Reflections through the hills

 

When I first read this email from my Team In Training Coach I wasn’t quite sure what to think & feel.

Hey Team,

Wednesday will be a sad day. It’s our final hill training of the season! Just let those emotions flow. Know in your hearts that the hills will always be there for you.

Hill Run – we have to end it with 8th St., right?
Meet at Camel’s Back Park on Wednesday at 6:00pm

Happy training!
Coach Brad

It made me laugh and it made me a bit emotional to think this would be our last “team” hill run.

It’s crazy to think about the adventure I have been on since May

It’s amazing to think of the blood, sweat, & even tears I have endured through this training.

And I am so blessed to have met the people I met and also to be able to spend quality time with my best friend.

I almost get choked up thinking about the progress I have made since starting my training and only having a Personal Distance Record of 6 miles.

Every single run was a new record to break and a new obstacle to tackle.

From my first time running 10 miles, then hitting 12 miles, 14 miles, 16 miles & even the big 18 miler, each run was a significant turning point in my life.

It was me breaking through barriers and mindsets of a realm that never seemed possible before.

So when I was faced with this hill, for the last official time, I knew it was a symbol of everything I have been through since May.

The uphill fight to keep training, to keep motivated, to keep going.

There were times during my run up this hill last night that I had to stop and take a walking break.

But there were also times in which I put 100% of my heart into and ran as hard as I could.

There were times I wanted to quit and truly doubted my ability to run the hills come San Francisco, then I hit a point in this hill training I had never hit before.

I realized my strength and endurance had been building, and I have become stronger during this process.

I truly realized how far I had come.

Funny, how a darn hill can bring about so much reflection and emotion. But as I mentioned in The Hill of Life post – “each time up the hill was a little easier than the last,” and that is what is so astounding about my running adventure.

It’s always going to be hard, but it’s never going to be as hard as the first day I strapped on running shoes and started this journey.

In 2.5 weeks I can officially call myself a marathoner. A feat in which is rarer than you would think. A title that no one can ever take away from me. An accomplishment that will go in the books with the highest of honors for me.

I am so filled with emotion when I think about October 17th, I’m pretty sure I’m just going to burst into tears as I cross that finish line. But don’t worry, they will be tears of joy!

Thank you for your encouraging words and support along the way, soon I will hit Destination 26.2 and it will be AMAZING!