Flex Time | My First Fourteener
**A bit of background** I’ve “recently” lost 80 lbs. Recently as in since the beginning of December. The first 40 happened to me + the second 40 I lost by completely making over my diet, learning how to workout rather than just half assing an hour of cardio at the gym, increasing my water intake, trying to get enough sleep… all the stuff you’re supposed to do. So thanks to my new lifestyle, I’ve literally climbed two mountains this year. The first was Mt. Lee in LA, home of the Hollywood Sign + the second was Colorado’s Mt. Evans outside of Denver. I’ll write about Mt. Lee another time but today is Mt. Evans’ day.
My mom, sister + I were visiting our Colorado cousins last month. When Brad asked what we wanted to do + on our list was hiking. The day before, we did a flat, hot hike at one of the Jefferson County Open Spaces, basically like a desert meets a forest preserve (we didn’t see much of a forest but I had to ask what the term “Open Space” meant because we don’t have them). That hike was nothing so ascending to a summit of more than 14,000 feet seemed totally doable…
Let me tell you, this hike was doable, but not at all easy! There was an actual trail, but we didn’t take it. We blazed our own trail dodging mud, in mountain streams, over boulders + through snow that was sometimes hip deep. I would know, my leg got stuck. There were so many times I wanted to ask Brad, Peter, Nina, Luke (half of Brad’s kids + my sister (who was struggling just as badly as I was) to go on without me + everyone could pick me up on the way down (mom, Brad’s wife Mickie + three of their kids drove to the observatory at the top). I was sure my lungs were going to explode. I was sure I wouldn’t make it. So many times I had to hype myself up to take another step, to get to the next change in terrain.
To meet the moms, Michael, Luke + Levi, we had to climb back down this 20 foot rock pile. There was nothing greater than coming over the top + seeing Mom as I made my way down. I hugged her, crossed the observatory parking lot + made my way up the last 1,500 feet to the summit.
Standing on the medallion marking the true summit, I legitimately teared up. I’d done it. I’d climbed a mountain. I’d climbed a mountain in the thin Colorado air. I climbed a mountain I wouldn’t have been able to climb eight months ago. I climbed a mountain despite my head telling me I couldn’t. I climbed a mountain even though I got stuck hips deep in snow. I… climbed… a mountain.
I love being active. I love fitness. I want to share my best workouts with you. I have to mix it up, I’ve had enough of hours on the treadmill not seeing enough results. Outside is the best gym ever! Use it! Breathe it! Live it!
xo.
