Soul-Filling Actvities: Notes from the Purple Patch Team

With the added flexibility that post-season provides for soul-filling fun, we thought we'd share some stories from the Purple Patch team about the soul-filling activities and moments they discovered in 2020 and look forward to in the months ahead:

SCOTT: Most soul filling activities this year were competing in a Sprint Relay with my wife and daughter. It was so great to do with them because I had raced this so many times before. It is the first triathlon I ever did. Doing it as a family, watching my daughter go so deep on the run at 11 years old, made it one of the most satisfying events in all of my triathlon career. Another great day was when I paced Flynn to her 5K PR. I talked her through the whole race and watched her take it all in and push hard. Then I shut up and followed her big kick to the finish line. Doesn't get better than that.

JOHN: One of my most soul-filling moments this year was a hike last weekend with my kids. Following the first real snowfall of the year, I took my 2 boys on a snowy expedition to the top Bradbury Mountain here in Maine, where someone left us a smiling snowman. We ventured off the beaten path, got some snow in our boots, and had a great day!

KAI: There is a short 8km section of a ride I do to leave my city in Spain (Liencres to Arce) that has everything - steady climbs, switchbacks, flat straights, short steep climbs, fast rollers through a small town, and fantastic views of the mountains and ocean. I have actually just done repeating intervals of this section before because it is so great. It's prettier in real life than it looks in any video or picture.

BRAD: Paddling in general, whether kayak, SUP, or canoe, is a great soul-filling activity because it has a quality and spirit of adventure, feels like cross training while being a completely different movement from typical training routine, and because the water can just be a relaxing environment. I’m a big believer in taking advantage of the things you have access to, and living in the Bay Area means you can paddle regularly! So while it’s harder to access snow sports easily for my post-season soul-filling opportunities, paddling becomes a great option that I’m hoping to keep leaning into.

TIGER: I live next door to nearly 100 miles of trails. Nothing fills my soul like being in nature, and this year I finally got "the right tool for the job": a gravel bike. I've made new friends in a local gravel cycling group, had a bikepacking adventure, wandered dusty rail-trails, and gotten fabulously lost on hidden routes I discovered in our local forest preserves. I've had SO much soul-filling fun, but in the process also improved my bike fitness, comfort at higher cadences, and ability to plan nutrition for long rides. And since it gave my body a break to heal some old running injuries too, now I can enjoy my other favorite trail activity: canicross! I'm looking forward to a lot of peaceful winter soul-filling miles with my dogs, which will sneakily also help me build resilience for my 2021 BHAG: a 50k trail run.

ADAM: Just like everyone else 2020 was much different than years past without the need to spend hours and hours pedaling away every weekend. It gave plenty of opportunity to do things as a family, and appreciate where we live. We spent nearly 3 weeks across the summer in our new camper exploring fairly close to home on the coast of Maine that we would typically avoid during a "tourist summer". That meant many new adventures in Acadia National Park even though it's practically in our backyard. I see a few more trips up Cadillac Mountain in my future, maybe even for sunrise.

LESLIE: One of my favorite soul-filling activities was visiting Yosemite for the first time. Yosemite was so magical in so many ways that it was a dream, from its breathtaking scenery to the fresh air. It was a reset, a break from reality, and I also ran/hiked up to Half Dome. To most, that may not seem like a big feat. However, I was hurt for almost a year injuries in my hip and hamstring. I was out; I couldn't run (which was my absolute favorite release). Through strength training, biking, and rehabbing, I was able to come back and actually exceed my goal. I have continued to run and ramp up miles as well as cross-train on my bike. By incorporating multi-sport in my life and embracing activities that make my soul happy, I could run again!

LIZ: My favorite soul-filling postseason activity is long runs in the middle of winter either on the trails or in the country. Something about only hearing my breath and the crunch of frost or snow under my feet fills my cup completely. After these easy runs (sans all technology) I feel exhilarated and ready to take on whatever life throws my way. Running helps me find myself when I feel buried, lost, or confused, and has helped bring me back to myself post every pregnancy.

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