The impulse surf trip

A week filled with high quality intervals and one astonishingly muddy run on the Appalachian Trail needed a great ending…which Erika, Andy and I found alongside 50 other wetsuit-clad diehards out to get a little surfing in despite some cold weather! Before I get to that, let’s talk about the training.

The girls on our intervals up “Terrible Hill” (photo by Coach Pat)

We had a solid week with some high quality intervals and lifting sessions. The L3 intervals were a great chance for all of us to work on our weaknesses while contributing something to the team. So while I would lead parts of the double pole on the flats, I’d tuck in behind Sophie and Annie on the striding uphills to mimic their beautiful smooth technique and learn a few things!

Ruka rocking the flannel

Striding it out on Terrible Hill! (photo by Reese Brown – SIA)

Pat keeping our pole tips sharp! (Reese Brown photo)

Reese Brown came over to take some action shots for the team on interval day. It was so great to have him with us and it was incredibly kind of him to take some time out of his schedule to get us some cool training photos!

Girls double pole interval train (photo by Reese Brown)

Simi leading Ben and Paddy up Terrible (Reese Brown photo)

Annie and Sophie having a good time between intervals! (Reese Brown photo)

The #Annies having a good time between intervals! (Reese Brown photo)

It also rained last week…a lot. We got an inch in one particularly eventful morning during a 3+ hour trail run on the AT trail. I’m not going to lie, there were some moments when everyone got really quiet because slogging through ankle-deep muddy water with hidden rocks and roots underneath it can get pretty difficult. But then someone would burst out laughing at the ridiculousness of us swimming upstream and I’d realize how funny the whole thing was!

Paddy, Ben, Me, Andy and Sophie ready for a rainy run (photo by Anne)

The girls post-run….things got a little muddy on the AT trail (photo by Pat)

When Erika casually mentioned that she and Andy were planning a trip to Hampton, New Hampshire to surf what was promised to be an amazing and bigger-than-normal-break, I jumped on it. We threw together a few things in a bag, jumped in the car and drove a few hours over to NH. On the way we stopped at a movie theater and saw Jurassic World, which of course made the rest of the drive so nerve-wracking. I kept checking the rearview mirror, waiting to see Chris Pratt come into view on a motorcycle surrounded by his raptor gang. To tell you the truth, that movie sure was humbling because if the heroine can out-spring a T-Rex in high heels, then I most certainly can run for a few hours on the AT trail!

On the road, ready for an adventure!

After sleeping at a hotel, we got up early the next morning and went straight to “The Wall”. Which is this huge concrete wall running the length of Hampton beach, which keeps the big waves out and gives all the spectators a great place to park it and watch the surfing action.

Andy and Erika getting the boards ready to go and scoping out the waves

The waves were anything from 3-6 feet, or head high. Which was big enough to be fun and thrilling and a little scary because it was over my skill level. So naturally, I do what I usually do…jumped right in and got tossed around a little until I figured things out.

Waxing up the board! That stuff smells SO good. (photo by Erika)

I got pounded a few times trying to paddle out again after catching a ride, and one particular wave let me know what my clothes go through when I put them in the dryer. But it was so exciting being out on the ocean in big waves. Even when I got beat up by them, it was such a rush when I’d finally catch one!

Andy heading out!

After a few hours out in the freezing water (we had wet suits on) I finally got so cold that my feet turned numb and when I popped up on my board I got confused, trying to figure out why I couldn’t feel the board or make it move. I looked down and saw that all my toes were white! Oops, time to get out. I must have looked so silly stumping up the rocky beach, unable to feel my feet and wavering around! It was a tired and satisfied crew that headed back to Stratton after our little getaway.

My only regret with leaving town is that I missed seeing Scott Jurek run through Stratton. He is setting a speed record running the Appalachian Trail in 42 days, and I have no doubt that he will make it in record time! Simi set out to run a few hours with him, and told us all about it when we got back. Needless to say, we were all pretty starstruck and inspired by this guy running 50 miles a day on tricky terrain for days on end.

Ben blowing out his Birthday Cake candles

When we got back we had a team celebration for Ben’s 23rd Birthday! Then it was time for me to pack up and fly to Minnesota for a week at home with my family. I’m so happy to have some family time and I’m excited to be the Grand Marshal in my hometown of Afton’s 4th of July parade!

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