Cowtown Half-Marathon

This Sunday I ran the Cowtown half-marathon for the third year in a row. The first two times I ran it I spent months training, but this year I found myself busier than normal. I had signed up a long time ago but had not run more than a handful of times in the weeks leading up to the event. As a result, I ran it slower than normal and wanted to share how my outdoor experience was altered. 

The course has remained the same each year. I find my favorite part of the race to be when I am in the neighborhoods surrounded by grass and trees rather than when I am running through downtown surrounded by tall, concrete buildings. Although some argue that the stockyards and downtown are their favorite parts since there is so much more to experience visually, the quiet and relaxed neighborhoods are when I feel most comfortable on the run. Over the course of my blog this is a trend that I have started to notice: I enjoy myself more when I am in a peaceful natural environment. I could really focus on how the air felt in my lungs and the humidity on my skin. 

Of course, as I got towards the end of the race, what was at the forefront of my mind was wanting it to be over. My friends think that I am crazy for wanting to run it every year, but there is a reason I always come back. I get to be outside for an extended period of time exploring wonderful Fort Worth with an amazing community of runners supporting me all around. Although the running itself is not my favorite aspect, I find that the memories I get from it are priceless. After it was all over, I sat in awe on the Trinity river watching the full marathon runners run by.

Leopold Reflection

This week I have been learning about Aldo Leopold, specifically, his book A Sand County Almanac. Learning about Leopold's background and how it influenced his perspectives is interesting. He spent his weekends and vacations living in a “shack” in the Wisconsin wilderness, fully immersed in nature. His time spent there most likely had a great influence on his “Land Ethic” that he discussed in his book. 

What particularly stood out to me in the reading was the chapter “How to Think Like a Mountain.” As a biology major, I have taken ecology classes and learned about the effects of how overhunting wolves changed the ecosystems at Yellowstone. Leopold’s backstory involving actually shooting a mother wolf and seeing the light leave its eyes must have had a profound impact on him. I like the idea of thinking like a mountain because it really challenges humans to think beyond the scope of themselves and into our future generations. I think a lot of people would treat nature differently if they were looking at long term impacts instead of just the current day — especially with issues such as global warming. 

The idea of Leopold’s “Land Ethic” has challenged me to look beyond how I have previously thought about ethics. When I took an ethics class in high school we focused mainly on how individuals act with other members of a community. This discussion did not particularly focus on how individuals should act towards the environment. This goes beyond just how one should treat other animals too. He has challenged me to look at land beyond property and act in harmony with land (just how people strive to act in harmony with community).

Winter Reflection

Since the weather is transitioning towards sunnier spring days I wanted to reflect on my walks I took during the snowstorm in January. There is a unique stillness outside when there is snow surrounding everything. When everything was covered in a blanket my walks were quiet and I felt more at peace. I took my time, partially because I was trying not to slip, but also because I felt less rushed during my snow walks. Maybe it had something to do with classes being cancelled, or just because the noise of cars zooming by had gone away. I like to think it is the latter. Everyone had transitioned to walking to avoid using their cars and the typical background hum of engines was now quiet. 

Something I noted was how snow has an effect of simplifying a landscape. Everything felt clean and soft. The concrete that surrounds so much of the environment I am normally in was more hidden away which I liked. Even the sounds were different. My footsteps had a quiet crunch when the snow was still fresh. The ice was not as kind to me and even took my feet out from under me on a couple of occasions. I can also remember the cold air on my cheeks. The warm air that is coming here now overwhelms me at times when I am out in nature, and sends me retreating back inside my house. 

Looking back on those walks now a month later in a different season, I can better appreciate the snow. It’s funny how when it is cold I want it to be warm and vice versa. I have found myself wishing that the cold would return so I could spend a little more time in the snow after having this realization. The beauty of nature does not only come when it is spring/summer and everything is blooming and I think this is the first winter I have had this mindset. But for now I will be enjoying the lovely Texas spring.

Trip to the Museum

Today our class took a trip to the Amon G Carter Museum. My favorite paintings are landscapes. It is awing to me how artists can capture scenes of nature so clearly. Nature is filled with details that are easy to miss if you are not examining it closely. 

In my last blog post, I noted how slowing down on my walk allowed me to see many details of my walking route that I had previously missed. Looking at the landscapes today gave me a similar feeling of wanting to slow down so that I did not do the same to them. 

Each leaf on the trees and shadow in the clouds were so clearly detailed. Some of them I wanted to stand as close as possible because they almost had the illusion of a photograph. A painting that stood out to me was Sunrise at Yosemite Valley. There was an excerpt next to it where the artist stated that when he visited, he felt he was in the Garden of Eden. His painting of the valley felt like I had been transported there myself. The yellow hue coming from the sun was hitting a cliffside and radiating towards me. 

Abbey in Desert Solitaire transports its readers to the Arches Monument, and this painting did the same to me with Yosemite. Reading Abbey's description of the nature around him has made me yearn to be where he is so I can experience it myself. Similarly, the painting was calling me to stand where the artist stood. However, the Garden of Eden is a symbol of purity and harmony with nature. A part of me wants to keep the Sunrise at Yosemite Valley at bay so it can remain just as it is. 

Nature Walk Observations

I make an effort to walk daily around campus or in neighborhoods, but today I slowed down to focus on nature. My walks are typically driven by a goal: complete 2 miles and go home. I realized that I have not been paying close enough attention to all that we are surrounded by. It was a different experience - new sounds, trees, and flowers. Although I was only in a neighborhood, I saw squirrels and butterflies while hearing the distant calls of birds at the Fort Worth Zoo. This made me appreciate walking without my headphones in. My favorite part of the walk was noticing how the sun was hitting the leaves of a willow tree that I walk by regularly but have never stopped to admire. 

When I was younger I spent the majority of my time outside. I played outside the second I got home from school until it was time for dinner. My younger self would probably not imagine how much time I now spend indoors. The school year often keeps me in class or studying from when I wake up until I go to bed. I was particularly excited about this class because I want to be more intentional with how I spend my time outdoors. 

Most people in my generation, including me, are disconnected from nature. In highly urbanized areas it is easy to spend an entire day in only buildings or cars. This is why so many people cannot see negative impacts on our climate right in front of them. When I took an ecology class last semester I was left feeling uneasy about the impacts of climate change on Earth. I want to find more ways I can play my part to nurture nature and be present with my time spent outside.