Route 100. … Continue reading Planning!
I'm procrastinating a little. It's day two of our January thaw. It's 48 degrees and raining, which has glazed the 4th-class gravel road in front of our house with a sheen of mottled gray ice. So, I'm less excited to get out there and put in the miles today, but I know I need them … Continue reading every step
I completed my 12th ultramarathon race last weekend -- the 32 mile TARC Fells Winter Ultra Trail Race just north of Boston, MA. It wasn't my fastest race (not by far), but I had fun, finished it in good style, and was honored to share the experience with 5 of my student athletes from Sterling, … Continue reading Ambition
