It turns out I am a “type 2 fun” person. I often agree to do something that I have never done before or that is slightly out of my comfort zone. The Art Loeb Trail was a very type 2 experience. The trail was one of the most difficult things I have ever agreed to do on a whim. I started this trail on a pretty bad foot. I was extremely out of shape and ready to quit by the middle of the first day. Spending most of my time in Michigan, elevation was never something that I worried about. I learned quickly that I was not prepared for this type of trail, but thanks to the encouragement of my friend, I pushed through and completed the trail. The Art Loeb is a beautiful trail running through the Pisgah National Forest area of North Carolina, consisting of 30 miles with around 9,000 feet of elevation gain. The Blue Ridge Mountains offered beautiful views and rugged terrain that beat down my spirit. Poor weather and lack of water sources in various sections of the trail created new challenges to overcome. At the time, I remember being quite miserable and regretting agreeing to the trip. In the end, I am glad that I went. It was satisfying to complete a trail that really pushed me and made me a better person, stepping out of my comfort zone and pushing past the desire to quit when things became more challenging.