I’m turning 50 today and I have been thinking about how to celebrate. I planned a reflective and inspiring post, and maybe I’ll write one later. I haven’t found much quiet space lately.
September has been wonderful and insane, with time spent with some of my favorite people doing some of my favorite things. Time in Beaufort with my parents and friends, the super-fun Blue Ridge Relay, teaching Dendrology (outdoors and in person!) at NC State with my biggest class ever (117!), and plans for backpacking with Andrew and the boys at Roan Mountain this weekend. My hope is to spend my birthday sleeping under the stars on Hump Mountain. [Unless I decide not to, most likely because I’m freezing.]
I love running—trail running especially, and adventure trail running even more. I’m excited to have signed up for the Black Mountain Marathon next February, again—which hopefully will be the Mitchell Challenge (if the weather cooperates, and if I can haul my booty up the mountain by the cutoff). But I’ll need to work hard to get there—my training has lagged the past two years. I miss the adventure and exploration, and the feeling that I can lace up and head out for a couple of hours. I want to feel wild again.
I was inspired by my friend Rhonda Hampton’s big 60th birthday goal of running 60 miles and fundraising for a charity that is near and dear to her heart. A 50 miler to celebrate my 50th birthday is a significant challenge for me—I’ve only run that distance once and it was five years ago. I plan to kick off my training on my birthday weekend (with my Roan hike), and complete my 50-miler on December 11th or 12th, most likely on the Falls Lake section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.
Where do I find inspiration for such a goal? From nature, of course. This year, I joined the Friends of Plant Conservation as a Life Member. They do incredible work in promoting public awareness of rare native plants in support of a small but mighty state agency, the NC Plant Conservation Program. NC PCP manages some beautiful preserves to protect native plants, with a wonderfully talented and hard-working staff.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am passionate about trees and conservation, people and running, family and teaching, writing and ecology. The chance to blend all of my favorite things…what a great way to celebrate the start of my 50th year! My fundraising goal is $5000, and I plan to write about my adventures along the way. I’m open to ideas as I figure out the details—and I’d love to have your support! The link to donate will be on my Facebook page.
I’ll close with one of my favorite poems by Mary Oliver, “Green, Green is My Sister’s House” – and the tree house Andrew and I are staying in to kick off my birthday hike!
Running with Scissors 