Walk Into the Future

Tag: Adventure

  • Gatlinburg 2025

    “Life’s a climb, but the view is great.”

    (Unknown)

    My Walk into the Future allowed me to venture back to the Smoky Mountains which is one of my favorite places during Thanksgiving week.  This adventure has become a tradition for me since I moved to Fort Pierce.  I look forward to getting off the grid and just walking around in the Tennessee mountains for a few days to reset mentally.  I never imagined hiking would become an important part of my journey but can’t see my journey without the Smoky Mountains as a backdrop.

    I normally drive up to the Smoky Mountains from Fort Pierce but decided to leverage my Delta SkyMiles and fly this year.  My Walk into the Future running tourism adventures produced enough frequent flyer miles for a roundtrip ticket from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) to McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Flying eliminated me from having to drive 12 hours to get up to the Smoky Mountains and got my hiking adventures started sooner than normal.

    The flight from PBI had a short connection in Atlanta but the overall flying experience was smooth going and coming.  The McGhee Tyson airport is small and easy to navigate.  Baggage claim and the rental car counter were centrally located.  I was in and out of the airport with my rental car in less than thirty minutes for my Tennessee adventure.  I was not in a hurry to get anywhere so found a Buffalo Wild Wings close to the airport and posted up for lunch.  Left Bdubs after wings and potato wedges and headed to the Smoky Mountains.  GPS took me on the scenic route which allowed me to see several small Tennessee towns on my way to the Smoky Mountains.

    I am a creature of habit and stayed at the same Fairfield Inn and Suites (Marriott) property when I’m in Gatlinburg.  It is centrally located and provides an easy walk into downtown Gatlinburg, so I don’t need to find additional parking.  The weather was a lot warmer than normal this year and I was welcomed to my hotel by a family of black bears foraging across the street in a local backyard.  I saw several people walking around the parking lot when I arrived but didn’t understand what they were doing or looking at.  I quickly saw the four black bears when I got out of my car, and they were about 50 yards away.  The bears were not interested in the people in the parking lot but seemed to have enough food available to them in the yard they were in.  I took a few pictures with several tourists between me and the bears and then went inside to complete my hotel check-in.  I’ve never seen bears in populated Gatlinburg areas but seeing this bear family so close to humans put me on alert to always be aware of my surroundings.  This was needed because bears were everywhere this year! ☹

    I’ve been to the Smoky Mountains so many times that I know which trails I want to explore before I get there.  I always start with an easy hike on the Gatlinburg Trailhead which starts on the outskirts of town.  This simple trail has a lot of scenery and flowing waters.  There’s not much wildlife to see on this trail but it’s a nice introduction back into the mountains.  I headed further up into the Smoky Mountains towards the Sugarland hiking area. The Cataract Falls are in this area, and I wanted to get back there for some pictures.  This trail is not very hard and has multiple ways you can venture.  I decided to head directly to Cataract Falls with hopes it was not too crowded. Well, it was crowded with hikers and most of them had small kids so a picture of the falls would have taken a long wait, so I decided to head back up the trail and find a trail with less people. 😊

    Chimney Top was my next stop, and this trail requires a lot of energy and effort.  I made my way back into Gatlinburg for lunch prior to scaling up the Chimney Top trail again.  My first go at this trail 3 years ago was the toughest hike I have ever experienced.  I made it but it was a struggle for the first time.  It was a bit easier last year because I saved my legs prior to getting on the trail.  I was able to make it up without incident this year as well.  The warmer weather made it a bit tougher, but the trail was fine.  There were people on this trail but there was never a feel of traffic going up or down Chimney Top.  The highest point for this hike is 4,724 feet above sea level.  It’s breathtaking once you make it to the top and most folks need time to rest up before heading back down the trail—me included.

    I went back to the hotel to rest up and regroup before heading into Gatlinburg.  There are a few music venues in Gatlinburg, and I headed to Ole Red for dinner.  I found a spot at the upstairs bar and enjoyed dinner, beer and live music.  I left Ole Red to head over to Jason Aldean’s for more live music.  There was a large crowd of folks walking in the opposite direction and they seemed excited.  I didn’t know where they were heading or why they were excited.  I found out quick—there was a large bear walking close to the water below us and it was headed towards two men sitting on a park bench.  Several folks shouted to the men that a bear was coming their way—I’m not sure they believed them until they saw the bear and moved.  The bear didn’t seem interested in the men, but he would have walked within 10 feet of them if they hadn’t moved.  Did I mention that bears were out this year? 😊

    The band at Jason Aldean’s was much better than the folks playing at Ole Red.  I saddled up to the bar and enjoyed some live country music and cold beers. The crowd was friendly and it was a great way to end the night.

    I explored a bit further into the Smoky Mountains on my second day.  I drove up and stopped to take pictures of areas I hadn’t seen before.  I got on a few small hikes but didn’t venture too far off the trails since the bears were still active due to the warm temperatures.  I made a quick stop at the outlet malls in Sevierville and then went back to Jason Aldean’s for more music and beers.  The new band was lively and had people up and dancing.  I finished my night off at Jason Aldean’s before walking back to my hotel.  Fun fact—yes, there was another bear sighting on my walk back to the hotel.  This bear was just walking around in another hotel parking lot.  It was across the street from me, so I kept moving and made it back to my hotel without any more sightings.

    This was a quick trip for me, so I made my way back to McGhee Tyson Airport the next day for my return trip to Florida.

