Adventures in Running

I don't know why, but I've always wanted to be a runner. It's a great way to keep in shape and it's a sport where you all you need is good shoes. Mackenzie and I have both been considering doing cross country this fall. As the time nears where we need to sign up, we decided to do some training. Every night for the rest of summer break, we are going to go running on the various paths near our homes. Last night, this started! 

We met at the path by Mack's house and started off! She said it was about a mile one way, so we would get in a good two miles. It was so beautiful! 

Along the way, we decided towards the end of our training, our challenge would be to start at the trail by Mackenzie's house and follow it to my house. However, as we reached the end of the trail, we saw the way we could get to my house, so decided to do the challenge right away! We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, to say the least. As we crossed the street, the bit of trail we saw from the other side that we assumed would curve, ended. Our options were to turn back or to run down Santa Fe in a ditch. We chose to sprint and look ridiculous down Santa Fe. ;) We turned into a church, thinking there would be a trail behind it. We walked through dry grass and weeds, getting scratched and keeping a watchful eye out for snakes. 

When we got to the back of the church, we saw a trail! But it was blocked by a barbed wire fence. What are the odds? We made it over that, being poked only a few times. 

 {the view from each side of the fence}

We trekked down a trail still unsure of where exactly we were in terms of trails. We saw a winding hill in the distant, not looking forward to climbing that. 

 As we kept going, we saw a sign!

Yes! A sign telling us where we were and that yes, we were actually on a trail. As we kept going, we saw the winding hill was hardly steep but a hill on the right of us was spectacularly steep. 

I decided to hike up it, looking for snakes as Mack watched and took pictures. I put on this song, and once I reached the top, it was just amazing. 

The song truly connected to what I saw and felt at the top of the hill. It was stunning, you could see so much. It was the most energizing feeling! Mackenzie hiked up next. She was so small from the top of the hill!

The two of us just could not believe how beautiful it was!

The sky was amazing!

Chatfield in the distance

A beautiful CO sunset

After just taking it all in, Mackenzie and I kept walking and before we could take ten strides, we saw a hawk/falcon (neither of us really know what it was). 

We silently and slowly walked on, getting about three feet away when it flew off. That itself was majestic, flying into the sunset. As we kept going, we saw what looked like an equestrian area but again, couldn't figure out what it was. The path abruptly ended and we hiked through some cactus and high grass to come across yet another wire fence. 

Without thinking twice, we climbed over and finally were on an actual trail, not the side of the road and private property. ;) After that, we walked near the park and down the path to my house.

So pretty with the shadows

Horrible quality, but a wonderful time!

When we got to my house, it was dark and the warm air was cooling down. We had my dad drive us back to our cars by Mackenzie's house and then we went to get some yogurt. :)

Necessary yogurt picture ;)

We talked in the parking lot until 11:33pm, when a police car drove by, and we were afraid of getting in trouble for being out past curfew, we just got in our cars mid-sentence and left. ;) We both remembered after that curfew is later on the weekends, whoops. ;)

It was honestly one of the most fun nights I've had all summer! I will never ever forget sprinting down Santa Fe, climbing hills, screaming because we thought we saw snakes, yogurt, and most importantly, finding a new way to get from Mack's house to mine. ;)




xo
Hannah