So, I just hiked the Horton Creek trail in Payson, Az with my little family over the past weekend. I've been reflecting on this and what doing this trail meant to me.
One year ago (2013) in Sept we took the kids to Tonto Natural Bridge, also in Payson area. It's a super short, half mile hike. Steepish with switchbacks, but obviously pretty short. It's a sight to behold. Nature is amazing and that hike did not disappoint in beauty. The problem with this hike was I was completely out of breath. I couldn't believe how hard I was breathing. It was ridiculous. My children were a little winded, but nothing like what I was experiencing. Then I looked at the family picture that was taken of us, and I wanted to cry. I was smiling, but clearly I didn't want to be in it. I felt terrible and thought I looked terrible.
A month later we took the kids to Sedona to hike there. We were going to do a trail by Bell Rock, I think it's Courthouse Butte, but we didn't bring any water for whatever reason, so we kinda just let the kids run around on the rock and we walked a couple short pieces of the trail. Again, same problem. I'd make a big step up onto different levels of rock and my heart rate would shoot up and I'd be out of breath. That was the day I finally decided I needed to do something about it. It still took a couple weeks for me to get going, but I really haven't looked back sense.
Flash forward to Saturday, it's about a 7.5ish mile hike round trip to do the Horton Creek trail. We were a little concerned the kids wouldn't be able to make the whole trip. Mack and I had hiked half of it a few months before at around a 25:00/mile pace, but obviously the kids are much smaller. We figured we'd just do what we could and see how it goes. I also knew the elevation grade was high the second half and so I was worried for all of us. I had no idea how it was going to go. All in all, we had a GREAT trip. It wasn't drama free. My cute little almost 6 year old cried at the last 1.6 miles up in the elevation, but he did it, holding our hands so he didn't slip and fall while crying. Then on the way back down, same thing, he cried for that 1.6 miles. But that cute little boy did that whole dang hike! All of us did, in a 29:00/mile!! My children were champs, my poor husband managed it pretty well, but I am so happy to report, I out hiked the kids. I was tired, but my breathing was manageable, the elevation was manageable, I probably could've kept going honestly. I couldn't believe it. In one year I got my body in shape enough to hike with my babies and keep up with them! To say I was ecstatic about it would be an understatement. Not only was I in the pine trees, which always makes me happy, but I was finally able to be active with my children in a way I hadn't been able to the year (or years) prior.
I haven't lost an amazing amount of weight, I'm not the fastest runner around, I'm certainly not the strongest, but my body is faster, stronger and lighter than a year ago and that makes it so much easier to do the things I enjoy. There's nothing that I'd change about how this year has gone. I've learned so many lessons about perseverance, recovery from illness/injury, trusting my body and learning to listen to what I need. Just when I think I don't want to do this anymore, it's so much work, I remember how I felt in those hikes and I remember, this is what I want and I will always continue to work toward a healthier happier me. I want to be there for my children and share in their same passions for being active outdoors. So this is my new lifestyle, one I'm continuing to learn to live, but one I love.
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