Breathe Magazine

a life inspired

jan-feb 2012 free!

noodle

love DELICIOUS RECIPES

&

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derby dames meet the

adventure

spas

RELAX, KICK BACK AND FEEL THE ADRENALINE

running HOW TO STICK WITH THE PROGRAM

CLIENT uvahltbreathe JOB NO. 004377

magazine

editor in chief

Marissa Hermanson marissa@readbreathe.com DESCRIPTION

Helen Darr contributing writers Cancer

table of contents features

Aleigh Acerni Marley Gibson PUB Christine Hinton Breathe Magazine Lisa Maloney Sarah Nowicki MATERIAL DUE DATE Sarah Sekula 12-02-11 Caroline Shannon-Karasik Carrie Williams INSERTION DATE

January 2012

16 Derby Dames 22 Adventure spas

Soak up adrenaline-packed excursions and then relax in comfort back at the hotel.

copy editor

Beth Waldman TRIM SIZE 8.375”w x 10.875”h art director BLEED SIZE Megan Jordan 8.625”w x 11.125”h senior designer COLOR Amanda Powers 4C associate designer QUESTIONS CALL Lauren Walker Courtney Haupt 251.476.2507 contributing photographer

28 Keep up the good run

How to turn your running resolution into something you won’t quit.

Parker Michels-Boyce

IT director Craig Snodgrass

digital media coordinator Jack Murray

publisher Charles Leonard charles@readbreathe.com

president Blake DeMaso blake@readbreathe.com

account executives Dusty Allison: dusty@readbreathe.com Martha Evans: martha@readbreathe.com Leah Woody: leah@readbreathe.com Nick Noe: nick@readbreathe.com

business manager Melissa Gessler

distribution manager Chuck Grigsby chuck@readbreathe.com

contact us 116 West Jefferson Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 434.817.2755 56 College Street, Suite 303 Asheville, NC 28801 828.225.0868 © 2012 Summit Publishing, LLC. To carry Breathe in your store call 434.817.2755.

cover © Parker Michels-Boyce, pmbphotography.com

breathe ONLINE

Find fresh online content at readbreathe.com

departments 4 Editor's Note 5 Contributors Our daily inspirations 7 Fitness Home gym 101 8 Food Healthy pasta recipes 11 DIY Home organization 12 Style Masculine meets feminine 13 nest Turn your bedroom into a winter getaway

14 Beauty Shiny hair secrets 26 inside scoop Q + A with Jennifer Pharr Davis, the AT record-holder January - February 2012

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editor's letter

have a list of short- and long-term goals I want to accomplish. I’ve listed things from learn how to play the banjo to run in the Warrior Dash. I also have a list that says: be a good friend, be a better listener, take the dog for longer walks, call family more often, always write Thank You notes, etc. Year after year though, come New Year's, I never have any resolutions. Since I have made it a habit to have an ongoing list of goals to accomplish, the hype behind New Year's resolutions seems a bit silly to me.

Goals should be something we practice day in and out throughout the year, not something we consider at the beginning of each year. There is so much pressure with the advent of a new year — to change, to be better, to be something more, to lose three pounds, etc.

It’s a laundry list of improvements that can leave you exhausted. Instead, broaden your perspective and think about long-term goals that will enrich your daily life — and that you can realistically conquer.

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In this issue, we set out to find passionate women who have goals that they conquer every day of the year. From the ladies who make up the Charlottesville Derby Dames to Appalachian Trail record-holder Jennifer Pharr Davis to Breathe’s very own writers, we found plenty of inspiration for this issue.

Certified running coach Christine Hinton talks about how to kick-start your running resolution and keep it up throughout the year, while DIY expert Carrie Williams tells you how to plan ahead this year with some fun organizational projects for your home.

You’ll also find Annie Hall-inspired style from our fashionista Marley Gibson. Or, feeling inspired to go somewhere new and try an exciting adventure? Check out Sarah Sekula’s story on adventure spas.

So, with that, read on and I hope when you put this copy down, you’ll feel inspired to conquer your goals.

Cheers!

Marissa Hermanson Editor-in-Chief

contributors

our daily inspirations!

ir open a your w ords

what are your gardening plans for this spring?

I look in the mirror and remind myself, "Leah, live every hour like it is happy hour."

Leah Woody Sales Executive

I draw energy and inspiration from all of my surroundings — the wonderful people I meet and photograph, as well as the unexpected places I visit and explore. parker michels-Boyce

I am inspired by my children. They motivate me daily to stay healthy and active. I want to be my best for them.

Christine Hinton Contributing Writer

Open Air is live! Tweet your thoughts with #breatheopenair to be part of the conversation.

Follow Open Air on Twitter or at ReadBreathe.com/open-air.

Contributing Photographer

Special thanks to Virginia Tourism for their support of Open Air.

..."Get up offa that thing, and shake 'til you feel better!"

I tell myself, “Live in the now.”

Amanda Powers

Marissa Hermanson Editor-in-Chief

Senior Designer

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

Megan Jordan Art Director

Check us out at readbreathe.com for fun, fresh content.

DIY tips an

d trend

s

Book reviews

Quick

read

s ays s s rous e

Humo I'm inspired by the notion that life is short and here for the taking. Every time I wonder if I should or shouldn't do something, I mentally fast forward to check in with my old lady self and more often than not, she says,"go for it!" That gets me out the door every day.

Amelia walton

There's nothing like a morning run to get my day started. It not only inspires and energizes me, but it's where I do some of my best writing –– in my head, of course!

Caroline Shannon-Karasik Contributing Writer

When I was deciding what to major in, I got a fortune that said, “You will become an accomplished writer.” It gave me the push I needed to apply to journalism school and it continues to inspire me.

Beth Waldman Copy Editor

Recipes ... and MORE! Sign up for Breathe's weekly enewsletter "fresh air" for up-todate Web content and blog posts.

see you in march!

Until then follow us on facebook ... and twitter too!

Blogger January - February 2012

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Picture your perfect wedding… in Charlottesville!

Photos courtesy of Aaron Watson Photography

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Fitness

home gym 101

set yourself up for fitness

Do 8 to 12 reps each of iron crosses on the Total Gym, leg curls and extensions on the Body Solid gym and barbell bench presses.

If you’re pushing your limit, be sure to have someone spot you.

If time or money are too tight to hit the gym — or you don’t want to exercise in public — you can meet your fitness New Year’s resolutions at home. Let’s take a look at what equipment is best for your home. From working out in a tiny studio apartment to creating a deluxe gym in your basement, here’s what you need to get svelte in your space. By Lisa Maloney

small

medium

large

Room Size

For dorm rooms, studio apartments and other small living spaces.

If you’ve got a little more room to work with.

Ready to turn a large room or basement into a gym?

Cardio

Shadowboxing is free. No equipment necessary! Buddy Lee’s Rope Master Jump Rope, $28; trxtraining. com1up. USA bicycle trainer, $299; 1upusa.com.

