After my dismay on July’s hike, I decided I needed to up my game in August. If I’m ever going to enjoy hiking, I should probably do it more than once a month.
August also happens to mark my official first year in business. So I decided I wanted to hike 12 miles to mark my first 12 months in business.
Spoiler alert: I completed my challenge and ended up doing 13.5 miles!
I didn’t really have any hiking epiphanies during the month, and no particular lessons came to mind either. I was more focused on the number of miles. Whether that’s a good or bad thing, I don’t know. I will say, there was a difference in my level of hiking anxiety from hike 1 of the month to hike 4, so that has to count for something.
Here’s a quick rundown of my 13.5 hiking miles in August.
Hiking trail at Okehocking Preserve; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
1. Okehocking Preserve – Newtown Square, PA – 2.2 Miles
My first hike of this August mini goal was a disaster. I had set out to do 3.5 miles. It was a very hot and humid day and the first half mile of the trail was a steep grassy hill. I took my time and conquered the hill and was actually happy this steep incline was at the start of the hike while my body was still somewhat happy with me.
The Okehocking Preserve is probably 10 minutes from where I live and I never knew it existed. It was a mix of open grassy meadows with great views of old farmhouses and barns, and scary as hell tree-covered trails that got narrow and overgrown on portions of it.
Every time I hit a dark and scary portion of the tree-covered parts of the trail, I panicked. I had full on anxiety that an animal or person would attack me and I would be killed in the woods, never to be found. Or that I would fall and hurt myself and die of dehydration, and my body would never be recovered from a trail that was less than a mile from a major roadway and had people all over it. Or that I would be covered in bugs or poison ivy or see a snake or a mouse, or a bear! You get the idea.
Full on anxiety spiral, while trying to enjoy the freaking wilderness!
My hand gripped my phone so tight because the trail maps on the AllTrailsApp is my new hiking security blanket. So I was at least “somewhat” confident I was going in the right direction, except for one time when I did indeed go the wrong way and had to backtrack a bit. Because of the map app and my fun hiking anxiety, I also found a few short cuts and cut my 3.5 miles hike down to 2.2 miles. I wouldn’t call hike 1 of August a success.
Related: Quit or Conquer: July Hike
Blue butterfly spotted in Ridley Creek State Park; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
2. Ridley Creek State Park – Media, PA – 4.8 Miles
However, hike 2 of August…much more delightful! I went to a trail I have frequented often. I’ve done portions of the loop several times in the last year, but haven’t done the full loop in numerous years. In fact, the last time I did the full loop was likely after layoff number 2 of my career when I was trying not to be depressed.
Ridley Creek State Park is 5 minutes from my house and it’s kinda my spot! It’s a paved trail, usually sprinkled with just enough people to feel safe, yet not crowded. It’s an easy trail with some inclines to make it a little strenuous at portions of it (for someone like myself). And it’s a trail I’m familiar with. It’s a trail that only gave me anxiety the very first time I walked it a decade ago because I took a wrong turn and extended the loop by a mile or more.
But this particular hike had zero anxiety and I can honestly say, I enjoyed myself! Wooohooo! Look at me, I’m a hiker!
I spotted several blue butterflies (five to be exact) and decided they represented the nearly 5 miles of this hike and that I need to keep going – in hiking and business. Blue butterflies are my symbol from the universe that greatness is on its way. So seeing them on this trail is always a delight!
Related: Gratitude Hike: Be Present
Lancaster County Park hiking trail; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
3. Lancaster County Park Loop – Lancaster, PA – 1.5 Miles
Hike 3 of the month was easy peasy at 1.5 miles of flat ground with a friend! However, the sweat factor was out of control. Tons of sweat, and an odd loop of a trail (we didn’t realize we had circled back to the end), but chatting and catching up made the 1.5 miles zip by quickly. Hiking success!
4. Ridley Creek State Park – Media, PA – 5 Miles
Rather than end the August goal on an uncertain note, I decided to just repeat what I already knew to be good back at Ridley Creek State Park. I’m comfortable there, so why fight it.
The identical trail did feel slightly harder compared to earlier in the month, which didn’t really make sense to me. I also tripped and fell, in front of four people, so that was fun. I fall all the time (which is why my fear of falling on hikes is warranted) and thankfully this spill was more embarrassing than it was painful. I didn’t hurt myself too bad at all, and didn’t rip my pants, just damaged my pride a bit. Which was good because I still had 2.5 miles to go after I fell.
I spotted three more blue butterflies this loop around and decided maybe I’ll try to do this full loop once a week. And maybe the more I do it, the quicker I will complete it.
I made sure to park a little further away this time and walked in a circle until I hit 5 miles to complete my overall August goal at 13.5 miles.
12 Miles for 12 Months Hikes Lesson: Some hikes and days of business will give you tons of uncertainty and anxiety, while other hikes and days of business will fill you with blue butterflies.
Related: How a Puzzle Led Me to Starting My Coaching Business
