A few weeks ago, I completed my planned goals for the beginning of 2021. First, the Spring CMTR Scavenger Hunt, which is more or less documented on my Instagram. But the real highlight of my goals for this year was running the Cuerda Larga or, as I like to call it, 10 miles of power …
It’s been about 1 year since the COVID-19 lockdown here in Spain. While I meant to write about it earlier, you know, about a month-ish ago, I didn’t. Perhaps it was because my schedule changed so I could go home after my morning class instead of writing in a frigid basement while waiting for someone …
It has been some time since I’ve gone hiking (and written here), pretty much since I hiked from Morata de Tajuña to Chinchón in March. Because my athletic goals this year are different than my partners, I’ve been focused more on running than slow hiking with a heavy pack. In addition, his training hikes usually …
Last weekend, we opted for a different type of excursion, walking between the towns of Morata de Tajuña and Chinchón, which are both located in the Madrid region (Comunidad de Madrid) and easily accessible by bus. We started in Morata de Tajuña, quickly passing the main square and heading to the outskirts of the town …
This past weekend, I returned to the Guadarrama mountain range, the same mountain range of Peñalara and La Pedriza, but in a new place for me – La Peñota. At a little more than 6, 000 feet (1,900 meters), La Peñota consists of three small peaks that provide an easy but fun rock scramble to …
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 …
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 …