Almost perfect Sunday…
I can’t remember how long it has been since I have been out on my trails running and I wanted to start this tradition that after every Western States 100 mile endurance race I would do a part of the trail I have never done. Last year I did Rucky Chucky and this year I did Michigan Bluff.
Holy shitballs this is a doozy!
It’s 2,000+ feet of elevation loss and gain in 5 miles (I started my watch at the car so it added the extra mile bringing it to six) and WHOOOO boy! I haven’t been this sore since I did Euchie Bar. This was kind of similar, but without the awesome payout at the end.
I can eat the downhill sections of most any trail, but this one had my legs getting a little jelloish. I’m going to do it again and again to see if I was just out of shape or if my legs don’t like that grade of downhill. The same grade was going back up. OUCH. I thought I was doing pretty good the first half mile, but then I got tired and had to go straight mental to get back up.
Today…I can feel it.
I went to Lester’s game and he came over afterward and knowing I was sore was very sweet and gentle with me. He helped stretch out the sore legs *wiggling eyebrows*.
This was one of the coolest things, I told him about an idea I had involving the TV and the McMansion and he didn’t say one single thing to discourage me.
I’m not saying that he ever does that to me, but this was so refreshing to be able to suggest an idea and not feel discouraged afterward. I almost burst into tears.
On a different note, I sent an email to New Balance and hopefully they will donate a couple pairs of running shoes so Tabitha’s step son and step daughter in law can start doing some walking with me. In an email I asked her if she would do the Color Run with us. Bridget is overweight and I don’t want anyone to think I am pushing anything on any one or trying to say anything mean by suggesting she start walking with me. I just know how that feels to feel stuck and I know that once I told myself, “I can, despite my fear” there was nothing I couldn’t do.
Yesterday 2 miles into this steep canyon I knew that coming back out was going to hurt, but I knew I could do it.
If I could get myself into something, I could get myself out of it too. Then about mile 5 coming back up I thought about the CANT situations.
‘What if I sprained my ankle?’ I would still have to get out of this canyon. ‘well, what if I BROKE my leg’…I would still have to get out of this canyon and I would have to find a way to walk or crawl to the car.
That thought alone was so empowering at that moment because I had two fully functioning legs and I could do it.
I want everyone to be able to have that mindset. The trails do that for me because you can’t just call someone to pick you up, you got there, you gotta climb back out.
Quitting no matter what the circumstance is not an option.
And now I need to figure out how to stand up without yelping in pain.