    I love my Smoky Mountain adventures and will continue to get up there as part of my Walk into the Future.  The mountains are calling and I’m listening! 😊

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “Hike more, worry less.”

    (Unknown)

  • Paisley Park (Repost)

    “Paisley Park is in your heart”

    This is a lyric from the song titled Paisley Park on Prince’s Around the World in a Day album.  It’s not one of his most well-known songs but the title was translated by the artist to name his artistic palace in Chanhassen, a suburb of Minneapolis.

    Paisley Park is a combination of residence, recording studios, sound stage, video editing and party spot (concerts, DJ’s, etc.) designed by Prince in the late 1980s.  This is a place where he churned out hit after hit from his own recording platforms.  It afforded him the opportunity to create new music and concepts right where he lived.  Simply, come downstairs and walk into a recording studio to lay down some tracks that would one day become a #1 hit.

    Paisley Park is a place I always wanted to visit to experience the place responsible for the soundtrack of my life.  I grew up listening to Prince from the very early stages of his career and wanted to Walk into the Future and see Paisley Park first hand.

    Wow…what an experience!  I decided to make a visit to Minneapolis and then venture over to Chanhassen to tour Paisley Park.  They have multiple tour formats to select but I decided to reserve my spot for the General Admission (70-minute tour) and was not disappointed.  There were roughly 20 other Prince fans along for my tour timeframe.  We’re talking people from all over the world who decided to make the Paisley Park journey to reconnect with Prince, his music and the place where he created magic.

    The tour started with a brief history of his music, why he wanted Paisley Park and what happens there now.  The tour’s most emotional moment for me was when we stepped into the foyer at Paisley Park.  Prince’s ashes are encased under glass overlooking the foyer.  Didn’t expect the ashes to be there but it was a goose bump moment for a lot of us on the tour.

    We were provided free time to explore multiple rooms dedicated to specific albums/tours (LoveSexy, 1999, For You, etc.) and his personal office.  The tour guide identified the office was intact just as Prince left it.  Of course, it was a very cool set-up to include video, music and a sitting area to entertain visitors.

    The tour then took us directly into Studio A where most of his hits from the 1990s were recorded.  Very cool place to see and experience the sound system and unreleased music that will be coming out soon! Sounds great and you will love the concepts! LOL.

    His numerous awards (Grammys, BET, MTV, etc.) were displayed in hallway cases.  The effect of seeing these awards put a smile on most of our faces as we remembered watching Prince receive these awards on TV over the years.  Fantastic opportunity to actually see history.

    Prince’s movies/soundtracks had separate areas at Paisley Park.  The Purple Rain display included the motorcycle from the movie, his iconic purple trench coat and the Grammy awarded for the soundtrack.

    Under the Cherry Moon with the black and white theme provided a unique contrast to his other movies.  Graffiti Bridge, Sign ‘O the Times and RAVE were displayed, and all were shot on the sound stage at Paisley Park. 

    Speaking of the sound stage, our tour took us into the enormous space used by Prince and others for tour preparation, make videos and shoot movies.  Prince allowed other musicians to use this area to help them get ready for national tour dates.

    The tour ended in the New Power Generation (NPG) club which is still used to host dance parties for Prince fans.  This area was used by Prince to host fans and sometimes play live shows for the few lucky folks in attendance.  It was noted Prince normally didn’t start playing until 2 am in the morning so you would have to be an extreme night owl to catch one of these impromptu shows.

    Cameras are not allowed at Paisley Park so the memories from this experience must be lived and not streamed out.  I believe this enhanced the overall experience for me.

    Very happy my Walk into the Future led me to Paisley Park!

    Where have you always wanted to go but never made the time?  How can you leverage a trip to help you decide to walk into the future?

    Paisley park outside

    Paisley Park inside2

    FYI–I plan a return trip to Paisley Park in 2022.  Who is going to meet me there? 🙂

  • Walking into 2021!

    Walking into 2021!

    (Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)

    “Celebrate endings—for they proceed new beginnings”.

    (Jonathan Lockwood Huie)

    Happy New Year from the Walk into the Future blog!

    Grateful to continue to write blog articles to express my thoughts and document life adventures.  This blog started as a way for me to share with my friends and has evolved into a space for me to highlight a bit of creativity.  This blog also provides a place to advocate for social change in the world—did not have this in mind when I launched the blog but there is no turning back now.  My walk continues to expand so I am excited to see what new angles I can tackle in 2021.

    2021 promises to bring new opportunities for us all.  2020 was a monster on multiple levels but there were opportunities for growth as well.

    Happy to report I was able to meet all my 2020 goals except the number of half marathons I ran.  Of course, COVID-19 was the reason the race season did not happen, so I am not upset I did not meet this goal.

    I am in the process of generating my 2021 goals and look forward to working towards them daily. 

    My reading program increased in 2020 and I enjoyed exploring new topics and authors.  I see this as an area I can expand in 2021.  I fancy myself as a lifelong learner and reading keeps me engaged in learning new things and hopefully sharing these things with my tree branches.  Please note, I am always open to your suggestions for books so send me a few—thanks!

    The Rock N Roll marathon series has 6 races projected for in-person competition in 2021.  My favorite race, the Nashville Rock N Roll half marathon is scheduled for April 25, 2021.  My 2020 registration automatically rolled over so I can run in the race this year if I would like.  I am not committed to running this or any race at this point especially if it means I must get on a plane to get to the race city.  Will wait and see how the vaccination process impacts the spread of COVID-19 before deciding on this race.  Would hate to miss Nashville two years in a row but this is the world we live in. The Savannah race is scheduled for November 7, 2021 and this may be a better option—we will see.

