Hope, Jokes, and Dogs

So, my summer was not what I expected it would be.

Here I am at the Northern terminus on Mt. Katahdin, beginning my journey south

I planned to run the entire length of the Appalachian Trail; a dream that has germinated for the past 14 years or so.  Instead, I developed tendonitus in both ankles in the very first days of the journey, and had to stay off my feet for a solid 6 weeks.  

I decided to put the run on hiatus, unable to hold off the life responsibilities of finding work and starting a new life post graduate school. 

I also planned on participating in a botanical collecting effort while I ran, to document some of the treasured and threatened biodiversity of the Appalachian range. Loosing both the run and collecting efforts were a deep loss for my soul.

The rare Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia), whose populations in Maine are dwindling due to overshading by dense mature forest.

The rest of the summer was spent traveling, visiting friends, camping in national forests and parks and beginning to search for meaningful work in conservation biology.

From the woods to the Bronx. Baby pace was just the right speed.

Good friends, easy walks and beautiful campsites across the country nourished my soul and rejuvenated my spirits.

My best friend Erin, fitness guru extrodinairre and Reba, faithful companion in the woods surrounding Washington, DC.

Travels across the southeast Appalachian Range. Epically beautiful, no matter how you arrive.

I ended my travels by arriving in Berkeley, CA to visit family and settle into the next adventure of searching for a job and my new home.

Garden ornamentals in my families yard in Berkeley. Sweet healing of nature.

Although wonderful to be with family, it has also been a tough transition to stay still after years of hard work, and an energetic let down to be without structure or deadlines.

At least there is always baking! Thank you Triticum sp. (wheat)!

However, there are three things that have been making life bearable. I took this line from a brilliant movie I watched recently, called Tracks:

"It seems to me the universe gave us three things to make life bearable: hope, jokes, and dogs. But the greatest of these gifts was dogs."

The film is about a young woman on a journey across the Australian desert traveling with only her dog and three camels. It is beautifully shot, with authentic acting and gripping storytelling. It spoke to a deep yearning in the human soul with peace, solitude and the simplicity of nature.

With the news of the race for arctic drilling, the European refugee crisis, and ocean acidification, it is difficult for me to find hope and simple peace. I feel I must act and begin to remediate our coastlines, conserve our natural resources and lend a hand to people who are suffering. So, step by step, I am hoping for and seeking solutions.

Any journey tells us, that each step brings us closer to where we we'd like to be, and perhaps most importantly, brings us closer to each other.

Three, Two, One

Well, I'm all finished with my work in Hawai'i and in three short weeks, a new journey begins.

I'll miss the beaches on Oahu; here's Lanikai, one of my favorites for running in the soft sand.

Last weekend, I walked the stage and received my MS in Botany from University of Hawai'i at Manoa. It was a moving and sweet ceremony and mom came to help celebrate. Now, I'm getting ready to move it along!

So, three weeks from Memorial Day I'll be starting a long run. First to the peak of Mt. Katahdin, Maine, then heading south to New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and eventually down to Georgia. Yup, running the entire Appalachian Trail to benefit The Nature Conservancy.

I'm excited, nervous and happy. This is what I've wanted to do for a long time, and making it happen feels like a dream.

There is much to do in these three weeks. Crew and I are in need of a van for transportation, run and camping gear, maps, food, and a flight for my loyal crew dog.  

I feel mentally prepared, but my body needs a bit of rest from the intensity of my masters program, so I'm bulking up on healthy foods and herbal remedies.

Down to Earth , this phenomenal health food store in Honolulu gave a generous gift card, which I redeemed for these powerful products: Hawaiian spiralina, B12, Calm, Melatonin. I want to make sure I am well rested and nutritionally sound during the trip, so this should all help.

MAHALO NUI LOA Down To Earth. 

The Epic AT run appreciates your generous gift of health!