The Step F1011W Original Health Club Step, $100; spri.com. Schwinn 240 recumbent exercise bike, $449; bowflexcatalog.com. Sole F63 folding treadmill, $1,000; soletreadmills.com.

Concept2 indoor rower, $900 to $1,260; concept2.com.

Precor EFX 5.21 elliptical trainer, $1,500; precor.com. Smooth Fitness 9.65LC treadmill, $2,199; smoothfitness.com.

Strength

Perfect Fitness Multi-Gym, $35; perfectonline.com. Bodylastics resistance bands, $40 to $120; bodylastics.com. Bayou Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells, $184; bayoufitness.com.

TRX Trainer, $175 to $300; trxtraining.com. Valeo Burst Resistant 65cm Body Ball, $25; valeofit.com. Bob Harper Contour Kettlebells, $30 to $110; gofit.net.

Total Gym, $600 to $1,000; totalgymdirect.com. Body Solid EXM1500S single-stack home gym, $1,360; bodysolid.com. Competitor Weight Bench with 100-pound weight set, $300; impex-fitness.com.

Alternate 30- to 90-second bouts of jumping rope or shadowboxing followed by 8 to 12 reps of pullups, elastic-band chest presses and walking lunges.

Log 20 to 30 minutes on your bike or treadmill while listening to music that gets you moving.

Go for a cruise on your rower, elliptical or treadmill while watching TV. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate cardio every week.

Sample Exercises

Lisa Maloney is a writer and certified personal trainer who penned 50 Hikes Around Anchorage. She lives in Anchorage, AK. January - February 2012

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food

healthy recipes

bowl o noodles Who said nutrient-packed, gluten-free pasta has to be ho-hum? With options ranging from noodles that inspire delicious Asian dishes to a pasta made from vegetables found under the sea, there is no shortage in the excitement department — promise. Check out these five pastas to take your next noodle dish from lackluster to completely original.

By Caroline Shannon-Karasik Ancient Harvest Quinoa Pasta: Each one of these protein-packed noodles is made with a blend of organic corn and quinoa flour. The super seed — which is often mistaken for a grain — ­­ gives the pasta a light, fluffy quality. The pasta comes in several different varieties, but the elbows, shells and garden pagodas are ideal for making pasta salad or macaroni and cheese. quinoa.net 8

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note ...

These recipes are gluten-free. If you have allergies or food sensitivities, always check specific manufacturer’s products for allergens and/or cross-contamination issues.

Schär Gluten-Free Pastas: Schär pastas are ideal for the new-to-gluten-free eater or a mixed crowd of people who might not be so keen on the taste of gluten-free pasta. Made with a combination of maize and rice flour, the consistency and color of the pasta is much closer to what is known as "regular" pasta, and it tastes a little less like whole grain than some of the other options out there. The pastas range in size from lasagne noodles to tiny rings and shells that are tasty additions to soups and stews. schar.com Tinkyáda Rice Pasta: A brown rice pasta that is also Kosher-certified, most of these noodles only have three ingredients (brown rice, rice bran and water). For the gluten-intolerant pasta lover, Tinkyáda pasta boasts al dente noodles. And with 18 shapes to choose from — spirals, elbows, jumbo shells, fusilli and lasagne noodles — there will be plenty of time to experiment with recipes ranging from simple tomato sauce to stuffed shells topped with crispy mozzarella cheese. tinkyada.com Sea Tangle Noodle Company’s Kelp Noodles: Made with just three ingredients — kelp (seaweed), sodium alginate (sodium extracted from brown seaweed) and water ­­­— Kelp Noodles are fat-free, gluten-free and low-cal (just 6 calories in 4 oz.). This sea vegetable is packed with calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron and iodine; and it’s also very high in sulfur. Don’t let the green color scare you away: Kelp Noodles are delicious served cold or hot, and can be used in a number of recipes, including stir fry, soup and salad. No cooking required: All you have to do is rinse and eat. How much easier can it get? kelpnoodles.com Annie Chun’s Pad Thai Rice and Maifun Brown Rice Noodles: Not all of Annie Chun’s noodles are glutenfree, but the ones that are have a special somethin’ that makes them a delicious option for a gluten-intolerant pasta lover. And the best part? These pastas cook in no time — in about 4 to 5 minutes they are ready to go. Pair them on the side with a soy ginger salmon, or make them the main event in a lo mein or pad Thai dish. anniechun.com

vegetarian no meat products gluten free no gluten *all nutritional infoRMATION is approximate

Lemon Walnut Pesto Pasta with Asparagus Serves 5-6 16 oz. gluten-free pasta 6 tablespoons olive oil 7-9 basil leaves 2 cups spinach fresh juice of 1/2 lemon 3/4 cup walnuts 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup low-fat ricotta cheese 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1 cup chopped asparagus 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

1. Prepare pasta according to package directions. When fully cooked, rinse pasta with warm water, return to pot and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil, tossing before setting aside.

3. In a medium sauté pan, add remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and warm over medium-high heat. Add asparagus and sauté, stirring constantly for 4 to 5 minutes. Do not overcook.

2. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, basil leaves, spinach, lemon juice, walnuts, garlic, ricotta and sea salt to a food processor or high-speed blender; pulse until smooth.

Pour mixture over pasta and toss to combine.

4. Divide pasta among bowls and evenly garnish with asparagus and Parmesan cheese.

More recipes, page 10 January - February 2012

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Nutty Thai-Style Noodles Serves 4-5

8 oz. gluten-free brown rice pad Thai noodles (like Annie Chun’s) 2 tablespoons safflower oil 1/4 cup gluten-free soy sauce or tamari fresh juice of 1 lime

medium-low heat. Continue whisking throughout cooking process, until sauce begins to thicken. Remove from heat and pour over noodles, stirring to combine.

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare pasta according to package directions.

When fully cooked, rinse pasta with cold water, return to pot and set aside.

3. Mix together the carrots, scallions, bean sprouts and cashews in a medium bowl.

2. In a medium saucepan, combine diced tomatoes, coconut milk, butternut squash, potatoes, cumin, sea salt and red curry paste, stirring well to combine.

Simmer ingredients over low heat for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Serve pasta cold, dividing among bowls. Top each serving with carrots, scallions, bean sprouts and cashew mixture.

2 tablespoons sesame oil 1/4 cup light brown sugar 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter 1 tablespoon arrowroot starch 3 cloves garlic, minced

Curried Coconut Noodles

1/2 cup carrots, shredded 1/4 cup scallions, chopped

Serves 4-5

1/2 cup bean sprouts

12 oz. gluten-free pasta, cooked

1/2 cup cashews, chopped

2 cans diced tomatoes

1. Prepare pasta according to package directions. When fully cooked, rinse pasta with cold water, return to pot and drizzle with safflower oil, tossing before setting aside.

2. In a medium saucepan, combine soy sauce, lime juice, sesame oil, light brown sugar, peanut butter, arrowroot starch and garlic, whisking consistently over

1/2 cup light coconut milk 1 cup butternut squash, uncooked and diced 2 medium red potatoes, uncooked and diced 1/2 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted 1 cup frozen peas

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4. When sauce has reached end of cook time, add peas and simmer for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from heat and pour sauce over pasta, stirring to combine.

