Mach3Multisport.com

I went up to Phoenix this past weekend to help my cousin get settled into her new house. She moved in a few weeks ago, promptly came down w/ strep throat, and has been living among boxes ever since.  I got there Saturday and we worked all day long getting her office together and then began unpacking the kitchen. By evening we were tired and hungry but very pleased with our progress.

At dinner we planned to get up very early the next morning and go for a nice relaxing run. I have run once or twice on the treadmill and was anxious to get out on the road. My cousin knew of a great trail near her new house so in trying to beat the impending 114 degree day, by 5:30 the next morning, we were on our way.

Okay, let me just say now that I have an irrational fear of a creature that roams out in nature. The key word is irrational. The second key word is fear. It's not a pretty combo and I am reluctant to name the creature as some people out in the world think it is hilarious to say they see one behind me or next to me or about to get me, which over the years has put me in very serious danger. On a group hike once in college the guy that I had just started dating said, "Look out Susie! There is one right behind you!" Which made me dart away in fear and almost over a cliff...like there is the cliff and I am heading for it, not seeing it, and my friend Lonny grabs me by the arm and yanks me back and holds me while he talks into my ear that there is not one anywhere near us and I am safe. To which I hear laughing and it's the new guy I'm dating and well, let's just say, the date and relationship ended on the spot. But, other people have done the same type of thing to me which has made me almost get hit by a car, put a huge gash in my leg, and caused me to well, not trust most people w/ this little bit of info.

So, as we start on the trail to run, something freaks me out and the irrational thoughts invade my brain. Even now I'm not sure what brought it on...maybe the closed in start to the trail? Who knows, but 500 yards in and I tell my cousin I need to get out and fast. My behaviour startles her as she watches me start to shake. I then start to sprint down the trail looking for a way out. I mean sprint. Like I turn to her for comfort and I find myself alone out in nature where this creature lives and now I am really freaked so I run even faster. Every noise makes me jump and scream and I run even faster. Finally I see a clearing and I stop, by heart racing, and I wait for my cousin. She comes running up and I tell her through the clearing I see some houses and a road and I need to get on the road now. She tries to tell me these houses are in an exclusive gated community and I will be trespassing and since it is gated I won't be able to get out and all I hear is "blah, blah, blah". Yeah, yeah, whatever, I'll scale a fence, I'll jump in the security guards golf cart, whatever I'm getting off this trail. She rubs my shoulders and tries to reason w/ me to which I tell her that's why it's an irrational fear! So, we make it through the exclusive gated community, crawl under the gate and I feel like a normal person again.

The good news is, my mad sprint through the desert didn't hurt my back at all. Yea! So even though I didn't get in my nice relaxing run, I learned I can sprint w/out pain, which is another step in my healing. Yea, yea!

So, now a word to any of you who may train w/ me...if you see me stand perfectly still w/ a deer caught in the headlights look and then dart (and when I say dart I mean a panic dash) please come after me or shout of the impending car, cliff, cactus that may be in my path. And remember, they don't call it an irrational fear for nothing!

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment