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Here in Michigan, we have snowmobile trails right outside our door, and Summer and I have been enjoying lots of early morning walks.
The trails are sandy and hilly in spots. So, I get to enjoy the beautiful scenery while getting in some daily movement.
Our first morning here, I met some runners participating in the Great Lakes Relay Race. Thoughts of Hood To Coast raced through my mind – such fun memories. I let the runners pass by, offering them a wave and an encouraging smile…
Nature = my favorite gym.
{ 77 comments… read them below or add one }
Those shots of the outdoors are gorgeous! Perfect running trails
Oh, I very much miss Michigan trails. Glad you are having fun.
Your little getaway sounds like a fabulous place to get away from it all. Glad that you and the family have the opportunity to go to such a great place.
We have a lakehouse about 40 min from here and it is a piece of heaven. Quiet, in the woods, and simple. Glad your having an amazing time
Beautiful!!
I love walking in the forests. It’s a blessing to have such beautiful nature nearby!
We have a lot of mountain forests around, and one of my favorite kinds of exercis is to go for a walk there. (It’s quite the slope to get and down, and after such a walk, my legs know very well what I’ve done.
)
Kath,
You’re in Heidelberg, right? I’ve been there twice – I remember a LOT of hills. I also remember it was amazingly beautiful.
Yes, I am!
You’re right, it’s rather hills than mountains … at least when it comes to height. *Actually*, though, the Odenwald (that’s how it’s called) is a low mountain range, and it’s very beautiful and almost entirely covered with forests. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odenwald) Wonderful for hiking, and I’m amazed you’ve been here! 
I love, love, love nature. Even though I live in Los Angeles, I’m definitely a nature girl at heart. I want your backyard to be my backyard. Hiking is one of my favorite forms of exercise!
Jen,
I hear there is some amazing hiking in the hills around LA. Never been there, but always wanted to go. Someday…
Lovely Heather.
Thanks for sharing your vacay with us! I love hiking in the woods. It just makes you feel alive!
I love the scenery; it’s so beautiful. Glad you’re having fun<3
That looks like a great trail for running! Enjoy your vacation, Heather!
What a great location, lucky you Heather!
so beautiful! and summer in her backpack, so fun! xo
You said it perfectly. There is no place I’d rather workout than in nature.
Glad you are having fun in Michigan!
I love working out outdoors! I wish this heat would break! 100 degrees is NOT so enjoyable ha but look at those pics!
Working out and running outside is unlike any gym atmosphere. Once you convert to mother nature, there’s no turning back!
nature is my favorite gym too
and my only gym!
How beautiful!
So glad you’re having good vacation!
“Nature = my favorite gym”
Love it. And love the pictures to prove it!
I love all of your pictures — it looks so peaceful there.
Beautiful pictures
I definitely agree! I mean, I do love a good gym sweat-sesh but I’m so much more motivated to go on hikes (I FINALLY managed to go hiking last weekend) or even just walk around in the suburbs as long as it’s outside & I’m walking somewhere. 
<3
n
Love the last picture Heab. So peacefull and love the rays of sunlight coming thru.
Thanks Lea. I love how that photo turned out as well.
It’s sooo so beautiful and serene there. You must be loving the quiet atmosphere and natural beauty. I refuse to workout indoors also, it’s been so long! I’ve started doing body weight exercises on a playground to mix it up!
Katie,
I tried the baking soda + vinegar today in my hair. Can’t believe how easily the tangles combed out…and even without my hair scrunching gel, the frizz factor is way low. I’m amazed!
aww Yay! If you keep it up you’ll be amazed what 2-3 weeks of no shampoo will do for your texture! So glad you gave it a shot.
Beautiful photos Heather. What a lovely “gym” you belong to!
Love the self portrait, and Summer looks like she’s eying the ground and wanting to walk. Awww.
Have a great day.
Nature is also my favourite gym!! I run sometimes in the hills and enjoy it so much, even if it’s hard sometimes! I saw it on another blog, check this out: http://www.amandarussellworkouts.com/node/36
Have fun with the hills!
Marie,
Thanks for the link – I love a good hill workout. Will just have to make sure I don’t have Summer on my back when I do them.
I went for a jog last night with my little brother and I loved all the green trees and fresh breezy air! So much different than AZ!
Shelby,
Yay, happy to hear you made it back home. I’ve been thinking about you and keep meaning to email you. Love you.
Beautiful
I love it when light shines through the trees like that x
Is that picture of the cabin where you are staying? Cute. Thought of Hood to Coast, eh? Awww… I bet that means you miss Cherry Pie.
Cherie,
Of course I miss my Cherry Pie. Always! No, that cabin is someone’s wood shed that backs up to the trail. I’ll email you the place we’re staying.
Nature is totally totally TOTALLY my favorite gym too. Whether it’s running (just ran for 75minutes north of my city in Provence — lots of sunflower fields, old terracotta-roofed houses, wildflowers along dirt roads, golden wheat, etc.), hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking, cross-country skiing, skating on ponds, snowshoeing, or camping. I’m down for all of it. so much more fun than a smelly crowded gym. Although that can work too, when nature isn’t so readily available.
CH,
“just ran for 75minutes north of my city in Provence — lots of sunflower fields, old terracotta-roofed houses, wildflowers along dirt roads, golden wheat, etc”…how will you ever be able to run on a treadmill again?!?
Nature=my favorite gym. Totally agree! That last picture is stunning. I was born and raised in the U.P. so all these Michigan pictures are making me homesick.
Maryea,
We’re headed up to Presque Isle soon. Know anything about that area? Any recommendations?
