I felt the morning’s breath on my skin earlier, enticing my excitement to run in dry weather finally. Yesterday I ran with both babies in the misty-rain – they were covered-up but I battled through puddles, wet roads and foggy glasses. It was not enjoyable, so I cut it short.
Today, I was eager to get out there for a longer run, but with the colder weather here, I can’t go as early in the mornings as I once did with the babies, I have to wait until it warms up for them. I package them up into their long sleeves, jackets and sweaters, socks and shoes, and warm wooly blankets tucking them away in the stroller in like a burrito.
The sky was so clear today, so blue, no clouds, just glorious color between the bluest sky I’d ever seen and autumn leaves dancing with the wind around us. The air and sun felt so delicious, so relaxing and welcoming, I could not wait to get going. Running is my most favorite time of the day.
Not even a half-mile in, the wind whipped at me with her fierce breath. She startled my three-year-old, and practically clamped my mouth shut, taking my breath away. She pushed so hard against my run, I had to walk, but I didn’t stop trying. I laughed. I knew what she was doing, although I couldn’t believe it. I muttered, annoyed, “Okay, wind, I’ll slow down.”
She stopped as soon as the words came out.
I laughed. Was the wind trying to help me? Was she trying to help pace me? Nah. I was losing my mind, or in need of more coffee. I shook off the ridiculous idea, and continued on.
I turned left instead of right.
Turning left meant my long run, and for whatever reason, today, I wanted an adventure. Despite the wind, I wanted to see if I could push the kids in the double jogger for my four-mile-run. I wanted to know if I could do it pushing 80-something-pounds more than normal. No sooner than I rounded the corner down the hill did the wind whip back at me as though I had made a bad choice. I slowed considerably against the wind, and convinced myself that, if I couldn’t run it all, I’d do what I could, I’d walk, I’d even stop if need be, but I would still try. The wind stopped as my mind was made up, and I continued on.
I began to notice the wind wasn’t working against me, it was helping me. If I was panting too heavily, she’d blow against me, encouraging me to slow down and breath, and so I did. “Okay, wind. I’ll walk.”
And she’d stop blowing.
Once I rounded the two-mile mark and began a series of hills one after the next – up-down, up-down – the wind blew from behind, easing me up. She would only blow to help me up the hills, now, behind me, making my hills easier. It was amazing to feel her help me and my children up the hill, pushing me, fueling me, whispering to me “You can do it!” the harder I pushed. I was near tears, laughing and tearing-up as the wind swirled and stopped as I neared the top. My children must have thought I was losing it, talking to the wind, laughing while panting as I ran. Each and every time, the wind would lay low on the flat surfaces, but as soon as I needed a little oomph, she’d return to cheer me on.
It was magical. I felt enchanted, like I was running in a dream. I didn’t want it to end. I felt like I could keep going forever.
Four miles with my children in the jogger stroller, all with the wind’s help. I’ve never experienced something so ethereal in my entire life. I feel changed by it, and her.
I hope she’s there with me tomorrow, and forever. Yesterday, I wasn’t so sure I’d ever be ready to run a marathon? Today? I feel like I can do anything I set my mind to.
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