Aesthete Runner

I took a brief hiatus from running to get some rest and spend time with friends and family, so this week is a little light on the pictures. I have seen a few of my woodland friends which I always enjoy when running.

A short Trail Tuesday this week as the weather has been making it difficult to get out and run. Thankfully the view is still pretty amazing after fresh snow, and a visit to the waterfall on my usual trail proved spectacular.

Today's Trail Tuesday takes you to Austin - the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail. It is one of the amazing trails the city has to offer, with great views of the skyline, rivers, and dog park!

Instead of shopping for Black Friday deals, I was able to spend the day with my family exploring Moraine Valley State Park in PA. This happens to be the park where I'll be running a good portion of my 50k in May, so it was a great way to spend the day. How did you opt outside on Black Friday?

Saturday brought the first real snowfall this season and it was really amazing against a fall backdrop.

I am sure it comes as no surprise that I have selected a plan to follow over the next few weeks before I start ultramarathon training again. It's not that I don't like running whenever I feel like it, for whatever distance I feel on that day. But winters in Chicago are tough, and I find that a plan helps hold me accountable and gives me something to follow and continue to improve. I enjoy the structure that a plan brings and I also like that guesswork is taken out of the equation.

We had our first frost and many of the beautiful leaves dropped, blanketing the trails. I know there won't be too many more running days with amazing autumn color, so I am trying to soak as much time on the trails in as I can.