“A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to glorious success.” ~ Elbert Hubbard

Lake Tahoe! Just when I thought nothing could rival the majesty and beauty of Yosemite I arrive along the south shore of this picturesque mountain retreat. Zephyr Cove Resort is situated on the Nevada side of the lake and offers lodging, bare campsites, RV sites, a marina and horse stables. Calvin and Hobbes are assigned a serene and cozy spot nestled against the mountainside with towering pines and prominent rock outcroppings for company.

The title of this article came to me with Cindy’s help and with a perspective that I could only see in hindsight. Recovery in terms of the physical effects of trail running as well as recovery from my Substance Use Disorder. Persistence goes hand in hand with recovery by helping me overcome obstacles in my path, both on the trails and in my daily vigilance of staying clean and sober. I think you’ll see how these two terms apply to our trail running adventures in the Lake Tahoe area.

The first time I heard the phrase “recover on the run” was from Cindy as she explained her brother’s training method as a Marine and triathlete. The idea as I understand it is to keep moving (no matter how slowly) while you strive towards your objective. DON’T STOP!! It is possible to regain your strength and catch your breath while continuing forward. By practicing this concept, one can complete their goal more efficiently. In my experience any movement forward or in a positive direction yields more rewarding results than if I were to stop completely and then restart. It would seem to me that I lose a much greater amount of momentum by coming to a standstill as opposed to making a continuous effort to keep moving forward.

 

It is often said in the recovery communities of alcoholics and addicts that “if you’re standing still you’re moving backwards.” Translation meaning “You’re moving closer to a relapse, than to recovery.” In the context of Cindy’s and my trail running attempts during our time together (yes she did join me for this segment of the adventure and a more happy guy you could not find that week!), we encountered three different trails which stumped us. But rather than stopping, we decided to divert our course, seek another route and adjust on the run.

Without going into greater detail regarding which trails these were, it might be better to post a photo/video of the spectacular views we had along these trails concentrating on the positive aspects (a little leftover from the previous blog…:) of our shared experiences while in Lake Tahoe.

 

The above video was taken at Fallen Leaf Lake which Cindy and I were able to circumnavigate. And while we did run into some challenging terrain (due to swampy areas from melting snow and several sections where the trail was still buried in snow) it started with this interesting encounter!

 

In our persistence to find a fun and challenging trail to run we discovered (totally by accident) a disc golf course located within the Zephyr Cove Recreation Park. Located less than a mile from our campsite we scrambled along the 18 Hole course. With significant elevation changes, interesting obstacles and beautiful vistas, it proved to be a fantastic and fun trail run!

The week went so quickly and Cindy returned to our home in Surf City, NC. And while I am sad we will be apart from each other for another two months, we have already made arrangements for her to meet me in Sun Valley, Idaho! We will explore the Sawtooth Mountain Range around the little community of Stanley, ID in mid July and I am so excited to share another part of this adventure with her and my little travel companion Friday!

To summarize, even though we were not able to complete several trail runs as we had planned due to snow-covered trails above 7,000 feet, swamped trails at lower elevations around the lakes and paved roads where none were anticipated, we didn’t stop! We kept moving forward and remained persistent in our goal to explore this magnificent mountain country. Breathing in the pine scented fresh air, gazing at the bluest skies and water we’ve seen so far and enjoying our brief, but joyous time together, we reaped the rewards of our efforts. So, no matter whether it’s recovering on the run from substance abuse or your next triathlon, my suggestion is to keep moving forward, don’t stop and persist in your efforts to achieve your goals!

HAPPY TRAILS!!