DISTANCE PERSISTENCE

AS MY FOOT DRAGS THROUGH YET ANOTHER

muddy puddle, I struggle to suppress the scream rising up in my throat. My rain jacket is utterly useless by now, and I’ve reached the point where I’ve forgotten what it was like to ever wear dry clothes. Water pours over my helmet visor as I struggle to see more than a foot in front of me. Then, as suddenly as the rainstorm blew in, it’s gone again, leaving behind blue skies and a trail that is now more mud than not.

Despite the change in weather, the realization that we’re only halfway to our campsite and we still have 30 more miles to bike dampens the elation I feel as the sun once again touches my shoulders. Yet the magic of the trail continues to pull at my sense of wonder, even when I think I can’t possibly pedal another mile.

When friend and fellow BRO colleague Shannon McGowan and I decided to bike all 184.5 miles of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath, I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to keep up or even finish. Shannon has been gravel and mountain biking for years, building up the muscles and technique needed to get through tough climbs and ride for dozens of miles, day after day, in the saddle. I trained for two months.

The term “quarter-life crisis” might sound like something made up by those of us who straddle the Millennial-Gen Z line to complain about that period of your 20s when you’re racked by uncertainty, insecurity, and self-doubt. Not that people don’t experience those feelings at every stage in life, but I find myself in early adulthood constantly questioning who I am and who I want to be.

As my 25th birthday approached, I prepared for the most physically taxing trip I’d ever taken on. Deep down, I needed to prove to myself I could get from Georgetown, D.C., to Cumberland, Md., by way of my own physical and mental power.

If You Go Wheelzup Adventures, based in Cumberland, Md., can provide bikes, gear, and shuttles for extended rides on the C&O Canal Towpath. The shop’s affable owner, Mandela Echefu, helped outfit our trip and provided vital information and good company on our journey. More info: wheelzupadventures.com

Frame of Mind

There was a time in my life I didn’t think I would make it to my 25th birthday. When doctors

removed a tumor from my neck and discovered it was cancerous, my 12-year-old self was terrified of what the future might hold. To a pre-teen suddenly face to face with her own mortality while struggling to fit into middle school, 25 felt a whole lifetime away. Now I’m here and I can’t stop wishing I could go back and tell that 12-year-old kid to embrace the uncertainty a little more and to let go of that tightly held control just a smidge.

That’s what I found out on the C&O Canal. I felt something inside me shift as I did nothing but bike, take in the scenery, and enjoy the company of a friend for four days. With the canal to our right and the Potomac River to our left, we watched the herons take off from their perches in search of food while the turtles were content to rest on their logs. We came to a sudden stop as a mama deer led her fawns across the path in the early morning light. We waved to other cyclists and hikers as we sang along to our favorite songs in order to forget the physical pain of riding all day.

The canal was never the same for more than a few miles, changing from swampy still water covered in a bright green algae to forested areas devoid of water but teeming with wildlife. Then we’d ride over a canal lock and suddenly there was enough moving water to paddle. We rode through canal towns filled with delicious places to refuel and miles of solitude without any cell service. Even when my legs were tired, my shoulder blades felt like they were on fire, and the cicadas wouldn’t leave my braid alone, the trail had a way of pulling me out of my own discomfort and encouraging me to appreciate the subtle beauty of the movement all around. At this time in early adulthood, that constant change and reminder of life resonated deeply within me.

For years, I’ve struggled under the weight of guilt that I am alive when so many who took on the same disease are not. It has taken years of therapy, conversations with friends and family, and a lot of personal work to start understanding all the ways in which fear, anxiety, privilege, and luck intersect in my life. I still don’t have it all figured out. I still don’t know what the future holds. Do I have 25 more years, 50 more years? I certainly hope so.

But even if I don’t, I’m going to try my damnedest to pack a full range of human experiences into whatever remaining years I have left. I’m going to hold onto the image of the light peeking through the trees as we rode across the land. And I’m going to start trusting my body again—the same body that betrayed me early on in my life carried me across this trail.

Learn more about our adventure on the C&O Canal Towpath, including an itinerary and gear list, by following this QR code to the online story and video.

