Tackling Scottsdale Terrain

My alarm clock rang at 5:00 am Sunday morning to get me out the door in time for a big trail run with Giselle and the girls at Scottsdale Farm in Halton Hills. It was chilly enough on the way that I put the heat on in my car! I knew things would heat up pretty quickly once we ladies hit the trail. The plan was to run 13 km or more and still get home in time for breakfast with our families on a shimmering Sunday morning. As I was driving I realized I was in for a fight today. Scottsdale Farm was the place my ex used to run and where I was merely the Sherpa carrying food for him and his pals. The NOBODY who couldn’t run. I had never run these trails before and today was going to be redemption for me as we were going to tackle a hefty distance. I was feeling plenty nervous.

Once the five of us met at the farm with big plans to tear up the morning trails: Marie, Pepe, Michelle, Giselle and I, it wasn’t long before we were off. Carrying no food, only water and determination it turned out I ran 16 km with Giselle rather than the aforementioned 13. We were pestered by clouds of deer flies who loved our hair, missed trail markers, plenty of ups and downs and rock, a few pit stops and a couple of nearly lost water bottles but we got the job done. I am a big believer in sticking together though I sorely wanted to put on some speed near the end. I decided to test myself. When I realized we were within 800 meters of the parking lot I was overcome by a desire to run as fast as I could – in a way to outrun the demons of my past and to prove that I could do this. Faster and faster I went enjoying the feeling of flying and knowing I had done something formerly unimaginable and impossible. It was incredible for me. When I reached the cars I had a good cry and celebrated in the breakthrough I had experienced.