I interrupt the blog series introducing my family to share about the awesome feeling run I had on Saturday. The run was a relaxed effort of nine miles total. My partner in crime and I walked the first three just to rid ourselves of the junk from the week we had had. After our "walking it out" it was time to run. We found motivation in running off our familiar trail and finding new ground to cover. My running buddy knew where the new road led and was quick to agree to get off our beaten path. Our leaving the trail meant descending about 550 ft. down to the edge of the river. The view was spectacular!!! The water was so choppy from the wind and the sun was just bouncing off the rolling water. A couple of boats were trolling along the bank of the river as the fishermen casted toward the water's edge. To have new scenery is such a treat on a run. We followed the road along the river until it dead ended at the massive dam. We turned around just short of the small waterfall not wanting to get wet from the spray of the falls. We talked about how good the mist would have felt on a much hotter day. We were experiencing our lowest temps of the season. The cooler weather felt wonderful, but it had been an overnight drastic change. We knew we were now headed toward the climb up the hill back to our usual trek. All talking stopped. Game faces on as we readied ourselves for the ascension. A lot of thoughts come in and out of my head when I run up a hill. I can always count on "I hate hills" to show up. Another regular thought is "Oh! the back of my thighs are on fire!" The burn. I have discussed strategy with other runners concerning how you make it to the top. I've been told, "look down and think one foot in front of the other. Don't look up to how far you still have to climb." I do practice this strategy, but on Saturday I looked up. And at the top was the brilliant sun shining. This thought filtered through, "standing in the sun". (Thanks Scandal) Yes!!! I want to be at the top standing in the sun. So it is one foot in front of the other over and over til I am at the top. I look to my friend and shout "we are standing in the sun!!!" (I had to explain myself since my friend is a super mom who does not have time for television. ) The next thing I know I am chanting "we are gladiators", and we are flying! Could it be the infamous runner's high kicking in? The reward for the hard haul up the hill. It does pay off. The next mile or so feels unreal. I am running and smiling. I raise my fist in the air and pump it to the music. Nothing else matters. No, I don't experience this kind of intense rush on every run. And it may not last for long. But it is the best reminder of why I run. I am not the fictional Olivia Pope on a far away beach with a hunk of a man. But on Saturday my standing in the sun moment left it all behind and I ran just to be.
|
Archives
July 2016
AuthorI am a wife and a mom of three wonderful children. Together, our family, has lots to keep us crazy busy in this life. I run for fitness, as a stress reliever, for time away to think and clear my head. I run to remember and connect with something greater than me. I am running to stand still. Categories |