Almost Heaven

Snowshoefest 2016 was an unparalleled success.

Our good friends Aaron and Martha have hosted this weekend snow extravaganza for the past few years and they never fail to deliver on excessive amounts of snow -- and fun! Thanks for hosting us, Marthon!

No snowshoefest weekend would be complete without a video of our hijinks!


SnowShoeFest2016 from Aaron Schwartzbard on Vimeo.

Hubz and I make it a point to leave work early in order to arrive in time for Tip Top Coffee's excellent grass-fed burgers, only available on Friday nights. With our bellies full of good food, we binge watched Buffy (what?) until late. 

Saturday morning we had a leisurely breakfast and then the whole gang headed out on snowshoes. The weather was mild (it can get really cold in this pocket of West Virginia) and we trekked up a long hill and into the Dolly Sods. It's a beautiful place, and we enjoyed the snow and the company of our friends.



On Sunday, we decided it was time to make good on our promise to do some Nordic skiing. We headed over to White Grass Cross Country Ski Area and several of us splurged (a whole $15!) on a group lesson, which proved to be invaluable. Thanks, Tony!



As we practiced our skiing, we got to watch a snowshoe 5K race and saw many of our trail running friends. Spirits were high and the weather was balmy, with bright sunshine and lots of melting going on. Many people sported short sleeves and there were even a few who went shirtless. 




We ate delicious food from the White Grass Cafe and ventured out into the woods to practice our newfound Nordic skiing skills. As the sun began to disappear behind Weiss Knob, we headed home, vowing to return soon.



  

Wordless Wednesday: Dragon's Tooth

Anniversary Selfie

Looking over the valley on the climb up Dragon's Tooth

View from the top

Dragon's Tooth from the back side

Florida Sunshine

Enough talk about winter! I was lucky enough to escape to Florida for a long weekend, so I have something other than pictures of snow to share.

There wasn't a lot of good scenery where we stayed in Kissimmee, but I managed to find a few photo-worthy spots on my morning runs.

There's water everywhere in Florida. Construction, too, but I spared you those images.

Armadillo! He must've been out for his (her?) morning run too.

Little Blue Heron

Obligatory alligator sign. Found this deep in a park, with no path to or around this big lake. So odd.

We also visited Epcot theme park's World Showcase. There was live music, street performers, little shops and of course all kinds of food and drink. Walking, eating and drinking our way through England, Canada, France, Morocco, Germany, Italy, China, Japan, Norway and Mexico was the perfect way to spend a day.

We enjoyed a glass of wine in Italy at Epcot's World Showcase.

Finally we got a day in the 80s and we made the trip to Melbourne Beach. The drive seemed long with eight of us squeezed into a minivan but feeling the sand between our toes and the sun on our (mostly) bare skin made it all worth it.

Taking in the ocean view at Melbourne Beach

Digging with gusto

Cheers!

Wherever you are, I hope you are getting outside and making the most of Winter. Soon, Spring will be here!

SnowShoeFest Weekend

I'm not really a Winter person. 

After a succession of cold, dark days, a certain amount of 'girding of the loins' has to be done in order to get out there. The longing for warm sunshine and fewer layers of clothing creeps into my soul.

But give me a snowy winter wonderland to play in and I quickly change my tune.

Magical winter scene at White Grass in West Virginia

Snow sports are always more fun with friends

Stonecoal Ridge trail

Atop Bald Knob

After a day of snowshoeing, we were game for a little snow running in Dolly Sods. We started off and soon a delightful snowfall began. So pretty! At times we wished for our snowshoes when the drifts got deep but overall it was mostly runnable.

Running in Dolly Sods - photo by Aaron Schwartzbard

Enjoying the snow - photo by Aaron Schwartzbard

Thanks, Aaron and Martha, for the hospitality and adventures.

Dolly Sods - photo by Aaron Schwartzbard

And thank you for a wonderful weekend, Mother Nature. I just might be a Winter person after all.

Running in the Massanuttens

It's been quite awhile since I've run in the Massanuttens, but I wanted to return to my favorite run there.

I've made it no secret that despite my love of technical trails, I'm not enamored of the Massanutten Trail. "Rocky" is the best descriptor of this trail but that doesn't begin to cover what you'll experience.

It starts off innocently enough. Some old leaf-covered fire road followed by some smooth, slightly inclined trail. Big Run, I guess you're not so bad.

Once you're committed, it starts to show its true character. Yes, that is the trail -- I made sure to get the orange blaze in the picture because I knew you'd be dubious.

It's not this rocky all the time. There's an excellent long downhill not long after you turn left onto the Scothorn Trail.

I was too busy flying down that stretch to snap any pictures.

After a brief dirt road section, the climb up Jawbone begins. And it never, ever ends. Or so it seems.

When I finally reach the top of Jawbone I take a left onto Kerns Mountain. Despite my griping about rocks, I have a strange affection for Kerns, which is probably the rockiest section of all.

