I’m Running

Jenelle likes the challenge of a race. Not just any race, but longer endurance type races that take a lot of training. Whether it's on a bike or running, it doesn't matter to her, as long as she feels that it’s pushing her. Her goal usually isn't to be the winner, but to finish and she wants to finish well. Even when she hasn't identified what that next race will be, she still works out, doing things that will keep her in shape until she finds that next challenge. Injuries don't usually stop her either. She'll find a way to work around the injury by doing some random workout that let's the injury heal. I'm always amazed at her persistence. Not being a runner myself, and knowing how hard it is to even run a mile, I can't imagine how painful running a marathon would be. She talks about hitting the wall at mile 20, "when your body is screaming stop, but your brain tells you to keep going and so you just keep putting those feet down, one after the other, until you reach the finish line. Those are the hardest miles, but you trained for this and so you keep on running."

 My marathon is the hunting season for whitetails. To some of you that might sound like a joke. To me, that's how it feels. Of course, I want to get the biggest buck and all of that, but really, that isn't what matters. I just love the whole process and all of the different seasons. Hunting is the actual race but the training is almost as fun. I really enjoy bow hunting and all of the practice it takes to become proficient at it. To pace myself, I try not to hunt much before mid-October.  Otherwise I will hit my wall way too early in the season. I'll bow hunt up through most of November and then rifle season comes in.

Rifle season is a bit like a 5k, not that it's easier, but if you've been bow hunting, you can pretty much just keep the same routine.  When hunting I generally like to be in the stand long before daylight. Since I usually get up early anyways it's not a big deal. But after getting up early and getting out in the winter cold every chance that you get it can start to wear on you. So when I say rifle season is a little like a 5k, it's more about the large crowd and the commitment. Since it doesn't take as much commitment, it seems like everyone and their brother is out there. This is when the majority of deer are harvested and it's an important part for controlling the deer herd.  I generally use this season to get out with the kids and have fun and make memories with them.

Then, after rifle season there is two weeks of muzzleloader season. Most of the hunters are gone. The weather gets cold and the deer find hideaways deep in the forest. Even seeing a deer out in the wild becomes a difficult thing.

After that is late archery season that goes through the end of January. Usually there are only a few diehards out hunting in January. With snow and tracks everywhere, it's a great time to learn where and how the deer hide after being pressured all year. That really gives you an advantage for the next year. And so I like to keep going to the end.

So last night I hit my wall. Not only in hunting but writing as well. I wasn't sure what I was going to write about this morning. Part of starting our new business was that we want to share our  journey with you. Not just in what we make, but what we do, like fishing or backpacking trips, our chickens, you name it. I was going to put a blog out every Monday. So as I was saying, I hit the wall. I didn't know what to write. I didn't want to write more about Christmas. Jenelle reminded me that I didn't need to write anything, there was not a requirement to write every week, especially if I wasn't enjoying it. 

One of the things on my bucket list is to write a book someday about how to harvest mature bucks in the mountains of western Maryland on public land.  I currently don't feel like I have enough knowledge for such an undertaking. Most of my success is tied to luck. And I want to become a better writer as well, and so I keep writing.

This morning it felt so cold. Just a day past the full moon. 18 degrees. The rocking chair and coffee were awesome. I didn't want to leave the warm house. Didn't want to head out.

And so I put one foot down in front of the other.

I'm running.