    I will look at some smaller, local races to get my competitive fix.  I am sure Track Shack in Orlando will have some races I want to run—the OUC half may be on my race calendar again this year based on location and safety measures.

    I began the process of creating an Authentic Leadership eBook in 2020.  Will look to put the finishing touches on this project in 2021.  Wanted to share a few leadership principles in a different format to see if others would be interested in this project.  It has been fun working on a new outlet for my thoughts and plan to expand the authentic leadership platform in 2021.

    My leadership consulting is another area I want to expand in 2021.  My work in 2019 had me positioned for a huge consulting year in 2020 but we all know the impact of COVID-19 on all industries.  Will look to create an outreach program to reengage with organizations I have worked with in the past and generate new leads.  Virtual programming and meetings became common in 2020 and see this continuing in 2021.  This can lead to new ways to reach organizations and provide a consulting rebirth for me and others.  Fingers crossed!

    I am sure there will be other goals to add to my list, but these are a few I will work towards in 2021.

    What goals do you have for the new year?  How successful were you meeting your 2020 goals?  Thanks!

    “Every moment is a fresh beginning”.

    (T.S. Elliot)

  • Walking and enjoying Mulligans Beach House (Vero Beach)

    Mulligans

    “An ocean breeze puts the mind at ease”.

    (Anonymous)

    My Walk into the Future allows me to continue to seek out new adventures and venues.  The COVID-19 pandemic has rightfully slowed down unnecessary travel and interactions, but the beach still has wide open spaces to explore. 

    My relocation to the Treasure Coast provides access to some great beaches with amazing views to take in.  Several of my work colleagues provide me with places where the locals hang out and guided me towards Mulligan’s Beach House in Vero Beach. The biggest reason they wanted me to visit Mulligan’s is because it has a huge outdoor seating area that sits right on the world-famous Vero Beach.  I have visited Vero Beach (city) multiple times for the outlet mall and other retail shopping but have not been on the beach side of the city in years.

    Turns out I visited Mulligan’s Beach House back in August 2014 prior to relocating from Oviedo, Florida to Tallahassee, Florida for my job at Florida State University.  Always heard how beautiful Vero Beach was so took a road trip back in 2014 to get a feel for the area and take in the beach scene.  Mulligan’s was close to the hotel I booked back in the day, so it was an easy choice for some great food.

    Fast forward to 2020 and I immediately recognized I had been there before as soon as I hit the parking lot.  Seeing the familiar outside seating area and extra-large deck chair put a smile on my face.  I instantly reflected to my 2014 visit and the great memories made during my visit back in the day.  Also highlights the concept of small world because my original visit was made because I never thought I would make it back down to visit Vero Beach.  Now I live 20 minutes from the famous beach and local attractions on the board walk.

    My most recent trip to Mulligan’s Beach House was made on a Sunday afternoon.  Figured this would be a good day and timeframe to visit to avoid the potential of large crowds.  The overcast weather also contributed to a smaller crowd when I got there.  The outside seating areas provided a great place to sit on the beach, people watch and listen to some good music.  I was able to find a nice corner spot and continue to physical distance.  Did not have a taste for anything specific but wanted to explore the menu a bit.  I am not an adventurous eater so settled on chicken wings and draft beer—which was two for one during happy hour.  The wings were surprisingly good and went great with the atmosphere of Mulligan’s.  A nice, chill place where the locals eat.

    Mulligan’s has indoor seating at the bar and tables—some of the locals were comfortable seating inside but I do not know when/if I will be that comfortable again.  The governor just announced restaurants and bars are no longer restricted to 50% capacity so I am sure more people will be dining and drinking inside again without proper physical distancing.  Scary thought but eliminating these restrictions will expand our time trying to combat COVID-19 in the state of Florida.  Hate to see the gains we have made with COVID-19 get sidetracked as our governor tries to help political gains for the presidential election.

    Mulligan’s Beach House is a fantastic place to visit if you are in Vero Beach.  My next venture in the Vero Beach area will be the Ocean Grille which is right across the parking lot.  I have heard great things about the food there and will get back soon to see what they have to offer.

    Where have you always wanted to eat but have not made it yet?  How have you adjusted your dining plans in a COVID-19 world?

    http://www.mulligansbeachhouse.com/vero-beach/

     “The waves of the sea help me get back to me”.

    (Anonymous)

    Mulligans2

  • Melbourne beach weekend

    Melbourne Beach

    “To escape and sit quietly on the beach—that’s my idea of paradise”.

    (Emily Wiskstead)

    My Walk into the Future continues to provide unlimited adventures for me daily.

    The beach is a major adventure for me, and some would say my happy place.  Love to sit on the beach to relax, read and just enjoy the sound of the waves.  My move to Fort Pierce puts me closer to beaches and I try to take advantage of this proximity as much as possible.

    One of my favorite places to sit on the beach happens to be Melbourne, Florida.  There are multiple beach towns in this area but the one I prefer is Indialantic Beach.  Small area but it provides the best beach experience for me.

