While biking and hiking I have been letting my running sit out. This was primarily due to my Achilles‘ tendon having issues, however there comes a time when you must get back into running, since it has always been a big part of my life. Running helped me zone out all while being alert at the same time. There was a period where that’s all I did. Like my usual self an ever evolving person I enjoy much more now.
Anyway today was the day I ran probably in more than a month but it wasn’t just any run. I was going to run Translator Lane, which is a service road that leads to the top of the Mountain overlooking palmerton, with an elevation over 800 feet, which a steep incline! I first learned of this when one of my friends Chris invited me to run up with it because it was a killer run. We’d always joke about how the last person in our small group would get jumped by a bear.
When accomplishing a run like that time doesn’t matter to me the first few times because completing it is more important. So I grabbed my Brooks Cascadia 10s and headed out the door over to the trail. I got my music going and ran up the hill and it’s no joke I stopped at 0.3 miles to catch my breath but then I kept at it stopping here and there for a quick breath. As I was ascending up the trail I encountered hikers, to which they all show amazement seeing somebody run up the trail. They are all always friendly on the trail and all let you know “you’re nuts”. Finally reaching the top in about 16 minutes I was eager to take a break.
when you reach the top there are radio towers, camping areas and a trail that leads further west toward the Lehigh Tunnel. I decided to stop at the usual spot, which overlooks Palmerton.
I decided to take a seat on the mountain and just relax for a while, I decided to do a meditation class on my Peloton app, what better place than here?
After being mystical, I began the decent in rapid fashion, crossing from left to right dodging washouts on the trail which were not a problem going up. Still running into hikers going down, still friendly. Finally reach the bottom I felt accomplished and I still had my whole day ahead of me. I will definitely be back to do it again very soon. Lately I have been getting into climbing elevations and I feel as though it’s the biggest payout when it comes to a hike. Same goes for running and you know what it applies to life too. If you constantly keep chipping away at something you get better you eventually reach the apex of that goal. Elevation is Key.