I've been hinting on Facebook and Twitter about some big challenge I have in mind. I haven't committed to anything, still just thinking about it. But I am thinking more seriously about it, so I've started training as though I have decided - just in case.

I did the same thing when I climbed Aconcagua. When my friend asked me if I'd like to join the climb, I took a couple of weeks to decide; it would be a very major undertaking. But I started training as though I had already committed - just in case I decided I would.

So, although I have not committed to anything, I've started training. And I will let you know what I decide.  Just know that this is big. It's crazy. And that's coming from a girl who decided to climb Mt. Rainier one year after finishing a full year of treatment. And the same person who decided to climb Aconcagua (22,800') with less than 3 months to prepare.

I went on a long run today - 9 miles - on the trail in Harriman State Park. It's totally gorgeous right now. A lot of the trails I took today were fairly flat, but there were some steeps.  The first 6 miles felt really good. At around 6 miles I started feeling seriously tired. By mile 7, my knee started to hurt, so I was alternating walking with running pretty often. A little less than a mile from home my knee really seized up. I walked much of that last mile. I realize that for long runs, 9 miles is not so long, and I am not so fast - but I'm just getting started....

But I've started learning some lessons from my trail running. Some of these lessons carry over into other training, no matter what your goal. Some are good metaphors for getting through cancer treatment. And some might apply to life in general. I'll let you decide what applies where.

Lessons I've learned so far:

* Chafing is bad. (I was thinking this one was purely physical reality, but maybe it applies elsewhere as well. You decide)

*Stay hydrated. I sweat a lot so I need a lot of water. Hydration is always front and center in my mind. But today I learned that I need a better hydration system. I was carrying water in a small pack around my waist. After a lot of sweaty miles, that little extra weight on my low back rubbed against me. See my first point.

*Always keep moving forward! Even if you move slowly, keep moving forward. Walk or crawl if you're too tired to run. But keep moving toward your goal. The last mile when my knee was hurting and I had a rocky hill to descend, I seriously thought about sitting down and scooting down on my butt! I didn't, but I was thinking of it. And it would have been fine. I would still have been moving in the right direction. Slow is better than not moving at all.

*If you stumble - and you will - use it! It's inevitable that we all stumble at some point - literally or figuratively. Use it; learn from it. Why did you stumble? Learn from it so you might avoid it next time. And use it. Work to keep your feet under you and use the momentum to propel you toward your goal.

*And finally, you might as well enjoy yourself. You're here, enjoy what you can.



Julie

 

- BY Julie Goodale | 10.25.2010

 

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