Summer is here and the fires that ravaged much of New Mexico's landscape have dissipated. We had a lot of rainfall in June and our National Forest re-opened in time for summer hiking and adventures. Back in May I started running more consistently after a long hiatus, and a friend talked me into training for a trail half marathon in July. I haven't done a trail race since the BC era (Before Children...) and I knew this training would require a lot of rearranging of my schedule and a greater commitment to running than just short jaunts around the neighborhood, but I also knew that if I wanted to get back in shape I needed a goal to work toward.
My first Santa Fe trail run of the summer was a 4-mile loop around Borrego Bear Wallow at the end of June. It was a warm and sunny morning and there wasn't a single car in the parking lot when I pulled in. There's something so magical about having the trail to oneself! The forest initially seems so quiet until you adjust your ears and really listen to how LOUD it is with bird songs and the wind in the tree tops. Sometimes there are woodpeckers if you listen closely. I like the Borrego Bear Wallow loop because there are hills and elevation changes without anything too steep or challenging, and there's fairly good shade cover from all the trees. I also love the stream crossings and the wildflowers in bloom near the river. The water was flowing and I felt hope for the forest and the life it supports. I usually take the loop clockwise but I went counterclockwise this time, so it was a steady incline at the end.
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| Making new friends on the way up the mountain |
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| Water is flowing! |
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| Bear Wallow Trail |
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| Hello sun |
This run was special because I was celebrating the good news I got that morning that I had passed my board exam to become a Clinical Specialist in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy, a distinction I have worked for months to achieve. I took a day to myself to celebrate this and make space for reflection. Spending time alone is really important to my own sanity and allows me to re-charge after a demanding year as a healthcare provider and mom. After the run I treated myself to a spa day at Ten Thousand Waves where I soaked in the hot springs, had an AMAZING massage, and enjoyed ramen and saki at Izanami, a James Beard award-winning Japanese restaurant at the spa.
It was my first Ten Thousand Waves spa day since before the pandemic, and I was pleased to learn that they are still very safe and cautious about COVID protocols. If you go, vaccination is required at the spa (and also required for indoor dining at Izanami), and masks are required for spa appointments. I loved the newly remodeled Grand Bath, which is now only an option for those with spa appointments, in an effort to reduce over-crowding. There were a few other groups there but lots of space to spread out, including comfortable chairs for reading a book. What a lovely day!
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| Flowers in bloom at Ten Thousand Waves spa |
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| Relaxing in the Grand Bath |
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| Izanami lunch |
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