It wouldn’t take anyone long to figure out how much I love running. You don’t have to be following my blog for long to know running is an important part of my life. The past year was hard, with many challenges and many mountains to climb, and running was there to help me through. I love challenges, even if they are grueling and full of pain, but sometimes they make situations seem hopeless.
On my birthday I decided to set out on a different run, with new views and challenge. I told my husband, because he was nice enough to tag along, that we were going to go out this way. He said okay. Little did he know that “this way” was full of hills and climbs. I told him we would climb for a bit. “Let’s climb a mountain,” I thought to myself.
As the run progressed, we soon realized that we would be climbing the entire time, until turn around that is. I couldn’t help but think how similar this run was to life. As my lungs were burning and my legs on fire, I wanted to turn around, to get off this mountain. But then I thought of the view at the top, and the achievement of getting to the top. The feeling of reaching the top, feeling the pain subside and knowing once at the top it’s all downhill, and it’s easier.
Running 16 miles and climbing a mountain on my birthday, represented my past year of climbing mountains, meeting new challenges, etc. I realized in life we are faced with our own mountains, and sometimes they are filled with pain and failures. The top seems so far away, and maybe not worth it. It’s too painful to keep climbing. Nothing seems to be working. It’s a long, slow journey to the top.
A year of hard mountains to climb, and feeling no rewards. Because the rewards don’t happen until we reach the top. We see the promises at the top, feel the achievement and understand how much stronger we have become because of the climb.
We can all agree that running downhill is easier than going up. That challenges get easier at the top of the mountain. You get through it and slowly feel the pain melt away, feel the strength on the downhill. Enjoy what you have achieved and how far you’ve come. See all that you’ve accomplished and the see the beauty in the ashes. It’s a process, but I found it’s worth it. I hated the process, I won’t lie. This past year has been hard. But I feel I am at the top of my mountain.
This birthday run came at the right time, and helped to show me all that I have achieved. Helped me see the silver lining, when I thought all was hopeless. Now I can finally enjoy this final downhill stretch. I can let life take it’s course, and can go along for the ride, being pulled instead of being dragged. To me there’s a difference.
I drag on the uphill, a shorter stride for a longer climb, and I am pulled on the downhill, striding out, leaning into it for a quicker descent. It’s a light pull with no burdens to carry, I don’t feel weighted down, rather light and fast. Making the climb feel a like a blur.
I didn’t know how much this run would help me see, and how much I would learn from it. I think it foreshadows what’s to come in this next year of life. Life is full of mountains, hills, and bumps, but with every challenge we face there’s a reward and a promise. I am thankful family is always there with me.
Just as on my run, Marc was with me. Even if he was a few strides behind me, I still felt comforted knowing I wasn’t doing it alone. In life, I am not doing it along. I have the support of my family and friends to pick me up when I fail, and the love of my Heavenly Father, as He stands by my side and directs my way.
We even saw blue skies on the run, a nice surprise with all the gray the past months. I think another sign for what’s to come……
Until Next Time Be Whole and Be Fit