5. Divide pasta among bowls and garnish with toasted almonds before serving.

1 tablespoon red curry paste

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3. While ingredients are simmering, place almonds on a baking sheet and toast in oven until golden brown (8 to 10 minutes). Remove from oven and set aside.

Caroline Shannon-Karasik is a freelance writer and founder of thegspotrevolution.com. More at carolineshannon.com.

DIY

home organization

plan ahead in style When it comes to organization, we typically fall into one of two categories. There are those of us who color code our books, label our socks and have a day planner with us at all times. And then there are those of us who like to stack books wherever we like, rarely see the floor of our closet (what color is the carpet again?) and plan things on the fly, in lieu of a calendar. If you’re feeling a bit embarrassed by your personal sense of organization, don’t. There is no right or wrong way to operate. The best thing you can do for yourself is make organization work for you. With the new year just beginning, it’s the perfect time to add a little spark (and personality) to your current day-to-day plan of action.

Try these simple, inexpensive and effective projects to bring sanity to your hectic schedule. They can easily be tailored to you, without compromising your routine.

By Carrie Williams Do-It-Yourself Chalkboard Calendar: All it takes to make this easy, erasable wall calendar is a quart of chalkboard paint (Lowe's, $9.99), some thin automotive masking tape (Advance Auto Parts, $1.99), a paintbrush, ruler and some mathematic abilities for the measuring.

Figure out how big you want your calendar to be (we went with 3-inch squares, seven across and five down, with a larger 7-inch by 16-inch memo section off to the side), and then tape off the dividing lines with masking tape. Paint over the lines and wait a day or so. Remove the tape and admire your work. Not only is this for everyday use, but it doubles as fun, interactive wall art.

Hidden Cork Board: You can't go wrong with a project that requires only

two supplies. Using inexpensive cork board squares (Michael's, $5.99 for a pack of four) and your favorite adhesive tape (we used 3M removable tabs, Target, $4.99 for a pack of eight) you, too, can have this hidden message center for important receipts, emergency phone numbers or anything else you need on hand, yet out of sight. Simply remove the paper backing on the tape and press onto the four corners of the cork square, then stick it to the inside of your cabinet door. Can't get much easier than that.

Clothespin CatchAll: Raise your hand if your refrigerator is covered with stuff.

ve timE a h t ' n Do for DIY ?

Let the talented artisans of Etsy do the work for you with these ready-made versions!

Chalkboard Calendar: Simple Shapes. www.etsy.com/shop/SimpleShapes

Whether it's photos, the sweet thank you card from your mother-in-law or that amazing recipe for cookies you found in a magazine, most of us are guilty of bogging down our good white space. Instead, use tacks to fasten chicken wire to the inside of an old empty frame to create a designated spot for your papers. Bonus: Pick up a cheap can of colorful spray paint to dress up the frame and make it an eyecatching display.

Be sure to click over to ReadBreathe.com for Carrie’s blog posts. And for a real-time rehash of her and her fiance’s home renovation project and other DIY howto’s, check out her blog at DreamGreenDIY.com.

January - February 2012

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style

annie hall inspiration

Shirt: Bead Trim Button-Up, Forever21.com, $27.80

Hat: Albertus Swanepoel Kwele Hat, available in Target stores, $19.99; Jacket: Ann Taylor Blazer, AnnTaylor. com, $158; Pants: Consonant Wide-Legs, Anthropologie.com, $118

masculine meets feminine Diane Keaton’s personification of Annie Hall has inspired the fusion of masculine and feminine style since the movie debuted in 1977. Her character has liberated women through garments that mirror menswear, including everything from wide-leg trousers to leather briefcases. This season’s latest trends echo her style with structured blouses, highwaisted pants and fashionable fedoras. By Marley Gibson Marley Gibson is a writer and professional personal shopper.

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Bag: Mossimo Supply Co. Crossbody bag, Target.com, $29.99 Shoes: Malicotte highheeled boot, CallItSpring.com, $39.99

nest

the bedroom

Lingerie: Warm, cozy and comfy usually means you are covered head to toe, but instead of reaching for your footsie pajamas, why not try a sexy nightie or boy short and top combo? Wrap yourself in a robe and when things heat up, reveal this stylish set.

Anthropologie offers a darling silk crop top and short duo in a dusty slate blue color that’ll reveal just enough. The color, too, will make you feel warm and wintry all at once.

Anthropologie.com, $42 to $46.50

Flames: The chilly weather sends us indoors to get warm, and the perfect spot to burrow away is in front of a roaring fire, or in this case, candle.

White Barn Candle Co.’s Winter’s Night will make you feel as if you are tucked away in a warm cabin with its clove scent. BathAndBodyWorks.com, $19.50

baby, it's cold outside Turn you r bedroo m into taway e g r e a wint

Fit for a queen: Everyone needs a splurge item, and this is ours.

If you really want to stay warm while feeling completely wrapped in luxury this winter, the must-have is Neiman Marcus’ cashmere floorlength robe. Snuggling up to that special someone while wrapped in cashmere will make you and your mate feel warm, cozy and ready to hunker down on a winter evening.

NeimanMarcus.com, $495

Whether you’re ready to curl up with a romantic novel or snuggle up to a special someone this winter, the colder months call for a cozy getaway where you can escape for hours on end. But spending time indoors doesn’t have to be dull and stuffy.

Make your bedroom a winter retreat, where hibernation is the last thing on your mind. You don’t have to spend a fortune turning your love nest into an inviting haven. Here are some ways to heat up your hideaway and make any chilly night a relaxing slumber party. By Sarah Nowicki

Cheers: Château Morrisette, a Virginia winery, features a sweet Red Mountain Laurel wine for less than $15.

Wintergreen Winery offers a sweet, crisp raspberry wine for around $15, which pairs well with all things chocolate. If you’re looking for something really over the top, try Rebec Vineyards' white peach wine, Landmark Dessert.

RebecWinery.com, $19.95

Rub a dub: After building a snowman or romping in winter wonderland, a warm massage may sound like the sweetest thing.

Try Shea Moisture Organic Lavender and Wild Orchid. It doubles as bath oil, so you can have fun in the tub, too. Target.com, $16

Sarah Nowicki is a copy editor and writer.

January - February 2012

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beauty

hair care

get glossy secrets Shiny hair Everyone wants shiny hair, but unless you were blessed with naturally glossy locks (lucky you!), finding a way to take your tresses from dull to dazzling can seem as elusive as the fountain of youth — or at the very least, like a lot of work.

It doesn’t have to be, says Julie Ebner, founder and owner of Juju Salon & Organics (jujusalon.com), an organic spa and salon in Philadelphia.

She promises that with a few small changes to your routine and the right tools and products, even curly or very fine hair can be transformed into a glossy mane. “There are ways to absolutely make any type of hair very shiny,” she says. “Anyone can achieve it.” By Aleigh Acerni Cut. Getting shiny hair begins with the right cut — and maintaining it properly. “You want to keep your hair in the best possible health,” Ebner says. Don’t skip regular trims, especially if you have long hair.