OUTDOOR HAPPENINGS

Fall 2021 Race & Event Guide

Sign up for a race or attend a festival this fall and winter at one of the many outoor happenings across the region. Check out some of our top picks here and online at blueridgeoutdoors.com

Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea

Now - October 31, 2021 Nofolk, Va. The exhibition features larger-than-life sculptures of marine life created from trash collected on beaches. Washed Ashore is part of a global movement bringing much-needed attention to the overwhelming – and growing! – plastic pollution in our oceans. Made possible by The Batten Family Educational Achievement Fund of the Hampton Roads Community Foundation.

NORFOLKBOTANICALGARDEN.ORG/ WASHED-ASHORE-2021

Ladies Gravity MTB Clinic

August 21, 2021 Sugar Mountain Resort, N.C. A day of fun, girlfriends, and developing and improving mountain bike skills with Grace Owen. This camp is for all ability levels, however, it is recommended that participants has ridden on mountain bike trails at least once before. Full faced helmets and knee pads will be required and will be available for rent on-site.

SKISUGAR.COM/EVENT/LADIES-GRAVITYMOUNTAIN-BIKE-CLINIC

360 Adventure Collective

August 24-25, 2021 U.S. Whitewater Center Charlotte, N.C. This Paddle Sport Experience is for Retail Stores ONLY, not the public. If you carry paddle sports in the Southeast region, you’ll want to check it out! Registration is open online.

360ADVENTURECOLLECTIVE.ORG

Midnight Flight

August 27, 2021 Anderson, S.C. One of the Southeast’s largest night time road races, The 44th Midnight Flight, will take place Friday, August 27 at Anderson Area YMCA. 1 mile ~ 8:15 p.m., 5K ~ 9:00 p.m. Participants and spectators can take part in a street festival with vendors and music.

ANDERSONAREAYMCA.ORG

2021 Adventure X-Fest

September 10-12, 2021 Alleghany Highlands, Va. What is Adventure X-Fest? AXF is an adventure basecamp festival with really good music! Hosted at the Jackson River Sports Complex, Overland enthusiast from all over the East Coast head to the Alleghany Highlands of Virginia. for a weekend full of good food, good music, good people, and even better trail riding!

MOUNTAINSTATEOVERLAND.COM/ STORE/ADVENTUREXFEST

Rockbridge Beer & Wine Festival

September 11, 2021 Lime Kiln Theater, Lexington, Va. The Rockbridge Beer & Wine Festival is an annual tradition providing local and regional craft brews, wine tastings, and food trucks. The magical Lime Kiln Theater in Lexington, Va,. is the perfect venue for a summer afternoon fi lled with food, drink, and live music.

ROCKBRIDGEBEERANDWINE.COM

Harness Racing at Shenandoah Downs

Every Friday and Saturday, September 17 - October16, 2021 Woodstock, Va. Enjoy pari-mutuel harness racing at Shenandoah Downs in Woodstock, Va. Pacers and trotters will compete in 10 races or more every Friday at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The season runs from September 17 - October 16. General admission and parking are free, and the races are family friendly!

SHENANDOAHDOWNS.COM

Tuck Fest

October 1-3, 2021 U.S. National Whitewater Center Charlotte, N.C. Paddling, climbing, trail running concerts and more all in one action packed weekend. Tuck Fest celebrates the outdoor lifestyle through nearly 150 clinics, musical performances, races and yoga practices over three days. Best of all, it’s free to attend.

TUCKFEST.WHITEWATER.ORG

2021 Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Finals

September 14-19, 2021 Snowshoe Resort, W.Va. The eyes of the mountain biking world will once again turn to West Virginia this September, as Snowshoe Mountain plays host to a downhill double-header,

WATCH - WAGER - WIN - REPEAT!

Enjoy family friendly horse racing action this summer & fall with FREE GENERAL ADMISSION!

Thoroughbred Racing at Colonial Downs (New Kent, VA) July 19 - September 1 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at 1:45 PM colonialdowns.com

Harness Racing at Shenandoah Downs (Woodstock, VA) September 17 - October 16 Fridays at 3:30 PM; Saturdays at 1 PM shenandoahdowns.com

WWW.VIRGINIAHORSERACING.COM

culminating with the World Cup Finals and the crowning of UCI’s overall downhill and cross-country winners for the 2021 season.