    Made the 55-minute trek north on I-95 last weekend for a day at the beach.  Did not realize it has been 3 years since I have been in the Melbourne area.  A lot of my beach travel while in Tallahassee was a drive over to Jacksonville or Neptune beaches.  Love that area too and it was a shorter drive than venturing all the way down to Melbourne.  Decided to take a day trip and get back to an area I love to visit and hangout.

    Outlet mall

    COVID-19 has caused a lot of life disruptions.  One of these for me was not being able to get to outlet malls.  I know my outlet mall shopping is not a huge deal considering the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic, but I had to drive by the Vero Beach outlet mall on my way to Melbourne.  Many of the stores were still closed when I visited but was able to get some nice deals at the Van Heusen store.  Yes, I wore a mask while shopping.

    The Van Heusen outlet store had some great mark downs and I may have purchased more than I need.  The in-store prices are a lot less than what they were selling for on-line. I have never been a fan of buying clothes on-line since different brands have their own unique cuts.  My normal size in one store does not translate all the time to another.  Buying pants online is a major headache for me since I need clothes for an athletic body. Also, needed to restock my work wardrobe since I have a day job again. 😊

    Patrick AFB

    Always make a point to visit Patrick Air Force Base when I am in Melbourne.  Did not need anything but it always feels like going home when I am on the base.  Spent 20 years in the Air Force and love being back on the base.  Ended up just rambling around the Base Exchange and Commissary looking around and enjoying being back around the Air Force family.  Got a few things but nothing major at either stop.

    Crowne Plaza

    The major attraction for me to visit the Indialantic beach is the Crowne Plaza hotel.  Yes, I went up for a day trip, but the Crowne Plaza has a huge beach deck with a Tiki vibe and outside bar.

    They allow beachgoers to utilize the deck, bar, and restrooms without being a hotel guest.  Always thought that was a great feature and it keeps people coming back.  I bring my own water and beer but routinely get a cold tropical drink (or two) at the bar.  They have a great food menu so really do not need to go anywhere else once you get there.

    There is live music most Saturdays and Sundays and that draws a decent crowd too.  I normally walk further down the beach to get away from crowds but the music travels well.  My day on the beach was spent reading, listening to music, and taking a bunch a naps.  Nothing strenuous but wanted to visit the beach and relax—mission accomplished.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=crowne+plaza+melbourne+fl+pictures&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS857US857&sxsrf=ALeKk00P5m-KQpG-NeMjKPXrrjOmlJlDWg:1590778740929&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=YVZCzuNcCXbIsM%253A%252C28LbZ-YA3Bc7sM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kSIiMzmjPA7dY62D4InWst3DNgkgg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiMiJPO4NnpAhUJT98KHSVwAMgQ9QEwAnoECAoQDg#imgrc=YVZCzuNcCXbIsM:

    Took the scenic route back to Fort Pierce on A1A.  Normally go I-95 but did not have to rush back so took in the sights and enjoyed the views.  Will try to get to Melbourne monthly for a beach getaway—may stay overnight next time since there are a lot of new shopping options in the area.  Always looking for a good deal! 😊

    What is your favorite beach or place?  When will you visit again?

     

    “The waves on the sea help me get back to me”.

    (Jill Davis)

  • Running tourist—the Treasure Coast edition

    “Running is the greatest metaphor for life, because you get out what you put into it”.

    (Oprah Winfrey)

    Shared my running tourist Tallahassee adventures in an earlier post.

    Decided to tackle the subject from my new home, Fort Pierce, Florida earlier than I did from Tallahassee.  The Tallahassee post was written when I knew I was leaving the city and realized I never took the time to write about things available there.

    Wanted to get an early jump on writing about the Treasure Coast.  I am sure I will come back to this topic and provide an updated view when the COVID-19 pandemic is gone.  Most things in this area are still closed or I am not confident enough to visit yet.  There are a ton of fresh seafood markets and restaurants in the local area but do not see me going in for a meal right now even with proper physical distancing.

    A good spot for takeout is 12A Buoy:  http://12abuoy.com/.  Do not know where the name came from, but they have good shrimp!

    Running routes

    My first two attempts to find a place to run in Fort Pierce did not go well.  I got my runs in but did not enjoy them very much.  There are not many multipurpose trails here so got out for a sidewalk run to stretch my legs.  Turns out the sidewalk I was on ended after about a quarter mile and I was relegated to running on the side of the road.  Not a huge fan of this process but did discover a nice hill and made the most of it to maintain endurance.  Never went back to this route since it had me too close to traffic.

    My second attempt at finding a place to run was at my complex.  We have a large circular route (.59 miles) and I thought maybe this would get me going.  Never been thrilled going in circles but gave it a shot. My initial goal was 5 miles total, but I only got in 3.5 miles before boredom tapped me on the shoulders and I stopped.  Not a huge fan of seeing the same things when I run, and this route did not have the feel of being on an adventure—which I need for distance training.

    Decided to use Google to find better spots to run.  Google identified the George LeStrange Preserve as a place with trails and it was only a 10-minute drive away.  Decided to scout the preserve and it provides multiple options with the best route going around the lake.  Again, this was a circular route but longer and there’s wildlife, shade, the lake, and people to see while in the preserve.   Enjoyed this location so much I make sure to get over there for one of my weekly runs.  Completed my Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon dedication run there in April to get 13.2 miles in since the actual race was postponed.  Posted a decent time considering I had no on-course support, crowds cheering or beer at the finish line.

