Who’d have thought I’d love a mountain route this much?

A few weeks ago, I went hiking on a trail near here. It’s a loop that runs a little over 5 miles and the first 1.5 miles consists of some steep grades as you make your way up the mountain. After making it to the top you descend for the rest of the loop and the trail goes along this wonderful, gradual downhill. When I hiked it, I kept thinking “I’ll bet this would be nice to run.”

That thought stuck in my head and I decided to make it a personal challenge. I kept an eye on the weather (It’s summer, you know) and noticed a weekend where the temps were well below normal – the date was set.

The night before, I set out my hand held water bottle, prepped my new Sparkle Skirt and fun running shirt. The plan was to hike up the steepest part (my running shoes are awesome, but not too awesome for loose gravel on steep inclines – perhaps one day I’ll get some trail shoes) then run down. I wasn’t particularly nervous about it, other than how I would feel after the first part (I hiked up faster than normal) and then the distance of 3+ miles down.

My alarm went off at 5:15 and I donned my outfit, took the dogs for a morning walk, then beelined over the trailhead. I beat the crowd and the temperature was perfect, so up I went.

I brought my earbuds, but kept them in my pocket and decided to let nature be my soundtrack for the day – a departure from my usual habit.

I am SO very glad I did.

I heard the rustle of leaves as chipmunks scurried about, the lovely concert of various birds singing in the summer morning, the rustle of leaves as a light breeze wove through the trees, and the sound of my feet making their way up the path.

Closer to the top, I heard a sort of clicking around coming from the trees and decided it sounded like mother nature was giving me a little ovation.

I paused at the summit and looked out over the valley below, the sun was peeking through some morning clouds shining in rays over the city. A hot air balloon was floating by in the distance. Taking a deep breath, I filled my lungs with the clean mountain air and started my descent.

Turns out this was one of the best ideas I have had in a long time.

It is not often I feel completely relaxed and – dare I say it? – joyful on a run. Sure, there have been moments where I’ve felt really happy, though those are usually at the finish line.

This was different.

I absolutely loved this run.

The downhill was gradual enough to not cause undo pressure on my joints or make me worry about losing my footing, yet made for a perfect, easy run. I was completely aware that this downhill route wasn’t as physically challenging like running on an incline or even a flat stretch. Gravity was my friend this time and I didn’t want to stop.

My mind drifted to random thoughts, enjoying the scenery around me, the sounds filtering through the thick trees, and the crunch of dirt under my feet. I noticed my breathing was even and my body relaxed.

The miles literally flew by. Not by my impressive speed (I’m still a snail) but rather because I was lost in the moment. For the second time ever while running, I was not focused on how my legs felt or my breathing. I wasn’t self conscious about how I looked or any of the other myriad things that sometimes make running a less than joyful experience.

It felt more like I was on a nice hike and just out enjoying the sites.

I really felt like a runner.

There were very few others out so early that morning, but I cracked a big smile and greeted the ones I did see. Rather than my usual tentative greeting, it was heartfelt.

The final stretch of the trail follows an old dirt road bordered by a stream. The trees shaded me from the rising sun and the water rushing along provided a beautiful finale to nature’s soundtrack. All too soon I saw the barrier fence that marked the end of the trail and, shockingly, I felt sad.

After going through the large gate, I was back on the road where a small incline was the final stretch between me and my car. I felt great, so instead of walking that last quarter mile or so, I kept running.

What in the heck had gotten into me?

I reached my car and, not gonna lie, you couldn’t have pried the grin off my face.

This outing, which I thought might be more of a physical challenge than it was, turned out to be a beautiful demonstration of how joyful running can be. When I first began running, I would have never thought I’d experience something like this – or that it truly existed outside of the hardcore runners. But it does.

This strange running journey has brought me tears, frustration, self-loathing, a sense of accomplishment (and failure), pride (and humiliation), and now joy. It has also taught me that the longer I keep with it, the stronger and better I’m getting.

One day, I hope I can find this feeling again on a course that is more “normal”. I am sure it will happen if I stick with it, but in the meantime, I’m going to repeat this route to remind myself that there is both struggle and triumph in this sport. I might even get to the point where I run up the incline.

It could happen.

Here’s to finding your joy.