I haven't been training hard core like many of my friends since I decided to take a break from full marathons this year. But I have been training lightly by running shorter distances and walking up hills rather then charging them. This type of training I thought would not help me for this Angel Island run but it did!
As we all lined up and waited for the count down to hit the trail I reminded myself to enjoy this and take breaks whenever I felt like it. Once we started my friends were off and I trailed in the back of the pack with a smile. I smiled because the Island was soooo beautiful and because I didn't need to prove anything. I was simply here to take time and enjoy the trail and take the needed breaks I longed for when I was training for full marathons. I must say the trail didn't seem super tough. Yes there was hills big ones! but I walked them and looked around thinking of my sister and forgetting the stresses that wait for me in my daily life. I talked to people along the way and took pictures when I remembered to.
The last two miles I flew down the trail since it was down hill and it was a blast. The girl in front of me asked if I wanted to pass and I said "no your doing fine, I like this pace" I followed that girl all the way to the end. usually I want to pass people on the trail but this time I didn't I was ok being at the back of the pack. Alex I am sure was smiling along with me as I ran and hiked this Angel Island trial . It was a great day to remember her and I had her picture pinned to my water pack and a few times I looked down to see her smile in the picture just so I felt like she was
really there. I know she was.
me and friends at lunch
