Grabbing Life by the Horns

Maybe it’s because I turn 50 next year, I don’t know, but I’m suddenly wanting to do the hard things. It’s not that I haven’t done hard things before — I just feel more compelled to do them now.

For starters, I registered for the MammothMarch at Burr Oak State Park next August. MammothMarch takes place at various locations around the U.S. Basically, participants complete a 20-mile hike in eight hours.

I need to do a bit of work to get to where I can hike 20 miles with a 1,700-foot elevation gain. But I have nine months and I started yesterday. I realized pretty quickly that the hiking boots I was wearing weren’t going to cut it. I have worn them for really short hikes with no problem, but at 4 miles in, they were really pinching my feet.

New hiking shoes ordered from REI. Hope they work out.

On yesterday’s hike, which was with Girls Who Hike Ohio, I met a woman who did the MammothMarch at Burr Oak this year. Her experience included several underground hornet nests on the trail, and several people were stung multiple times. She also got caught in a heavy downpour during the last 5 miles — and the last 5 miles is actually the toughest and has the most elevation.

Good to know, but the hornets kind of give me the shivers. At least I’m not allergic to stings.

In other news, my husband is off of his crutches and doing great in physical therapy. YAY! It’s such a relief. It’s taken a huge load off of me since he can now do more to help me out around the house and in the yard.

I’m on book 50 of my goal to read 55 books this year.

I’m currently mentoring a senior at Ohio State. We’re meeting up today for coffee.

Election day is two days away and I’m going to be a basket case on Tuesday. And probably beyond that, since this likely won’t be decided in one day. I have a massage scheduled for Tuesday evening to help me relax.

I need to get out this morning and do a little yard work. Temps have been above average. The bird seed has been sprouting. I need to dig up the mulch around the bird feeders and put down some fresh mulch.