1,000 Miles

I’ve been a runner for 35 years, and my husband and I walk in the evenings. I usually log between 400 and 600 miles a year. I love being outside, but now that we live in a milder climate, I’ve set a goal to move my body 1,000 miles in 2025.

Not only do running and walking maintain strength and help with weight control, but they also reduce the effects of stress. 2025 is proving to be a stressful year with the current political climate in the US. I’m also searching for an agent or publisher for my first novel-length manuscript.

I run every morning without technology of any kind. Birds, squirrels, deer, and dogs are the only noise in my quiet subdivision. I walk every afternoon, using the time to decompress away from screens and brainstorm ideas about manuscripts. I often wonder why I’m pulled to write about the natural world.

My thoughts take me back to my youth. I grew up in the ‘70’s - about a decade before youth sports consumed weekends. Our small family would swim in the summer, hike in the fall, and XC ski or sled in the winter. These tiny weekend adventures led me to be an adult who craves the outdoors.

I remember crowds and waiting in line from our day trip to Disney World when I was ten. The price of a one-day ticket was $7.50, and Epcot was under construction. But I can recall many more details from a day trip to a local state park in western New York. My sister and I played in the river and surrounding woods, catching tadpoles and finding fiddleheads. My dad roasted a small turkey on a portable grill while my mom wrapped new potatoes in foil and steamed them in the fire. I can still taste the meal.

While in college, I spent my summers as a Y residential camp counselor, where every day was spent in the woods, the meadow, or on the river. I slept in a cabin or a platform tent for months with no air conditioning and no technology beyond a wristwatch.

My trips to the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota produced memories of a lifetime that I work into my stories. I married a seasonally allergic husband who would be in absolute agony in the north woods. As a result, we vacationed with our own family in the Outer Banks of North Carolina on a semi-regular basis, and I’ve grown to love the salty ocean and beach just as much as the lakes in the north woods.

I love the open air, fresh scents, and natural light of the outdoors. Wish me luck as I strive to move 1,000 miles in 2025.

Writing news: Since my last post, I’ve published a short story with Nicole Frail Books’ &You Press. My short story, “Tiramisu,” is part of Craving You: A Spicy Valentine Anthology. This was a very fun project, and I’m honored to have my work alongside eleven other authors. The anthology is full of stories about food and Valentine’s Day with a decent amount of heat and love in every entry.

I’ve submitted my full-length manuscript and am waiting for results. In the meantime, I’ve written and edited two short stories for two different contests, one international and one local. I’ll keep you posted on the results.

My current read is Mistress Mackintosh and the Shaw Wretch by Rose Prendeville. This book is a historical romance set in Scotland. The characters are flawed, lovable, and historically accurate. This well-written story is fun and action-packed and has me turning the pages with lightning speed. I highly recommend this author.