Welcome back Trail Blazers,

      Sorry for such a long pause and no posts since last February but I have been recently summons to continue with writing this blog by some new trail buddies of mine.  I have been running a lot of trails for the past year, mostly with my buddy DH, but I haven't had much time to write about it seeing as I have a very busy and active 2 year old at home.  Family fun, paired with work and grad school obligations have taken most of my time and has made it difficult for me to keep up with this blog.  So now that I have a month off from grad work, and 12 vacation days away from teaching, I have now been giving some more opportune time to get this blog rockin' and rollin' again in hopes to keep some of my trail running com padres interested throughout the long winter months so that they will join us this Spring, Summer and Fall for some group trail runs throughout the greater CNY area.  Until we can get this group up and running, I'd like to briefly tell you about a few things that has kept me motivated through the past year with my running. Seeing as we live in Central New York, it can be very difficult to stay motivated with the snowy, cold, damp, blistering, windy weather so a few things that have helped me keep my focus are 

1.  www.runningwarehouse.com (soooo much cool gear, along with great prices and 2 day FREE Shipping)

2.  'Born to Run' by Christopher MacDougall (absolutely one of my favorite reads in my life- this has propelled me to continue with this blog)

3.  My wife's continued Nutrition counseling....I am a terrible eater.  So if you  are also a horrible calorie binger like myself, then please by all means check out her blog "KJ's Green Kitchen"  (I hope she starts a category on endurance athlete recipes...  Hint hint honey ;>)
4.  iRunFar.com (Great website for the Ultra trail Running Enthusiast)
5.  Trail Runner magazine.  (I ordered a 12 issue subscription over 8 months) I love it, it's AWESOME!

So as the winter progresses, try and stay focused, continue to get out as much as you can even if only for a hike or snowshoeing.  Trust me, anything done in the snow might be twice as difficult but also twice as rewarding.  

Keep treading on,
Ryan

Welcome Back Trail Runners,

       The winter season has been so-so thus far, maybe a few storms here and there but we're Syracuse, and those little snow flurries have nothing on us.  As for running, my running partner Abbey (my American Foxhound) and I have already enjoyed two great trail runs in the past week.  Although the snow and ice continue to stick around, and the footing isn't the greatest, we were able to conquer some of the snow shoe trails dug out for us at Green Lakes and Highland Forrest.  

       What I love so much about trail running is that being out in the fresh air and quiet stillness of the forrest can be rather therapeutic.  Whether it is the sun shining through the pines or glistening off of the white capped snow drifts, the cool whistling breeze, or something as simple as  following those little foot prints left from a bunny's early morning jog, it is all so refreshing to me.  These runs are why I love living here in Central New York.  Yeah Yeah, I know, it's cold, windy and we get dumped on over and over again with snow, but throw an extra layer of clothing on and get your butt out into nature and just observing and enjoy it.  I promise you, you won't be disappointed.

        I have recently changed the name of the this blog to "Syracuse Trail Running and Beyond" for My wife and I like to run everywhere and anywhere we get the chance.  We especially love running in the Finger Lakes area and are now very excited for the Finger Lakes Trail to be connected to the town of Naples, NY. (Camp Johnson) The FLT has been increasing it's length and will hopefully be completed (with State Funds) by next year.  This trail begins in Jamestown, NY and will cover over 500 miles of trails all the way to foothills of the Catskill Mountains.  Thanks to a lot of dedicated Trail Running and hiking enthusiasts as well as a BIG THANK YOU to the land owners, who have given permission so that we may utilize their land and see and feel this beautiful New York State of ours.  

         So if you are an avid runner and reader, stay tuned for more to come in the next few weeks, for I believe that the snow will be melting and that we all will have a chance to get out and hit the trails before the April showers come pouring in.  (Pictures and Group Run Calendar to follow sometime in May)  
Mud it up!
-Ryan