Last night, M and I were 3 miles from our car on a trail run when a severely severe thunderstorm rolled in on top of us - one that indicated it would take a more northern route (from where we would be) when we checked the radar before we left. At that point, we were halfway on a loop course so turning back or plowing forward was 3 miles regardless. We forged on, moving to a part of the trail that is very densely wooded (shrouded from the sky) and traverses up and down a ski mountain (small by skiing standards, but big by running standards).
When we emerged from this section about 1.5 miles later and could see the sky again, it was clear the storm was taking the same path we were, and we would not be able to outrun it. We would be putting our lives at risk to make it back to the car. The sky was wickedly black, the thunder was rumbling, and the lightning was flashing behind the storm clouds - it was an all-out sprint b/c J also needed to be fetched from soccer practice mins away! As we dodged in and out of the forest, we realized there was no reprieve from the dangers that had befallen us: in the open sections, we were like sitting ducks; in the woods, we couldn't see the rocks & roots so spraining an ankle or doing a header into a tree from tripping became a real possibility. Scared shitless. In every possible way. Never moreso in my life. All I kept thinking was how badly this was going to end, and our poor kiddo - he would be heartbroken for the rest of his days. (knocking on wood)
With about 3/4 mile to go, M sprinted ahead to get the car. It became evermore imperative to not get injured b/c he was not coming back for me at that point. We had to get the boy! The last section is 1/4-mile run on an open road over a flat bridge - it was completely and utterly pitch black at that point...lightning was cracking straight down now. Cars are zooming past with high beams so I could at least see where I was going. M fetches me about midway across the bridge, and we fly out to get J. Whoosh...even after all 3 of us were in the car, M was driving maniacally until I gently reminded him that we were all together, and everyone was okay. Man, when your adrenalin takes over, it takes over!!!
The crazy coincidence about this event is that earlier in the day, as I was reorganizing some business paperwork, I thought about how I should really show M how the Daisy Janie machine runs so he can keep it going if something ever happened to me. What bizarre timing b/c I don't think morbid thoughts all that often.
By all accounts, we were extremely lucky to have escaped unscathed from that trail, and I am looking at our future as a gift to be handled with care. I feel I already do that in my own way, but that episode sent a message that was loud (very loud) and clear!
