Travel and Adventure Awaits

I want to welcome all my new visitors from the Grow Your Blog Hop.  One thing you should know about me, besides being a runner.  I love adventure, exploration, hiking, camping and enjoy taking my camera along for the ride. Each Tuesday is Travel Tuesday on my blog, where I showcase a different place I have visited, hikes taken or adventurous location.

I have over 60+ travel destinations already posted which you can view HERE.
Today, instead of picking a new place to show, and since many of you may be new visitors.
I thought I would take today, to not only introduce you a little to my adventurous side.  But show you some of my favorites over the past few years and you can pick which you'd like to read about!

If they look interesting, your more than welcome to click on the links and view all the details as well as all the pictures that come with them!

SHARK DIVING

Shark Diving has been one of those things that will probably be on my top 10 favorite things done forever. One thing about me, I can be fearless.  I crave adventure and all that comes with it!
Being down in the water surrounded by sharks, is magical, to watch and see their beauty.  I've been into sharks my entire life, but when I visited the North Shore of Oahu and headed out early one morning to swim with these magnificent creatures, I can't help but love them more.  This is one of those things, I hope to get to do again in the future.  Want to learn more, see more pictures or the details of my diving trip?  Visit this page HERE.

HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK

This is one of those things, that gives an entire new meaning to wanting to get up before the crack of dawn.  Depending on the time of year, when visiting Maui, you may have to get up at 3am to make the drive up to the top.  Yes, it's Hawaii, but it will be freezing, in fact sometimes it even snows up here. Yes, it DOES snow in Hawaii, did you know that?
But it's worth the early hour and the freezing temps, because when the sun starts lighting up the clouds and they appear as if they are being lit on fire one after one.  Its a vision of beauty I seriously will never forget!  More pictures and details can be found HERE.

MT. MCKINLEY (DENALI) AND GLACIAL LANDING

This one, is probably my favorite adventure EVER!!!  There is no way I can tell you or show you pictures to do it justice.  Taking a plane and flying low in and around the magnificent peaks of this part of Alaska, will literally take your breath away, it is amazing! The glaciers, the sights and then landing the plane up above 12,000 feet on a glacier that is itself moving and changing each day.
The term, it is so quiet it is loud, is really only experienced in a place like this where it's just you and nothing else living for miles and miles around.  You can view more pictures and the details of the trip HERE.

AVALANCHE LAKE 

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

Love to hike like me?  This is one hike that I recommend for the morning hours, as the sun and mountain setting when you arrive is just picturesque.  Montana has some beautiful country and Glacier National Park is really a hikers paradise.  One tip, the earlier your out hiking in a National Park, the greater your chances of getting to see wildlife!  Want to see more pictures and info on this hike, you can find them HERE.

MUIR WOODS

This beautiful gem, is such a short drive from San Francisco not to far from the famous Golden Gate Bridge itself, yet a lot of visitors don't even realize it is there.  I can't help but just be in awe of the size of these giant Sequoia beauties!  See more details and pictures HERE.

GO SKY DIVING

You could probably guess, but yes this is also going to go down as one of my all time favorites! This is one of those things, that if you are an adventure seeker and thrill lover like myself you just have to do this at least once in your life.
Free falling for over a minute playing around flying through the sky, so beautiful and such a thrill.  If you want to read more and see more pictures visit HERE.

KENAI FJORDS NATIONAL PARK

Most of this National Park can only be seen or possible to get by by boat.  I was amazed at how green and lush a lot of the islands in this area were.  At one point we had to cut the engine on the boat, as over 60 wild Orca wales were swimming and jumping and playing all around us.
With a microphone dropped into the water, we just sat in silence watched them play and listened to their songs.  A few hours later, we were surrounded by nearly 40 humpback whales, lost count of how many sea lions and other wildlife we saw.  Eventually we made our way up into the coastal glacial areas.  We were the first boat that spring to break into the ice in the turquoise icy waters. Eventually right up to a glacier where I was able to witness glacial calving chunks the size of houses cracked and roared through us like thunder as they broke off.  And those were just a few things witnessed on this nearly 11 hour day of touring the seas and park.  More pictures and info HERE.

