winter… POWDER…feet hurt…SKIING

On December 17, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, Skiing, SpudskisLeave a comment

Winter is officially here. THANK YOU! I was going crazy from the lack of snow. I couldn’t trail run, too much mud/snow but not enough snow to ski. MY FEET HURT…ALWAYS. I feel like I have a battle every time I ski, my feet! Yes, arthritis in my feet. I know, quit skiing, running etc but I can’t. It’s what makes me tick. Yesterday at Targhee it was serious braille skiing. My brother and I skied down Crazy Horse avoiding the football field (flat) to get to the chutes. I couldn’t tell if I was skiing down, sideways or up but the goods we found were well worth it! Oh my gosh…heaven! Ten glorious untracked deep & steep powder turns. And that’s why I deal with my feet. Such a great day.

Why I love to ski, Bonding. I bond with people. Connect with others that I never would in any other circumstance. It’s amazing. Whether it’s skiing High Boy with a new ‘cute friend’ you just met on the chairlift or with your dad or brother, skiing powder up to your chest while choking on snow. We connect. Not all people can connect, but those who can it’s magical.

Skiing has brought me a lot in my life. I’ve met amazing, unique people through skiing. I’ve cried, laughed as I wiped that silly grin off my face, and connected with strangers and those close to me while skiing. It’s my happy place. And I’m never going to give it up. Some may say I’m crazy, not normal, and obsessed but I’m happy. Really happy. I’m grateful it’s something I can do with my family, my nieces and nephews, strangers, friends and those dear to me. I’m grateful for the passion I have for the outdoors and skiing. I wouldn’t change anything. So thank you mom and dad for all those Saturday’s, I mean EVERY single Saturday from 2 until I moved out the house that we spent on the ski hill. There’s a bond that can never be broken and that bond melts all my other worries away when I’m on the mountain. It’s a great day to be skiing!

To my family of ski bums, Lenox (2) to Natalia (19) to mom (dying of cancer but still skis) to my dad (66, skis more than me) and Jess (skis her heart out when she’s in the west even if it kills her) and Mike (will always be a better skier than me and I ski A LOT more days) and Jill with her whit and natural talent (I have to work really hard at it). I LOVE my family who skis because that’s just what us HUSKINSON’S do, we ski and have fun while we’re doing it!

dear SKIING – i’m PATIENTLY waiting

On November 18, 2016November 18, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, SkiingLeave a comment

PC: Mike Tittel

I can’t believe it’s November 18th and there’s little snow! I’m going through withdrawals and I know I’m not alone. Skiers, we’re a different breed. We live, sleep, eat, drink, sacrifice, loose jobs, relationships and everything else in our life so we can ski. To say we LOVE it, is an understatement. I know most people don’t understand me and my lifestyle but I don’t expect them to. I’ve always NOT been the norm. But I’m happy. I’m surrounded by amazing people who appreciate a sunrise, a sunset, an amazing powder day, hiking through the Alps on skis, seeing pure joy on someones face at the bottom of a run they skied for the first time, they enjoy the simple things nature has to offer. And for us, that’s good enough. We don’t have fancy houses and sometimes we don’t wear the latest fashion but we have priorities; the best skis, coat, goggles, trips to find the perfect turns through bottom-less powder or skiing the couloir you’ve had your eye on for years. That’s what we do. No, we are not normal but we are happy!

Mom and Dad, the best thing you ever gave me was the skill to ski, enjoy nature and appreciate nature and enjoy a sport that has given back to me more than I will ever have to offer. My family still skis together, grandma, grandpa, sisters, brothers, in-laws and grandkids. We all LOVE to ski! Even my little adventure buddy loves the snow.

Find your passion. Find your happy place. Life is too short. I dare you! You may never come back… but I promise you’ll be happy.

SKIING through LEAVES in OCTOBER

On October 12, 2016October 12, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, Running, SkiingLeave a comment

Crazy it’s October 12th and I’ve already skied three days! After the St George marathon, I posted “Done with running and now I’m ready for winter and skiing!” I had no idea I’d be skiing great powder three days later. It was fun and as we were hiking up it was cold, snowing and windy. I would have thought it was the middle of winter, not the first of October. Teton had fun one day with me but looked was covered with snowballs.

A recent article was written about the influence of social media and backcountry skiing and the decisions people are making. You can read it HERE. I found it interesting in the US 27 people die in avalanches a year. At a conference last weekend, attendees not only heard from physicists but neurologists, behavior scientists, and psychologists. More focus during backcountry ski training, they say, needs to go towards decision making. It is a skill that needs to be taught. Some food for thought as we enter the ski season.

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Backcountry Safety | Early Season Hiking | Backcountry Book | Snow Study Kit

Wasatch 100, yes 100 miles of RUNNING!

