It might as well be with a bounce!

     Many of you know that this last Spring I took up running. I had the best run of my life last night. Yes, really! Best of my LIFE!

     In a previous writing I talked about my history with my cantankerous legs. Right after I wrote about my then farthest distance run, I developed shin splints in my right leg. It was an agonizing delay to my progress. Hindsight being what it is and having determined to see lessons in everything, I'm sure that there was something in that experience that continues to prepare me for future greatness. I'll admit I'm not entirely positive what that is but I believe it's there for me to eventually understand.
    
     I still have some pain-- not the acute kind that I certainly heed. More of a dull ache really. Over the last few weeks I've found that after about the first mile of activity it fades in intensity. My partner and I have been slowly replacing walking time with more running. We've been regularly reaching a cumulative 2+ miles per session. Even when I've given myself permission to do less.

     We decided to see if we could run straight through the first leg of the trail of which we would normally walk up to 4 tenths. I've been doing longer stretches at a time so I thought sure, why not? It's about a mile total to the end where we'd turn around and do the same pattern on the way back.

     Right in the middle of this part of the trail is a significant hill that winds up a small bluff. We call it El Diablo. We've always held it as this daunting challenge. There's one guy I see that comes to run this hill repeatedly on purpose! He gets to the top, walks back down, and then charges up it again. Without a doubt, it's a great workout. Inspired, about two weeks ago, we started adding El Diablo in as a running part instead of a walk.

     We made it all the way through the first mile, turned around, and headed back. About the time I got halfway up El Diablo, I faced a decision. I was debating walking here so I could run the easier stuff later and get more mileage. Or I could finish this and still be proud that I'd run so far already without stopping. Something shifted in me as my legs and lungs were burning up that damn hill. I thought to myself: even if my stride is barely a shuffle just keep up the movement. If I'm going to step forward--no matter how small-- it might as well be with a bounce. So I did.

     I got to a point where I felt like I was practically jogging in place but I was still springing; albeit wiltedly. I did it though... and I kept doing it all the way back to the starting point. I decided to keep going through the second part of the trail that totals about another mile in a loop. This new mantra sticking in my head: If I'm gonna go forward might as well be with a bounce.

     Every time my partner slowed to a walk, thinking I would too, I shuffled by him and kept going. Later he'd tease me about being competitive; that I just have to do more than him. Not really. I know he's capable of running longer and harder than I but I just never know when I'm going to feel up to pushing my limits until it's happening.

     The last 3/10 is chipped wood along the creek and I was starting to feel drained. So I started telling myself that I was flowing like the water that I could hear rushing over the rocks. That I'd already made it and now it was Earth under my feet and she'd give me my energy back. ..That this was the easy part now. Coasting. The mind is a powerful thing. I was able to lengthen my stride again, lift my knees a little higher, and I floated to the "finish line".

     I was giddy with pride, exhaustion, and almost tearing up. We walked back along the creek a ways to cool down and find the wandering kiddo. I marveled at what I'd just accomplished. My total came to about 3.1 miles. For my own purpose I'm not going to count the almost standstill on the hill because next time I'll do it like I mean it. I've never run continuously that far EVER; nevermind over 3 miles with hills and curves! As it turns out, neither had my partner!

     I know there are lots of people that are able to run farther and faster and I imagine one day we'll be right there with them. We're celebrating anyway because a milestone is a milestone and even if I somehow never do it again, I felt how a simple thought can empower you to do great things. I kept thinking of my friend who climbs mountains. Her advice mixed with my own experience. Just keep going forward no matter how small your steps and if you're gonna do it, it might as well be with a bounce.