UTAH'S WASATCH MOUNTAINS

Utah is another one of those states that is a hikers paradise.  There are so many places to go and see that not only can one like myself never get bored.  We have some gorgeous mountains, especially for those who like to climb.  This is one of the local favorites, hiking up to Blanche Lake.  More pictures and info HERE.

SWIM WITH STINGRAYS

Although I am a mountain girl, I do love the ocean and the wildlife in it.  This is one of those adventures I took, and at the time had no idea that it was not exactly safe to try and catch a stingray and let it take me for a ride. (Not even kidding:)  I had a great time though, and it's probably better I didn't know that they have barbs that can shoot through you.  Yes, I was naive enough to think that it just stung you if the tail touches you:)  Wiser now, but I would do it again, you can read more HERE.

DEAD HORSE POINT UTAH

Utah is a beautiful state, and I am not just saying that because I live here.  We really do have one of the more diversely scenic states there is.  Dead Horse Point is probably one of the most photographed vista's, but if you get a chance to stop by and visit yourself, you will not be disappointed!  More pictures and details HERE.

WHITE WATER RAFTING - COLORADO RIVER

Love a thrill? Love adventure? Love scenery and fun?  If you haven't guessed, I sure as heck do! White water river rafting down the Colorado River has all of it and then some. If you've been river rafting before, I hate to say it but rafting out west is an experience that you really can't get in other parts of the country. Take a group, hire an experienced guide and go for the ride of your life.  More pictures and details HERE.

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK

Arches National Park is seriously one of the more incredible parks to see in America.  Delicate Arch is one of my favorite hikes to take when I visit, I have probably done this one a few dozen times.  If your a runner, you can even take a run up to the Arch, and get a killer hill trail workout in!  See more pictures and hike details HERE.

And these are just a very small few of the fabulous places you can see on this blog!

If you like traveling, exploration and adventure

You will likely enjoy stopping by my blog on Tuesdays.

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Do you love travel, exploration and adventure? Then you will want to stop by and check out @runwybridlplanr http://goo.gl/vh8DWN

Since this is the day to give new visitors a preview into what I blog about, here is what else you can get if you are interested in following me and seeing more!

Me Monday's - Quick re-cap of my week and going on's.
Whatever Wednesday - If I blog the topic could be weddings, books or whatever:)
First Thursday of the month, this year I am running topics to help grow or monetize your blog.
Running Thursday's, are for posts and subjects related to running.
Usually on Friday's I am at events, but if I am free I try to join up in Fitness Friday link ups or fitness posts.

If you like my blog, 

I would love it if you'd stop by again sometime!

What is your favorite vacation/hike or adventure you have been on?
Have you been to, or done any of the above mentioned?


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Running Through History, My West Virginia Marathon



Antietam Battlefield

I picked the Freedom Run in West Virginia because of the great opportunity to run through 4 National Parks and experience a bit of American History that I haven't seen before.  This Marathon didn't let me down, not a bit. 
     I decided to walk to the start, so I had about a 1 mile warm up walk in the dark, through what I was told was a forest haunted by civil war ghosts, it was dark and I was alone walking through it, but no ghosts, maybe it was the light rain falling that was keeping them away:)

C&O Canal Way

The race started at the Harpers Ferry National Park Visitor Center.  A few rolling hills in the first few miles, the opportunity to run through Murphy's Farm, and then about a mile down a steep paved incline which was lined by a beautiful green lush forest and the Shenandoah River.
The incline was steep, I was glad it was early on because a hill like that at the end, my legs would be like rubber.  However, little did I know what was coming...

