This is me. I'm not fancy.

Full disclosure: I haven't always been a hiker nor have I ever been a blogger. Also, I'm not fancy. I'm not even sure I know how to do this blogging thing but I'm going to give it a shot. I hope I'm not terrible at it!

Becoming an avid hiker and having the desire to document my experiences are things that are a bit unexpected for me. You see, I didn't grow up in a family that particularly relished in the outdoors (although I lived in rural towns) and I have always been an introvert so public speaking isn't exactly my most favorite thing. That being said, my career in higher education has pushed me out of my comfort zone and has caused me to be in positions where public speaking is necessary. I do it. It's fine. I just don't tend to seek it out. That's the "work me"...the one who speaks up, gets things done, and has confidence. The "outside of work me" is my fly-under-the-radar self...the one who loves to go unnoticed. Perhaps that's why I have become so passionate about hiking, particularly in wilderness areas. It allows me to escape a world that is full of noise and people who expect me to be as loud and extroverted as they are. It enables me to breathe deeply and be who I am without judgment or anxiety. Nature doesn't require me to have a certain personality, fill a word quota, be a particular size, or fit into a society-imposed box. It lets me be exactly who I am in precisely that moment, which is what I have always longed for.

I've had several people mention that I should write a book or start a blog. That's where the idea for Not Your Average Hiker came from. In the last couple of years I have fallen in love with hiking and being outdoors. I hiked over 250 miles (most of it in the wilderness) just last year alone. I set a goal of hiking Half Dome before I turned 40 and accomplished it! For me, hiking is a way to clear my mind and to cleanse my soul. I find solace among the tall trees, smooth granite, and sparkling alpine lakes. It feels like home to me and I crave the sights, smells, and feeling it gives me just about every day of my life. But, there's also this thing called "adulting" which requires me to work and be responsible...so, I go out for some trail therapy just as often as I can, but not nearly as much as I'd like.

I guess I should back up a bit and talk about why my experiences are even notable enough to blog about. I suppose that to some they may not be, but for me the drastic change that has occurred in my life in the last two years is nothing short of remarkable. Two years ago I was at the heaviest weight of my life and the most miserable I've ever been. I couldn't even stand to look at myself in the mirror. I had no confidence and no energy to do all of the things my life required me to do. I felt helpless and hopeless. At that time I had been out of any sort of exercise routine for FIVE YEARS! I let life's circumstances derail me and I became unbearable, even to myself! After some minor health issues I recognized that I was on a self-made path of destruction and I needed to get myself out of it! My wonderful chiropractor told me about some Zumba classes at Sierra Flow Fitness and I decided I had to give it a try. The rest is history!

Little by little I gained more stamina and I lost a decent amount of weight. Living in the Sierra, I started to think that perhaps some of those "impossible" hikes that people around me were doing were closer to my reach than I had ever imagined. I started out very small - just a few miles - on familiar trails that a typical family would take their small children on. It was tough at first. It was definitely something I had to work at very diligently, especially in the beginning. As my stamina and confidence grew I ventured out more and before I knew it I was addicted!

Although I always want to be outdoors, I know that I can't always be out there so I view my regular weekly workouts (typically 5-6 days a week) as a preparation tool to be able to do the thing that I love (read: hike!). I now live my life by the concept I train so I can. Each workout has been a way for me to improve my endurance, agility, cardiovascular health, and strength - all of which has helped me tremendously out on the trail. As a bonus, my training also helped me to complete two Spartan races. Never in my life did I ever think I would be able to do something like that - and at age 40! I feel like my life has just begun.

So, I guess that's the premise of why I chose to start writing this blog. I'm NOT your average hiker nor have I thought of myself as an athlete since high school (a million years ago!). However, during this process of self-discovery I have found that I am precisely those things. Sure, I might get people who look at me like I'm crazy and underestimate my abilities, but you know what? It makes me push harder! Heck, when I was climbing Half Dome it didn't even occur to me that there was nobody else up there who looked like me (plus size) and I'm so glad I didn't! Do you know why? That seed of self-conscious doubt could have very well kept me from being successful in reaching that summit. That would have been a confidence killer and a waste of the six months I spent training for that hike!

So, this is what I hope to share with everyone who has ever struggled with feeling inadequate. You are enough. You can do whatever you set your mind to do. Nobody can tell you that you aren't capable except yourself. You don't have to come from a certain background, be a particular size, or fit any kind of silly stereotype to create and smash goals, whatever they may be. You get to choose what those goals are. Nobody else. Will it be hard work? YES! Will you doubt yourself? Almost certainly! Will you have moments when you want to throw in the towel? Undoubtedly! But you know what comes with pressing forward despite everything that comes against you? The sweet taste of victory and a new sense of confidence that will allow you to overcome any and every obstacle that tries to stand in your way.

I also want to encourage you to start TODAY. Start thinking of all the things you wish you could do. Reactivate your desire to dream bigger than where you are right now. I have to tell you that this process took quite a long time for me and I'm not exactly sure when everything just clicked, but I'm so glad it finally did! Give yourself the gift of happiness and health and get out there and try something you've been too afraid to try. Trust me, as a recovering perfectionist and a person who was too afraid to try new things for fear of failure, I have learned that the reward is much greater than you can imagine! So please do yourself a favor and start to imagine what it would look like if you tried something new, even if you stumbled at first. All you have to do is get out there and try. Decide right now to do one thing that pushes you outside of your comfort zone. Then do another thing...and another. Make this a practice for your life and pretty soon you'll be surprised at how far you have come. Enjoy your discovery!

Happy trails!

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves." - Sir Edmund Hillary