It definitely takes commitment and careful planning and it’s on the bucket list for many women.  It can come with hard work and training, sometimes it includes an injury or setbacks.  It can come with some tears, some smiles, and the opportunity to connect with a whole new group of women, sharing a common goal and the path to get there.

I am NOT a natural born runner – and it’s totally evident when you see me on the running trail.  I grew up a swimmer and most times you see me in a running group, I’m in the back, if not THE last one, but I am at least out there while I can.

If you’re a woman over 40 or 50 and want to try a marathon, a half marathon, or your first 5 or 10k, I hope you’ll stay tuned today as I’m sharing my recommendations for anyone giving it a go.  Why I think you should consider one of these events at ALL and when you’re ready, I’ll share stories on my experience in my marathons, including my last one at 55 in one of my favorite places.

I was 46 years old when I went on my first true hike on a trail in the Rocky Mountains and little by little, I began to learn all about hiking, took on longer and more aggressive trails, and grow my collection of great gear to support my new and healthy addiction.  I have hiked up over 15 14-ers (again a topic for another podcast), completed numerous EPIC hikes and now lead hiking groups.

The past few weekends I have been reveling in the change of seasons in my Colorado hometown.  I experienced Fall or Autum as a kiddo in Ohio and the Midwest, and again while in college in Nashville, but I spent more time in Florida, South Carolina and Texas and the changing of the leaves while pretty, were short lived and not always spectacular.

I feel so fortunate that I found this new activity and literally this whole new world of trails in the mountains over the past 10 years and that I have soooo many more to explore.  Each season brings unique beauty, like the Winter snow hikes with tons of fluffy white snow against bright blue skies, the gorgeous green colors and the creeks and rivers flowing fast in the Spring, & the sea of wildflowers in Summer.  All are wonderful.  

But there is this whole other world that happens in late September and early October that changes all the greens to the most amazing mixture of yellows, oranges and reds along the mountain trails.  The Fall is incredible.  The air is crisp and I have to bring additional clothing layers, but I don’t mind.  The weather cooling is usually a nice break from the summer heat and the changing colors makes me walk much slower along the hiking trail to take a gazillion photographs of the splendor.

If you haven’t yet experienced this feeling of walking on a wooded or mountain trail in the incredible tapestry of Fall colors, I hope you’ll consider penciling this in your calendar next year.  

I have resources and recommendations available on my destinationu.net website that can help give you great places to check out, hiking trail ideas and links in my store for great gear to bring along, including free hiking checklists to download.

I have much more detailed recommendations on How to Take Your Epic Hike in my private community called Inspiring Your Next.  I have a video version of this podcast on my YouTube Channel, with images of some of the most amazing Fall colors and I invite you to check them all out.

I hope you take the time now (or plan for next year) and immerse yourself in a wonderful time of year, in beautiful fall colors and a sweet time of change.

Thanks for listening and will see you on the trails!

Rachella Seeley didn't break a sweat until her late twenties and didn't start running marathons until her thirties, but she found herself increasingly surrounded by incredible women who inspired her to keep moving and to keep setting new goals. 

She and her husband and friends traveled to marathons in many wonderful places and she even qualified for Boston and ran it multiple times.  She continued traveling and adventuring into her fifties and she learned of a group trying to raise money for a hospital at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro and that was IT.  Although it took her a few more years, she made her first trek up the world's 4th tallest mountain at the young age of 55, and absolutely loved it. 

She didn't plan to see Mount Kilimanjaro again, but she was inspired by another wonderful but different cause this time. She repeatedly stated that she would support others but that she was NOT going to trek up the mountain a second time.

The cause and the girls won her over and she ultimately decided she had to hike and summit this incredible mountain again....only this time she would be 69, turning 70!

Hear how Rachella believes putting yourself out there and staying active with a bunch of wonderful and like-minded, goal-setting women are some of the keys to creating incredible and once in a lifetime memories.

She shares her stories and will encourage you to go after your dreams, as she believes these are life changing experiences not to be missed...

Check out additional info and photos on our website (www.destinationu.net/podcast-video) or the video version on our YouTube Channel - Wendy & DestinationU - Ageless Adventurers Over 40 - YouTube.