“The longer your hair, the more exposure to the elements, more split ends,” she says, adding that split ends can run all the way up to your crown. So, if you’re not regularly cutting them off, you risk damaging the entire length of your hair. “If you’re having an issue with it looking kind of dry … get your ends and layers cut on a more frequent basis.”

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Color. There are two reasons why salon hair color tends to look richer than do-it-yourself color: First, it’s custom-blended by your stylist, and second, your stylist uses special techniques, such as sitting you under a dryer while the color develops. “Our color needs heat to help the cuticle accept the color,” Ebner says. If there’s no organic salon nearby or if having your hair colored by a pro is out of your price range, Ebner recommends looking for box dyes that are free of ammonia (which can irritate both skin and the respiratory system) and p-Phenylenediamine (PPD), a suspected carcinogen. We

found several options at our local health food store, including Tints of Nature (www.tintsofnatureusa.com) and Susan Henry Natural Hair (www.susanhenry-ncp.com). And, Ebner counsels, don’t dye the entire length of your hair every time your roots need a touchup. “The rest of the hair doesn’t need all that color,” she says.

“Just touch up your roots and that’s it.”

Cleanse and condition. Wash your hair every day? You might be washing the shininess right down the drain. “If you’re washing your hair more than two times a week, you can never achieve that shiny hair,” Ebner says. Over-cleansing, even with the best organic shampoos, disturbs the balance of the oil glands in your scalp. Instead, she recommends wetting your hair and using just conditioner on the days in between shampooing. “Rinse it out really well. The quality of your hair improves greatly.” Ebner swears by Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Shampoo ($14.99 at maxgreenalchemy.com) and John Masters Lavender and Avocado Conditioner ($22 at johnmasters.com).

Tools. Your hair is weakest when it’s wet; that’s when the most shine-preventing damage tends to occur. “Make sure you brush it out with a wide-tooth comb, something really gentle,” Ebner says. Wait until your hair is nearly dry before you reach for the blow dryer to minimize your hair’s exposure to damaging heat.

“Get a microfiber towel and take a lot of moisture out so you’re not starting with really, really wet hair. The less exposure to the blow dryer, the better,” she cautions. Then, when your hair is damp, use a nozzle on your blow dryer to direct the airflow. If yours didn’t come with one, you can pick up a universal nozzle at a beauty supply store. If you’re just brushing out your hair, Ebner recommends using a soft-bristled brush. We like the cruelty-free Widu Elite Bubinga Wood Boar Bristle Brush ($75 at spiritbeautylounge.com).

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Products. Different types of hair respond best to different products, but Ebner suggests looking for products with sesame oil, coconut oil, wheat germ, chamomile, lavender or rosemary oil. For curly or more damaged hair, she recommends Hamadi Shea LeaveIn ($22 for 4 oz. at hamadibeauty.com); but for lighter smoothing and control, she likes Yarok Feed Your Ends ($17 at shop.yarokhair. com). “If you have a style where you don’t really blow it out, put product in so that when it dries you have a nice smooth finish,” she says. Her suggestion? Innersense Sweet Spirit Leave-In Conditioner ($20 at innersensebeauty.com). “It’s a good product for people who don’t like to use a styling product.”

Extras. “I’m lucky enough to have a salon with an excellent health food store next door,” Ebner says. She frequently sends her clients next door with a “hair prescription” for a high-quality supplement such as Omega-3 from Nordic Naturals ($16.99 at nordicnaturals.com), which is great for skin and hair. To help improve your hair from the inside out, Ebner recommends loading up on leafy greens, nuts, brewer’s yeast, whole grains and root vegetables. “The number one thing is exercise for blood circulation,” she says. “The hair follicle needs a healthy supply of good blood to make it healthy, to make your hair grow.”

Aleigh Acerni is a Charlotte-based writer/editor who loves writing about green living, travel and food. When she’s not interviewing one of her heroes (such as pioneering chef Alice Waters or playwright Eve Ensler), you can find her writing about natural beauty at IndigoandCanary.com.

January - February 2012

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DdEaRmBeYs

by Marissa Hermanson

It’s a chilly Sunday evening and the ladies have traveled two-and-a-half hours through the Blue Ridge Mountains for their last roller derby match of the season. As the sun slowly dips behind a peak, the ladies huddle around their carpool and wait outside of Christiansburg, Va.’s Adventure World, a dimly lit roller rink, to compete against the NRV Rollergirls. Some of the ladies are already dressed in their derby attire — fishnets, hot pants and knee-highs with their team jerseys, a vintage pin-up model on their black T-shirts. Their faces are bare and innocent, awaiting the war paint of heavy eyeliner and rouge. Skates in hand, smiles on faces, these ladies — the Derby Dames — anxiously await the rink's doors to unlock and the night’s bout to kick off. photos by Parker Michels-Boyce

January - February 2012

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The ladies who make up the Derby Dames, a Charlottesville, Va.based roller derby team, are women who joined the team with the intention of making friends, finding an extracurricular and getting exercise, but didn’t know they were getting themselves involved in much, much more. Their underground hobby has become a lifestyle, an ultimate time commitment and a sisterhood of women who seem to have unconditional love and support for one another.

Modern women’s flat track roller derby started back in 2001 with the Texas Rollergirls out of Austin, Texas, after the sport was revived from the roller skating races in the early 1920s. Over the course of the past decade, the alternative sport has exploded in popularity to nearly 600 leagues throughout the country and about 1,000 leagues worldwide ­— and is still growing, according to Roller Derby Worldwide, which keeps a roster of the leagues.

In 2007, a handful Charlottesville ladies got wind of this up-andcoming sport and met to talk about forming a league. Since their initial meeting, the Derby Dames have overcome their share of

blocker

The pivot wears a striped helmet and strategizes and gives orders to Blocker One, Blocker Two and Blocker Three. The three blockers from the team line up behind the pivot line (start line) and play offense and defense.

Blockers can switch between offense and defense. They try to stop the opposing team’s blockers from taking out their jammer, while attempting to stop the opposing team’s jammer from scoring points.

Blockers need to be good at stopping the jammer, hitting them, slowing them down and getting in front of them.

The positional blocker gets in front of jammer and puts their butt on the jammer, which makes it harder for the jammer to get around them to score.

jammer The jammer wears a helmet with a star on it and scores points. The jammer is lined up behind the blockers at a second starting line.

The jammer’s goal is to pass the opposing team's blockers and break through the pack as quickly as possible. The jammer who emerges first without committing penalties is dubbed Lead Jammer, which gives her the ability to call off the jam before the two minutes are up.

Jammers must have speed and agility and be able to psych out or “juke” the blockers. They have to be able to anticipate the blockers’ movements so they can move around them to score.

The jammer does twice as much work as the pack because they have to lap the pack to score points.

