Sweet Surrender

I knew I would be running a long way today. The weather was perfect. Cool and overcast with a high possibility of rain. Very promising.
These are the days I love. Nothing to do, but run and run. Anything else I might of had to do today can wait...and it did.

I started out thinking...I'll run to the 4 way stop at Hidden Gold. Nice challenging hills out that way. Last time I had to stop on that hill. It just seems to go on forever.
MB measured the distance of that route (Hidden Gold and back) as 4.5 miles. Not a bad run, and with hills- even harder.

Now I had to give you that reference point so you can fully appreciate what I did today.

Today I did something that last year I could only dream of doing.
I RAN TO THE THIRD GATE!!

Yes, I did. That is 9.5 miles. I know because MB measured it tonight with his truck.

But Kathy- I bet you had to stop. I bet you had to walk.

Well, what if I told you that I didn't stop? I didn't walk? Then would you be impressed?

Here's how it went.
My leg started hurting right away. Dang, I really need new shoes. By the time I got to Sweetwater Trail, it was no longer an issue, because my butt was on fire. The weather I thanked God for. Dreamy, misty, lovely weather. Finally a beautiful fall day. I ran past the big house with the crooked brick chimney and felt pretty good. I got up the next hill (which was very steep and long) without stopping. I struggled- but didn't stop. Several times I noticed little dead snakes. When I turned the corner and saw Hidden Gold in view- I decided right then to keep going. I know there is another 4 way stop...maybe I can make it to that one this time.
I didn't realize just how much further it was. By the time I reached it, I knew I was pretty close to the third gate. I became greedy. I've always wanted to run to third gate.
But the lazy voices in my head screamed, IF YOU GO THAT FAR...YOUR GOING TO HAVE TO RUN THAT FAR BACK!!
I know...but it's the third gate! I answered them. I can do this!!
So I just kept going.

It was like Forest Gump. Well, I figured, since I've gone this far...

I don't know how many hills I ran up and over. I lost count. There was something interesting that happened too. I forgot I was listening to music. It became like elevator music and faded completely into the background. By the time I realized it, I couldn't remember what the last 2 songs were that I had just played.
Focused, I guess.
Just before I dropped down to reach third gate, I looked out across the landscape. The view was awesome. Breathtaking really. All you can see are the tops of thousands of trees for miles. I very much enjoyed that.
Once at third gate and turned around I was very thirsty. I decided I would climb one more crazy, insanely crazy steep hill so that I can stop by my friends house for water.
She wasn't home, so I used her garden hose to quench my dying thirst. It was the ONLY stop I made. Give me a break- girl's gotta stay hydrated!
I continued on looping around (I can't remember the name of the streets I was on) until I came back to Sweetwater Trail. I told myself that if I had to walk, it would be alright. I knew I had already ran at least 5 miles. But I didn't really want to walk. I wanted to run until I could run no more! I want to know what my bodies max is. How much can I really handle?
Obviously I can handle more than I thought because I ran all the way back home without stopping.
In fact, and I realize that you may think me crazy for thinking this, but I kind of like the hills.
Yeah, I know...that's CRAZY talk.

Kath- how can you prefer the uphill over the downhill. Isn't going downhill easier?
Yes, it is. Let me explain.
On the way back my knee started hurting. That's a new pain. Brand New! The pain in my butt is familiar. I've learned to live with it. Me and my butt pain have called a truce and life has become better for both of us.
Now the knee is a different story. Going downhill made my knee ache. It also made my toes crunch. 2 of my toes are bruised and painful.
Going downhill made me appreciate my old friend, "Mr. Pain in the Butt".

There is one more thing that happened on the way home that kind of scared me. There was a deer next to the road. That usually doesn't scare me- but this one was BIG. It had tall antlers. It was a Buck and it wasn't moving. It watched me. I ran steadily as I wondered if bucks were ever known to charge people. Thinking on it now- I should have moved to the other side of the road. Instead, I was brave (or stupid) and ran right past him. Only his head moved, never taking his eyes off me.

Whew- I was glad to be past him.
As usual, security waved as they drove by. A couple of them seemed surprised to see me. I guess they are not used to seeing me out that far.

Just as I was coming back around the soccer field it started to rain. I smiled and held out my hands. I was hoping it would rain on me.
Sarah McLachlin sang Sweet Surrender on my ipod for the 6th time. I love that song because I know God gives me the strength to do things I think are impossible. I surrender my impossibilities to Him.

The body is not that strong. The mind is only strong when it prays.
Today I prayed in spades.