Historic Harpers Ferry

The race then ran through part of the old reconstructed town of Harpers Ferry.  (The National Park Service, had the buildings & shops restored so you can have an idea of what it was like both pre and post civil war.  The original buildings were mostly all burned down or destroyed during the war.
The town is also famous for it's haunted hotel's and ghosts that walk the streets in the night.)  I was bummed I didn't see them on my trip!
After the town, we headed up a bridge walkway.  The walkway is famous for a couple of things.  Once upon it you ran side by side with the famous tracks of the B&O Railroad.  (I was just thinking about the Monopoly game though as I ran over it.)

Merge of Potomac & Shenandoah

It's also where the large Shenandoah & Potomac Rivers merge together.  It's a beautiful canyon merge, rock wall mountains with lots and lots of tree's and foliage.  That is not all, it's also part of the famous Appalachian Trail and the beginning of the Potomac Heritage Trail which is also a National Park.
The rain had semi stopped until this point but when I got to the end of the bridge the rain started up again, and I got a running first.  We had to run down steep spiral metal staircase and of course the rain decided to start back up and make things a little more slippery.
From this point on, it rained steadily.  Not a heavy downpour, but just a medium steady rain throughout the entire rest of my race.

Historic Trail

Things leveled off from miles 6-13, just gentle rolling slopes but fairly flat.  We ran right next to the Potomac River, for this stretch of the trail.  Lot's of beautiful tree's mostly green, with the beginnings of fall in them.  The trail was packed dirt.  But with the rain and all the runners, it made a few spots a little bit muddy slippery.  There were also some sharp rocks poking out of the trail, probably made worse from the rain.  Covered in fall leaves, it really was beautiful, the perfect running  temperature, the tree's keeping the rain falling on me to a minimum.  I really enjoyed this stretch!  The only problem was because the colored fall leaves on the path blocked my view of the surprise rocks and holes.  I took a little too much caution and slowed my pace much more than I should have to avoid hurting my injured ankle or foot more than they already were.  That is the only thing I would change I wish I hadn't of slowed so much.

     Miles 14-18 things started to get pretty interesting!
If you don't already know, I DON'T like to view the courses beforehand too much, and I like to be surprised instead of knowing exactly what lay ahead.
HILLS, HILLS, and more HILLS.   We are not talking small 7-8% grade hills either.  Possibly it was because my hip was killing me and wanting to give out on me because of how I had ran to protect my foot from further injury.  Or maybe it was because it was the miles of the second half of the race.  But some of those hills I remember seeing them ahead and when I got to them looking up, and wondering how on earth I was going to get up these long walls!

Lower Bridge (Burnside Bridge)

A few in particular were just insane! (But fun too!)
However, after a little struggles around mile 15 something happened and I got what I call a 2nd wind.  (Might have had something to do with the Tylenol I took at mile 14 to help with my hip pain.  That and the hip pain was working it's way out or numb, sometimes you can't tell the difference:)
Plus, there was this really annoying guy who was giving step by step instructions on how to run to his friend (who was actually doing better than him.)  It was beyond annoying, and I needed to get away from it.  It gave me the energy to charge up the next few hills, although I swear his voice carried forever...  Finally the voice disappeared and I got a few more bursts of energy.

Now the 1/2 marathon merged with the full near this area, I only past a few of the 1/2 runners they were mostly off the course by this point.  The marathon had an extra out and back up to the bridge (pictured above).  I remember when I saw the HUGE hill that I was instructed to pass and go down the road I was slightly glad I wasn't having to go up it, it looked like a monster.
However, the out and back had several of it's own monsters.  Gave me an opportunity to see how far I had sped up and past the (annoying man) which I was almost a mile ahead of him at this point now.
Of course when I finished the out and back I then had to go up the massive hill I had previously thought I was going to get to avoid:)

Now this will sound gross, but I am running through Antietam Battlefield area now (The single most worst day in battle in American history.  Over 23,000 were killed on Sept. 17th 1862.)
My mind likes to run wild with imagination, and I saw what was likely the bloody remains of someone who had hit a deer on the road.  This made my imagination go and as I was approaching what is called "Bloody Lane" I thought that back on that bloody day in history the brownish/red stain on the ground was likely what covered this land, not to mention all the dead soldiers.

