I Accidentally Met My Goal
Forest plants we saw on our hike around Hermitage Ruins, Ancaster, Ontario
I went for a hike yesterday that took every bit of me. Before lunch we took a quick trip to Tiffany Falls. It is about 1.2 km and it was an easy walk. After lunch we went on the “long hike.” We went to Sulphur Springs road and we were walking on a loop that circles around the Hermitage Ruins and the Rail Trail Station. What a gorgeous trail with stunning vistas, moss-covered rocks breaking away from the edges of the trail, old forests and wide open meadows. This trail has everything. The sign said it was 3.4 km and I think it was true, except that we missed a turn and got lost. I have had some struggles with walking. In 2010 I hurt my SI joint and then I had a really bad fall. After I thought I had almost recovered, I was walking across the street one day and my leg stopped walking. I was essentially stranded in the middle of the road. I recovered partially, but have been compromised physically since then. Two summers ago we were discussing whether or not we needed to buy a wheelchair as back-up. I believed at that time I would probably never go on a walk again. I had MRIs and saw a specialist. It was unclear what was going on, but I assumed my condition was progressive and I would have to make the best of it.
About 18 months ago I lost weight and worked with a nutritionist who hypothesized that I was allergic to corn. I cut corn from my diet and started to recover. I got better. I was able to walk much better last summer but I still wasn’t able to hike. I felt cautious and afraid of strenuous activity. I didn’t venture out much. In February I hired a trainer and started to work out. We are planning a trip to Europe this summer and I set a goal of walking 5 miles before we leave in July. Mel and my trainer talked me into shifting my goal to 5 km instead. I couldn’t make it more than a kilometer when we started. But I have been steady. Last week I made it to 4 kilometers including a giant hill. So, I thought I could do a 3.4 kilometer hike. But we missed a turn and by the end of the hike we had hiked 7.59 kilometers. I didn’t cry until we got home. I was kind of worried, but now I feel proud that I managed to do it. I kept up and I walked over 5 miles yesterday (8 km = 5 miles). I accidentally met my goal and it feels good. I am really sore and really tired but I am not injured. I feel incredibly victorious!