SNOWSHOEMTN.COM/DISCOVERSNOWSHOE/UCI-WORLD-CUPPARTICIPANT-INFORMATION

Get In Gear Fest

September 25, 2021 Black Mountain, N.C. Experience the Outdoor Industry Hub of the East at the 7th Annual Get In Gear Fest. The entire family can demo outdoor gear, sign up for a trip, and meet the makers and leaders of the largest concentration of outdoor companies east of the Rockies.

GETINGEARFEST.COM

Forest Festival

September 25, 2021 Dupont State Forest, N.C. On Saturday September 25 (National Public Lands Day), Friends of Dupont State Forest will host the 4th Annual Dupont Forest Festival, an event celebrating the adventure, wilderness, and beauty of Dupont State Forest.

DUPONTFOREST.COM/FOREST-FESTIVAL 24th Annual French Broad River Festival

October 1-3, 2021 Hot Springs, N.C. Where Music, Art and Adventure meet. “Simply ONE OF THE BEST festivals and COOLEST places in the WORLD!!!!” “Like a big potluck at your best friend’s house.” “First class music all weekend!” “Rocked my Face Off !” “Loved the raft race!” “Always our favorite festival!”

FRENCHBROADRIVERFESTIVAL.COM

The Baltimore Running Festival

Saturday, October 9, 2021 Baltimore, Md. Join us for Charm City’s 20th Anniversary Running Festival! Choose from a full marathon, half-marathon, 10k, or 5k. From the furry cheerleaders at Maryland’s Zoo to the beautiful fi nish at the Baltimore Inner Harbor, runners are sure to have quite the unique and memorable experience. You will tour every corner of the city while tackling a fair yet challenging course that makes the post-race festivities all the more amazing and certainly well-earned!

BALTRUNFEST.COM

WE’RE BACK WE’RE BACK BABY! BABY!

Live Music Live Music Demos Demos Gear Gear Craft Beer Craft Beer Races Races Stunts Stunts & More & More

blue ridge marathon wins three categories blue ridge marathon wins three categories april 16 >> blueridgemarathon.com april 16 >> blueridgemarathon.com

October 15-17 October 15-17

Best Running Event 13.1+ Miles Toughest Race Best Running Event 13.1+ Miles Toughest Race Race Most Missed in 2020 (We missed you too!)

Race Most Missed in 2020 (We missed you too!)

Snowshoe, the lone North American venue on the 2021 Mercedes-Benz UCI MTB World Cup schedule, will be the site of a rare “downhill double-header.” Starting with downhill race #6 on Wednesday, September 15, culminating with the World Cup Finals and the crowning of this year’s Overall World Cup Champions throughout the weekend. Grab your tickets now and get ready to witness history.

Massanutten Resort Fall Festival

October 9, 2021 Massanutten Resort, Va. The Fall Festival features live music, arts and craft vendors, food vendors, beer and wine, kids’ activities, scenic chairlift rides, and more! Info and tickets available online.

MASSRESORT.COM/FALLFEST

The Bay Bridge Run

October 31, 2021 Annapolis, Md. After a three-year hiatus, the Bay Bridge Run is BACK! Don’t miss your only chance to run or walk across the majestic Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Maryland. The 10K course will traverse the eastbound span of the bridge from Anne Arundel County to Queen Anne’s County and fi nish with a huge postrace party with live music, vendors, and cold beer! You can expect a fun, well-managed event open to runners and walkers alike.

THEBAYBRIDGERUN.COM Moonbow Ultra

November 27, 2021 Roanoke, Va. Moonbow Ultra is a rugged trail race through the Daniel Boone National Forest. You’ll encounter stunning rock houses, creek crossings, and magnifi cent waterfalls. Most striking is the iconic fi nish at Cumberland Falls —home of the moonbow—often referred to as “The Niagara of the South.”

BLUERIDGEMARATHON.COM

*COMING UP IN 2022!*

The Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon

April 16, 2022 Roanoke, Va. Boasting 7480’ of elevation change, the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon is America’s Toughest Road Marathon. Named one of the “World’s 15 Toughest Marathons” by Runner’s World Magazine and BRO Readers,s this epic event is a must-do for your 2022 running calendar.