Sherrick Farmhouse - Civil War Ruins

While my imagination was running, I heard a single rifle shot.  I seriously thought I was losing my mind, or that I was beginning delirium...  But just as I was trying to decide if I had just imagined it.  I heard a few more shots.  Then a bunch of pistol shots, and a few miss-fires.  As I climbed to the top of the next hill, I looked to my left and there was a bunch of Civil War dressed soldiers out marching on the field, firing shots.  They were doing a reenactment for the visitors center up at the top of the hill.  This was seriously cool to hear while running through the battlefield.  Of course my imagination was really going now.  I figured what I was hearing timesd by thousands and that was likely what was going on that day back in history.

     One of the last what I called Monster Hills, there was a sign that said "Smile there is a photographer at the top".  So for the last 50 feet of the hill, I put a smile on my face and pretended to run pain free so that in case that was the picture I decided to order for this race it would be a good one. :)

Antietam Battlefield

Antietam Civil War Marker

Once up on top of the battlefield, near the cornfields of where the battles of Antietam began early one morning long ago.  The rain was still coming, and the wind kicked it up a notch, probably from lack of tree's or hills to block it.  I was really starting to get cold.  But with less than 6 miles to go, there wasn't much I could do about it.  So I ran on. 

There were still hills, but they were just large to moderate, nothing like before.  Which was good because I was really starting to get tired and my legs were just burning in pain from all the climbing.  I forgot to mention that all those crazy hills, also came a lot of steep crazy downhill.  I have strong legs because of all the running I do, but even my legs were getting tired and it was becoming harder and harder to keep them strong.

Potomac River newr Shepherdstown

We came out of the park and into Sharpsburg, and then past more parts of C&O National Parks.  Then finally the bridge to cross back over the Potomac came, and finally I was on the homestretch.  I could almost see Shepards University in the distance.
Finally the last .2 of the race came, and the stadium was within reach.  One last steep downhill and then a sharp left and down the football field to finish on the 50 yard line.
GREAT RACE!!!  The course was just beautiful and I loved it, the volunteers and race organizers were great!

A bus ride back to an area near the start and then I was told if I walked up a steep hill (wall) I would reach my hotel about a mile up.  I seriously cringed as I looked up, my legs were exhausted, I was freezing and shivering now.
So when a nice guy from North Carolina offered me a ride to the hotel, I looked up at the hill and said yes.  Now I am not one who normally gets into a car with a man I don't know.  But he was walking worse than I was, and I didn't want to freeze my tush off more with a tiring uphill walk.  So I decided to take my chances and accepted the ride. 

The race was great!  I spent 5 vacation days touring the area and visiting all the National Parks on foot.
The day after the race I drove up to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  I was very sore from the previous days ordeal, but in case I never make it to this part of the country again I just had to visit Gettysburg!!!
I took the 24 mile Auto tour, got out and stretched my sore legs at a few stops and walked the visitor trails.  Climbed the castle looking overlook tower, just about killing myself coming back down the stone spiral

steps.  Decided to climb one more overlook 98 stairs up, and 98 back down (Ouchy on my sore legs).  But if you are going to see history, you can't let some sore legs hold you back from seeing it all:)
I stood where Lincoln, gave the famous Gettysburg Address in what is now the Soldiers National Cemetery and viewed all the different battlefield areas and the really cool monuments they have constructed around the area.

On Right: Place where Lincoln gave Gettysburg address
On Left: Little Round Top Overlook Marker
Center: Lincoln Monument

        
I could write ton's more because it was a great Marathon trip, but I think you get the just of it.
If you love to run and like history, try the Freedom Run Marathon.  However, if you just like history you should try to take a trip to this part of the country.  West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania are all completely beautiful states full of lot's of places to see and learn more about Americans past.