In the winter, there's always an impressive display of icicles on the west side of Kerns.

Pause a moment to take in Q's View. Scenic overlooks are rare along the Massanutten Trail.

Hubz was really excited to show me this bear claw mark. There were some faint coyote tracks once we popped out on the road, too.

It was a good day to be out there on trail. Massanuttens, you're starting to grow on me.

January on The Wild Oak Trail

My coach approved some miles at The Wild Oak Trail, though not the whole loop. That was fine by me. Our plan: Hubz would drive to Camp Todd and run to meet us, then I could bail there for 10 miles and he could finish the loop. Perfect.

Saturday morning we rose at 4 a.m. and drove 2+ hours to the trailhead where we met Katie, Bob, new friend Carrie. After a lightning fast selfie we were off!

It's been unusually cold over the past week, but I'm happy to report that I've gotten all of my runs in. Dressing in layers has kept me relatively comfortable and made the snowy trails enjoyable. However, I seriously erred in not wearing my big bulky mittens. Oh, how my hands suffered in my silly thin gloves. My handwarmers just couldn't make enough heat.

It was 7 degrees when we started at the bottom of the mountain.

The rest of me stayed warm enough, but just barely. Anytime we paused to take in a view at an overlook or adjust something, I cooled down alarmingly quickly.

The lower parts of the trail were snow-free, and there was about a half-inch to an inch at the higher elevations. Just enough to cushion the rocks a little.

Sunrise view at the first overlook.

The climbing here is serious. I focused on using good form and making sure my glute was doing the work. It was honestly hard to tell because my derriere was totally numb. But it's sore today so I'll take that as a good sign.

Plenty of climbing and some sweet, sweet descents.

I couldn't help myself. I bombed that final downhill like a madwoman. It was so fantastically exhilarating!

Mountains in the distance.

My iPhone froze after the photo above. No, the battery didn't die. It actually froze and refused to turn  on again until I sat on it in the warm car for twenty minutes.

I felt really good when I reached Camp Todd and considered doing a little more, but decided to be prudent and call it a day. It only took 30 minutes of blasting the heat and some hot soup to warm up.

Though I'm not really a fan of cold weather, I find that getting out in spite of it makes me happy. I feel accomplished and tough and so glad that I didn't let the frigid temps stop me from enjoying the outdoors.

There's something special about The Wild Oak Trail. I'll be back for more cold miles in February.

Errandonnee Challenge, Part 2: Down to the Wire

Another snowstorm shut down DC while I was visiting family in Kansas City. When I woke to the news that my Monday morning flight was cancelled, I knew the odds of completing the Errandonnee Challenge were suddenly not in my favor. Instead of two full days to complete my final 7 errands, I'd have just one. And that was provided the snow and ice melted quickly. It wasn't looking good, but I decided to find a way to do at least one errand by bicycle in the Midwest.

At Velo +

Luckily, my brother Adam was able to take the afternoon off work and he was up for a bike adventure. He pumped up the tires on his two bikes and we pedaled toward Old Town Lenexa to check out Velo +. The owner, Vincent, was enthusiastic about bicycles and his shop. We talked Surly LHTs, Brooks saddles, yoga (they host classes at the shop) and coffee. Vincent spent 18 years at Starbucks and now he roasts his own (the shop will be selling it soon). He was kind enough to give us a taste. Delectable! He even took us in the back room to show us the steel frames he was building. What a great place for a cyclist!

#6 - I'm secretly hoping this fun jaunt will get my brother (and the whole family) biking more.

Destination: Velo + 
Category: Bike Shop 
Date: 3/17
Miles: 7.74

Observation: This shop roasts their own coffee (available soon), carries Surly (and other) bikes and offers yoga classes.

I made it back to DC late Tuesday afternoon, ditched my suitcase and hopped on my bike. I rode to dinner after a stop at my second job.

#7 - There's still snow on the ground, but thankfully the roads were clear.

Destination: Open City
Category: Dinner 
Date: 3/18  
Miles: 2.5
Observation:  I was craving the lemon garlic chicken and Brussels sprouts. Though I was dreading the cold, my ride was quite pleasant.

My hunger sated, I tossed my leftovers in my basket. It was dark now, but I pedaled to the grocery store to procure food for the next day.

#8 - A stop for groceries. Note my Light & Motion Urban 400. It's bright!

Destination: Yes! Organic Market
Category: Grocery store (second use)
Date: 3/18  
Miles: 1.6
Observation: The more I ride the more I want to find another errand/excuse to keep riding!
Lighting Method: Light & Motion Urban 400 in front & Planet Bike red flasher in back.

Another stroke of luck - MG of Chasing Mailboxes extended the Errandonnee deadline by one more day. I am so glad I didn't throw in the towel. I can do this!
 
The next morning I biked to meet my friend Kim from high school. Every Spring she attends a conference in DC and we have breakfast and catch up. I suspect she made some sort of deal with the devil because she hasn't aged.