On October 10, 2016October 10, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, Running2 Comments

So life got busy and crazy the past few months. From logging 80+ miles a week, plus work and side work, making sure Teton got outside for runs too, and an injury, August, and September flew right by. But I’m alive, happy and my body is adjusting to ‘normal’ life again. It seems weird on Saturdays that I’m not out running for 12 hours or more.

The Wasatch 100: AMAZING! I didn’t know what to expect going into it. Was it going to be too hard for me? Was I trained enough, would my knee bother me, would I be able to eat, was I going to be fast enough to make the cut-off times? So many unknowns. I felt great the first 30 miles, my stomach was a bit grumbly but I had my Rolaids to help out. I was even ahead of schedule at every aid-station. At mile 31 I ate a burrito and that’s the last solid food I ate for three days. My stomach bothered me so much I couldn’t eat anything solid and had to slow down. I ran 45 miles on broth, Gatorade and a few bites of cooked potatoes. (Family staple food when hiking. Yes, my dad is a potato farmer.)

Pacers are key to any 100-mile race. They keep you going when you want to give up. They distract you with crazy stories from college and they keep cheering you on, even when you’re the last one into the aid-station. My family was awesome and a big part of the race for me. They cheered me on. Sent me texts, encouraging me to keep moving. They trip as they are running into the aid station with you, and make you laugh, they walk up and down the road because they are so worried that you’re not there yet that they end up with a bigger blister than you do. Smile a toothless smile and tell you “You’re a Huskinson, we can do hard things!”, I laughed and cried at the same time.

Even though I didn’t cross the finish line, I was a champion. I was happy with 75 miles, I was cut because of time. I went 45 miles further than I thought I could that day because I couldn’t eat any food. It was hard but doable for me. I definitely was trained. It was a journey and the memories from the race are my pacers, family, and friends, support crew, and race support crew made it a great experience for me and I had fun along the way. And yes, I’m doing it again!

Wasatch 100 | What to eat race day | Support Crew | Recovery

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the TRUE athlete…

On August 9, 2016August 9, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Motivational Monday, RunningLeave a comment

Being an athlete is a state of mind which is not bound by age, performance or place in the running pack. ~ Jeff Galloway

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With the Olympics starting, I contemplate a lot of things. An injury I didn’t anticipate, a lot of hard training and sacrifices. A race I really want to finish and know I can but there’s always setbacks. I believe we are the true Olympians, you and me, the average person. Long after the ribbon has been run through or the course record has been set, we cross the finish line.

We push through the heat of the day, endure for hours long after the top three have been announced. And at the end, we wear the medal proudly. I’m not discounting the athleticism of those amazing athletes who win and are good at what they do and I realize they put as much training in as we do. We all endure, we all are athletes and true GOLD medalists. Whether it’s a 5K or 50K, we did it!

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A few years ago I came in almost dead last at a race I never thought I would finish. At the starting line, I knew I would pull out of the race at the tunnel, mile 21. Somehow I finished that race with my family cheering me through the tunnel and to the finish line. I’d ran an extra 22 miles that day and 12 hours later I crossed the finish line.

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That is why I LOVE sporting events and races. We, the average human, have to dig deep, really deep at times and continue on our journey and believe in ourselves when no one else does. Continue on… don’t stop… you can do it! GO US!!

St George Marathon | Grand Teton Relay | Speedgoat 50K | Deseret News 5K

today’s TID-BITS

On August 4, 2016August 9, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, Tid-BitsLeave a comment

Who’s excited for the Olympics? As a young girl, I dreamed of becoming an Olympic gymnast. I traded in the leotards for skis and became one of the top women big mountain skiers in the world instead. Good choice I think.

My friend posted this pic from Duluth. Bears like kiddie pools too.

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Outdoor Retailer is going on in Salt Lake City, UT this week. There are lots of new cool things coming out! It’s fun getting a sneak peek.

I’m learning what Runners Knee is and how it’s NOT fun to have but curable.

Summer isn’t over yet. Check out America’s Best Weekend Adventures.

Happy Thursday!

~Andria

adventures IN RUNNING

On August 2, 2016August 3, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, National Parks, Running, Shop, Uncategorized3 Comments

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So…this past weekend was THE hardest run I’ve ever done in my life, ok that’s only a true statement if I exclude Speedgoat 2015 but anyways REALLY hard! Emotions grow strong the more miles you pound out during the day. My goal 34 miles, piece of cake right?! I had already run 42 miles and felt great a few weeks ago! At one point during the last 10 miles of my run, I sat on a rock and cried. I wanted to jump in the creek and meander my way downstream to Jenny’s Lake so I wouldn’t have to take another step.

I continued on because I had to. No one was going to come rescue me and my poor knee. I had to put one foot in front of the other. I did NOT get a sense of accomplishment as I ran across the bridge at String Lake. But what I did feel was gratitude. I can do hard things. I mentally can do hard things. I realize most people are not as stupid as me and sign up for a 100-mile trail run but really, we can push ourselves a lot further than what we think we can.

