Two girls, a Truck and a Trailer

Two girls, a truck and a trailer headed up the mountain for some training runs. A simple spontaneous suggestion to get a site turned into one of the best overnights on Big Bear Lake. A few days before, a friend of mine said let’s go up the mountain for a training run. We can take the trailer and do some hiking and running. As much as I have been on the mountain, I have only actually camped a few times. Once with my neighbors in San Gorgonio where bears lurked outside of our tent and scavenged through the red vines and hamburger buns left out from dinner, and the other time at Green Valley Lake to try out our new tent.

So, this time I set out to book Green Valley again, no bears for this girl. But when I searched the mountain and saw that Serrano was on the North side of the lake near trails, I booked it.  I always get a little nervous when I book campsites because you never know what you will get. But this was exactly what these two girls needed to get away for a night.

We arrived around noon with the horse trailer in tow. As you can imagine, two girls in a truck backing in a trailer, we had a lot of observers. But Jeanne killed it! First time, no adjusting, just pull in, back it up, set it up. I was impressed. A few minutes later, we were out, unpacked and eating some lunch. Heading out the campground by foot, we trekked over to the Cougar Crest trail, a five-mile hike round trip to the Pacific Coast Trail and back. The afternoon was perfect with the sun shining over the lake and the view from the top reminded me how small I was in this big world. This is God’s country and I am only one piece in the big picture.

As the sun was setting, a quick trip to Starbucks on the South side of the lake had us sitting with some locals for some coffee and tea, chatting about dogs, tents and what is important in life.

The next morning we headed out to the Alpine Pedal Trail for a run. Don’t be fooled by the name, yes, there are some bike riders, but we saw more running and dog walking. From the campground, we hit the trail and headed out to the Stanfield bridge. Only a few miles out, we decided to run towards town and found ourselves on the Wildlife Reserve running across bridges and into trails. As the sun came out, it was pretty warm but the view can’t be beat.

For an overnight trip, this was perfect! From Serrano, we never had to get back in the car to hike the hills or run the lake on road and trail. Starbucks was a treat, but definitely not necessary.

God is good to me. After a pretty sucky year, I am so thankful for the gifts of friendship, nature and love he continually provides me every day. He surprises me every morning and throughout my day with small wonders.

Keep an eye out and you will see his miracles and mercy, too. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 

A view from the trail. There's a bench to take a break if you want to breathe in the big picture. 

Addiction

Addiction is real.

If you have ever loved an addict, you know the pain it causes every day. The saddest part is they have no idea that they pain they feel is only part of the pain that you feel when have to sit back helplessly watching them destroy relationships, jobs and themselves. Their. Entire. Life.

If you know me, you know I draw a hard line on alcohol, tobacco and most forms of drugs, including over the counter stuff. Some people have thought it was my faith in God and others may know a little of my story and make a connection, but the reality is, I believe some of us are prone to addiction.

Myself, included. And I fight it, but
I see it when I work until I can't stay up any longer;
I see it in when I run through an injury to prove myself;
I see it when our family schedule is so packed we are eating out every night;
I see it in almost anything I set out to do.

But I fight it.
I fight to keep balance.

So...I don't drink. I don't smoke. Because I am afraid. The reality is no one sets out to be an addict, but eventually, one thing leads to another and you find yourself depressed and lonely.

Addicts often don't realize they are addicts. But you recognize them when they are always late for the party. Or they call to cancel at the last minute because they don't feel well. They often leave early. They promise to bring something and simply forget. They say things, do things and believe things that are just plain wrong. They feel sorry for themselves. They cry, they laugh, they yell-all in the same hour.

And those who love an addict
cry for them,
yell at them,
say mean things back to them,
cry for them,
worry about them,
make excuses for them,
and feel helpless.

For years I was angry, but eventually came to realize that just like other relationships, when one person is fixated on a problem, the only one hurting is the affected. The addict doesn't care about me, any more than the friend that betrayed me. They are the same. They both move on, while I am left picking up the pieces of my own sadness and guilt. They call is a disease, but seriously, Cancer is a disease, Alzheimers is a disease, Parkinson's is a disease; alcoholism and drug abuse is a choice.

If you are someone who knows an addict, I encourage you to let go of your anger and your fear. The children, the wife or husband, the mother and father of an addict, have to create a boundary for their feelings and responses. Love them, forgive them, pray for them, and know you are not in control and ultimately, it is their choice to make a change.

Romans 12:20

I believe that your life must be blessed through forgiving others. Would you like to choose to forgive for the benefit of others? Maybe your decisions can bring an opportunity of redemption for others.

Week 2: Surf City USA

Week 2 training for Ragnar is on! This week, we headed out to good ol’ 9^th street in Huntington Beach, CA. Not unfamiliar to me, or any of my boot camp girls, running PCH never disappoints. With a paved trail and the sand and ocean on your side, you can’t go wrong with this run and in this case, my team. I absolutely love that we all just show up with no question and it is not until we sync our running apps and turn up the volume on the headphones, does someone pop the question, “How far are we going?” Eyes shift and we all make a joke or two about getting to breakfast, but we are ready to hit the ground running. Six sounds good.

Today, the sun was hidden, as it typically is in the early morning, but it hasn’t stopped So Cal to come out to play. Seven am and you would think it was lunch hour on the trail. People walking, running, biking; kids begging mom to come to the water to play; families trekking across the trail with ice chests and easy ups to save a spot at the fire pit for the family reunion. Just what you would expect at the beach on a Saturday in July! But there was more as we shuffled our feet towards Newport Beach. Volleyball tournaments, surfing contests, lifeguard trainings and a street fair to busy the roads, the sand and even the parking lots.

Stopping to take a few pics, I found myself overwhelmed by everything that was going on. After the first mile or so, I realized we have two types of runners in our group today; the one who watches three feet in front of him to make sure he doesn’t trip or run into someone and the one who can’t stop looking. I’ll call the first one, “the fast and furious” runner, the one who moves swiftly through the crowds, dodging walkers and kids, and listens to the beat of her music while working towards a consistent pace. He is focused on getting to the finish line, getting his heart rate up and beating his own time. While the other, I will call “the distracted and dangerous” runner, the one who slows his pace when something catches his eye, picks up his pace when she realizes her team is at least a half mile ahead, stops for a photo, cheers on the seniors as they run past her, engages in small talk with a man who sits with his backpack and is amazed by the early morning hustle and excitement this day already has started. She sees things, hears things, smells things and takes it all in. When the run is over, she can appreciate the man walking his bull mastiff, or the women who chat with friends while taking a morning walk, or the family setting up for the day. When the run is over, she wants to go back because the ocean calms and running excites.

As a child, I spent many days with friends, sno cones and jack in the box on the south side of the pier.  But one thing I took for granted was that I live this close to a place that brings peace and energy, and promises that I can do anything I want. Whether you are the “fast and furious” or the “distracted and dangerous” runner, you can go 1 mile or 20, and along this trail, you will always have a different experience.

Depending on the race you want to win that day, choose your inner runner. Sometimes we need to go fast, but sometimes we need to slow down and simply enjoy the noise.

Psalm 96:11

Let the heavens rejoice; let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is within it.