DOWNHILL BATTLE-5 miles

Today was pivotal for me. It was either going to make me, or break me. Today's forecast-windy. I prayed all the way to the head of the trail that just maybe the heavens would open and swallow up all the wind, just for an hour, so I could get my run in. The wind pushed from behind as I began to head up Unity Pass. "Great", I thought. I could use nature's force to help me up that hill. The wind pushed harder than I needed it to. It was making me move so fast that I felt myself tripping over my feet. My heart rate and temperature climbed. I decided to ditch my jacket and my car keys at a post just off the trail. I would just grab them on the way down, no big deal. Going up was really hard. My body wasn't use to moving at this speed. I always tell myself that if I go up, I get to go down. That is usually motivation enough to reach the top. I made it up, and reversed to go down. An enormous blast of air greeted me. It blew my hat off and tossed it down the hill, the other direction. So, up again I went, chasing my hat. I grabbed it and headed down again. It felt like I was headed nowhere. I've told you my gripe with a treadmill. Well, this was worse. Resistance on top of going nowhere. I watched the ground as I seemed to only inch forward. Where was my reward of getting to go down? I had worked so hard for a few pleasurable moments. I seriously would have rather run up this hill twice, than go down it once. So, trying to be positive, my thoughts were, "If I can get down this hill, the wind will be less forceful in the valley. So I persisted downwards. The valley offered no relief to this awful wind. In fact, it was maybe worse(I don't know, it all felt bad). I wanted so badly to stop, and walk. But I knew I would have to hang out in this wind longer if I chose to do that. So the only alternative was to just RUN! So, I did. Deep down I was hoping someone I knew would drive by, see me struggling, and rescue me. In the distance I saw a familiar vehicle. Sure enough, Marci was driving by. Maybe she would see me and return for me. At that point I had some serious decisions to make. If she did, would I really jump in? I couldn't possibly give up now that I had made it down the hill. No worries, she didn't come back, so I didn't have to make that choice. It was made for me. I could no longer hear my music, that I depended so much on to get me through my run. The wind was howling so loudly. I was dodging tumbleweeds left and right. I couldn't breathe. I literally felt like I was being suffocated by air. How is that even possible. I wanted to throw up! Then I realized that I had passed my jacket and keys. I had completely forgot about them as I was trying to just focus on getting home. I turned around to go back and spotted the pole I had dropped them at. It was at least 1/4 mile back, which meant another 1/2 mile running in the wind. I turned right back around and left them without another thought. I had a spare key in a box under my car. So long as it got put back after the last time it was used. If it hadn't, my plan was to go to the school and call and beg for a ride home. I kept praying through my last stretch, pleading for the wind to stop. I only needed 10 minutes to fly to my finish mark. Surely, that couldn't be too much to ask? It wasn't, but someone had a different plan for me. Something was to be learned, that couldn't take place in any other circumstance. I kept remembering that "I can do hard things." I made it back to the car. Can you believe it? I can't! I grabbed the key box and tried to open it. The box would not let go of that key. I couldn't believe this was happening! I threw it on the ground and started stomping on it. I even reopened a new wound and was bleeding on what ever would absorb it. Still producing no key. I said a quiet prayer in my head, and with one more slide the box opened. I smiled at that key I was waiting to get my hands on. I opened the door and jumped in. I sat back and closed my eyes for a moment. Grateful for my refuge from the storm. I checked the clock to see the lenght of this ordeal. Only 55 minutes. I couldn't believe it, it seemed so much longer. I was impressed that with all that wind that I still made my run in good time. I'm sure the push uphill helped. I rushed to my Havie Baby, who was hanging out with Jenny and Kassidy. I knew she was in good hands, and having a blast. But I wanted, no I needed to hold her and hug her. Through my run I pictured her round little face and bright pink cheeks, just waiting for me. She felt so far away. I felt comforted as I stepped into Jenny's safe Haven and was greeted by her. I needed her. She let me vent, breakdown, and retell my tale. I was so grateful for her. Grateful to her for keeping my Havie safe, and entertained, so I could go and accomplish something I never thought possible. Something I will not soon forget.