Flatiron

I've been wanting to do this hike for a long time.  It's the one people talk about, have stories about, and it's the one they point out, "you see on the mountain right there?" when in sight of the Superstition Mountains.

Let's borrow Wikipedia's photo to give you a visual:

Flatiron is the first jagged peak from the right. 

Mitch has hiked it several times with friends, family members... a random hiker group.  He's even done it in the dark!  

You can imagine my excitement when Mitch asked me earlier this month if I'd like him to take me.   When I gave him a hard time about not bringing me before he said, "Well, you're finally not with child."

Right.
Well, every time a previous trip was planned I was either pregnant or nursing a little one. By the way, this whole trip was made possible by my amazing parents-in-law who agreed to watch over said little ones.

We got up early to hit the mountain by about six (in Arizona it's important to beat the sun).    The air was cool and the light a little dim when we got started, with all the colors muted.  The thing about this hike is that it's steep.  And rocky.  And steep.  Just getting to the first real landmark, Siphon Draw, my heart was really pumping. 

 And then we were scrambling up the slick rock, pausing for breath, and then plunging ahead to hike up the ravine, climbing rocks, weaving between branches of  a few scattered Mesquite trees, and climbing more rocks.

And yes, I am wearing a dress.  Big mistake.  I wouldn't recommend it for steep hikes. 

 Ahem. 

Anyway, as we reached the "first top" as Mitch termed it, I had just gasped out, "How many 'tops' are there?" when I was momentarily stunned by the sight of the hoodoos, stark against the sky and lit up with the rays of morning sunlight, desert plants scattered at their feet.  It was such a beautiful sight!

 Mitch pointed out Flatiron:

Mitch took this picture in 2008.  We forgot to take one.

And then we continued to the summit.  

The 360-degree view was spectacular.  We rested as we sat together quietly, taking it all in.  There was mixture of reverence and triumph in looking out together at the desert floor below and the mountains around us.  Of solitude and togetherness. A good feeling.

The hike down was seemed to go by in a flash.  I had so much fun, and I was so happy that I finally got to go!

Run Forrest, Run!

I am training for this race:

I had always been one of those people who moans and shakes her head at the mere mention of running.  "I hate running," I would say.  "How do people do that?  Why would  you put yourself through that kind of agony when there are other, less torturous ways to exercise?"

I am no longer that person.  How did this conversion come about, you ask?  Okay, I never said I love running, but I no longer hate it.  There are even rare moments when I enjoy it.

What happened?  Baby fat and a bandwagon.  After Brandt was born I just couldn't banish those last ten or...twelve pounds, darn it!  Exercising, trying to eat right weren't cutting it.  I needed a consistent cardio regimen and I knew it.  Then the bandwagon.  My niece invited me to run a 5k with her and some other family members.  I agreed.  There was something about signing up for an organized event, committing, that made me kick it into gear.  I got outside and ran.  I started getting up at 6:00 am and running 3 days a week to train and yes, in the beginning it was agonizing.  But I was building up my stamina and pushing myself  and soon I could go farther and farther.  I set a goal to run the 5k in under 30 minutes and I exceeded my goal by over a minute.  After that race I continued running for exercise and a friend of mine invited me to sign up for the Ragnar.

Training for this race has pushed me farther that I thought I could possibly go.  I have more than doubled my distance and look forward to pushing my record run to 8 miles on Saturday.  That doesn't mean that I look forward to my runs with glee, but running does provide a clarity of mind and a physical release that I've always felt from exercise.  And the best part?  I didn't think I could do it and now I know I can.  It feels so good to exceed my own expectations.  I'm half-way to my weight-loss goal, I feel healthier, and I look forward to some crazy fun come race day.  If I can just find time to squeeze in my training...

Storm Run

Tonight my love and I went for a run
My first in months - maybe a year
The city lights made the clouds glow
Lightning flashed like a strobe light
The smell of desert rain sizzled on the power lines
Cool drops slid down my face like tears
The rhythm of my breath was drowned by the
Thunder that chased my pounding feet home