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For training this morning, I was going to hike to the top of Mount Mansfield, which is the tallest mountain in Vermont. Unfortunately, the trails were closed due to erosion concerns that could result from walking on them when they are muddy. Not to be deterred, I parked my truck in a lower, secret parking lot, and decided to just run up the bed of Browns River.
It turned out to be a great idea for a workout. In Norway, one of my coaches took us on a similar run, thinking that it would improve our balance, agility, and jumping ability. I'm not going to preach the benefits of running, or rather skipping, up a riverbed, but I will say that it is a lot of fun.
Just picture the sensory overload of such a workout. As the river flows through gorges and cascades down waterfalls, it roars loudly. The songbirds, which always seem to be present in such places, sing some background music for you. Flying across the river using slippery green rocks that are spaced just at the limit of your ability produces a sizeable adrenaline rush once you make it, and even more so if you don't and find yourself sitting in freezing water. Other times, you find yourself grabbing onto trees, vines, or whatever is handy to stabilize your inevitable, yet frequent slips.
For me, the workout became quite symbolic towards the halfway point. I realized that what I was doing was quite similar to the broader decision that I was being faced with: whether or not I should put my normal life on hold in order to pursue biathlon.
When skipping across rocks up a riverbed, you have to make choices about which path seems best from your perspective at that time. Five rocks later, you reevaluate your choice, and look for a new path. The reality is that it is inevitable that you will reach a dead end and have to turn around and go back a few rocks to keep moving forward up the river. Some paths are better than others, but they cross often. The key is making sure that you keep a good perspective and a watchful eye open for new opportunities. You also have to take risks and not be too afraid of getting your feet wet or scraping your knees.
But there is a required balance between those risky jumps and falling into the river. If you find yourself in the water too often, maybe you should consider swimming rather than running up the river.
Peace,
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