I love running with music. There have even been times that I postponed my run to charge my headphones or phone just enough to make it through the run. Pretty sad, huh? It wasn’t always this way. Once upon a time, I never ran with music. Never. In fact, not only did I not run …
Month: February 2021
Not all weekends can be filled with snowy slopes, icy crevasses, and striking landscapes. Some are filled with relaxation, culture, near leisure, and rabbits. “Rabbits?” you say. “What about rabbits.” Supposedly, the name “Hispania” is a Roman alteration of the Carthaginian name “Ispania,” which means “land of rabbits.” (Source: Wikipedia) And it is indeed. There …
I have heard people refer to 2020 as “the lost year,” and 2021 isn’t shaping up to be much better. In more normal times, by the beginning of the year, I usually have some sort of idea of what my goals will be because now they often revolve around a mountaineering objective, which must be …
Peñalara is the highest peak in the Guadarrama mountain range (Sierra de Guadarrama) within the Madrid region at about 7,965 feet (2,428 meters) high. It can be a quick climb depending on one’s fitness, as the most commonly used trails begin at Puerto de Cotos, which is already at about 6,000 feet (1,830 meters). It’s …
While I am no stranger to the metaphorical darkness of Simon & Garfunkel, lately, I’ve been confronting a more physical darkness. (What? That’s not even possible.) Okay, so the not-quite-physical-but-also-not-metaphorical darkness I’m confronting is exercising before sunrise. I’ve never really had a problem getting up early and heading out in the pre-dawn or earlier hours …
I have a love/hate relationship with La Pedriza. Or, maybe more of a cautious almost enjoyment/hate relationship. Let me explain: La Pedriza is a fascinating feature of the Guadarrama mountain range outside the city of Madrid (but inside the Madrid region) in the town of Manzanares. It is primarily made up of giant granite cliffs …
Thanks to Merriam-Webster, I know that the word “outlier” has several meanings, but none really fit me, just like almost every pair of pants I’ve ever owned. Let’s examine these pant-like definitions a little closer: A person whose residence and place of business are at a distance. I live quite close to the center of …