Month: June 2020

After a super tough week (mostly job related) I took off after a meeting in GR to go up to one of my happy places: Bellaire, MI. The city is a paradise for committed alcoholics with Short’s Brewing, Mammoth Distillery, Bee Well Mead/Cider, a wine shop and a bar all within the 2 blocks that make up the downtown. It’s also a paradise for hiking, biking and trail running with the Glacial Hills natural area just outside the city limits. I had fat biked the well groomed trails in February and was looking forward to taking my new XC bike for a spin and get some miles in toward the challenge. I prepped all week and got my gear around so I could camp in the back of my van at the trailhead but I wasn’t fully committed.

Having felt the weight of the world on my shoulders for the last couple of weeks, the very first step out onto the north part of the trail was reinvigorating. I ran the windy trails with some pep in my step and prayed and meditated. A storm must have rolled through earlier in the week because there were many large trees down across the trail and these trails are known for being well groomed and taken care of. My mood and the downed trees provided a revelation as I prayed and ran. These trees had weathered many storms. Why was it this one that brought them down even as others stood tall through it? I could see some had become rotten or had bugs and woodpeckers. Maybe it was another weak tree that hit a stronger tree as it fell. Or was it the accumulation of storms over the years? I thought about how down I was feeling and jumping over the trees gave me a renewed desire to be resilient. This wasn’t going to be the storm that brought me crashing down.

After running the north loop I hopped on my bike for the south outer loop. SO MUCH FUN. The bike is awesome and the trails were like roller coasters. I’m getting used to riding with clips and I didn’t crash so that was also a bonus. I made it back around 7pm and headed into Bellaire to do some reading, writing and meditating at Short’s.

But COVID had struck Bellaire. There was no getting into Short’s until just a few minutes before they closed and an isolated rain shower settled in overhead. All I could do was go back to my van and wait it out. I decided to chicken out on the van camping idea and just head home. I was rewarded with a rainbow and one of the worst nights of sleep I’ve ever had in my own bed. In the future, when I do day trips I think I’ll get up really early and try to come back in the afternoon – no van camping. Maybe I could get away once a month?

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I suppose every runner has a trail or path that they run on more than any other. For most, it’s whatever route is right outside their front door. This is certainly true for me and I feel especially blessed by my go to trail.

I love these trails so much that they are the reason I live where I live. For a decade before I was able to live near the park I would drive 20 minutes to come and wander the trails and pray. Those woods are my prayer spot and the trees know what’s really going on in my heart as much as God does.

Compared to other trails in Michigan, I’m not sure this humble county park would win any awards or be a destination spot. One time I was running and there was an unusually large group of people walking around and looking lost. They stopped me and asked me where the fall leaves were. Apparently Pure Michigan had put a picture of Burchfield in the fall on their Instagram and these people had driven all the way from metro Detroit. But the picture must have been from another year because the colors hadn’t popped yet.

The leaves are very beautiful in the fall and the park is wonderful in all seasons but it’s a humble spot. And that’s one of the reasons I love it. It’s not special because it’s spectacular. It’s special because it’s right there and it’s always ready for me even when it’s muddy, buggy, icy, or humid.

Since I’ve run here so many times (5x a week most weeks), there are many places that have gained meaning. There’s a spot where early one spring I was really struggling. I hadn’t run much and my hips were killing me to the point I had thought about walking. Then I swallowed a bug – like right down the windpipe – and I started choking. I choked so much and I was already so fatigued that I threw up next to the trail. It’s maybe not the kind of memory I wish I had but that spot on the trail never lets me forget that humbling moment.

On top of that I often think of that poor bug. It had probably just come to life. Maybe just took off for its first flight and then it ends up being swallowed by a limping, sweaty giant and then expelled in a pool of vomit. I think the bug had a worse day than me. But I did feel pretty bad walking home.

I have many more memories of the park: prayer spots, interestingly aroused trees, animal encounters and runs solo or with good friends. Since it’s my go to I’m sure I’ll tell more tales from these trails even if the mileage only counts once. The blue loop is almost a perfect 6.2 from my front door by the way. And I’ve got to count my go to as the first 6.2 of this challenge.

I’m sure there all kinds of other go to’s in life. I think the trick is staying grateful, embracing the humble, and not letting it become mundane.