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derby rules the bout

The “bout” (competition) is two 30-minute halves that are broken up into a series of two-minute playing segments, called “jams.”

the setup

Fourteen ladies on the roster and two alternates from each team There are five skaters on the rink: one pivot, three blockers and one jammer

how it’s played

The initial whistle blown by the referee releases the blockers, and once they pass the pivot line the ref blows two short whistles to release the jammers. And, the jam has begun.

The two jammers are competing against one another to legally (without committing fouls) get through the pack of blockers to become Lead Jammer. Whichever jammer legally gets through the pack of blockers first takes name as Lead Jammer and then skates as fast as she can, making a full lap around the rink. As she comes around, she scores points by passing opposing skaters. Each skater counts as one point.

The jam lasts up to two minutes, but the Lead Jammer can call off the jam (by touching her hips as many times as it takes for the ref to see her) whenever she wants. Her timing in calling off the jam is strategy-based. If the opposing team's jammer passes and she is worried the other team is going to score points, then she can call off the jam.

fouls

Fouls include purposeful and accidental elbow throwing, forearm hits, back blocking (rear-ending someone), and track cutting (stepping in front of an opposing teammate after being knocked out of bounds), etc.

who wins

After the two 30-minute halves are finished, whichever team has the most points wins.

obstacles from their first practice where a majority of the ladies showed up in the wrong clothes and didn’t know how to skate, to their first bout a year and a half later where they had to borrow players from the opposing team. They certainly have come a long way, but are still struggling to find a permanent roller rink in Charlottesville.

The Derby Dames now boast more than 80 players and bring in as many as 1,000 fans for their bouts. Indeed, they’ve come a long way after five years. With their star jammer B-one Bomber’s quickreflex offense, Bruta Liza’s and Mad Mountin’ Mama’s destructive defense and newbie Lil Bad Wolf’s optimism and overall zeal, these ladies have the stuff that makes them winners — ­ and an inspiration.

love

B-one Bomber joined the Derby Dames in June 2008, about six months after the derby initiative. After reading an article about roller derby in a copy of Reader's Digest that was laying around her parent’s house, she decided to show up to a practice to see what was behind the unusual sport.

“I had never really even heard of it and they were just starting it here,” she says. “It was kind of the blind meeting the blind.

“I didn’t really have any expectations because I didn’t know anything about roller derby. I didn’t know how to roller skate or anything. I showed up on my first day in my running clothes,” she says and laughs.

B-one is now one of Derby Dames’ star jammers (point scorers), but she started out like the rest of the Dames, without any experience or coordination. She reminisces back to her first few practices and describes herself as a “disaster on skates” and says her teammates dubbed her “giraffe on ice,” because she was so awkward and wobbly.

“I would kick people in the shins and they would say, ‘I have bruises from you.’ I didn’t realize I was doing it. My feet would just kick out to the sides. It was really bad. I haven’t really taken a break since then. I have been at it for 3 ½ years and practiced hard and dedicated myself to something I love.”

B-one grew up playing soccer and field hockey, and says coming from an athletic background definitely helped her with her skating, but says a lot of the ladies on the team had never played a team sport before in their lives.

B-one has been around from the get-go, and she’s seen herself grow along with the team. As she was awkwardly finding her balance as a skater, so were the Derby Dames, making it up as they went along.

“I came in when nobody knew anything. They knew a tiny bit, but no one was really that polished on the rules,” B-one says. “It has grown so much. It’s pretty inspiring and makes me really happy people are getting into it and are so dedicated.”

B-one’s love for the Dames and adrenaline keeps her coming back.

She says not every practice is fun; it’s a lot of soreness, bruising and work, but she has never thought about quitting the team.

Being a Derby Dame is a huge commitment from serving on derby committees, participating in community service, coaching fresh meat (the newbies) to showing up to the practices from week to week.

But, Dames such as B-one, who are truly in love with the sport, can’t help but live up to the rigorous commitments of being on the team.

“I’ve grown more and more in love with the sport the longer I do it,” she says. “I have never done a sport like that. It comes from more inside rather than being just a sport. I just love it.

“I can tell you on a day-to-day basis, I can be having the worst day and be in the worst mood and I’ll come to practice and every single time I’ll be in the best mood when I leave. It never fails,” she says.

“You are with great people, you are getting exercise, you are pushing yourself. It’s kind of like a drug, but it’s so healthy. It makes me happy, so that’s the main reason why I do it. It keeps me in shape. It’s social.

It’s such a great network of people. It’s been one of the best decisions of my life.”

perseverance

Mad Mountin’ Mama is a Derby Dame veteran. She has been here since day one. With no derby experience, Mama started coaching at January - February 2012

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Fresh Meat New member gives take on team

One of the Derby Dames’ newest members, Lil Bad Wolf, recently became “bout eligible,” meaning she is able to compete against other teams. When the Dames kick off their season and start competing in February, she hopes to get some time in the limelight.

Although she now says she is in love with the sport, she wasn’t so sure when she showed up for “fresh meat” practice last May. After watching the roller derby movie “Whip It,” Lil Bad Wolf was walking in downtown Charlottesville and saw a poster for the Derby Dames’ tryouts. She joked around with her girlfriends about trying out for the team and then got up the gumption to show up to the first fresh meat practice.

“It wasn’t love at first sight. I was really intimidated,” she says. “I wasn’t that into it and I couldn’t skate that well. It was pretty new for me, so I wasn’t sure if I was going to come back or not.”

Lil Bad Wolf says around 20 ladies — ranging in age from 20s to mid-40s — showed up for fresh meat and then slowly they started dropping off, leaving only four ladies vying for spots as Dames.

“It was a lot more intense than I thought it would be. Fresh meat was very welcoming. All the girls were very nice and it was very easy going and go at your own pace,” she says. “I felt that after once or two times I just wanted to go for it and go all the time, but you have to take time to progress.”

The first day of fresh meat involves roller derby basics: a safety review, proper skating stance and stride, crossovers, as well as basic falls and stops.

After day one, the girls practice once per week for eight weeks and then get tested to become a “level one” skater.

They are tested on general skating, crossovers, gliding on one foot, stops, etc. After becoming a “level one,” they get to attend more practices and get their USARS insurance (basic skate insurance for $45, which is required for them to skate in a venue).

The ladies then get tested to become a “level two” skater, which is when they become “bout eligible,” meaning they can compete. They are tested on the rules of the game and their skating skills.

Throughout fresh meat, Lil Bad Wolf was champing at the bit to bout, and is ready to start competing this season after perfecting her moves in what she refers to as “big girl practice” with the more experienced Dames.

Lil Bad Wolf sees roller derby becoming a large part of her life and says she is involved in something derby-related every day. Her identity is quirky like the rest of the ladies, but she also stands out in the crowd. She wears a purple romper as she flies around the track and hops around doing footwork drills.

“People don’t really expect it because my life outside of derby is very different,” she says. “When you go out and you tell people you are on the Derby Dames you kind of feel like a rock star. I feel pretty cool.”

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the second practice, and admits she didn’t know what she was doing.

