The Path of Change…The Journey to my First Ultra

The Path of Change…The Journey to my First Ultra

The feeling is an unusual one in many ways.
I went into this event with so much crap going on in my life.
I was basically on struggle street before the beer was drunk.
I was drowning from life and dog paddling wasn’t cutting it anymore.

Like us all, my life is not a bed of roses, and I’ve had a challenging journey so far, one of the hardest parts has been learning to deal with Domestic Violence. Inflicted on me by someone else, who didn’t want my light to shine.
The emotional abuse was something I will never forget, but slowly I have healed through my love for trail running.

During the last few months, friends and I did the Run Against ViolenceVirtual Challenge; I was not expecting where this would take me. Not only do I consider myself strong, but I am one of the most resilient, and ‘fuck you’ people, you will meet.
But I collapsed in a heap afterward.
I thought I was ok, but this completely brought me to my knees.
I was done.
In the end, though, the challenge helped me finally seek the counseling and support I needed to heal properly. Not just distract me long enough to bury it again.

Painful as it has been and will be for a while, I’m eternally grateful for saying yes to the challenge.
It’s one of the things I find hardest, to say yes. The decision to taking the first steps towards anything, I find difficult. Yet, through saying yes and putting myself out there willing to potentially fail I found my biggest healer.
For me, it has been my time on the trails.
It’s where I fly free.
It’s where I feel safe.
Where I can run and let loose.
I’m in control out there; it’s my time, my moment and my achievement.
Every run has taught me something. I build confidence, I can breathe again, and its where I put my life in perspective.

I often run with a training partner, and love that I can run in complete silence and still know, they’re there beside me on the path. Words don’t need to be said. Jess and I can go for km’s without saying anything somedays, other days we don’t shut up.

So last Saturday, Jess and I headed off to Killkaze, an experience and distance totally foreign to me. But once again another healing experience. I left so much of that crap on the trails, 52 km’s gives you time to think. I found it also gives you time to play a game of mind Tetris, where the stuff, good and bad falls into place.

As usual as the day progressed the lessons continued, and I met beautiful people, all with their own unique story to tell, all on their own path, the trail running events merely allowing us to cross those paths more often. Every one of them bringing something to my life, big or small, they all left an impression.

Once again though, I grew.
Every time I have challenged myself to an event I meet so many incredible people and they make me realise that even though Trail Running is an individual sport in so many ways, like life you don’t ever do it alone. You can’t. Life, trails, the journey and the joy, is to be shared.

I returned to work on Monday after five weeks off and a future six weeks off running. I’m undecided at this stage whether it’s a good or bad thing, but it’s about time I adjust to it.

The trail community has made me feel welcome, made me feel like I belong somewhere.
I’ve spent so long wandering aimlessly, looking for my thing.
Now I have found it.

So at nearly 43, I’ve done my first ultra, and in a way, I do feel a little bit like my life is just beginning and like the trails the journey has been long, rocky with twists, falls, ups and downs but its mine and for that I’m grateful

 

Monique

The Art of Raising an Adventure kid- a Mother’s Perspective

Some think it’s a little selfish.

My son gets to do whatever I do, there’s not many places I won’t take Heathy.

Some think he’s too young, 

I dont.

I think it would be selfish not too.

I have many solo adventures, when I can, I make sure he’s involved.

We plan our camping trips together, we talk about what we need, we search google and youtube, we research where we can go, we research our chosen area.

Technology is very much part of our children’s live’s, and we have the opportunity to teach them to use it in positive ways, not solely for games and social media.

We talk about the animals we may see, where they may be hiding, why their habitats are the way they are. 

We talk about why me must protect our environment and what he can do to help. He understands the ‘Leave No Trace’ principles.

We talk about the dangers of trekking and exploring. 

We talk about what the weather might do, what  we need to do if things don’t go as planned.

Heathy knows how to use my phone in an emergency. He can use the emergency app. 

He learns more and more each time.

He soaks up knowledge, wide eyed and with a thirst for detail.

 

 I believe as parents we place so much importance on what can go wrong, we actually forget that so much goes right when we spend time with our kids playing, exploring and engaging in the outdoors. 

 Jumping in puddles, playing in the dirt, exploring and seeking adventure all leave a lasting impression on children.

  

I believe teaching him about the great outdoors will help him become a natural leader, a person confident in making decisions and also a teenager and eventually an adult  confident in himself.   

The knowledge he learns he passes on to others.

 I love when he see’s something in the bush and explains to his mates why it happens, or exactly what it is.

My reward is that I’m teaching my child things he won’t learn in school, behind a desk or computer.  

  

 The smile on my face is wide when he says ‘Remember that time Mum when’ and laughs hysterically about one of our crazy little adventures.

Even little adventures have the ability to turn into epic memories for a child.

We all have such stories. 

He still talks about stacking his bike and getting a stick in his ? and how he just had to keep going…..albeit  because he was built so tough. ( I’m sure he takes after his Mum ).

Heathy spends a lot of time with adventurers and explorers of all ages and I think he’s a better person for it

He’s confident, bubbly and a little cheeky.

  He’s kind, compassionate, thoughtful and inquisitive

I think that’s how you can raise an adventure kid. 

Get the kids involved, let them help plan and pack for your adventures

The lessons learned and moments shared in the outdoors and on an adventure can only support the building of their skills and confidence in life.