Having my annual late spring life freak out where I question everything I'm doing but. I think big things are coming. I believe that. Likely finally moving to Seattle at the end of the Summer. Getting universally positive reviews at work and realizing that I already check off all the boxes for group manager positions for the department I work in. Hit a new high last week for miles ran and hiked in a week (39.7!!!). It's getting weird. When I solo hike I'm the person people approach to ask for directions, distances, view points, etc., like they think I'm some sort of expert.
"I also find that people now assume I own every venue I am standing in. If I go to a bar, or a party, or a fundraiser, or a restaurant, or any sort of gathering, people will mistake me for the organizer/owner." I'm that guy, too. Or, I'm that guy when I'm not frowning. It's a combination of confidence and friendliness - it isn't 100% necessary that you be the guy they're looking for, so long as you're the guy who won't mind them trying you out. It's an asset, believe me.When I solo hike I'm the person people approach to ask for directions, distances, view points, etc., like they think I'm so sort of expert.
I say hi/good morning/good afternoon to almost every single person on a trail. It's unsettling when they don't say anything back. Maybe one day this will do something to alleviate my perpetual state of unrest.
The difference I've seen for my interactions when hiking is when discussing how many of the 46 I have left, those who are already 46ers ask "which will be the last one," and among non-46ers I'm at the high end. It wasn't that long ago when I was on the bottom end and was (rightfully) treated as a newbie. Congratulations on your 40 mile week! It's feeling good? My summer plan is to run 20-25 per week and maybe hike another ten or so.
Yeah, except I've developed a new hopefully not cardiac issue which is scaring the bajeezus out of me but not stopping me from running so...there's that. Do you do any trail running? I've found running parts of hikes is really a lot of fun!
I haven't tried any trail running yet. It's been sort of wet here, and I want to try it in more like ideal conditions. I can see how a trail run could be a great alternative. Do you do much steep stuff as runs? The trail I hiked last week would be a great run, I think. It isn't steep, but it is a constant up hill. I've been conducting an informal poll: are specific trail running shoes necessary?
Define "steep". Typically my trail runs will be in the 600 - 1,200 ft of elevation gain range, depending on how long the run is and where I go. Did one that was a run/hike that was 2,500 of gain and that was kind of awful but felt amazing by the end. A constant mild grade sounds like it would be a great workout and will probably kill your quads. Which is the best, right? NO. At least I don't think they are, I run in hiking shoes or in running shoes depending on the grade and how comfortable I am with traction on the trail.
That's the part that is new. I spent Memorial day 2016 through February 2017 injured to some degree or another so feeling like I belong is new. It's doing wonders for my confidence though, since so many of my friends are long distance runners.