How do you feel when you accomplish something that has been a goal for awhile? Exhilarated? Emotional? Thrilled?
I would think that all those emotions come into play. Have you been training for a marathon? Perhaps your goal was to finish in under 3 hours, or perhaps you just wanted to finish!
Everyone is in a different place. Everyone has different goals for different and often, the same thing.
Mine was to get to the top of the M ( a popular mountain in Bozeman) for over a year.
Why is this so important?
The "M" is a popular trail in Bozeman. in 1915, Montana State college students decided to create an "M" out of white rocks to represent their college. It now serves as a popular tourist destination, town landmark, and college memory.
Sitting near the top of the Bridger Mountains, the M has access via two trails. The short, very steep climb, and the "gentler" switchback, longer route.
Last year, I attempted the "gentler" trail, and was only able to get about a quarter mile up. Discouraged and in pain, I was determined that I wanted to get to the top the following year.
For many, hiking the M is an easy, easy trail. They run up as if it is nothing. For me, though, it was incredibly challenging.
Why?
Why was it so incredibly challenging for me? Many do not know, but years ago, my body decided it did not like itself and starting attacking it from the inside. Otherwise known as auto immune disease. As of now, I currently have three different ones, but I like to say, it is just one auto immune issue that attacks three different parts.
Auto immune issues can be devastating to some and not too bothersome to others. For me, I have learned what triggers "flares" and do my best to avoid those triggers. If I push too hard, I end up extremely fatigued and have a hard time functioning.
The one constant, though, has always been leg pain. My legs "yell" at me a lot when I climb stairs or attempt any type of uphill climb. The muscles are weak and give out sometimes, and my balance can be off.
So, my attempts at climbing even a "gentle" uphill switchback that may be super easy to everyone, is extremely challenging to me.
My Goal
Not one to back down, I decided that I wanted to be able to get to the top of the M this year. I began working with my co workers, who are both personal trainers and educated in all things wellness. ( A huge shout out to Rachel and Emily!)
They helped me strengthen my legs, gain more mobility, and get stronger overall. I continued with watching my diet just like I have done for years as certain foods will trigger flares for me, and did not change much else.
Finally, one day, I just decided to try. I was so motivated. I was so determined. I just had to get to the top!
The Journey to the Top
The day I intended to do this was wrought with obstacles. Phone calls, working through issues at my full time job, and becoming a tad tired after being up at 3:30am (my usual awake time to get to work at 5) started challenging me to put it off for another day.
By the time I got home, I was tired, but still motivated to get this done. So, off I went to conquer the mountain!
Up, up I went and as I got higher, I started getting a little discouraged. Leg pain was almost non existent, but two rounds of covid had put my lungs and heart in a different state. I stopped a few times to catch my breath and almost wanted to quit.
Can you relate to this?
Still, I continued going forward as I was incredibly determined to get this done!
As I came to a fork in the trail, I had to decide which way to go. One trail continued on but seemed to go away from the M, not toward it, whereas the other trail went toward it.
So, off I went to the right in what I thought was toward the M.
But-little did I know that it was the shortcut that went almost straight up the mountain!
As I climbed higher on all the loose gravel, tree limbs hitting me in the face, I said, "This cannot be the trail. Where in the heck am I?
Finally, I saw light at the top and thought I had arrived!
Wrong!
I did arrive at a most spectacular place, but I was far from the M.
Getting help from two wonderful college students, they showed me the trail that led to the trail I SHOULD have been on.
AHHHHHHHH
Long story..short
So, eventually, I made it to the trail I should have been on, and two more attempts to find the trail later- I got to the right trail that led to the M. I had no idea where I was or how far I was from it. I just kept going.
My legs started giving me grief, but I just kept going.
Eventually, after three different wrong turns, up the side of the mountain and being tired, there it was. I saw people. I saw the M.
I MADE IT.
Sitting down on a rock, I took in the fresh air, the sun, the view and just could not believe it. Here I was- I made it!
Words cannot describe best how I felt. But, can you relate? Have you had a situation like this in your life?
The feeling you get when you accomplish something that you have worked so hard to attain is indescribable.
I wanted to shout, "I DID IT" at the top of my lungs but I thought that the 10 people sitting up there might not appreciate that. So, I shouted it in my mind.
The Journey Down
Down is easy. Down was quick. The time flew by and I actually felt just fine. No pain. No headache. No fatigue! So very happy.
This may seem so trivial to some. But, to others, perhaps you have felt this way. Perhaps you have chronic pain like me and many times, life just seems so overwhelming. It does to me.
But, I continue forward. I continue to be mindful of triggers, and I continue to learn how to better live my life with my chronic pain and condition.
There are a lot of lessons one can say about my journey, but I am not going into that here. Sure, determination, training, help from others, and the "not giving up" spirit and attitude can certainly help you accomplish something. But, sometimes it just does not work. I have seen that, too.
I am just so very happy I did this and wanted to share it with you.
Thanks for reading and if you are ever in the Bozeman area, please give me a call. I would love to meet up with you.
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