#9 - Kim at Open City

Destination: Open City
Category: Breakfast
Date: 3/19
Miles: 2.5
Observation: Usually this place is packed in the morning, not today. Lull in the Spring conference season? 

I stopped by the bank to make a deposit, then on to work. On the ride home it was raining heavily. The puddles obscured many potholes. This ride kind of sucked, honestly. By the time I made it home I had popsicle toes, though the rest of me stayed dry thanks to my rain pants and jacket.

#10 - Bike Parking at Capital One

Destination: Capital One Bank
Category: Wild Card
Date: 3/19
Miles: 3
Observation: There are a lot of nasty potholes in dire need of repair.

I had one last errand to complete and I knew just what it would be: An errand to procure a bottle of wine to celebrate the completion of the Errandonnee Challenge!

#11 - Sherry's Liquor

Destination: Sherry's Liquor
Category:Other store
Date: 3/20
Miles:2.9
Observation: Spring is capricious. Wicked headwind!

I pedaled home with the wind in my (helmet) hair and a big smile on my face. I had a boatload bakfiets of fun Errandonneeing. Thanks for creating this wonderful challenge, MG!

Categories used: 9
Miles logged: 37.69

Errandonnee Challenge, Part 1

As an ultrarunner who loves the bike, I always have intentions of doing more biking ... but I find myself falling into the usual pattern of running long every weekend.

There's a silver lining to my current injury: Now that I'm not running, I'm spending a lot more time biking. So far it doesn't seem to aggravate my foot issue.

Perfect timing for the annual Chasing Mailboxes Erranndonnee Challenge! Click the link to read more about the rules.

#1 Bikes at Friday Coffee Club

#1 - I started off with a bang, hitting Friday Coffee Club for the powerful combination of caffeine and conversation with fellow bike commuter friends. If you live in (or come to visit) DC you should come, and not just because M.E. Swings made the Top 10 Best Coffee to be found in DC list. 

Category: Community Meeting. 
Date: 3/7
Miles: 2.45

Observation: Roads are totally clear after our last snowstorm, alleys are not! Also, nothing puts a bigger smile on my face than chatting with this gang.

#2 Bike Parking at my Acupuncture appointment

#2 - Thanks to the aforementioned foot injury, I had an acupuncture appointment. I rode via M Street which I enjoy despite the lack of the long-promised cycletrack. I've been biking in the DC area since 1998 (whew!) so I'm comfortable riding almost anywhere. It has been fantastic to see the improvements in bicycle infrastructure and it's evident this progress needs to continue in order to avoid utter gridlock.

Category: Personal Care 
Date: 3/7
Miles: 2.35
Observation: 19th street has a decent amount of bike parking, but it's always pretty crowded. A couple of the bike posts are coming loose.

#3 Watch me work. This is my 2nd job.

#3 - The fact that it's now daylight until 7 pm makes me very happy. I love the sunshine. I left my "real" job and biked to my second job. If you haven't bike commuted in DC before, I can tell you it is the quickest and most enjoyable mode of transportation in this city at rush hour. Most other times, too.
Category: Work
Date: 3/11
Miles: 3.25
Observation: Traveling by bicycle at rush hour in DC beats any other form of transportation!

#4 On the way to Whole Foods via 15th Street cycletrack

#4 -Gusty, frigid winds were the theme of this morning commute. At least it was sunny! I pedaled my way down the 15th Street cycletrack to Whole Foods for some greens and veggies.

Category: Grocery store
Date: 3/13 
Miles: 2.9
Observation: Bicyclist along 15th street cycletrack shaking her hands to get the blood flowing on a very cold and blustery morning commute. Have I mentioned that I LOVE MY BAR MITTS?

#5 The Surly LHT at my 2nd job

#5 My gams were fatigued on my third ride of the day  (the second was on the spin bike). Just in time for the uphills! My beloved bar mitts proved challenging to keep on a straight course as they acted like spinnakers in the crosswinds.

Category:Work (2nd use)
Date: 3/13
Miles:3
Observation: Wind and Bar Mitts are mortal enemies.

I'm out of town for the weekend. That leaves me two days to complete my final seven errands. CAN I DO IT?? What a cliffhanger!

Do you have a bike or have access to bikeshare? You should give the errandonnee a go! 

Copper Mountain

We returned to Copper Mountain to enjoy the best snow they've had in years.






Hubz and I took it easy our first day, adjusting to the elevation by strolling around Frisco eating delicious wild game brats and imbibing a few Colorado brews (and lots of water, of course).



Aaron and Martha showed up the next day and we skiied Soliloquy one million times as they helped us try to recall proper skiing technique. 

I finally got in the groove on Day 3, just in time to go home.




Doug and Kerry got stranded in DC thanks to "Snowchi" but they did make it out to spend one fine day skiing, eating nachos and singing along at J.J.'s. 

A good time was had by all. Thanks, friends! When can we do it all again?