Memories and Hidden Treasures: Revisiting the European Travels of an 18 Year Old – 1987
It was dark when we schlepped into a quaint seaside town on the southern coast of the Italian island of Elba. Saddled with our backpacks, we…
Reflections of a Grounded Traveller During a Pandemic
2020 is shaping up to be the year of the perfect storm. As a global community, we are facing political and social upheaval, an environmental crisis…
Editing Mountains – The Challenge of Telling the Remarkable Tale of the Swiss Alps in 20 Pages
It has been almost 6 months since my trip with Outpost Magazine to Switzerland. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about the staggering…
The Long Road of Experience: Travel and a Farewell to Schedules
I was 19 and fresh out of high school when I got a job doing menial work with the sole purpose of saving up to travel…
Use All Your Gears – to Maximize Fitness
In 2003-2004, I lived in the highlands of Costa Rica. I would often hop on my bicycle and head up into the outlying mountains. It was…
Writing and Running to the End of Time
Writing is a funny thing. For some of my writer friends, they feel like they have to force themselves to sit and write. And they can’t…
Over the Hill: Final Preparation for Running the Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB)
It has been a busy few months, juggling projects, including big edits on my book project, Josef’s Lair, working the bread-and-butter job, cross-country training, and, of…
The Itch: What’s Next?
I truly thought after completing my first ultramarathon this past September that a switch would turn off, and I would never have the urge to train…
Dreams vs. Responsibilities: A Tug of War or Peace Accord?
It’s one of the great challenges to pursue our dreams but also take personal responsibility for the choices we’ve made in life. It can be a…
Happiness and the Pursuit of Bliss
Several recent studies about happiness are quite joy-affirming… A few highlights: 1. Exercise more – 7 minutes might be enough (to increase happiness and reduce depression).…
Whistler’s Meet Your Maker 82km Trail Ultra– And Why I think I Made It
First off, wow. I loved this race, and I loved having the ultra-off-road experience in such a spectacularly beautiful corner of the world. In fact, the…
Meet Your Maker – Or Live Trying
From what I understand, the DNA of a flower contains a blueprint for the potential of that plant. Whether the conditions are right for that flower…
Start Them Young: Make Physical Activity a Lifestyle not a Chore
I don’t hate cars. I really don’t. Some of my best friends have cars. I even borrow my dad’s car from time to time, when I…
Return to a Childhood Eden – A Cross-Country Run in the French Pyrenees
I can hear the low warm chime of cow bells before I see them. Then, as I round the corner in view of a gushing river, the…
Turning Back the Clock – On Being 17 Again
The dream was cloudy. I can’t say where I was precisely, but I clearly remember wandering among crowds of people. I was despondent and weeping, mourning…