Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Taking Risks

I feel lucky to know through the online world, and in my family, atheltes who push themselves, and take risks.  It's really shown me this year that I can push myself as well and take risks of my own.

Taking risks to me feels alot what I'm sure I'd feel if I was standing up at the top of a very high diving board.  It's SCARY.  Can I do it?  Should I do it? And the "what if I fail?"  (I've come to realize I'm a bit of a Type A).  But if we don't push ourselves, do we really know our limits?

I can easily say that each of my Marathons from Boston onwards, have been risks for me.  And it makes sense to me that a marathon feels risky.  There are SO many factors that go into play in a marathon - the distance, the weather, nutrition, your body.  But what about those smaller risks?

Pre-kids, I would venture out on trail runs with a fellow running partner.  Rick was amazing.  Knew the mountains and Nosehill like the back of his hand.  All I had to do was follow along.  Time has passed, and when my littlest started an unparented program a few weeks ago, just a short ways from NoseHill, I thought "can I run this solo and NOT get lost?" (I get lost alot folks).  For the first two weeks of her program, I knit in a coffee shop, then I thought "what is there to lose?"  Nothing really.  Just getting lost - ha!  But I did it.  I went three weeks ago and followed the trails. Meandering here and there wherever my desire led me. And it was FUN.  And last week, I added on an extra 2 kilometers, and you know what?  At the last K I actually knew where I was!  Today, it was pouring rain, and I woke up to see it was National Running Day.  I thought about skipping it, but then I knew if I did that I'd be looking at the treadmill later on.  So I dropped my kids off, and headed out in the rain.  It was BEAUTIFUL.  The park was quiet, the trails were muddy, it was so green and lush, and I didn't realize how wet I was until I STOPPED running.  Each week I'm getting braver on the trails.


I took a deep breath, and I signed up for this.



It's "only" 12.5K.  But the elevation changes, and the hills scare me.  Can I do this?  Yes (I'll just keep repeating this).  The worst that will happen is it will be a lovely hike.  I'm doing it.  Taking a risk.  Testing my limits.  I have two 5 Peaks Enduro runs coming in the Summer so this is a good prep.  Getting off the road and trying something new.

Where are you taking risks right now?