8 Weeks to Awesome – Hiking Training Plan

Most recently updated February 3rd, 2023

This is the time of year when everyone resolves to somehow change their lives for the better in the coming year.

This past year, my goals were pretty easy to define – at least for the first couple of months.

You see, I’d been battling a really vicious head and chest cold – since late November.

I'll be hiking on New Zealand's North Island - where all the volcanoes are!
I hiked on New Zealand’s North Island – where all the volcanoes are!

Then, that turned into an infection (of lung and sinus type) for a few weeks and that went away but the original cold came back!

This illness plus inclement weather and Holiday shenanigans kept me from doing my usual basic maintenance workouts or scheduling as many hikes as usual.

AND  – here’s where the goals come in –  I’d planned a hiking trip to New Zealand for early Spring.

So, my goal was to be healthy and strong enough to do all the things in New Zealand without any struggle. 

I had about 8 weeks to make that happen.   The good news is I did the training, went to new Zealand and had an awesome time hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

I squeaked back into the US literally hours before they shut down international travel to New Zealand.

Fast forward to now, and we’ve had some version of COVID-19 lockdown in place, limiting our activities, since I got back home in March.

That Man and I had planned a trip to Hawaii – Kauai, to be exact – for April that had to be rescheduled for this coming winter’s Holiday season.

That’s where my training program “8 Weeks to Awesome” – or Auckland, to be specific – comes back into play.

I’ve got to get back on the plan to be ready for the Hawaii trip – assuming we’re allowed to go this time.  (As of this writing, prohibitive quarantines and testing requirements are still in place for out of State visitors…)

If you’re looking for a way to get back into shape before the Holidays – even if you don’t have a big trip coming –  maybe you’d like to do it with me!

Continue reading 8 Weeks to Awesome – Hiking Training Plan

Fitness & Wellness

Most recently updated July 7th, 2023

Below are all of our posts with info and tips to help you get fit, eat a healthy diet, and promote wellness in your life.

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Fight Asthma with Vitamins and Supplements

Most recently updated July 7th, 2023

If you’ve read some of my other posts, you know that I’ve had asthma and have been fighting asthma my whole life.

In spite of allergy shots and prescribed inhalers and pills, my asthma got worse every year. 

Eco-friendly garden at Lake Crabtree County Park.
Eco-friendly garden at Lake Crabtree County Park.

After a childhood full of midnight ER visits and college years laced with time in Intensive Care,  I had  complete respiratory failure as a young working adult, and spent several days unconscious on a ventilator.

After that event, the doctors could only advise that I take  more daily medications and stay indoors in a controlled environment.

I realized then that the available asthma treatments would probably keep me alive, but would severely limit my life.

So, I moved across the country to escape the worst of my local airborne triggers – and got some breathing room 😉

Since then I’ve experimented with diet, exercise and supplements to find what might help reduce my symptoms and my use of most medications.

Through research plus trial and error, I’ve created a strategy that helps me breathe easier and stay healthy enough to do just about anything I want to do!

In this post I tell you about the vitamins and supplements available and the ones I’ve used – and mostly still use – that appear to help asthma.

For inspiration I’m also sharing more photos of beautiful places I’ve been able to hike, and beautiful plants and animals that haven’t made  me wheeze  🙂

If you’re looking for additional (non-medical)  ways to minimize or even eliminate asthma symptoms, maybe this strategy could help you, too!

Continue reading Fight Asthma with Vitamins and Supplements

Shenandoah National Park – Visit Guide and 5 Days of Hikes

Most recently updated October 15th, 2024

The Shenandoah National Park is right on the edge of  the areas of North Carolina and Virginia that were hardest hit by Hurricane Helene.

That said, the Park is open and many of the surrounding communities are open for business and could really use your Fall vacation dollars to help rebuild!

Go to my Hurricane Helene page to get the latest updates on the latest Park, Trail and road repairs.

Mists rise from the mountains after a summer rain.
Smoky Mountains get their name from the mist that settles in the valleys.

Shenandoah National Park first opened to the public in December of 1936.  It’s located in Virginia’s Blue Ridge mountains, less than a half days’ drive from home for me.

Though I’ve lived in the area for more than 20 years, I’ve never had the chance to spend much time in Shenandoah – until this past summer.

Bridge over the trout stream at Rapidan Camp
Bridge over the trout stream at Rapidan Camp

With 200,000 acres of protected land, Shenandoah National Park has some of the best hiking in Virginia –  and the entire mid-Atlantic region of the US – so you can imagine how excited I was to visit!

