Forest Bathing Triple Crown

"if you want to go fast, go alone. if you want to go far, go together." ~African proverb. 

DFL at the forest bathing triple crown yesterday in newark, de. and i wouldn't have it any other way. thank you, beth, trail dawgs, and my fam for the pick me up. if you haven't explored the trails at white clay creek state park - on foot or by bike - i highly recommend its very runnable, remote, nature-full beauty. we took so many pictures, trying to capture its peaceful vibes. here are just a few that still don't do it any justice.

April 28, 2024

sometimes i run races for the medals/tshirt/mug/etc, and being fed aide station food. other times, i just want to explore new trails in remote places with a well-marked and self-supported course with friends, caring less about swag and finishing times. yesterday was the latter and it was oh so peaceful! 

the forest bathing triple crown was a free race by the awesome trail dawgs crew in white clay creek state park, just outside of newark, de. it consisted of a half marathon(ish), a 10k(ish), and a 5k(ish), totaling just under 24 miles. 

no rocks, very few roots, mostly shaded and relatively low elevation, made for the most amazing runnable trails!! beth and i ran through tall trees, bouncing across DE/PA state lines, listening to birds and very loud woodpeckers, through mayapples (a plant that is spread mainly by box turtles when they eat the seed and "distribute" it on the forest floor), crossing a very chilly rushing river twice, slushing through muddy puddles in tall grass, feeling up trees (literally), taking deep breaths of fresh sweet-smelling air, and soaking in all of the lush green beauty. the only pain of the day was a brush against a stinging nettle plant in the first mile - ouch! While it hurt like hell for a couple of miles, it is actually a plant known for its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-ulcer, astringent and analgesic capabilities. maybe it helped numb my quad pain?

the half marathon course consisted of 2 figure 8s and almost got us to the tri-state marker, but not quite. we took a photo of 4 large rocks at what seemed to be the most northwestern point of the course and thought it might have been the marker, but it was not. mountain bikers were a-plenty on this course and the trails were perfect for cycling with just a couple of long climbs. at the top of one, the lookout over a farm was stunning! the first river crossing was a slow one. the rocks were slimy, and the cold water was a shock at first. my feet grew slightly numb from moving so slowly across it. however, the second time we crossed, i felt a bit more comfortable and hopped along like a little kid. 

back at the pavilion, i changed into a tank top, took off my hat that was trapping a lot of heat, ate a pb&j, apple sauce, a couple orange slices, salt & vinegar chips, and drank some gnarly. we headed back out after a quick bathroom break.

   

the 10k course was much more remote as no cyclists were allowed on the carpenter trails. flat and fast, my legs wanted to push it at a steady pace, through the enveloping trees. one very large dead tree loomed over with a wide clearing above it. i thought, "that tree has seem some sh*t." 

we reached the arc corner monument, part of the delaware's boundary with pennsylvania. interesting history, as delaware is the only state in the entire U.S. with an almost perfectly circular arc or circle for a border. This 12-mile circle has a rich history involving land deals and legal conflicts. the final climb along the field to the finish felt long, especially since we were exposed to the sun. i sang "eye of the tiger" as beth crossed the finish line. i didn't do the song any justice but it made us smile.

i took off my empty hydration pack and grabbed my handheld water bottle. ate another half of a pb&j, more chips, apple sauce, orange slices, and gnarly. put my hat back on and put on some more sunscreen. my right thigh was bright red from the sun and the nettle encounter.

Before I headed out, a couple of triple crown finishers told me the 5k course was challenging with 2 steep climbs and more xc then trail. i took off with the mentality that i just needed to get this done. they weren't kidding about the climbs. 

there was also a stretch of high grass that had a layer of thick, hot muddy puddles underneath. it splashed almost up to my shorts with every step. i reached mill stone pond, and followed the orange flags. at least I tried until they suddenly stopped and i realized i must have taken a wrong turn. oops! after running back and forth a couple of times, i could see an orange flag in the distance and brought it home up and around the same field to the finish line. 

Beth, the rd and another trail dawg were there to cheer me across the finish line. i was DFL, proof that i took advantage of the all the forest bathing this adventure had to offer! 

nick and fiona came to meet us with water and ginger ale. it was so wonderful to see them! 

'til my next escape into the woods...