You can help too! Visit www.epicatrun.com to learn how to give to The Nature Conservancy or to support run logistics as well.

Running to the greenery

Running is so much fun.  

This was a couple years back, but the feeling is there!

I've just been loving it.

I think I am enjoying simply being outside, moving my body and seeing green around me instead of four walls.

At least I study plants!

It's my final semester of my Masters of Science, and planning for a 2 month ultra journey while I write my thesis, means many hours at the computer sitting on my butt. 

Fortunately, Reba is a great study buddy!

 Outside, the sun still rises and sets, the tides rise and fall, the tourists in Waikiki where I live lay out in the crowded beaches like sardines in a tin, and I’m mostly inside thinking, reading, typing and playing with data.  

Coffee helps!

The length of my runs has been perhaps suffering, but the quality is so blissful: my legs are feeling stronger after cross training with ballet and spinning.

Feels good!

I'm deep in AT planning, and have a new tab on the blog- an equipment list for in-kind donations.  Anything helps and proceeds from the 2 month journey will benefit The Nature Conservancy.

Running in Service

I've been enjoying playing on the trails a lot lately.

Any hour, any day, I'm just enjoying the simplicity of placing one foot in front of the other.

I think part of my pure joy right now is that I am running in preparation for the Appalachian Trail in service of the earth and in service of community.

I am more present on the trail, more focused on the act of running than on my ego or internal dialogue.

A few weekends ago, I had the pleasure of pacing for a runner in the HURT 100 footrace right here in my Oahu backyard.  When the journey on the tough technical trail ended, I realized I had paced for over 20 hours, but felt fresh and fulfilled at the end of it all.
Happy to help a fellow trail stepper!

 Pacing for other runners, or running with buddies just for the fun of it has lightened my mood and brightened my heart.

I've been taking every opportunity to get out on the trails; whether runner or hiking and even bringing my older dog along (which means sometimes slower going).

Overall I feel slowed down and reflective, and I am deeply appreciative of this state of mind.

I think with my final semester in my Masters program upon me, and a LONG and challenging run coming up ahead, I am enjoying my steady slow pace and easy going attitude.

Don't get me wrong: I am working hard in my program collecting my data, applying for grants, and preparing logistics of both research and the AT run.

But, I am beginning to enjoy the work more, and enjoying the simple pleasures of life:
a softly pink beach at sunset, a home cooked meal, a wag of my dogs tail, or just a stretch of my shoulders or neck.

Doing the work I do, both in botany and running, is a large part of this attitude.

At this time, on this earth, in this climate, I think we must think outside of ourselves more than ever before.  Our planet and our communities need our attention.

Trail Brain

In celebration of my recent two week reprieve in California from course work and general life responsibilities , I am posting a largely non-verbal entry for the New Year.

"lips" are sealed

It seems that I have a major case of "trail brain": a state often experienced after 20 + miles, where verbal communication can only occur in short spurts of light humor or blurts on the state of bodily functions.

(My current case is due to excessive chocolate and holiday cheer, rather than running related, but we'll let that slide.)

My guilty look

All that needs to be said is this:

Winter break was blissful.
I ran.

From my apartment building.


I ran some more.

How about some trails before I leave Oahu?


I went to San Francisco and I ran in a 6 hour race.

That's me all covered up like a ninja before the run.

50k, well sure!

I ran in Nevada

Where's the snow?

And then I came home to Hawaii. And I ran.

My favorite training route.

This week will be the start of my final semester in my masters program.  I do love university, and I feel endlessly grateful for the education I am receiving.  But I'll end with a favorite quote:

"The trail is a teacher like no other. It has no required reading, assignments, projects, or grades. It has no expectations. It has no prejudice or discrimination. It doesn't care about your socioeconomic class, age, gender, religious affiliation, race, ethnicity, education level, occupation, family name, the clothes you wear, or the car you drive. What a fantastic place for an individual to find out who she really is!" Preface, Becoming Odyssa