Travel

The Next Chapter

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Why do I love to run every day? It is relatively simple, I run for peace and joy and to be free. You can be free wherever you are; I always try to keep that in my heart. But sometimes it helps to rent out your house and hit the open road.

A couple weeks ago, I was running on my Ashland trails and passed the phrase “Let go” carved into a wall. I feel that was sound advice and sometimes you need to just let go, maybe have a few less possessions, less responsibilities, less money, less cares, giving you space to go deeper in yourself and to discover just a little bit more. I can do that through running but that doesn’t always include my family. My family means everything to me and so we’re exploring the opportunities of life together.

On our drive back from Western States two weeks ago, the idea formed. Three days later my wife gave notice at work. The next day we put our home up for rent on craigslist. Within hours we connected with an awesome ultrarunner moving to Ashland who is now taking good care of our home! Since then we have spent every last minute packing up our home, many a car load to goodwill, several bags of extra running clothes accumulated over the years to a local cross country team, de-cluttering our house and life as we begin the next chapter.

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Checking out our trusty The North Face tent!

We are looking forward to camping and being in the silence and sounds of nature. Waking up when the sun shines and going to bed more on Tristan’s schedule or when the sun goes down. A little less TV, a few more books. Some good conversations. Contemplation. Watching my boy grow who is soon going to be a year old and learning from him; living simple and enjoying each moment. Lots of time on the trails – solo long runs, mountain hikes with Tristan on my back, and a sprinkle of family running with all three of us and the BOB stroller to balance it all out.

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Ashland is our home and community filled with good friends and my backyard trails. It will be our home base between our travels but it is always fun to explore other places. We’re not sure where this might take us. I have plenty of races and travels to keep us busy over the next months. In between travels, we will be winging it, camping, with everything we need in our car, allowing us to visit towns, trails, and friends all over.

So as we hit the open road, energy courses through me. I’m not sure what is to come but I have my family by my side so life can only get better.

I look forward to meeting old and new friends along the way – maybe I’ll see you out there.

Cheers,
Timothy

“Oh, the places you’ll go…
You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!”
― Dr. Seuss

36 thoughts on “The Next Chapter

  1. Good luck brotha! That sounds amazing. Wishing you and yours best wishes.

    Congrats on the WS win!!

  2. Hi Tim, we have a place in Nederland CO. I have some time open when the house isn’t rented
    Oct 8-18. You are welcome to stay here if you like. Also Nov is wide open. Let us know.
    Tammy & Gary

  3. I know you have family and probably plenty of friends in Wisco, but if you’re in Madison I’d be happy to run some trails with you. Enjoy the adventure!

  4. What an interesting blog to open and read today as I am packing my house that I have rented to a friend and her little ones while my daughter heads to college and I head to grad school, not to live in tents but to live different lifestyles and have different experiences on the other end of a child’s life. Your writings are always timely and inspiring and only add to the blessings I feel having lived and run in southern Oregon. Thank you once again and safe travels and great adventures to you and your family.

  5. Thx for sharing Timothy. You are an awesome runner & a great inspiration since I’ve started trail running.

  6. Wow. This really spoke to me. What you are doing would have to be my ultimate dream. I feel more at home in the forest and on the trails than any wear else. Australia has some amazing places like the ones you are going to visit. Bring on the adventure :)

  7. Jealous! We have a spare room in Western Australia if you want to visit. WTF 100 Miler September 28th :)

  8. Reblogged this on My Million Miles and commented:
    I recently took a 4 week trip to Europe with my family which included running both the Rome and Paris marathons. The trip gave me a whole new perspective on life; what is important to me and how I choose to spend my time…sometimess LESS is MORE! Now I am living for our next family adventure that obviously would include running in very exotic places all over the world :)

  9. If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always have what you have always had…

    If you come to a fork in the road… take it.
    Bestestest wishes and big ups for W.S.
    Andy, England.

  10. LOVE your write up and way to end it with a RAD blurb from Dr. Seuss! CARPE DIEM! You have a place in the Gorge if your travels bring you this way! Happy travels through and through!

  11. Good luck Tim and enjoy the adventure! What a great start for your wee boy too.
    If your travels bring you to New Zealand my family and I would be happy to help out any way we can… Also hope to see you back down here to take on Mr Canaday again next year…brilliant run at Tarawera!

  12. So excited for you. My family has done the same thing and are living in New Zealand for the next year until at least July 2014. Though we both still have to do a little work (my husband is on sabbatical and I’m finishing up my online degree), I don’t think we have spent this much time together since before kids. My daughters are both experiencing once and lifetime opportunities and we are all making some wonderful memories. I hope for same for you and your family. Enjoy life and yeah, go ahead and “let go.” :)

    1. Thank you sooo much Lynette!
      I’m sure you’re having a blast, what good times for you and your family. I look to do the same; time together and good memories.
      all the best to you and the fam.
      peace,
      t

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