I remember the last time we talked before you fell.  You, my dad, my uncle, and I had lunch at the pizza place around the corner.  Afterwards, we visited one of their properties.  The base course was in, but the walkway and driveway were not yet paved.  My dad took care to help you up the big step to the front porch.  You shirked away from him a bit as he held your arm, but your body was grateful for the boost.  Touring that l...

If you like beards, beer, and bratwurst (double entendre intended), Asheville is your kind of place.  The mountain town has been on my to-do list for a couple of years and Jordan’s birthday was a perfect reason for a visit!  With the early May trip, I was hopeful the weather would be warm enough for outdoor adventuring and cool enough to enjoy the beer sweater of a couple pints.  Though the weekend forecast looked grim, Mother...

Let's set the record straight.  I do not believe in the runner's high.  I grapple with the logic of participating in long-distance running. And I know running sucks most of the time.  Inexplicably, I still run.

Two years ago I qualified for the Boston Marathon in Baltimore.  I trained for Baltimore with the goal of earning a BQ, but the time goal was arbitrary.  I wanted a training target- a reason to g...

My Christmas trip to the Adirondacks could not be topped.  The trails were quiet and Jordan’s marriage proposal just below the windy summit of Mount Marcy was more than I could fathom in my wildest dreams.  Yet, in the days following that trip, I was left with a nagging feeling of failure.  The mountains had served us a heaping slice of humble pie, but I was still hungry.

In my inbox I found an email from Pat from two...

Dear National Park Service,

Let me begin by wishing you a happy belated birthday!  One hundred years is no joke!  You’re in good company  with other centarians Speedo, the Panama Canal, and Merrill Lynch.  Surviving, let alone growing and thriving, over the course of ten decades is no easy task.  Congratulations and Godspeed.

NPS, I sent your present last summer and for the first time ever bought an annual, Americ...

Noonmark Diner is a small, homey wayside staple for cheap, local eats in the Keene Valley.  Everyone who has hiked, climbed, or skied in the Adirondacks has made a pit stop at the family owned joint.  It’s the kind of place that still includes accolades from a 1993 national magazine on its menu- because, that kind of thing is important in an Upstate New York hamlet.  Specifically, the praises are for their homemade p...

As another year comes to a close, I am in awe of how full and rewarding the past twelve months have been.  Reflecting on 2015, I couldn’t believe how much adventure and activity was packed into the year.  2016 however, has surpassed all other benchmarks.  More miles were logged, more sights were seen, and a greater appreciation for all that I am fortunate to have has been cultivated.

2016 was kicked off in the best wa...

My relationship with Running is trendy- on fleek, as some may say.  No, it’s not trendy because cardio is all the rage or because #freefitness is better than paying a C-note for a gym membership.  My relationship with Running is like a Tinder relationship.  Sometimes Running and I both swipe right on each other.  The romance is whirlwind- fast, long, and sweaty.  Sometimes though, I swipe left on Running.  Sure, it’s fun profi...

Difficulty: Steady paced run up that gradual hill that always seems daunting, but is never as bad as your mind makes it out to be.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Growing up, I was far from the kid who only ate french fries and chicken nuggets.  If a food was exotic, I tried it.  And by exotic, I mean not baked chicken or Shepherd's Pie; those were my mom's staples.  Going away to college and now living in a city has...