“We just made it up as we went along,” she says. “I was a personal trainer and that’s why I was qualified to coach the team. We were doing trial-by-error, and I was looking up drills online. It was really slow going.”

The Derby Dames lacked key resources that other leagues had — a rink and experienced coaches and players — which is why it took them a year and a half to start competing against other teams.

“We had a lot of limitations going into it, but we made the most of it,” she says.

The Derby Dames started skating with other teams throughout Virginia to learn how to work as a pack, try different drills and learn the strategy behind the game. They improved their skating by bringing in experienced coaches from other teams in the area. The Richmond, Va. derby team even drove down with gear and pads and taught the Dames drills. The Derby Dames spent their first year and a half polishing their skills up until their first bout, and when reminiscing about it, they can’t help but laugh.

“Our first game was a disaster somewhat,” Mama recalls. She pauses and shakes her head with a smile on her face. “We got to the parking lot to carpool — and this is for a bout five hours away — and several people didn’t show up. We already had a light roster.

We only had seven skaters. Driving across the state, we started calling everyone we knew asking if we could borrow skaters. We played with seven of our skaters; we borrowed the coach and skaters from the Harrisonburg team. We borrowed skaters from Roanoke and one from the team we were playing. It was embarrassing and we lost — ­

like incredibly. It was a completely different team than what we are now.”

After their first bout, the Dames got a trainer and practice space at a warehouse, fine-tuned their skills and started acquiring a pack skating mentality. At their first home game, they lost by a lot, Mama says, but still felt empowered.

The Dames went from not being able to fill a roster, practicing only once per week and homeless, to now boasting a team of 80-plus women from ages 19 to mid-40s, who also run the gamut in personalities and professions.

The Dames and the city of Charlottesville are missing one key component for roller derby though — a permanent roller rink where they can practice and bout other teams. Flat track derby is convenient because it's easy to set up the track by marking boundaries on the ground, but over the years, the ladies have lacked a permanent practice and bout space, saying it's been hard for them to find a facility in the Charlottesville area that is big enough to set up their track.

“Since our inception, we have moved from undersized warehouse track to undersized warehouse track,” B-one says. “By ‘undersized,’ I mean that the space is not big enough to lay down a regulation-size track. It is a disadvantage to us to practice on such a small track and then skate on a regular-sized track during the bouts. It affects our endurance in a bad way. In addition to affecting endurance, practicing on too small of a track can affect movements and plays.”

Currently, the Dames use the Augusta Expoland, which is 40 minutes out of town, for bouts during the winter. During the

summer though, the team gets to bout downtown at the Main Street Arena, where anywhere from 500 to 700 fans show up to cheer them on. At one bout last summer, about 1,000 fans showed up.

“Our fans are amazing compared to other teams,” Mama says.

“Other teams don’t have the turnout that we have, the excitement we have.”

Mama says once the Dames started playing downtown it was less appealing for fans to start driving 40 minutes out of town to the Expoland in Fishersville, Va., because everyone would prefer the easy access of downtown.

The Expoland is a great venue though, with an easy track setup and bleachers to seat a large crowd, but the team still longs for the day when the Charlottesville community will welcome a roller rink where the Dames can practice and bout.

“When we founded the Dames, we had a dream of having a community skating rink for everyone — especially kids who are excited about roller skating,” says Bruta Liza, one of the Dames’ main blockers and veteran skaters. “It would be lovely if we could get a roller rink back in Charlottesville.”

At the end of November, the Dames made some progress spacewise. They started practicing at a previously abandoned warehouse in town that they fixed up. The space is large enough for a regulationsized track, but the hunt is still on for a permanent bouting venue.

“It definitely takes a lot of effort to keep derby going in this town with the constant hunt for practice and bouting space, but the team is extremely dedicated and we want it badly,” B-one says. “We also have some extremely loyal fans — among them are lots of loyal derby parents who come to watch us and help us whenever they can. Our biggest dream is that someone will build us a roller rink.”

An accessible and permanent roller rink would give the Dames the opportunity to practice more often and better their skating skills; more experienced teams practice as often as four times per week, Bruta Liza says. "For some people, this is the biggest or most important thing in their lives right now,” Bruta Liza says. “It would be nice for that to work out and to have a space to follow their dreams in.”

Bruta Liza is loyal to the Dames, saying they helped her make friends and coax her out of her shy shell when she was new in town.

Now, derby has swallowed her life and she has friends who just do derby and talk derby. She knows if she ever left Charlottesville for a new city, it would need to have to a roller derby team, because derby is a part of her identity. The adrenaline, the sisterhood, the game — it’s ingrained in her, much like it is with the rest of the 80-plus Dames.

“I have never been in anything that made me feel this empowered, confident, strong and fulfilled. I have not found anything that does this,” she says. “I’m proud of it. When people know that I do this, I’m not ashamed or afraid if they think it’s stupid or degrading — or whatever they may think. I’m proud of what we have made together.”

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adventure spas Think active travel has to be exhausting? Think again. Adventure spas give you the chance to soak up adrenaline-packed excursions and then relax in comfort back at the hotel. This way, you make it back home feeling well toned and well rested.

by Sarah Sekula

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ndorphins pumped through my 33-year-old body as I headed for the clouds in northern Chile. More specifically, I was nearing the top of El Toco, an 18,645-foot extinct volcano. Huffing and puffing, I couldn’t help but grin through my exhaustion. At the top, I would be taking in dreamy views of not only Chile, but Bolivia too.

My group had been steadily plodding upward for two hours now. Fortunately our guide shuttled us up the first 16,500 feet in the comfort of a van; the next 2,145 feet were up to us. For a cold weather wimp like me, even that was quite a trek. The thin air was squashing my Floridian lungs. Unable to catch my breath, I suddenly felt I was my asthmatic sister in disguise. That’s when the chilly winds kicked in; the final push to reach the summit was a cold one, indeed.

Fortunately, beyond a sheltering ridge and toward a grouping of boulders was the top. The horizon greeted me, and the mammoth-sized Andes were now at eye level.

Since Chile has a handful of volcanoes — some extinct, some not — I saw plumes of dark smoke in the distance. Pretty spectacular, to say the least.

After a few celebratory photos, I leaned back against a large rock and gulped down my coca tea and pound cake. Soon after, it was time for the slog downward. Very quickly, the altitude started taking its toll, and I was feeling less than dapper. The ice and rocks made it easy to slide around and lose my footing. Plus, the winds were still howling. What kept me going was the thought of soaking my worn-out self in a Turkish hot tub. Yes, back at home base, Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa, a 32-room luxe hotel an hour and a half away, I would be in full-fledged recovery mode.

I had arrived three nights earlier to this family-owned, high-altitude oasis.

Within minutes I was drinking a pisco sour and plotting excursions on the giant, hand-painted map. (With Cristobal, my adventure concierge, of course.)

You see, Tierra Atacama is all about sharing its nearby geological wonders.

(Think flamingo-filled salt flats, multicolored lagoons and hot springs galore all within an hour and a half of the hotel.) In other words, you bask in nature and then come back to indoor comforts each day.