I had a great time exploring on my own,  but the park hosts a variety of  trails and attractions for everyone from expert hikers to families with small children.

Where is Shenandoah National Park?

Shenandoah National Park is only  115 miles from Washington, D.C., 95 miles from Richmond VA, and 250 miles from Raleigh NC.

That’s close enough for a great long weekend or longer family vacation, without getting on an airplane! 

I allowed a week for my trip – 2 days for travel, and 5 whole days to explore 🙂

Continue reading Shenandoah National Park – Visit Guide and 5 Days of Hikes

Hike, Bike or Just Relax at the North Carolina Museum of Art Park

Most recently updated September 17th, 2024

Signpost on the Green trail at the edge of the NCMA park.
Signpost on the Green trail at the edge of the NCMA park.

The North Carolina Museum of Art Park has been a tremendous gift to the whole Raleigh community.

The park’s trails and open lawns, ponds and pools, larger than life outdoor art, plus the amphitheater and outdoor movie screen provide a beautiful open air gathering place for everyone.

NOTE: We were just named a local NCMA expert on ApartmentGuide.   

Read the full article here: Unique Things To Do in Raleigh, NC 

I’ve gotten a lot of good use from the safe – and inexpensive – outdoor activities for kids the Museum Park has made available over the years.

From the time my daughter was in kindergarten through her college years  – and even now as a young adult in the community –  the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) and the Museum Park events and grounds have been a big part of both of our lives.

Continue reading Hike, Bike or Just Relax at the North Carolina Museum of Art Park

Foot Care for Hikers – From Blisters to Boots

Most recently updated July 7th, 2023

My feet hurt most of the time.

Hiking at the Romero Pools in Arizona

Accumulated damage from years of dance, martial arts, high heels, various athletics and now a couple of decades and  lots of miles of hiking means my feet hurt more often than they don’t.

Add metabolic aging of my feet now that I’m in my 50’s, and it’s a recipe for some VERY painful feet.

But I’ve found ways to alleviate my foot pain and prevent more injury so I can keep doing the active things I love!

How to Care For Your Feet

Footbridge at Pullen Park

As a hiker, you can’t overestimate the value of wearing the best hiking boots you can to have an enjoyable hike and avoid possible injury.

But  there are other things you can do to keep your feet happy beyond simply wearing good boots!

I love to be active outdoors and plan to keep on going for the long haul.  That means investing effort in taking care of my feet and legs as much as I can.

These are some of my  favorite tips to avoid or eliminate foot pain and keep your feet  happy, healthy and ready for any adventure!

NOTE:  Instead of  illustrating this post with images of injured feet, I decided to share pictures of some beautiful things I’ve seen  – while walking around  🙂

Continue reading Foot Care for Hikers – From Blisters to Boots

Pilot Mountain State Park – Hike, Climb, Paddle and Camp

Most recently updated January 16th, 2022

Pilot Mountain State Park  views from the top are especially spectacular when the Fall colors come out!  It’s a great place to take a family trip any time of year, with miles of trails, camping, climbing, canoeing, and lots of Ranger programs.

I’ve been visiting this park for many years, first with my daughter when she was young, and later with hiking friends or on my own.

View from the Ledges trail
View from the Ledges trail

Like the rocky escarpments in nearby Hanging Rock State Park, Pilot Mountain is a remnant of the ancient Sauratown Mountains.

In fact, the Sauratown Trail, a 22-mile (30 miles with spurs) trail for both hikers and equestrians, crosses the range and interconnects the two state parks.

This is a hike I’ve been dreaming of tackling for a while now – you’ll hear all about it when I do!

Perfect for Day Trips
Map of NC State Parks within an easy drive of Winston-Salem
Map of NC State Parks within an easy drive of Winston-Salem

Several NC State Parks are just far enough away to be special trips but still close enough to make good day or weekend trips from the Raleigh area.

Hanging Rock State Park, Pilot Mountain State Park, and  – just squeaking in as do-able with a 3 hour drive – Stone Mountain State Park.

Pilot Mountain SP is an easy 2.5 hour drive from Raleigh, so you can easily get there, hike all day and still make it home before bedtime – especially on longer summer days.  Of course, if you live in Winston-Salem it’s an even shorter trip 🙂

Every time I visit, there’s something new to see, and the view from the summit never loses it’s charm.

If you’re looking for something a little bit closer to the Raleigh area, try Umstead State Park or for younger kids, try  Yates Mill County Park.

