Day of Hope #33

Sunday September 13, 2015

Goal: Climb a mountain - and survive

Quote: “Sometimes what you’re most afraid of doing is the very thing that will set you free.” - Unknown

This is a story about climbing a mountain, literally. Once I started walking, I wanted to do half marathons since they were 13.1 miles. It fit in perfectly with the 13th day of hope. I did not know where, or how, I was going to do this. I had done several small races, and one, on my own, half marathon, but nothing official. This is my story about my first official half marathon, and it took place in Wells, Nevada. 

I had a walking partner Mr. D who I casually walked with twice a week. He was planning to do an eight-mile walk with his niece in September, in Utah. I was training to do a half marathon somewhere as well. We trained together. In his walk they told him there would be hills, so we trained in the foothills of Boise to prepare for that. 

During the spring Mr. D’s niece and nephew came to Boise to visit. He called me, and asked out of the blue, if I could meet them for dinner, as he had a surprise for me. Intrigued, I agreed to go. We talked about their upcoming plans for the walk in September. They told me the walk was taking place in Wells, Nevada, not Utah. The reason they were doing the race was for a friend of theirs who wanted to finish the race for her father. Her father had been doing the race for many years, and one day at the race he had a heart attack. She wanted to finish it for him. The race is called, Race to the Angel,” as Angel Lake is at the top. I was tearing up at this point. 

 “The surprise I have for you,” Mr. D says, "It’s not an 8-mile walk. It’s a 13.1-mile walk. Would you do it with us?” How could you say no to that??? The universe had delivered me my first official race, so of course I said, “yes.” 

We trained and trained on the Boise Greenbelt and in the foothills, doing lots of hill work up behind Camel’s Back Park. Three times a week throughout the summer we would get up at 5:30am, to do several hours of hill work before it got hot during the day. Mr. D was 70 years old at the time and was retired, so, afterword’s he went home, while I went to work. 

We never looked at the actual map of the race, we just knew we were doing it, so why did it matter? I am so glad we did not, as we most likely would have backed out. The day of the race arrived in September. We started the race in town at 6:15 a.m. It was a bit chilly, but we knew it would warm up fast. We had trained and trained, and now it was the moment of truth.  We thought we were ready. I could see the top of the mountain where we were going, and it looked far away and steep, but it was too late to back out now. At least it was a beautiful walk and with great scenery, for a desert. 

The first five miles we were doing great and good on time. There was a slight uphill incline, but we were ready. We just had to remember all the tricks; Keep your head up, shoulders back and keep going. If you lean forward it takes a lot more energy to get up the hills. 

We now have a slight downhill portion for about a half mile. At the bottom of the switchback mountain road, we look up to the top. Uggg. In my mind, I think that there will be some downhill or at least some level portions on the way up. No such luck. The path is all uphill, curving to the right and then curving to the left for endless miles it seemed. At around, what I think, is mile nine or so, we both just want to stop. When Mr. D would get discouraged, I would re-assure him that we trained for this, and we just need to keep our heads up, shoulders back and push forward. He does the same for me when I get discouraged. 

Suddenly up in the distance, we see his nephew Brian at the top of one of the hills with the car. We get to him, and he has water and snacks. What a relief! I am guessing we are now at mile ten or eleven, and it’s been all up hills. No downhill, no even road, and no shade. Our legs are screaming at us. Brian says, “You got this. You are almost there. It’s just around the corner.” Mr. D and I look at each other and say, “Ok we got this, Let’s finish this dang race,” and off we go. “HEAD UP, SHOLDERS BACK, KEEP GOING!”

It’s getting hot in the Nevada sunshine, even though it’s still morning. The constant back and forth of the uphill switchback trail is getting old. We just keep walking. We walked about another half mile. At this point it’s hard to tell how far we are. We come around a corner and we see Brian again, so we walk slowly to the car. We get more water and Brian says, “You are so close. It’s just around the corner!” Now I am annoyed. 

I glare at him and ask, “Is there at least any shade or downhill around this magical corner?” He says, “Actually there is some shade just a little way down the road.” “Just around the corner, right?”, I laugh. Mr. D and I take off again on a quest to find shade. “Head up, shoulders back.” 

We get to a spot where there is a small tree, but no leaves. Maybe that is enough shade for a mouse, but not two adults. I am fuming, Brian is in for it the next time I see him. We are both so tired and Mr. D says he’s getting dizzy. If you look off the switchback mountain it’s a long drop down and it can make you dizzy to see it when you are so far up. I make him walk against the mountain side of the road. Off in the distance we see Brian again. I tell Mr. D we just need to make it around the corner, to Brian. We both laugh and keep going. When we get to him, I ask Brian, “Exactly how many more corners do we have?” He smiles, “Only a few more!” “Head up, shoulders back!” I say and off we go.

Around a few more corners, we hear his niece and her friend yelling at us. They ran down the hill to walk up the last corner with us. Oh my gosh, we can now see the finish line. We might just make it! Here we go, “Head up, shoulders back, don’t stop.”

Hand in hand we cross the finish line to Angel Lake and get our medals. We laugh and we cry overcome with joy. I was still upset at Brian, but truthfully, we never would have made it those last three miles without him. Mr. D came in first in his division; 70 years old. Amazing for sure. I came in 5th. 

Then if that was not enough for one day, I got in a car with my friends and drove over an hour to Utah to pick up my sister Sally and head into Provo, Utah, which was about 45 min from her house. We went to watch Boise State University and Brigham Young University football game in Utah. My legs were sore, but standing up and cheering for BSU actually helped me not to be stiff. It was a great time. BSU lost, but it was still a fun experience and a complete full day for me. I was so proud of myself. 

My lesson of hope: When something seems difficult or stress shows up, I always say to myself, “This is nothing. I climbed a mountain; I can do anything. Head up, shoulders back, and just get around the next corner.”