Hmm…no, sorry I don’t know that area. If you head over the Mackinac Bridge, let me know!
What beautiful nature pictures! Glad you and the fam are having a great time in Michigan
I’m with you sister– why be on a exercise machine when you can be outside enjoying the great outdoors instead? The exact reason I won’t buy a gym membership 
Those are beautiful photos. They make me miss the woods while in the middle of NYC. Thanks for the sharing!
-Sarah
Fitango.com
Who needs weights and an expensive gym membership when we have our bodies and nature?
And the pics are gorgeous, by the way!
Nature = my favourite gym tooooo!!
BUT coffee = my favourite workout snack. That’s my less wholesome side coming out there……
xoxo ps – your coffee and chocolate breakfast totally perked me up! I just had dark chocolate with my chicken dinner because going to the store for salad vegetables seemed like too much of an ordeal. Why not?!
Emmy,
Haha – I love it. Nothing wrong with a side of chocolate…or as a main course.
Nature and exercise are my two favorite things. Anytime I can combine the two, I am a happy camper.
Heather…beautiful shots! I love the reflection shot of you holding your camera!
And nature is my gem, too. I always say I’d rather walk or run for 10 minutes outside in 110F temps or in -40F temps if it means being OUTDOORS and not inside on a treadmill or a piece of gym equipment. There is just something magical about being outside in nature. I HAVE to have it. No matter what and will brave the elements.
Good thing San Diego weather is “perfect”. I moved here I swear and redesigned my life so that I could be outdoors year round and not suffer like I did growing up!
Averie,
You CD and I have total climate envy when it comes to San Diego…damn housing prices!
I love that you’re wearing Summer and on your back! Whoot!
Heather, thank you for giving me a wee bit of summery weather on a white frosty morning here in NZ :0)
Lorne,
You’re welcome.
Beautiful photos!! And I agree, nature’s the best gym available.
Nature is the only gym in my opinion!
That last picture is perfection.
I remember a long long time ago you got/reviewed these shoes that you can use in the water or trek in or something like that. Are they meant for hiking or only for creeks and flat terrain?
Healthy Engineer,
The Jambu shoes: http://heathereatsalmondbutter.com/2011/05/13/a-wet-but-productive-morning/? Yeah, they would work for hiking, but not for the sandy trails in these posts. For those, I prefer my Salomons.
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAUTIFUL
love lil sleeping Summer on your back!
enjoy!
Heather, you should be on the Michigan Tourist board
I followed you last summer as well and you’ve convinced me to plan a visit.
Michelle,
I know, right? Someone once asked me if they were giving me kickbacks. Ha, I wish!
Looks gorgeous, enjoy soaking it up!
You may have mentioned this before, but I am curious what kind of carrier you use with Summer? I have a Bjorn, but I would really like to maybe try something different when we (hopefully) have #2!!
)
Kelly,
Um, I’m kind of obsessed with carriers. I have a ring sling from SleepingBaby.net. It was great for when Summer was tee-tiny and now I use it as a hip carrier for when I’m doing stuff around the house and she wants to be held or when I’m shopping. For walks I loved my Babyhawk.com Mei Tai carrier, and now that’s she’s a bit bigger, I use the Ergo Sport which I bought on sale at BabySteals.com (half off the normal price!). Love the Ergo. Was using it as a front carrier, but now Summer’s big enough to carry on my back. It is by far the most comfy carrier and definitely my favorite.
Oh my gosh I know those trails….I mean I KNOW those trails..as a child we rode them for hours and days on end from the time it got light until it was so dark we knew we were in trouble and in the summer we ran them at the crack of dawn! As we got older we took a few dirt bikes down them….when no one else was around and our parents were not home! I loved looking at the pictures and the ice cream…oh my no one does it better. Do they still have one called Traverse City fudge..if so have a scoop for me
. I grew up there and it was a wonderful place to live. Enjoy the fresh air and the amazing sights all around you. There is no place else like Michigan. I have lived in 17 states (DH is a pastor) and some are close to my heart but none as wonderful as home…Michigan!! Oh I wish I were there now. I still have one daughter in westren Michigan and my parents live just a few miles from where you are!!
Carol,
Wow, that is so cool I am walking on the very same trails you spent so much time on. So fun. I have not seen Traverse City fudge ice-cream, but I will definitely eat a big scoop in your honor if I find it, and yes, MI is an amazing place. We love it here!
I agree with Nature being the best gym!
Oh, my. Color me jealous!
You two look very happy on your walk together.
I think I might need to brave the heat this weekend and get some much-needed time outside. Temperature in Jersey is supposed to hit 103 tomorrow! Maybe I’ll just swim and then run back inside. Haha.
Such lush, lush greens! Though I must admit I do love Australia’s silvery-green colours
Nature is my favorite gym too. I love the mountains around our place in PS- magical.
Lovely pics, Heather! Especially that last one.
Beautiful photos! I love spending time in the wood! Walking and running outside is such a wonderful experience!
Amen to Nature being the favorite gym! Looks like a great place to be able to hike around every day. Love the pictures
best gym with no meatheads. Love it.
Eden,
Yes, but no Bradley Cooper either.
Beautiful pictures. Just think you could be in TN right now with
90+ temps and high humidity– and no end in sight–enjoy your time in MI–glad you are having fun!
Lori,
Yeah, 95 degrees here on Wed and NO AC. Did not make for a very pleasant day with an 8-month old. Thankfully, things are cooling off.
I absolutely love the saying “Nature = My favorite gym”… it’s so true! Nature is so under-appreciated/under-recognized as as great workout space! Love from runningwithmascara.com
Gosh no lie – how beautiful!