My dad was waiting there for me and I was never so happy to see someone. I’m blessed to have many people behind me, encouraging me to continue on and reach my goal. I’m slow. Really, SLOW. But I put one foot in front of the other and know my mom would have loved to be on top of Hurricane Pass that day and that’s what keeps me going.

Don’t give up. Challenges make us better human beings. Some of us sign up for races bringing on those struggles ourselves, but most people have challenges without asking or wanting them in their lives. Keep going, one foot in front of the other. I know I can do it and so can you. As Babe Ruth said: ‘It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.’

Teton Crest Trail | Grand Teton National Park | Trail Running

Shoes | Insoles | Food | Sunscreen | Keep Running | Shorts

moments ALONG the WAY

On July 9, 2016July 29, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, National Parks, RunningLeave a comment

Most people ask me why I sign up for super long crazy ultra trail running races, and I always say, because what else am I going to do with my time? But really the reason I signed up for my first 5K to my first 100 mile race was because of the experience to the finish line. The training, the tears, the worry I won’t make the cut-off times, the struggles to continue on during a training run at mile six when you’re exhausted and dying but you have 20 more to go, the people I meet along the trail and their cheers, ‘You go girl!’, the accomplishment at the end and most of all, I do it for those who love me and are cheering me into the finish line.

It’s a lot like life. It has it’s ups and downs, accomplishments and failures but at the end we have someone giving us a hug and saying, ‘you did the best you could.’ Whether you won the race or came in last, we accomplished something for ourselves. We’re all doing the best we can. It’s the little things that matter. The effort and dedication we put into crossing the finish line, to those who support us through the good and the bad, the rain, sunshine and snow. To the constant cheerleaders in my life, I say THANK YOU!

Stop and enjoy that moment right now, because you’ll never get it back. I always stop and take a picture. Ya, it slows me down and I always like to stop, smell the flowers and enjoy that exact moment in time because it will be forever engrained in my memory, captured in a photo most of the time. That’s what gets us to the finish line of any race or life. Moments along the way. HAPPY RUNNING!

don’t FORGET to MAKE a LIFE

On June 14, 2016June 14, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, Shop2 Comments

‘Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.’

Words I have needed to live by the past few weeks. It’s been crazy with work and obligations but somehow when things get overwhelming, I step into nature and all the craziness melts away. This sunset was amazing and mesmerizing all within the same second. I LOVED it!

So today or any day… stop and don’t forget to make a life. Because in the end, that’s what matters the most, being surrounded by friends and loved ones and the experiences you share with them will be cherished forever.

Last Minute Camping Trip Essentials: ALL ON SALE

How to Build a Fire by Smokey the Bear: Here

the WANDERING mind in NATURE

On June 5, 2016July 29, 2016 By Sunsets and PuffysIn Adventures, Hiking, Running, ShopLeave a comment

Today was a long trail running day…20 miles or longer. Happy #NationalTrailsDay! I’m not quite sure of the exact distance I ran. I was out on the trails for 6 1/2 hours. Some of you may wonder why I do it. 1) because I’m training & 2) the experiences I have along the way.

Disclaimer: Keep in mind I ran 20 miles over many hours. This is a selfie of me w/two hours left. Lake: Upper Palisades Lake, amazing colors. It’s worth the hike!

I do it because I love meeting people on the trail. In the final three mile stretch I passed a couple I had seen earlier on the trail up high. Turns out, they live down the road from the house I grew up in. Small world. I love chatting with strangers I meet along the way. It’s always so fun to hear their story. I also love the different experiences along the way. Today, intense heat! I had to eat three GU’s just to keep going. I found a hidden meadow on the trail. It was so far up a canyon with down trees and not a great trail, I’m sure many people don’t venture up that far. I love the solitude I’m exposed to. As I looked around, I witnessed the snow lined ridges up high, the sun shining down on a trail meandering through the meadow. It was just me and nature.

When I run, I let my mind wander and sometimes I’m surprised what my mind wanders to. Things are presented to me in ways I would never have thought of on my own. There are no obstacles stopping my mind and it becomes crystal clear high in the mountains or on a mountain top. When my physical body and abilities are struggling to keep going, it seems the fog lifts from my mind.

When I’m in nature I easily tap into my true self, my true feelings. Yes, there have been times I have cried like a baby and processed life and situations. No one is around to hear my sobs but as those alligator tear drops fall, I understand and my vision is unclouded and I can accept that situation. My discernment is clear.

You don’t have to run 20+ miles in nature to experience this. A walk at sunset as the rainbow reveals itself, a drive through nature, or a short hike away from the normalcy of life will do the trick. You’ll be refreshed and ready to tackle anything. Just get outside and see what mother nature has to offer you. That clouded mind will see the sunset or rainbow it’s been looking for.

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