I just wanted to let you lovely ladies know that I almost died tonight. My heart and lungs nearly exploded, and I pretty sure that there was decreased blood flow to my brain. Thankfully, I don’t think there was any permanent damage.
You see, my son and I went to a new biking trail this evening. We seperated, each taking a different leg, with plans to meet back up in one hour. There I was pedaling along, listening to bird-song and the sound of my wheels crunching gravel, gawking at the folliage, being careful when passing joggers and other bikers, basically just minding my own business. Or rather, not minding any business as I got lost. On a strange trail. In the gloaming. It took a while for me to notice that other athletes (snicker) were few and far between, that it was getting kinda spooky out there alone, and that I was picking up quite a bit of speed. When it began to dawn on me that it was a pretty good spot for a serial killer to rip me off my bike and into the woods where I might never be found, I decided to turn back.
That’s when I encounter The Hill to End All Hills. It was steep and it was rocky. I tried to bike up it but it was too hard. I was nearly gasping for breath already. So I had to get off and push my bike up. I was getting a bit panicky then as it was nearly time for me to meet Nick and knew he would be worried if I was late. I somehow made it to the top, wheezing and sputtering like I never have in my whole entire life. I got back on the bike and had just gone around a turn when I met The Hill’s twin sister! I was halfway up, pushing my bike again, when I had to stop and gasp for a minute. Everything had a fuzzy, unearthly look to it. It was then that I heard a sound in front of me and saw a man stretching up ahead. I was kinda embarrassed cause my breathing was so loud and I was so red-faced and splotchy out-of-shape ugly. He started to jog down and he slowed as he got near me. I actually thought that if he was going to kill me, it would be over pretty quick because there was no way I could fight him off. He didn’t, of course =) He was just some uber-athlete using the hill for training.
When I finally got up that blasted hill and got some semblance of normal respiration back, I rode on and soon saw some cars up ahead. The parking lot! But it was the wrong parking lot. I was more lost than I thought I was! I am not ashamed to tell you that I began to cry. I had to turn around and go back through the spookiness, pedaling with legs that felt like jelly, wanting to so badly to just sit down and wait for an air rescue team to come and find me. But I didn’t.
I rode back, crying, down The Hills this time, sure I was going to wind up wrapped around a tree or in the creek bed from a high-speed gravel slide, especially since I was seeing through teary eyes. I got my bearings eventually and could see my son and my car (in the most beautiful parking lot you ever did see) down a piece. By the time I arrived there, something came over me. Call it a renewed vigor for life, or the rosy after-glow of a near death experience, or whatever, but I was filled with determination and grit and will. Will to do it again at some future time (with some training under my belt); Will to beat that hill and all that it represents: weakness and fear. Someday I will ride up those hills and they will eat my dust.
Until then, I will be wise and diligent in my training. Until then, I do not want to see that bike trail or even hear it’s name mentioned. But, someday………..
Oh you silly rabbit!!! I’m glad you’re okay! I would have cried too! Glad God was with you in the wilderness!!
Comment by blestwithsons — August 15, 2006 @ 11:41 pm
(((GINORMOUSHUG))) I am so glad you got back safely!!! God is good all the time!!!!!
Comment by Leann — August 16, 2006 @ 8:59 am
Oh my! I’m glad you made back okay. Those nasty hills always put a damper on the joy of riding a bike.
Comment by Anita — August 16, 2006 @ 9:02 am
Wow…glad you made it! And think of all the calories you burned!
Comment by Andrea — August 16, 2006 @ 9:38 am
Oh wow - I would’ve panicked, too! Glad you’re home safe.
Comment by Carrie — August 16, 2006 @ 10:02 am