Crunch or Climb

Last weekend I did the Coquitlam Crunch. Nice enough going up, with the sun beating down on me and the openness of the climb. Seemed pretty good. Until the return trip. Unfortunately the loose gravel was too much for me and basically did the "slip and slide" method down. I was wearing my running shoes, my beloved running shoes... From that day forward, I will leave behind my running shoes and lace up the boots. No injuries for this munchkin due to fashion fear. So, this weekend. Yesterday I hiked at Campbell Valley and today I hit Alouette Lake. Left the running shoes in the car and strapped on the ugly boots. Well, ugly they may be, they are pretty phenomenal. I actually feel like I'm floating when I'm wearing them. Weird eh. Whatever - I challenged myself today to hit a strong pace and keep the pace, regardless of what the trail did. Hmmm, there were a few more hills today, well - MANY more hills! But I kept the pace, kept going strong and soon I was done. The trail that is, but I still felt like I could go on. So I went for round two. By the end of the second trip, three hours had passed and I was feeling tired. The people I'd been passing along the trail were looking at me oddly. Who does this trip twice in one day? Who practically runs it? Well, I did and it feels awesome! Home now and I'm sore. Already had one bath and a shower and still feeling a little creaky. Here's hoping tomorrow I'll be feeling ok! The training is feeling good, but the part I love most is those still quiet moments when it's just me and the trail. The best moment of today was not the completion; But the moment where I paused to look up. There was a break in the trees, the snow capped mountains in the background and an eagle soaring above me.

I am not alone in this.