The perfect combo, if you ask me.

Days before the volcano climb, I ran full-speed down a giant sand dune into Death Valley. Then, I hiked to Puritama Hot Springs. Here, I had my pick of eight natural pools that boast 91-degree temps year round. The next day, I woke before the sun rose; El Tatio geysers were on the agenda. To top it off, I downed barbecued llama kebabs in a nearby village.

Each afternoon I was blissfully tuckered. Not surprisingly, Tierra Atacama’s Uma Spa was priority numero uno for me. Here, my lucky limbs were in for a treat. Locally found volcanic mud, desert herbs and salt straight from the lithium-rich salt flats are incorporated into treatments. Better yet, my tired legs were revived with a lymphatic treatment. What I’m trying to say is, each night I was mellowed out and ready to tackle the next day with gusto.

PHOTO: Tierra Atacama

Photo: Sarah Sekula

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: The Tierra Atacama van leaving El Tatio geysers. Tierra Atacama at night. Biking on the way to Laguna Sejar on the Atacama Salt Flat just outside San Pedro de Atacama. El Tatio geysers.

PHOTO: Tierra Atacama

Photo: Sarah Sekula January - February 2012

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If you think history is written by men, you don’t know the whole story.

Mrs. Stonewall Jackson, Mrs. Robert E. Lee, and countless other strong, passionate women made — and continue to make — our town great.

And carve their place in our nation’s history.

In Rockbridge County, women make history every day.

The story of Rockbridge County is not one simply of events, it’s also of people. Visit us.

For your free travel guide call toll-free: 877-453-9822 or visit: lexingtonvirginia.com.

Photos courtesy of Special Collections, Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University.

If you crave adrenaline-packed vacays that include a hearty dose of R&R, check out some of our favorite adventure spas.

Australia

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat By day, take a 6-hour guided bushwalk past waterfalls (there are 500 in the area) in Lamington National Park. By night, tighten your shoelaces and turn on your headlamp.

It’s time to venture through the sub-tropical rainforest. Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive platypus or sooty owl en route to the glow worm grotto. Then it’s lights out as thousands of blue-green glow worms light up the night. The next morning, pamper your tootsies at The Lost World Spa with a foot soak and honey hot stone massage to release tension in the shoulders. Take advantage of the relaxation room, too, where guests cozy up by the fireplace and soak in some stunning mountain vistas.

After all, the spa is perched on the edge of the World Heritage Rainforest. oreillys.com.au Hawaii

Travaasa Hana This all-inclusive hotel is equal parts wild and mild. Of course, the gorgeous setting doesn’t hurt either. Start your day with a stand-up paddleboarding session on Maui’s epic Hana Bay, follow that up by snorkeling off the beach of Kapueokahi and end the day by catching dinner. A guide will teach you the ancient art of the Hawaiian “throw net,” an age-old tradition. The next morning, slow things down a bit with tai chi or a “nourish flourish” class, which helps guests understand how different foods relate to overall wellness. Top it off by getting a lomilomi massage. With natural herbs and rhythmic strokes, each drawing upon the natural energy of Hana, lomilomi is practiced with a profound intention to heal mind, body and spirit. travaasa.com Mexico

Sandos Caracol Resort & Spa This seaside resort packs a wallop of thrills.

Here, guests are rough and rugged by day swimming in caverns, riding ATVs through the wild Mexico jungle and scuba diving next to candy-colored fish — oh, and bull sharks, too. From late December to March, divers can witness the migration of these predators in Riviera Maya. It’s boredombashing travel at its best. Retire to your villa

local adventure spas by night, only to wake up to a no-nonsense hot stone massage in a beachfront palapa in the morning. Or head inside The Playa del Carmen spa, which offers a range of unique treatments to help you recoop. With treatments such as the deluxe chocolate body wrap or a champagne bath, you really can’t go wrong. sandos.com Wyoming

Four Seasons Jackson Hole Not only is the Four Season Jackson Hole surrounded by epic ski runs, it’s also a stone’s throw from Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. In other words, it is the perfect launch pad for adrenaline thrills (snow-cat skiing, snowboarding, heli-skiing and wildlife watching). Speaking of animals, you can get an up-close look by signing up for the resort’s wildlife safari. Available year round, these small tours, limited to just five guests, are led by an in-house wildlife biologist and naturalist. Be on the lookout for elk, bears, mountain lions and bighorn sheep. Once you’ve got no energy left, kick back at the full-service alpine spa where the “peak performance” treatment will help you keep up your A-game. You’ll be treated to a therapeutic massage coupled with assisted stretches to help ease pain and stiffness.

Or opt for the “high-altitude body soak,” which involves a deep-soaking tub, essential oils and a cozy fireplace. fourseasons.com

If you’d rather stay closer to home, never fear, there are plenty of adventure spas in our region.

TENNESSEE

Blackberry Farm Located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry gives guests the chance to horseback ride through 9,200 pastoral acres or try their hand at fly-fishing or fox-hunting with one of the lodge’s top-notch instructors. Afterward, yogassage (a combo of movement and touch therapies) is highly recommended. blackberryfarm.com VIRGINIA

Primland This retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, an hour and a half from Roanoke, offers horseback riding, clay shooting, flyfishing and, get this, tree-climbing lessons. Surely, you’ll be ready for an American-Indian-inspired massage afterward. primland.com

When Sarah Sekula’s not zigzagging around the planet, she’s writing about her adventures, the environment, fitness, health/wellness and extraordinary people. More at sarahsekula.com.

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inside scoop

Jennifer Pharr Davis She has trekked more than 11,000 miles of long-distance trails on six continents, written her own adventure memoir, “Becoming Odyssa,” and holds the endurance records for the Appalachian Trail, Long Trail and Bibbulmun Track. And, she is an entrepreneur, with her own hiking company based out of Asheville, N.C. Jennifer Pharr Davis not only defines courage and strength, but evokes it in others. Her accomplishments are celebrated, spirit elevated and soles worldly, and she isn’t stopping there.

We checked in with her to talk about the AT and to see what she has planned for 2012.

By Marissa Hermanson

It’s where

The AT is really special to me.

I grew up.

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In 2008, you set the women’s record for hiking the AT. Did you intend to break a record?

A few things led me circumstantially for the women’s record. I was looking for a new challenge and felt very confident with my hiking skills. … [My husband and I] decided he would be a part of it the second time, so it was a supported hike. I got support the whole way and I got to see my husband several times a day. This was a perfect idea and I was thrilled when we came to this realization. We set out with a goal to achieve the women’s record, but there wasn’t a whole lot of pressure because women haven’t really attempted it. When I set the record in 2008, the fact that the women’s time was 88 days means it’s arguable whether or not if that woman was 26

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ack b e com to these mountains. trying to set a record. We didn’t have a whole lot of pressure. We finished in 57 days and I averaged 38 miles per day. I knew as soon as we finished that I still had a lot left. That experience made my husband and I realize that there doesn’t necessarily have to be a gap between the men’s and women’s records. We planned that maybe we would go back and try again. It took a lot more planning and logistics before we were ready to go back and try this summer.