     

    A work colleague provided his favorite running spot which goes over the large, picturesque Sea Way Drive bridge and leads to Jetty Park.  I initially viewed this route as an extremely tough run since the bridge is so big, but it appears my hill training in Tallahassee prepared me well to get up and over the bridge.  Enjoy this route because there is so much to see while running and there is always a nice breeze coming off the water to help minimize the heat.  I have leveraged this route multiple times for my Tuesday and Thursday runs—leave work and head east to get my 6-mile run in.  Used an over and back approach recently to get in a double digit run—nice views each time on the bridge. 😊

     

    Beaches

    The beaches in the local area opened again the last week in April.  The county mandate was people could be on the beach just for exercise.  This lasted for 4 days before the governor lifted the stay at home order and the beaches opened fully with a mandate for people to maintain physical distancing.  I have gone by the beaches to get a look and feel for them but will explore fully when it is safe to be out again.  I have visited Jetty Park multiple times and sat in my vehicle to enjoy the views of the water.  It is a good place to watch people and the boats floating by.

     Beach

    The Treasure Coast is comprised of Fort Pierce, Vero Beach, Port St. Lucie, Jensen Beach and Stuart, FL.  These cities are all modest size but when viewed together comprise a large area.  My goal is to fully explore them all and then come back and write about the unique features of each.  Stay tuned for Part 2!

    What areas are you looking forward to exploring when it is safe again?  Thanks!

    “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore”.

    (Andre Gide)

    FYI—the beaches are closing again for the 4th of July holiday weekend!  COVID-19 is not going away.

  • 2020 Winter Park 10k and a podcast on the side

    Podcast March 2020

    (Image by Florante Valdez from Pixabay)

    “Life is a blank canvas and you need to throw all the paint on it you can”.

    (Danny Kaye)

    Ventured back down to the Orlando area for the 2020 Winter Park 10k.  This race has been on my running calendar the past two years because it allows me to hang out with great friends and family while running a unique course in Winter Park.

    Track Shack promotes this race as a fantastic course to run a 10k personal best (PB) and it does not disappoint.  There were several runners ringing the PB Bell strategically placed in the runner’s village after the race.  Always exciting to see the joy a PB time brings to runners.

    Mastering College to Career podcast

    Coordinated with an Orlando tree branch to stop on the way down for the race to catch up a bit and record another episode on his Mastering College to Career podcast.

    The podcast is Daniel Botero’s way to Walk into the Future and he has added on-line courses, videos and workbooks to go along with the weekly podcast episode.  Very proud of his efforts and the difference he’s making with college students transitioning into the workplace.

    Daniel provides me with the topic of discussion prior to the podcast and then we get to work.  I’ve known Daniel since 2011 so we have a great working relationship and energize each other when we are in the same room.  He wanted his students to understand the behind the scenes interactions between on-campus recruiters and career centers.  The goal was to provide students with a better understanding how/why employers recruit on their campuses and the work involved to get them there.  Was very happy to share my career center and employer relations knowledge with Daniel for the podcast and helping his students.

    Found out I’m the first person on Daniel’s podcast to return for a third time.  This put a smile on my face, but the smile got bigger because Daniel asked me to cut another podcast episode before I left his recording studio.  So, it turns out I’m the only four-time guest on the podcast now.  The additional podcast episode was to highlight the recruiting calendar employers utilize when deciding which campuses to visit.  What a great way to start my race weekend!  Got a chance to catch up with Daniel and cut two podcast episodes to help his students continue to move forward in life.  (Both episodes should be live in April 2020).

    Left Daniel’s recording studio and headed straight to Track Shack to pick up my race packet.  Always exciting to see the Track Shack staff engaging with runners buying new gear.  Love they host a spring sale the entire week of the Winter Park 10k race.  Always can find some new gear and the sale prices are fantastic.  Got a chance to chat with one of the Track Shack owners who I met one morning while running in Tom Brown Park in Tallahassee.  Turns out her daughter lives in Tallahassee and works at FSU—small world!

    Carb loading

    Headed to my favorite Italian restaurant, Café Panuzzo’s with Jayla to carb load and catch up.  We normally dine at Café Panuzzo’s or Buffalo Wild Wings prior to my races and Italian dining won this round.  Café Panuzzo’s never disappoints when we visit.  I stuck to my normal selection of chicken parmesan with pasta and Jayla got adventurous with the calzone.  Got a double order of bread since my goal was to get as many carbs as possible prior to the 10k.  Most got burned off the next morning, so no harm and their bread is fantastic!

    Winter Park 10k

    The morning started out cooler than expected but was great once we got started.  Told several tree branches prior my goal was to run fast this year and wanted to record a good time.  Happy to report I ran a 10k PB of 56:41 and felt good during and after the race.

    Track Shack does not use the corral format for races so the first mile was crowded with runners of all levels and time expectations.  Decided to patiently work my way through the crowd and then pick up my pace once the runners thinned a bit.  Made up most of my slow start once the course flattened and went about my plan to go faster this year.  Knew my time was going to be good (for me) at the 4-mile mark and got comfortable with my pace and breathing.  Decided to pick up my pace at the 5-mile mark to see how much improvements I’ve made in the past year.  Was able to pass several other runners and get to the finish line with a smile on my face.  Learned to smile crossing the finish line since everyone with a camera is snapping away.

    Got my medal, checked my time and rang the PB bell too.  Great race, people and after party! Can’t beat drinking a beer and eating donuts at 9 am in the morning.  Running is the best way to stay in shape and overindulge at the same time.

