I felt sick when I woke up. Or more accurately, got out of bed, because it felt like I barely slept a wink all night. A soreness was creeping back into my throat and a nagging voice was growing louder in my head, questioning my ability to complete a 40 mile trail run today. Was …
I did my longest run ever yesterday -- 22.5 miles, all on trail, in the snow. It was harder than I expected. By mile 11, I was feeling like I would just like to be done. My ankles, knees, and hips were starting to hurt. I was feeling this way earlier than I have on …
Back in early 2019, I got this idea that I wanted to do the entire 42-mile Allegheny Front Trail by foot in one day. I covered 20 miles of it on a cold day that February, a President's Day adventure on a bit of a whim. The spark was ignited. But shortly thereafter, my right …
I've had my eye on the Allegheny Front Trail (AFT) lately. I'm not sure why it in particular has garnered my attention over all the other great central Pennsylvania hiking trails --- maybe it's the proximity to Evan's new workplace and our general newly found interest in the Black Moshannon area, maybe it's its attainable …
The air is still and the world is quiet except for the occasional bird song. My own breath and the sound of feet on dirt keep a steady rhythm in my head, a beat that keeps me going, step after step. I don’t know how many miles in I am but the pain is starting …
Last Saturday, I did my first trail running event since Hyner in 2013 – the Mile Run Trail Challenge half marathon. Those 13 miles and the training run I did of the same distance a few weeks ago were also the farthest I've run at all since 2013. I rediscovered mountain biking that year so …
I took a break from my run and stood in the middle of the trail, looking at the unending ribbon of slush-covered rocks ahead. My feet and ankles were starting to ache from sliding and trying to catch my balance. I'd gone about 2 miles but it felt like 10. I looked at my phone for …
I stared up at the shadowy silhouette of the mountain looming against the clouded sky. My anticipation grew. I'm going to run up that? And then another 12 miles, up two more mountains, after running up that? I must be insane. And can I really do this? I was going to find out. It was …
On a Thursday evening in mid-March that was a lot colder than it should be for the time of year, I found myself stumbling up a trail that bore a slight resemblance to an ice skating rink after a group of serious runners. Runners who were talking about the 15-mile run they did a few …
helena kotala 