Beyond the Blog Day 15 (May 12): Slogging Through To The Light

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When I think back to this day, I realize it was actually somewhat of a turning point.   As I wrote in my blog for that day, I woke up tired, with a sore throat.   The day was rainy and gusty, which was too bad because I was really looking forward to running through Uwharrie National Forest.   As it turns out, I was more on the rural roads going through the area than actual forest roads.   In any case, under these challenging conditions I set out, allowing myself to quit at mile 20.   Giving myself an “out” like that helped make the day not so daunting, and this was kind of a mental turn-around.   I didn’t have to do anything, but I would try my damndest to complete as much as I could.  The other notable aspect about this day is that I really started to feel the momentum from all of our supporters, as donations really started coming in and the comments were so heartfelt and sincere.   


The rain was whipping through me for the first half of the day, to be sure.   I was even shaking at one point when I got in the car for a refueling break. It was a slog, and I set my mind to just going into autobot mode...one step at a time.  But as many storms do here in the Carolinas, by mid-afternoon the rain had stopped and the sun was trying to peek out from behind the clouds.   I had gotten through the worst of it, and as I headed east to Seagrove, began to enjoy the scenery, as my blog comments indicate:


Flocks of goldfinches exploding up on each side of me as I ran through a field, I've never seen the air so thick with yellow birds.

A herd of cows all snout-deep in the grass, suddenly all looking up at the same time, all with green leaves hang out of their mouths, made me laugh out loud

A line of ducks crossing the road in military-like fashion, indignant at my gasping interruption


Now, almost eight weeks after this run, I remember these visions with perfect clarity….finches, cows, ducks, and an over-eager Golden Lab following me down the street.  As the day improved and I became more a part of the land through which I traveled, the miles became a little lighter and that 20 mile goal was passed.   Of course, the awesome chicken wrap Monty had secured somewhere outside of Seagrove certainly helped, and the final miles ticked away as I approached the self-imposed cutoff time of 4 pm.    

We returned that night to our Asheboro hotel, and once again had dinner at the sports bar next door, which was considerably busier.   It was nice to see people going out again and to be in a place where laughter and the clinking of glasses and plates could be heard.  This would be our last night staying in Asheboro as we were moving east, making the hotel farther and farther away.   I slept better this evening, grateful for how the day had turned from a wet, cold slog to a more peaceful march through a green countryside that was familiar and comforting to me.

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