    Will keep this race on my calendar because it’s fun and they will always have beer at the end! 😊

    What podcasts do you listen to?  How have the podcasts helped you Walk into the Future?

    “Oh, the places you’ll go”.

    (Dr. Seuss)

    Follow Daniel here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/thedanielbotero/

    Follow Track Shack here:  https://www.trackshack.com/

    Run Winter Park

  • Walking in the Future without a return date

    Happy

     Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

     “I want to move and go places and never look back.  Just have fun, forever”.

    (Josephine Marcus from the 1993 movie, Tombstone) 

    I love the quote above for the simple nature of how it signifies life should be fun.

    The quote was a response to a question Wyatt Earp (Kurt Russell) asked Josephine Marcus (Dana Delaney) in the 1993 movie, Tombstone.  He was trying to understand how Josephine defined the concept of happiness.

    My current Walk into the Future has a bit of resemblance to Josephine’s view with a slight twist.

    I constantly seek out opportunities and adventures that excite me and then find ways to incorporate these things into my current walk.  Had another interesting conversation with a longtime friend prior to heading to Philadelphia for the 2019 Philly Rock n Roll half marathon.

    My travel itinerary was the topic of discussion and I revealed in my typical Walk into the Future fashion the following things were known about my trip:

    • Hotel reservation confirmed
    • Race registration confirmed
    • Arrival flight confirmed

    The list above did not have an official return date from Philadelphia.  To me, this was not a big deal, just part of how I Walk into the Future.

    My friend quickly became worried for me because going somewhere new without a return date was/is a foreign concept to most people.  FYI, for me this is an exciting part of the walk!  Please note, I knew when I planned to come back, I just didn’t book the return flight at the same time as my departure.

    Southwest Airlines tends to reduce flight prices to ensure they have full flights.  I simply gambled on the premise they would lower the price for the return flight from Philly and it happened.  Spent less coming back than I did going up because of my ability to walk without a return date.

    Don’t consider myself as a travel pioneer; I’m sure other people have flexible travel schedules.  This flexibility is an exciting aspect when traveling.  I routinely book travel at the last minute because of the great deals I’ve been able to get in the past.  Please note, it does not always work in my favor and I end up spending the same or more for my travel adventures.  Can’t complain when this happens since I normally come out ahead more times than not.

    I book with a more traditional travel concept when friends and family travel with me.  My wait and see program can cause some level of anxiety so I’m mindful to eliminate this when others are counting on me being in a specific location at a specific time.

    Plan to explore new destinations in 2020 and will not be pressed by a return date.  Will continue Walking into the Future with no return date; been a fun journey so far! 😊

    Where would you travel without a return date?  Would you find this exciting or scary?

    “Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better”.

    (Albert Camus)

     Philly downtown2

    (Downtown Philly!)

  • 2019 Orlando Utility Commission (OUC) Half Marathon recap — the Benjamin Button effect

    OUC prerace

    “You know you’re a runner when, your running shoes ARE the most expensive pair of shoes you possess”.

    (Anonymous runner)

    My 2019 racing schedule ended on 12/7/19 at the OUC half marathon in Orlando.

    This was my 5th half marathon and 7th race of the year.  I started 2019 with an aggressive (for me) race schedule where I wanted to race more and increase the number of half marathon finishes.  I also set a goal to run a half marathon under 2 hours—I didn’t meet this goal but did improve my Personal Record (PR) four times this year, so progress has been made.  I’m faster now than when I started running half marathons in 2013 (Benjamin Button).

    How many times running this race?

    I started my half marathon quest in 2013 at this very same race.  A UCF friend convinced me to run a half marathon with intent to run it with me for support.  She had several half and full marathons completed and thought it would be a good challenge for me to run a half marathon.

    Fast forward a bit, I signed up and began training but her husband got a job transfer and they moved to Dallas, Texas before the race.  I thought about backing out since I didn’t have a running partner but decided to give it a try on my own.

    Had no idea how to train, eat or prepare for a half marathon so simply relied on athletic ability for my first try.  This was a horrible idea!  I would have quit during my first half marathon but didn’t know how to get back to my car, so had to keep going in order to figure out where I parked.  This is not a joke, I finished because I had no other choice.

    Ran this race again the following year because I had to prove to myself, I could run a half marathon and appear to be competent while doing it.  I improved my finish times incrementally over the years so the pull to come back was there.  I skipped the OUC half marathon in 2018 and ran on Amelia Island instead.

    The 2019 race was my sixth time running the OUC half marathon.  I’m currently 19 minutes faster than the first time I ran the same race (Benjamin Button).

    Why come back?

    Wanted to test my new training knowledge and program against a course that beat me up in the past.  Figured the best way to know if I’m improving is to run the course I wanted to quit on and then move forward.

    Happy to report I enjoyed the 2019 version of this race from start to finish!  Even found myself with a goofy smile on my face for some reason around mile 9.  This may have been the runner’s high people tell me about, but I never experienced before.

    No worries just decided to keep on smiling and run my best.  This approach allowed me to finish with a PR (2:05:51) and a level of satisfaction with my entire 2019 running program.  Can always look for areas to improve but very happy to improve my PR four times this year.  As you can see, I’m getting faster as I get older (Benjamin Button).  I’m still looking for another gear and project to get a bit faster in 2020.

    Stick with the Walk into the Future blog to follow my running progress.

