Waypoint Narrative #8
Waypoint Narratives: Five questions, one objective - share stories of people who have experienced the impact of the outdoors.
Today, Scot is joining us on the blog to share about his experiences on the trail and roads! I met Scot at our local running group (it is a GREAT way to meet new people - look around in your area for these types of groups at running stores or on Facebook Groups). It has been a blast to watch Scot work diligently towards his running goals. He is one of those people who you meet and feel like you immediately have a #1 fan because of his unwavering support (in person and/or on Strava). Here is Scot:
Do you have a trail name, and how did you acquire it?
I don’t have a trail name! I didn’t even know that was a thing until I started following your blog! Full disclosure – I run a decent amount of roads…
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Alright folks, with that said, that’s the end of this blog. Thanks for participating, Scot…
Totally kidding - it is great to get perspectives from people who enjoy the outdoors in any capacity - trails, roads, and everything in between. Outside is outside!
What is the most prominent thing the trail/the outdoors has taught you about yourself?
It’s taught me that there isn’t just one way to measure success. I ran high school cross country and college cross country. Training was mainly on road and paved or gravel paths and there was a strong emphasis on speed. When you run trail there is way less in your control and you just have to accept it (like life in general!)
What are the key waypoints of your life that ultimately lead you to the trail in the first place?
Last year I was frustrated with my progress towards my goals. One of my running friends suggested I start including trails in my training, so I picked up my first pair of trail shoes in 2022 and gave it a try. I soon met more people that ran trails and have gradually incorporated it to be a big part of my regular training!
Share about one of the most memorable problem-solving moments you’ve had on the trail.
I wound up off course even though my watch was saying I was on course, but I was literally wading through brush taller than me! After being lost for 20 minutes or so the mind starts to panic and wonder “am I going to make it back before dark?” I just reminded myself that I couldn’t be far and could always back track if I had to. I decided to just walk in the creek rather than fighting the brush and eventually found my way back to the trail (several scrapes, a lost pair of sunglasses, and one bee sting later.)
Who and/or what inspires you to keep moving forward? Who doesn’t inspire me is the question?
Who doesn’t inspire me is the question? Everyone in the running community inspires me. When I see the types of things my running friends do – from steep climbs to icy winter runs that test human limits – I feel like there’s nothing I’m not capable of. Seeing what others do has motivated me to do more than I would have ever thought possible since I picked up running again a few years ago!
