Life, it is a changin'... I haven't run at Tryon in probably at least a year. I first discovered it back when my then-husband was traveling every week for work. The first time Onya and I ever ran there, it was a wet, rainy day much like today. It may have even been in March. We raced up and down those paths and we both had mud splattered from head to toe. We were both beaming by the time it was done.
Today, all I could think about was getting out on those muddy trails. I obsessed all day at work. After too much time off and way too much time since I've been on a trail, it seemed like the most wonderful idea I've ever had. Knowing that it gets ridiculously slippery with all the amounts rain we've had lately, I decided that we'd just go two miles. Sadly, Onya has aged about three years (not that I haven't...) and I was just recently informed by my vet that she's overweight. Needless to say, there wasn't nearly as much racing up and down the trails... but we did have a great two miles.
We splashed. We slipped. We waded through the parts of the trail that were like small creek beds. I reflected on how drastically everything can both change and stay exactly the same. Onya is my love, my rock and my inspiration. The trails feed my soul, calm my mind and remind me that I am strong. As the rain washed away my tears, I realized that I've been off course for too long. It is time for me to put one foot in front of the other and see just how far I can get on my own.
I have a feeling that I'm going to look back on this time in my life and know that Onya and Tryon were driving factors in my grief, sadness, healing and ultimate recovery.