    Race recap

    Decided not to put an official time goal on this race but wanted to run fast and safely.  My top goal was to have fun and complete the 2019 race schedule in style.

    Blue is my power color so outfitted with blue from head to toe for this race.  Accented my race outfit with orange compression sleeves to represent the Florida Gators as I ran through downtown Orlando.

    Miles 1 – 5

    Wanted to get out fast but not expend too much energy during the first third of the race.  The OUC half marathon also has a 5k race which starts at the same time.  Wanted to avoid the extra runners at the beginning of the race so went out with a controlled pace and mindset until the 5k runners split away from the half marathoners at Mile #2.  Felt good with my mile splits and knew I had the conditioning to keep my pace going.

    Miles 6 – 10

    Past races I’ve struggled with this portion of the half marathon.  My training, nutrition and mindset have improved this year to where I know how to handle this segment of the race and not slow down much.  Was able to stay consistent with my mile splits with no glaring slow miles.  This may have been why my goofy smile came out—I knew I was running faster and not slowing a bit.

    Miles 11 – 13.1

    Realized I wouldn’t break 2 hours at this point but didn’t let that take my smile away. Kept plugging away because I knew I could set another PR by just pressing forward.

    Put TI’s song, Motivation on repeat because this is my running hype song that helps me mentally when I run.

    The goofy smile was with me the entire time and the miles flew by.  There were spectators out helping the runners finish strong; I’m sure they were cheering for me, but I was in my zone and focused on finding the finish line.

    Crossed the finish line at 2:05:51 (two hours, 5 minutes and 51 seconds) with a smile on my face and a raised fist!  You would have thought I saved the world from annihilation from my reaction, but it was a big deal to me.  Ran a smart race with a good time and felt great physically at the end.  Trifecta!

    After race party

    Track Shack does a fantastic job with all aspects of race day.

    The vendors, health care and music after the race are first rate.  Made my way to the beer truck to get my two beers to go along with my other snacks collected in the vendor area.  Yes, runners really drink beer at 9:30 am—we’ve earned it after getting up before the sun rises and running 13.1 miles. LOL.  Ran into a few people I knew from my time in Orlando and we celebrated another great Track Shack race.

    December 2019 (194 pounds)

    “It’s all about the bling!”

    (Spectator sign, 2019)

    Benjamin Button

    So, why do I reference Benjamin Button in this post?  Great question!

    Most people begin to slow down as runners as they age.  I’ve only been attempting the half marathon distance for 6 years now and continue to learn more about training, nutrition (beet juice) and mental focus.  I’m just scratching the surface on my running ability and see faster times coming in 2020.  So, I’m not getting younger but faster (Benjamin Button).  I’m sure the day will come when I can’t keep running faster times but it’s not here yet—so fast I must go! 😊

    “For what it’s worth, it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be”.

    (Benjamin Button)

    Goodbye OUC hello San Antonio Rock N Roll (2020)

    I will not run the OUC half marathon in 2020.  I’m trading this race and experience in for the 2020 San Antonio Rock N Roll half marathon.  I lived in San Antonio while in the Air Force but wasn’t a runner then.  This will be my chance to run in a great city and experience the culture and the River Walk from a different perspective.  I’m sure I’ll return to the OUC race again in the future, maybe 2021.

    Project to run 7 half marathons in 2020.

    Already registered for New Orleans (February), Nashville (April) and Philly (September).  Will add San Antonio and Savannah; looking at San Diego and maybe Las Vegas to complete 7 with the Rock N Roll series.  May adjust with a local half marathon but 7 is the number for 2020.

    Logged just under 1,000 miles on this running journey in 2019; I’m sure that number is going up in 2020.  Who’s ready to run with me? 😊

     

    How many of your 2019 goals did you accomplish?  Have you thought about your 2020 goals yet?

    Thanks for walking with me!

    Merry Christmas!  Will see you in 2020!  Thanks!

    OUC Christmas tree

  • Walking and exploring the Great Smoky Mountains (Gatlinburg, Tennessee)

    Smokey Mountains hue

    “Live a life of quiet inspiration.”

    (William Britten)

    Why Gatlinburg?

    There’s an old saying “The mountains are calling, and I must go” attributed to John Muir who spent his life advocating for wilderness preservation.  I would like to think John Muir’s words were instrumental to my trek back up to the Smoky mountains and Gatlinburg in particular.

    My true inspiration to get back in the mountains came from an August 2019 NBC Nightly News special on a new Gatlinburg attraction, the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America:  https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/take-a-trip-to-the-longest-pedestrian-suspension-bridge-in-north-america-67497029583

    • Requested my 2019 Gatlinburg Vacation Guide when the news went off

    I’ve been in the Smokey mountains and Gatlinburg years ago but seeing the suspension bridge on TV got me excited to go back to the mountains and explore.  Finally, just decided to head up in mid-November before the weather got too cold and snow covered the mountain roads.  I’m good driving in the mountains but didn’t want to fight ice and snow as I made my way through the winding roads.  Got lucky with sunny weather and high temps in the low 50s.  Turned out to be ideal hiking weather and didn’t have to wear too many layers of clothes to stay warm.  Started peeling off layers about an hour into my first hike.

    Hiking the Smokey Mountains

    So, this is where I apologize to all my friends who have been avid hikers over the years.  I didn’t fully get the concept of hiking because I’m always looking for my next training run.  Texted a few of them to admit my error while I was out on my first hike of the day.  I fully get hiking now—it was an amazing experience and can’t wait to do it again!

