5/7/2023 Night Running Adventures
There's nothing quite like catching up with old friends for a trail run. And you know what? It gets even better when we start planning another run together!
I'm already in the process of planning my 2023 birthday run, one of those all-nighters I love to do to celebrate getting older while maintaining a youthful spirit! This year, I'm considering exploring the same course as the Blackall 50km race, starting at midnight and aiming to finish in time for a well-deserved coffee and breakfast. I have my eyes on the weekends near the August Super Full Moons (Aug 2nd and Aug 31), depending on how Tyce and I recover from our weekend races. Night running in the trails holds a special kind of magic and adventure. As nature's sounds come alive in the darkness, our footsteps echo in the quietness. It's exhilarating to illuminate our path with head torches and uncover the hidden beauty of even the most familiar routes. Navigating through the dark requires focus and orienteering skills, as the natural environment reveals a different side of itself. This feeling transports me back to my childhood, igniting a sense of wonder and joy as if I'm embarking on an exciting adventure, staying up late, chasing the sun, running wild and free without a single worry in the world. It's a chance for my inner child to resurface and remind me of who I truly am—a side of myself that deserves to be revealed more often. Sometimes I find myself contemplating how breathtaking and enchanting this Australian bush must have been 200 years ago. Even today, it remains stunningly beautiful. I recognise that it's my own responsibility to cherish and preserve it, ensuring that my kids can also revel in its wonders. 3/7/2023 A full heart on the trails
As dawn breaks on a mild winter morning, I set off on a run. The gentle rain from last night has left the trails clean, soft, and empty. There's not a soul around. I navigate through the twists, the climbs, and the gentle descent with a relaxed rhythm, relishing in the simplicity of it all. There's a beautiful feeling in starting my day this way — uncomplicated, peaceful, with a mental clarity that feels like a gift.
In the midst of my run, my thoughts wander back to yesterday's adventure with my son. Scaling "the big hill" for the first time on a whim was a daunting task for him. The fatigue set into his legs a quarter of the way up and he struggled to catch his breath, unable to see the top of the hill or knowing how many turns were left to climb. It was intimidating, as it would be for anyone, not just an almost nine-year-old. Yet, as I recall how Lorenzo persevered, I can't help but feel proud. Sharing this achievement with him fills me with a deep sense of gratitude. I offered him words of encouragement, helped him reframe the enormity of the challenge into a more positive perspective, and ran hand in hand with him, letting him know that he was not alone. I was on his side, and I will always be. Today, my heart is full. |
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