But, when it comes to subtle shifts in perception, feelings and even seasons…it can be much less so.  Like today: it’s October 1st–officially fall–and I carried a leather jacket over my arm both to and from work, not needing to wear it, and still arrived at the office and back at my apartment a little flushed.

This past weekend, I took a road trip 3 hours north to a little town called Manchester, VT and found a mix of lingering summer and the new season on its way.

Fresh berries and just-picked pumpkins from the patch.  Warm sunshine and a kaleidoscope of colored leaves.  Bright polos and bulky cable sweaters on preppy boys.

A little local color…

Small town, big boot!

Up Mount Equinox by day.

Back down by night.

A spectacularly beautiful sunset that night kept me warm during the chilly morning that followed.

How are you saying goodbye to summer and hello to fall?

The sun was just peeking out of the east when we parked on the grass at Trapp Family Lodge, where 160 teams were warming up for the start of the Vermont 100 on 100 Relay.

By 6 a.m., the second wave of runners (including our team’s endurance queen, Ashley) were off, headed for the trails.

We spent the next FIFTEEN hours running, driving, eating, drinking, cheering, ringing cow bells and duct taping our toes (best remedy for blisters ever).

Because runners are always intense about everything from their training schedule to the pre-race meal and color of their socks, there were outlandish van decorations…

…and crazy costumes.

I was runner #3 and my legs were 7, 3.5 and 4.5 miles for a total of 15. I was most nervous about the first, having spent long hours at the office leading up to the race, but, with my Katy Perry playlist blasting into my right-ear-only headphones, I felt great.

I’ve always felt in every workout that pushes me to my own personal limit, whether it’s a solo run, a spin class or a formal race, there’s a moment where I feel entirely in sync with myself and everything around me.

It happened during my third leg, a series of major downhills. I was at the top of a steep peak and found myself running what seemed to be almost parallel to the sun, nestling into the trees. “If So” by Atlas Genius was humming in my ear. I took a deep breath and charged the last few hundred yards toward the finish line.

It was pretty hardcore.

“50 Shades of Crazy” team photo at the finish (from left: me, Ashley, Audrey, David, Amy & Diane).  We were exactly 100th place. You guys rock!