16 Mile Run – Lake Tahoe

What an adventure! For a couple of city folks like us, running alone in the woods with the mountains in the background is such a treat.

Every year Tyler and I go to Lake Tahoe with my father-in-law for a week of skiing. This has been a tradition for Tyler since he was a kid, and I’ve been lucky enough to join them for the last 6 years. This year Tyler and I decided to take a “rest day” from skiing to explore more of South Lake Tahoe on foot.

Distance: 16 miles

Trail: South Lake Tahoe bike trail from Heavenly Village to Pope Beach

I’ll let the pictures do the talking, but a few highlights in summary:

1. Bear tracks!
2. Big cat tracks!
3. Breaking through fresh snow in the woods (after a few pleasant but uninspiring miles through town)
4. Did I mention BEAR tracks?

Lessons Learned

1. Don’t underestimate the altitude. This run felt every bit as hard as our 22 mile run in DC the previous weekend
2. Sometimes it’s okay to stop and smell the roses. We don’t usually stop during training runs, but this time we approached it as an adventure more than a workout. We stopped to take pictures, inspect animal tracks, and admire the scenery along the way. We would have missed a lot of cool things if we didn’t take our time and savor the experience
3. We live in a beautiful world. If you’re feeling stressed, burned out, sad, or just plain crummy, spend some time in nature. The smells, sounds, and sights will bring you back to life