#sonianforest

Training for the Transylvania 30k is in full swing. I’m liking how my Saturday long runs always allow me to explore new parts of this gem of a nature spot. ☺️

This. Is. My. Happy. Place. 🤗☺️

. 《 Si vous voulez être heureux avec sûreté, il faut l'être avec innocence.》 - La marquise de Lambert _____________________________ 🇧🇪 Belgique, Foret de Soignes 👱‍♀️ @melodiedelecluse 📷 Nikon D610 . .. ... .. . #sonianforest #foretdesoignes #belgique #belgium #nikond610 #wikipixbe #85mm #blond #portrait #portraitsofbelgium #thebelgianbabes @21st.century.divas @differentportrait @portraitinsider #differentportrait #portraitinsider (à Sonian Forest)

So, two weeks ago I ran a 20k...accidentally. 🙈 It started innocently enough...I went to my favorite parking spot at the back side of the Sonian Forest. I saw they were set-up for a trail race the next day that I had intended to sign up for but didn’t. So I thought, “Jackpot, I can just run the route I would have tomorrow but without having to deal with the crowds of people”. So I diligently followed the neon yellow arrows that took me to new parts of the forest that I had never explored before. I was truly #runsploring and loving every minute of it! 🏃🏻‍♀️ I thought along the way that I’d see signs telling me which way to turn for the 7k, 13k, and 20k. (I had intended to do 12.) Seeing no such signage after an hour, and thinking I was only 3k or so from my car, I decided to navigate my way back. The only issue was that 1) it had started to POUR rain ⛈, including thunder and lightning which is rare in Belgium, and 2) my phone GPS wasn’t the most cooperative in the drenched, dense forest with tall trees 🌳🌲. So after at least 2-3 wrong turns and being led to a trail that most definitely was NOT a trail anymore, I found my way back to my car soaking wet, muddy, and super thirsty. Lessons learned were as follows: 1) I have the ability to run a 20k without hydration or food and not die. 👍 2) Google Maps is not reliable in the Sonian Forest. 3) Murphy’s Law is real. 😬

Some unexpected mud but worth it to be on the trails again in my favorite Brussels forest.

Sunset in the Sonian forest by Teseum on Flickr.