Brew and I had an AMAZING weekend at the US Open. We watched 8 hours of tennis on Saturday and 11 hours on Sunday. We both grew up playing competitive tennis and are in awe of the players who are at the highest level of the sport.

Beyond tennis we also follow college football and basketball, but we enjoy watching almost any sport. If it weren’t for televised sports, we would not own a TV.

I am drawn to high performance athletics because it combines art and dedication. When we finished watching Federer play on Saturday I felt like I had just watched a ballet performance – his grace is unparalleled. The next night we sat in a small outer court watching Sam Stosur and Maria Karilenko play their hearts out in a tight three set match. They were challenging one another to raise the game to a higher level, and it was inspiring and exciting to watch.

When I think about endurance records on Long Distance Trails, I also think about art and dedication. Trail Records require years of experience and training. A hiker or trail runner needs to have logged hundreds of hours and thousands of miles before attempting such an endeavor. And when they are trying to push their limits, it still isn’t about fighting with the trail, but making every effort to flow with it.

There were multiple times this summer when I felt more beautiful than I ever had. It felt as if I was belting out a beautiful song in perfect tune or performing a highly intricate dance with ease and confidence. If the trail is a canvas and hiking is my medium, then I am really proud of what Brew and I were able to create.

I believe that every hiker (or runner) creates their own story or masterpiece on the trail, and no two are alike. That is the great part about coming together and sharing our experiences, they combine into a museum of expression and inspiration.

This weekend, at the US Open, Brew and I sat among 23,000 fans and rooted for our favorite players. However, more than supporting a person, it was about supporting the sport; and regardless of who won the point - we always cheered the hardest for good tennis.