Nothing gets you out of a rut like getting back to the reason why you love something.
This past weekend I traveled with the team to Pinckney, Michigan to run in the Trail Ends 5 mile run. I've been interested in running the trail half there for the past several years, but it always fell on a weekend with previous commitments. This year it worked out!
Anyway, all the rumors about the difficulty of the course were true! It is a single track ("on your left" was necessary because otherwise you were in the trees!) course that winds through some of the most beautiful woods. You don't really have the pleasure of scoping out all of the scenery because you need to pay attention to where your feet land---especially on those downhills---they go fast! Surrounded by beautiful lakes, in the middle of a state park, I felt home. It was a reminder of why I love to run. To be outside, breathing in all of the great goodness. Feeling nature around me, miles from cities and noise.
I really enjoyed being able to share this racing experience with my team. While I'm sure some of them are still cursing me because of the hills (j/k), it was definitely REAL cross country. Don't worry about your pace. Run your race and get through. It required toughness. I loved that.
While the team slept on the way home, I jammed out in my 15 passenger van. All smiles.
What a great looking group!
