Despite her fall, my daughter loved cheering for her family. She showed that she's a person you want in your corner. She's grown up cheering during races and is now genuinely happy for others' success. Now, she carries that spirit into other aspects of her life.
I learned two things about myself that day. First, I was proud of myself for pushing outside of my previous comfort zone and for facing my fear of falling down a mountain to do something exciting with my kids. Like my son, I was surprised to learn that I love running on trails. We're not the first people to learn that the combination of running and natural scenery is both calming and exhilarating. In fact, numerous studies show the mental health benefits of exercising outdoors.
Beyond that, trail running provided a different challenge than running on pavement or a treadmill. It emphasized both strength—to get up hills and over rocks—and balance. Those four miles were some of the harder miles I've run, but they passed quickly as I focused on my footing on the trail, my breathing and the world around me.
It might not have been my fastest race. In fact, it was slow and steep and difficult. But I was lucky to take a moment and appreciate the view.
Find activities for kids near you.
- 3
- of
- 3
Discuss This Article