Where To Stay
Talking to a llama at Divine Llama Winery
Chatting up a llama at Divine Llama Vineyards

If you want to spend more time to thoroughly explore the park and visit  local attractions like Horne Creek Farm or Divine Llama Vineyards, you’ll need to find a place to stay.

There are camping sites and canoe-in camp sites available in the park.   You can reserve a campsite on the ReserveAmerica site.

You could also find Pilot Mountain cabins to rent or stay at a Mount Airy or Pilot Mountain hotel. Continue reading Pilot Mountain State Park – Hike, Climb, Paddle and Camp

Run and Hike the Lake Pine Trail – Even if You Have Asthma!

Most recently updated July 7th, 2023

The Lake Pine Trail is a paved loop that circles the lake in Apex Community Park, located near the dividing line between the towns of Cary and Apex, close to Raleigh, North Carolina.

Like nearby Bond Park, Lake Crabtree County Park, and Umstead State Park,  Apex Community Park has the benefit of being in town, plus the appeal of hosting a fairly large recreational lake.

Another nearby park with paved walking trails is the North Carolina Museum of Art Park – but they don’t have a lake, just a pond. 🙂

The Lake Pine Trail Loop

Lake Pine is a great trail for running or walking, is smooth and wide enough to use your stroller or baby jogger, too – and is good for all skill levels.

Apex Community Park entry sign at Laura Duncan Road
Apex Community Park entry sign at Laura Duncan Road

The trail runs between the lake and other natural areas, so there’s a good chance to see wildlife.

I’ve seen deer, otters, loons, cranes, turtles – and fish 🙂

Dogs are also allowed on this trail but must be kept on leash.

The loop is about 2 miles long, and you have the option to venture off the main path to other unpaved nature trails, too. Continue reading Run and Hike the Lake Pine Trail – Even if You Have Asthma!

Hiking Tips

Most recently updated January 17th, 2022

If you’re a hiking beginner, there are a few things you should know before hitting the trail.

You really don’t want to become famous as an unprepared hiker who needed to be rescued!

Be prepared for weather and trail conditions!
Be prepared for weather and trail conditions!

I’ve put together some quick hiking tips for beginners, and if I’ve written a longer post on the subject, included a link to that as well.

Even if you’ve been around the trail a few times, you still might find a useful tidbit or two.

HIKING 101

The basic physical requirements for a hike are:

  • footwear that’s suited to your trail
  • hiking clothing layers that can be adjusted as needed
  • food and hydration for the trail
  • a way to carry essentials (daypack or backpack)
  • destination, with a plan to get there and back.

Continue reading Hiking Tips

Fun Outdoor Activity Ideas – 13 Trail Games to Play With Your Kids

Most recently updated January 16th, 2022

Kids play outdoors at the Prairie Ridge Ecostation

If you’ve read any of my other posts, you know that hiking with kids and fun outdoor activity ideas for the whole family are a big focus of my blog.

This week’s article is a guest post from Hannah Murley, who is a blogger over at OwntheYard.com, a blog that focuses on backyard games and gear.

Fun Outdoor Games For Kids

Hannah approached me with an idea for a post about trail games for kids, because we both seem to have some focus on getting kids outside.

Some of my posts contain affiliate links.  If you make a purchase through an affiliate link, I will receive a small payment at no additional cost to you.  I do not get paid for recommendations, all opinions on this site are my own. See full Disclosure page here.

Kids hiking at the Prairie Ridge Ecostation

Mostly, I focus on hiking with kids, but I also write about fun outdoor activities for toddlers that don’t include a lot of “hiking” unless you have them in some sort of carrying device.

So, I thought, that’s great – let’s get some ideas from a different point of view!

The games below are all fun, but some are more suited for play at a rest stop or in a park than for actual trail hiking.

Baby Backpack Carrier for Hiking with Kids

This could be due to the props you’d have to carry (in addition to any tired kids), or that the game might slow progress down the trail, or that the trail might be too rough for that particular game.

Hannah has made notes to that effect, but I urge everyone to use their common sense and knowledge of the trails and children involved to decide whether a game would be good for the outing you’re hosting.

And as always, remember to be courteous to others using the trail or park.

Do not block trails or trail access, and pause your game to allow other hikers to pass through.

13 Trail Games to Play with Your Kids

Hiking is a great outdoor activity for the whole family!

by Hannah Murley

Hiking is a great way to get children out in the open air, surround them with nature, and get them some healthy exercise.

While the wonders of the trail are new and intriguing at the beginning, over time kids can become bored.

Continue reading Fun Outdoor Activity Ideas – 13 Trail Games to Play With Your Kids