You set a new record for the AT overall last July in 46 days, 11 hours and 20 minutes at an average of 47 miles per day. You shaved off about 11 days from your previous time. Did it feel like a lot more work?

It was a lot more work. It took absolutely every thing I had. It’s one of those weird moments in life where I look back and I think, “I’m so glad I’m not out there,” and “I’d do anything to be back out there.”

It was a bag of mixed emotions.

How do you physically and mentally prepare yourself for a long-distance hike?

Most people think about perhaps physical, but not how to mentally or emotionally approach it. Physically, I think it’s important to get outside and be active as much as possible. And then on the trail, go at your own pace and adapt to the physical demands. Part of that is emotionally accepting being away from friends and that you are uncomfortable ­— hot and cold. One thing that really helped me was to take away the alternative. That means consider the trail your home. I don’t think about the nice warm bed. The trail is my home and that’s not going to change until I finish. A big reason people stop and want to get off the trial is because they are thinking about the alternative. I believe in embracing it and considering the trail my home.

Roam The Woods

Why do kids get to have all the fun? Do you miss playing outside until dark? Remember the days of exploring? At Roam The Woods this is what we do on every course. We teach you the skills to make you self reliant and safe on your next outdoor adventure while allowing you to be a kid again.

Backpacking Adventures for all Women roamthewoods.com

elk river touring center Your West Virginia Winter Getaway

What is on your agenda for 2012 — personally and professionally?

On trail, I guess I have two different goals. One would be to do a total of 500 miles on long-distance trails. I want to do one of the shorter long-distance trails that I haven’t done yet — the Bartram Trail, Benton MacKaye Trail and Pinhoti Trail. For the business, my goals would be to expand our guided hikes and the way we help people to become comfortable in the outdoors. Also, to put out another book in 2012. We are working on a kind of online magazine about long-distance trails with tools on how to raise money. It’s really important to have something to work towards. I’m a very goaloriented person. I write them down and come up with the steps to move towards them.

To read the entire Q & A with Davis, visit readbreathe.com.

To find out more about Davis, her memoir and Blue Ridge Hiking Co., visit blueridgehikingco.com.

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January - February 2012

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Keep up the good run How to turn your running resolution into something you won’t quit

by Christine Hinton

For the runner-tobe, the new year starts with a wave of excitement and anticipation of the lean swift runner you imagine yourself to become. Running is notoriously on top of many resolution lists. It’s the perfect activity that delivers a wealth of benefits from weight loss to increased energy.

New runner Jennie Jimenez-Brydie, of Upper Marlboro, Md., recalls the enthusiasm when she started. “The initial thrill is like a rush of adrenaline,” she says. “You almost can’t sleep thinking about those first couple of runs.” And, although we begin with the best of intentions, our gung ho-ness seems to flatten after a few weeks. A warm bed is more tempting than a frigid run. Before February has passed, we are back to our old habits — sans running.

While the yearly running boom may happen in January, the peak “I quits” occur in February. According to a study from the University of Sheffield, only 9 percent of us stick to our resolutions for more than four weeks. What does it take to still be pounding the pavement in the months to come? Below are a few tricks of the trade.

It’s cold, snowing, raining, windy or (insert unpleasant weather condition) Unless you are the Wicked Witch of the West, most weather conditions are fine to run in. Initially, you may be a bit uncomfortable, but once you get going, you’ll most likely find it enjoyable. Having the proper clothing and accessories is essential. Dress in many thin layers that you can peel off to regulate your body temperature changes.

Just go! Accept conditions outside and avoid arguing with yourself about whether or not you should run. Don’t over think it. Jennie doesn’t question heading out in poor weather.

“Just put on more layers,” she says. “The first few minutes are cold, but once you start moving, it gets warm pretty quickly.”

Of course, common sense should prevail. Run inside if conditions are unsafe or questionable, such as icy streets. But don’t let backing out be an option. Doing something is better than nothing.

I’m sore and achy Slow down! Many new runners run way too fast. Run at a pace that allows you to hold a conversation. Breathing should be controlled and relaxed.

Get the right shoes. Many aches and pains can be avoided if your foot and gait are considered when dressing below the ankle. Specialty running stores are your best bet for getting a proper fit.

Ice sore spots. Throw on a bag of frozen peas or, if you have generalized soreness, consider sitting in a cool tub of water for 10 to 15 minutes post run to decrease inflammation.

Treat yourself to a sports massage or invest in a foam roller to work out the kinks yourself. Gently stretching after your runs can also help speed recovery and help you avoid injury.

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gear to keep you running through the winter

Brooks Nightlife Essential Running Jacket II, $100; brooksrunning.com. Petzl TacTikka Plus LED Headlamp, $44; petzl.com. Brooks Reflective Adapt Glove, $130; brooksrunning.com. Yaktrax Pro, $30; yaktrax.com

The thrill is gone Jennie recalls a run she was less than eager to start. “It was the first truly cold morning of the season. My bed covers felt really warm,” she says. “But, you just have to push yourself out of bed and just do it.

You have to be committed.”

There are a few tricks you can pull out when the excitement meter is sitting steady at zero. "Chariots of Fire," anyone? Watch or read an inspiring running story. Buy a new running outfit. Join a group for a fresh perspective and new friendships. Sign up for a race as a future goal, or volunteer at one.

Sometimes the same old running routine needs a little spicing up.

Switch up your scenery. Try a new route, or head to a park, track or trail. Designate a treadmill day where you catch up on soap operas or watch a movie.

Don’t restrict your pursuit for fitness to running alone. Incorporate cross training, such as yoga or a spin class to keep things appealing.

Above all, remind yourself why you started in the first place.

Falling off the wagon Just because you miss a run, or several runs, doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel. Life happens, and a missed run shouldn’t be considered a failure, but rather an opportunity to find out what works best for you.

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Start with a written plan (options available online or through a coach) that guides your daily and weekly goals. If you fall off, jump back in where you dropped. If you missed more than a few days, step back a week or two and bring yourself back up to speed. Structure and consistency are crucial. Success is often more about having a plan in place than having willpower.“Get someone to check up on you and hold you accountable,” Jennie says. “It really helps. You don’t feel like you are doing it by yourself. Think of running as something that you were always meant to do.”

I don’t think I’m getting any better Sometimes it’s hard to see improvements from day to day. Kind of like watching the grass grow, it’s gradual. Keeping a runner’s log will chart changes, whether your usual route took less time or you ran farther than two weeks ago. “Logs really tie the whole process together” Jennie says. “It allows you to see the progress made and keeps you motivated, especially on days when you think you can’t make it over a certain hump.”

Logs can be found online (i.e. Dailymile.com), or go old school with pen and paper. In addition to recording distance and time covered, jot down how you felt, the weather or any other notes that are useful to keep track of.

Remember that the only run you will ever truly regret is the one you don’t do.

Christine Hinton is a RRCA certified coach and writer based in Crofton, Md.

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