Jill paces her friend Anne Hurwitz as she was approaching an aid station at mile 34.3 on Route 28 near Seneca Creek during the Stone Mile 50-mile race . Anne is still smiling even though she still has about 20 miles more to go !
Trail running for many of us is more in tune with your surroundings and experience a sense of a symbiotic relationship between the human experience and Mother tranquility . The trails not only connect us to each other , they connect
Nature . It has a way of making you present through listening to your to other trails and the sights and breath . Paying attention to the sounds of natural habitats . There is breath has a calming effect which a meditative quality to immersing can help reduce stress , and anxiety yourself in nature . Several cultures and clear the mind . You become have a specific word to describe
Local running clubs
n Virginia Happy Trails Running Club which is based in Northern Virginia but serves the Metropolitan DC area : new . vhtrc . org n Montgomery County Road Runners Club . Look at Calendar if you are a member ; they have many free runs : mcrrc . org n My Muddy Shoes : mymuddyshoes . org n Trail Systems in MoCo : montgomeryparks . org / activities / park-trails / n Seneca Creek State Park Trails : dnr . maryland . gov / publiclands / Pages / central / Seneca / Trails . aspx this feeling . For example , the Japanese call it “ shinrin-yoku ” and the Scandinavian concept is called “ friluftsliv .” If you pay attention , you may see a family of beavers constructing a new home , eagles soaring above , owls hooting at one another , the occasional snake or snapping turtle .
I know that to many people , this may not sound fun , but we all have our reasons for being out there . Those reasons are why ultrarunning has grown in popularity . It is not just a sport , but a culture created by a supportive , inclusive community . We run to collectively celebrate triumphs and struggles which is the fellowship that binds us together . I have met some of my best friends out in the woods on the trails in my backyard . Ultrarunning is a transformative journey but not only to the finish line . It is about personal growth , mental toughness , perseverance , and the camaraderie that connects us .
If you are interested in finding out more about your local trail running clubs and trail networks , check out the wonderful resources listed in the box on this page .
Jill Diss has been a dental hygienist for more than 25 years . She is an ACE certified wellness coach , trained in therapeutically based yoga and has a Master of Public Health degree focusing on health behavior and health promotion , currently working in population health . When she is not running on the trails , she can be found mountain biking or kayaking with her husband or in Richmond , Va ., spending time with her three daughters and two grandchildren . From Berryville , Va ., Jill now resides on Berryville Road in Darnestown with her husband Ted and their dog Leo .
24 plenty I spring sowing 2024