Most of you reading this didn’t know me before I was a runner. Of course why would you? I am a pretty boring urban house wife raising 3 kids and living the quiet life. Many probably don’t know that one of the things I really enjoyed was working in my yard. I prided myself on having the showcase of the neighborhood and many neighbors even came by to stroll through my yard and see what I was working on. I had little mini garden areas that all had names to them. My husband is a fire fighter and I have a section with that theme called my Hero Garden. One of my side yards I had named after my neighbors son next door who had passed away a few years earlier. I knew she could see the garden from her window and thought it would bring some sort of peace or comfort to her. She used to come over and visit it on occasion.
All this was before I started running. I’ve spent very little time in my yard since then. I have a landscaping service who mows my lawn and I’ve just let nature take over the rest. My neighbor probably hasn’t seen the likes of her sons garden in years! Yikes. That’s pretty sad. Probably one of the reason I love trail running so much is I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors. It’s been my happy place for years and I especially love to stop and smell the roses.
This is side garden is all moss
I had spent the spring and early summer this year training for Vermont 100. With all the long runs I was putting in, there was no time to turn to the yard. It would have to wait for some occasion to be cleaned up. A few weeks before Vermont, one of my girls came by the house to visit. While she was over she asked my husband, “What’s with the Jumanji Jungle?” Ok she wasn’t exaggerating, it had become a jungle. I promised as soon as Vermont was over, I’d try to tame the jungle! Haha
Two weeks post Vermont and I’ve only scratched the surface. I’ve been stung by yellow jackets, bitten by a million tiny ants, eaten up by mosquitoes and am covered with poison ivy from head to toe. While I’m enjoying unearthing my secret little gardens that have been hidden away, I’m very anxious to head back to the trails where I’m safe to just run free and enjoy nature! But then again, check in with me in two weeks after H9 50 miler! I may find new peace and comfort in my own little jungle!
Trail Running 100 