    Started the hiking adventure on the Trails in the Sugarland Area which is the first Smokey mountain hiking area leaving Gatlinburg.  Decided this would be a nice warm up trail to get me out and exploring.  Got a map and quick briefing at the Welcome Center and then I was off on the trails.  Didn’t know what I would see on this trail but was excited to begin the adventure.

    Well, to my surprise almost got run over by a deer and while trying to take a picture of the buck, saw a flock of turkeys coming up behind me—this was the first 5 minutes of my hike! LOL.  Believe this episode is where I decided hiking is the greatest thing ever—this flurry of wildlife activity got me ready to see more.  Didn’t get a picture of the deer since I was trying to keep the turkeys in range to take a picture of them.

    Continued the trails to see what else was ahead and came to the John Ownby cabin.  The structure was in decent shape and highlights how early mountain folks lived.  This was also a good place to take a break and take in everything I had experienced in a short period of time.  This is also the spot I texted my friends to say I get hiking now! 😊  Left the cabin and got on the next trail head and made it over to Cataract Falls.  Thought this was going to be a larger area but was happy with the scenic beauty I saw hiking over to the falls.  Only saw a few hikers out but everyone was friendly.  Got a chance to take pictures at the falls and sit awhile to admire the surroundings.  Very peaceful, quiet and refreshing time sitting at the falls.  Covered about 3 miles on this hiking segment.  Wanted to explore a bit more in this area but decided to move on after the tour buses started dropping groups off—the trail heads got crowded quickly!

    Moved further into the Smokey mountains and made my way to the Sugarland Parks Trail.  Similar name as the first adventure but this was a .5-mile paved trail.  Not much wildlife to see on this trail but had great water views and river scenery.  Didn’t spend a lot of time here because it was a short, one loop trail.

    Decided to venture further up the mountain to see what other adventures were waiting.  Saw several stop points on the way and pulled over at the Carlos C. Campbell Overlook. No trails here but the view of the mountains was tremendous!  Had this area to myself so took advantage of the photo opportunity while it lasted.

     Campbell Overlook

    Next stop was the Gatlinburg trail which had a little bit of everything.  Trails, rivers, bridges, climbs, drops and wildlife.  Spent quite a bit of time exploring on this trail just enjoying the experience and nature.  Covered 10 miles total hiking on the different trails during my Smoky mountain adventures.

    Skybridge

    Got a quick lunch after my hiking adventures and headed to the main reason for my visit, the Gatlinburg Skybridge.  Gatlinburg has always had a Sky Lift Park to haul people up the mountain to get a higher view of the area.

    The Skybridge is a new addition to Sky Lift Park and has become the main attraction for most people to see when visiting Gatlinburg.  It did not disappoint!  It’s a suspension bridge so it moves while walking on it—it really moves with a lot of people walking on it!  There were several folks on the bridge who didn’t look so happy with their decision to make the walk across.  The Skybridge is an excellent way to view Gatlinburg, see the surrounding mountains tops and people watch.  The pass for Sky Lift Park is good for the entire day so I was able to come back once it got dark to experience the ride up and the bridge at night.  Didn’t stay as long the second time up because it started getting cold when the sun went down.

    https://www.gatlinburgskylift.com/skybridge

    Moonshine tasting

    The Gatlinburg Vacation guide was an excellent resource to help plan out my activities.  Discovered Gatlinburg has several distilleries and wineries right downtown.  I’ve toured rum and whiskey distilleries in the past but never a moonshine tour.  Researched the moonshine distilleries and decided to visit multiple since they were so close to each other and walkable.  My first stop was the Ole Smokey Moonshine Distillery because of the variety of flavors they make.  $5 gets you a taste of every moonshine flavor/proof in the store.

    These range from 128 proof down to 40 proof with different flavors:  https://olesmoky.com/collections/moonshine.

    Made sure I ate before touring the moonshine distilleries—good thing because moonshine has a kick to it. 😊

    Next, made my way down the street to visit Sugarlands Distilling Company to see what they had:  https://www.sugarlands.com/moonshine/.

    They had some unique moonshine flavors and names but gave several of them a try during my tasting tour.  FYI, moonshine really warms you up, didn’t feel the cold after my sipping tour of moonshine distilleries.

    Decided to head back to Ole Smokey Moonshine Distillery and went right to the top of the moonshine proof levels—got the Blue Flame (128 proof).  Will probably be sipping on this jar of moonshine for months—not for heavy consumption.

    Freedom to travel

    2019 has been an adventurous year for me to explore.  I’ve been blessed to have the ability to pick places to visit and then make my way there.  I’ve explored places I’ve always wanted to visit and some of my favorite places again.  Looking forward to seeing where 2020 takes me!  I plan to keep Walking into the Future with no return date! 😊

    Lessons learned

    • Never drive in the Smoky mountains at night— (1) it’s scary and (2) you miss the scenic beauty of the mountains
    • North Carolina / East Tennessee BBQ sauce is vinegar based; I don’t like vinegar in my BBQ sauce
    • Hiking is a fantastic pastime! Will find other areas to explore this new hobby! 😊
    • I like moonshine! It mixes great with fruit punch
    • Gatlinburg has a walkable downtown area—find a place to park and walk around to enjoy the attractions

    Thanks for walking with me!

    Where have you always wanted to visit?  How much hiking do you plan to do in 2020?