I am Super-human!

So in preparation to write this post I have been studiously paying attention to the events taking place in my life this past month. I am prepping for a mountain race that I have been wanting to do for about 8 years and just haven't signed up for due to various reasons...excuses. On Tuesday, I had planned my last tough training, hill climbing run, up Table Rock and thought it might be a perfect place to get some blog info from. Well...as it turns out, I was right but not in the ways I had imagined.

As you've noticed, we have had some cooler weather and rainy conditions.  As we set out Tuesday morning the temperature was quite crisp. We saw many pockets of beautiful low hanging clouds over the mountains and rivers as well as frost tipped grain fields. The drive was beautiful as the early morning sun peeked over the mountains to greet us good morning.

Upon entering Victor we could see white stuff on the mountain tops. Holy cow! Remember all the rain we got, well that meant snow for the high places. We began to wonder what kind of adventures were waiting for us. Driving down the washboard road to the trail head we could see just how far down the snowline really was and figured we would most likely run into it. Excitement rising!

We parked next to a vehicle that was covered in awesome frost designs and felt a little giddy that we were headed up the mountain in 34 degree weather in JULY and excited to experience the cool morning as we climbed. It didn't take long before we ran into the signs of snow on the broad leafed mountain flowers
and we knew we were in for more awesomeness than we had planned for.

The mountain flowers are still in bloom in an array of reds, purples, yellows and white, while the green popped off the mountain sides...especially in the snow. The flowers were courageously showing their beauty as they hung low under their heavy loads. Up closer to the top on the flat lands the snow became more prevalent and near the top was about 3 inches we got to climb up and maneuver through to complete our trek.

Once on top we took a few pictures and hoped the Tetons would come out from hiding behind the clouds and reveal their amazingness. Alas, the weather was too cold and with numb hands and toes we decided to head down knowing our trek up was reward enough. After making our way down the snowy slopes and starting on the Huckleberry trail, we looked back and for a brief moment saw the  Tetons reveal themselves just long enough to take a picture. Icing on the cake baby!

Now came the scramble down where we got to practice hopping over rocks, steep descends, creek crossings and crazy foot placement. Yes, we stopped to smell the flowers or at least take pictures of them and enjoy beautiful things as we saw them. We met some cool peeps on the trail as well, which, unknown to us, would soon come in handy.

As we were walking at one point on the trail and talking about great things, probably solving the worlds problems, it happened. That moment you don't anticipate where everything happens so quickly and yet so slowly, the world gets foggy and you are now laying on the ground, writhing in pain. Remember the Awesome adventure part I talked about earlier, well this wasn't what I expected. In the fog of trying to right myself from rolling my ankle and not fall off the trail I felt my ankle move and the instant searing pain that comes with it. I knew I was hurt! How about that adventure now?!

I won't go into all the details because this is a family friendly blog and I may have let some poopy words escape my mouth while intense pain surged through my body . I wondered how I was going to get off the mountain, hoping to not pass out or throw up and grateful for the man and young girl I knew would soon be coming upon us. I was also grateful  for ibuprofen, Rena my hiking buddy who carried my pack, that I didn't fall further from the trail than I did and the man who wrapped my foot so I could eventually hike out.

The hiking out was a little ouchy but still fun once the initial pain passed and as I got to know my new friend Brett and his niece Talia. We found out we have many things in common and other serendipitous things. We enjoyed the beauty of the trail and in helping each other and building relationships, which tempered the pain and made the adventure worth it.

So cold temps, snow covered flowers, hiding Tetons, rocks, rivers, rolled ankles (no break), hiking out, fried pickles, safe return home and crutches...made for an Awesome day of adventure. Nope, it didn't go as planned and I won't be running my race but my day wasn't ruined. I had a tough half hour with lots of pain but it was a small moment in many wonderful hours, and, it could have been worse. Someone today also said to me, in a loving manner, that it was good for her to see that I am not invincible, which made me more relateable. (did I just make that word up, its not in my spell check?)  Yep, I am Super Human!  I thought about this statement and how I will respond to my injury and find the positive in it and how to relate to others better because of it, although right now, I am still not too happy about it.

My point is this: an bad incident or moment in a day doesn't make a bad day and a bad day doesn't make a bad life. We all get to experience the unexpected and feel pain that wasn't part of the plan. We writhe around and try not to pass out and see what the next steps are. Remember we are not invincible and to accept assistance from those on the trail of life. You never know where these relationships may lead you or how you may change a life for the better through your experience.  You have a choice in how the adventure ends! Will you let a moment of ouch in a wonderful day ruin your day? Or your life?

If you need assistance in getting back on track after a "spill,"  give the trainers at Health and Fitness Academy a holler and let us assist you with getting back on the trail and enjoying the journey.

Until Next time,
Go BE Great!

Jennifer Saunders
BS, ACE Certified Personal Trainer
ButtinGear, Reiki Energy Therapy
Intuitive Life Coach