Warfield Ridge

Now, the big questions.  How long is it going to take me to recover from all the muscle tears and soreness of this race?  Will I be okay if I run another one in a few days?  Time will tell....  Or a few days will tell :)

South Dakota Marathon and Caving

I headed to South Dakota for a women's only marathon.  Kind of different, but a fellow 50 state marathoner I met several months back in Arkansas recommended that I MUST try this race. 
When I flew in and arrived a few days early, I had only one priority on my list besides the race, that of course was to see Mount Rushmore...

Mount Rushmore Day View

Mount Rushmore Night View

 After I visited Mount Rushmore and walked around the area, I headed down the road to Crazy Horse Monument.  This monument I learned is unfinished because the creators refuse to accept any state or federal funds, in respect for Crazy Horse who suffered at the governments hand.  Instead it's entirely funded by the public and viewers of the Monument.


Crazy Horse Monument Today

Crazy Horse Monument how it will look one day

After viewing the monuments and driving around the South Dakota Black Hills, I discovered that there was a lot more to it, and so much more I wanted to see.  So instead of heading to Spearfish (the race town) I spent one more day in the Black Hills Area.  Thanks to GPS and it's odd driving courses it sometimes takes me on, I was able to drive through Custer State Park, absolutely beautiful.  I saw lots of deer, antelope, buffalo, and even a big horn sheep and her baby.
I stopped at Wind Caves National Park, and so glad I did.  I signed up to take the 1/2 mile cave tour, which you first hop on an elevator and go down a few hundred feet below the surface.  This cave is a limestone cave, and quite unique, so many caverns, and places to go, I bet a person could spend weeks scouting through the miles and miles of the cave system.


Wind Cave National Park

After my trip through Wind Cave, I wanted to see more, and down the road was Jewel Cave National monument, so after another beautiful drive through the Black Hills.  I arrived at Jewel Cave just in time to grab the last ticket for the cave tour for the day.
Jewel Cave is just as it's name, there are lots of crystals and interesting colors all through the cave.  Again took an elevator a few hundred feet below the surface, This cave had a lot more drop offs, and stairs to climb.  I only went a 1/2 mile of the 155.00 miles of the cave.
So worth it!!  This cave is also a live cave, so lots of water dripping through them, mud puddle fixtures, odd shapes, orange, red, black, white and so many other color crystals and draperies hanging through the cave.  Really neat to see!


Jewel Cave



Jewel Cave

Finally it was time to head to Spearfish, and get ready for the race, I had a beautiful drive along the way, and thanks to GPS I got to see even a portion of Wyoming that I never intended on driving through.  (Gotta love GPS!)
Race packet pick up was really small, but I will say this about their volunteers, they were great and very nice!
The race shirts were even made of great material and had a good fit, guess they better since this is a women's only race :)
After packet pick up, I decided to head to the famous Deadwood (Where gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok was killed and the term Dead Man's Hand came from.  Also home at one time to Calamity Jane.)
Fun little town, completely redone to look like it did back in the late 1800's.  They still have saloon's and casino's, but some of the buildings are tourist shops.

Downtown Deadwood, SC

After touring Deadwood, I drove back through Spearfish Canyon, and got out and did a (little hiking), couldn't resist:)  The beautiful mountains were just calling my name, besides who knows when and if I will ever make it back to that area...  I come to all these states to run marathon's but also to see everything else I can while I am there.

Finally I made it to bed early because I had a 2:40a.m. wake up alarm set to get me up and going and ready to meet the buses for the Leading Ladies Marathon to take me to the starting line at 4a.m.  (YIKES on the early time, but it's not the earliest wake up time, Disney World Orlando I had to wake up at 1a.m.)
I sat on the bus next to a really nice runner named Mandy who claimed she also ran the marathon's for fun.  But I later found out she places 2nd in the race over all...  I wish my times were so fast that I could have fun and have a chance at winning a marathon at the same time!
I actually met a lot of really nice people at this race, mostly at the start.  I got lots of tips from other marathoners on which races in which states are best to run.
Just before the race started the sun began to come up, and a misty fog began to set in on the mountains around.  The race started in Lead, SC, at the top of a canyon.
Most of the uphill was in the first 7 miles of the race, but over all the race is predominately what I would consider a downhill course.
The race started at about 6800 feet, a bit higher in elevation than all my other marathons so far this year.  The course was beautiful, I was sure I'd see a deer or moose drinking out of the streams standing out among the lush green hillsides and tall dark pine tree's.  But no such luck.


Creek in Spearfish Canyon

     It was still a nice and peaceful run, I'd say there were less than 200 full marathoners, so at times you felt like you were the only one out on the course as you would wind through the canyon.  I didn't bring a headset to listen to music, which I was glad.  What better music than running through a peaceful mountain canyon in the early morning?
One thing about this race although the volunteers were wonderful.  The water stops were a little far apart.  I probably should have researched this ahead of time, but then I am famous for not doing this at most my races.
At the beginning having water every 3 or more miles wasn't too bad, at this point the race was in the shade.  However, I guess through experience knowing the heat of the day that was coming it did have me a little worried.  But I was feeling good, so much better than I thought I might having not ran much at all during the past two months to let my foot injury heal, so I tried not to think of the lack of water stops too much.

We exited one canyon, and then started down Spearfish Canyon, which was just as beautiful and green, except enter the very old large cliffs and mountains, and also a river to run down the canyon next too the road.
Miles 7 to 25 were all in this canyon.  At the half way point we left the road and headed down a dirt road, for an out and back.  (same area that Dances with Wolves was filmed, and the waterfall on the picture above was located.)  I was still feeling good, and the sun was just starting it's full shine onto the course.
I made a deal with myself, if I was still feeling good and on pace by mile 21, I was going to push it harder for the last 5 miles than I normally do and try for a PR.
However, water stops became an issue and creeping 90 degree temps were also pushing on.  I was feeling great until a stretch that I almost didn't get water for close to 4 miles, and in the full out sun.  Even though I had been drinking 2 cups at each stop, this lack of water in the later part of the course and in the heat was a killer, my pace slowed mile by mile, and although I was still on pace to hit a better time than I had in any other marathon's this year the dehydration was setting in.
I was bummed, but there was nothing I could do about it, once that happens you really cannot recover, even when I did finally reach a water stop.  All I could do was do my best to not loose too much time during these final 4 miles.

Bridal Veil Falls, Spearfish Canyon, SD

The last mile was on a trail along a river at the back of a campground, the first shade I had in miles.  So that along with the fact that the finish line was within reach pushed me through and my final miles pace was a little better than the past two.

Spearfish Canyon

I finished the race in one of my best times in about 7 years.  I was thrilled about that (still am).  Makes me feel like maybe I am finally back:)  I have high hopes of dropping a few more pounds and trying for a PR in one of my marathon's this fall.  Qualifying for Boston is still way out of my reach, but having my finishing time drop, really is an uplifting thought.

I had a great time, and LOVED South Dakota!!!  I can see myself going back, there are so many more caves I'd like to visit, and with all those Black Hill Forests I can just imagine it's also a hikers paradise!
I recommend The Leading Ladies Marathon, for those (women) who want to run a beautiful course.  But this is one race that I'd suggest it might not be a bad idea to carry a little water, or a container to use to fill around the half to carry some extra water with you for the 2nd half of the race if needed.
I think it's a fast course, having all the hills within the first 7 miles of the race.  However, like all courses like this, it's a killer on the quads:)  Not so much as what the St. George Marathon does to my legs, but I'd say the toll this race took on my body is 2nd only to what marathon's in Utah do to my body...

Creek in Spearfish Canyon