Miles for Education, A Lifetime of Lessons

 

They said it was a half marathon.

Just 21 kilometers. Just.

I signed up like a confident trail queen, barely out of a month-long slump that had me running nothing but thought loops and reruns of “Do I still got this?”

The last time I ran 21 kilometers? Pre-COVID. You know, another lifetime ago. A whole pandemic, career change, and mental evolution had happened since then. So why now?

Because the tagline whispered to me: “Miles for Education.”
I whispered back: “Let’s make it personal.”

🌪️ The First Five: Motivation on Steroids

I hit the ground flying—well, jogging with flair. The first 5K was pure TED Talk energy. I was sprinting on every motivational podcast I’d ever absorbed. Mel Robbins was in my ear. David Goggins was in my veins. Oprah was narrating my life.

Then came kilometer 7.

🧠 Kilometer 7 to 15: Autopilot & Existential Crises

This is where the race turned into therapy. Kilometer 7 didn’t just hit me—it threw a philosophical brick to my face.

  • Should I turn back? Who would know?

  • Wouldn’t yoga at the Two River's, Sweat Hot Yoga Studio be more aligned with my wellness brand?

  • Maybe I was meant to be a hiker, not a runner…

  • Is it just me, or do Rwandans wake up way too early? 🤔 

  • How on earth do Liberia and Ethiopia function without colonial user manuals? No step-by-step guide, no “How to Be a Country, Empire Edition” — just vibes, boldness, and a lot of winging it like pros?

Somewhere between the hydration stations and my mental detours, I entered autopilot. Body moving. Mind wandering. Spirit… undecided.

🤕-+Kilometer 19: Backpain & A Stranger’s Hand

And then came kilometer 19—my breaking point.

Back pain like I had smuggled a mattress on my spine. Feet dragging. Ego bruised. I was seconds from surrendering to the sidewalk when a stranger caught up with me and said:

“If you even think of  stopping, I’ll fake a cramp so we both crawl to the finish line in shame. You have paced this madness  through and through —we cross the finish line together”

Wait… what?

Did the universe just send me a sweaty guardian angel?

He reached out, and I took his hand—literally and metaphorically—and we pushed through.

🏁 Crossing the Line: More Than a Finish

The last two kilometers were a blur of pain, pride, and primal will. I finished. I actually finished. The same legs that doubted, danced across the finish line with a tear down my eyes💧 

And then, as I was driving to pick up some books from a friend of the mountain (because self-care doesn’t rest), I saw cyclists helping each other uphill—one hand pushing another up the slope.

Poetry. Nature’s post-race message.

🧭 Bold Tracks & Bag Packs Takeaway

So what’s the trail tale here?

🌱 Life isn’t linear. You can spiral down for weeks and bounce back in two sweaty hours.
👣 Every trail teaches. Not every step feels strong, but every step counts.
🫱🏽‍🫲🏽 Extend a hand. Accept one. Whether on a trail or in life, support is sacred.
💥 Run your own wild. Hiking, yoga, gym, or marathons—your wellness path is yours to choose.

📣 Calling All Weekend Wanderers…

The wellness community needs more wild hearts. We keep showing up at every dusty race, every forgotten trail, every remote summit. Come join us. You don’t have to be fast, fit, or fierce. You just have to show up.

Because Mind Over Body is more than a mantra—
It’s a revolution.

See you on the trails. The hiker is back. And this time, she’s bringing gratitude, grit, and a whole lot of exaggerated stories.

#BoldTracksAndBackpacks
#MindOverBody
#MilesForEducation
#TrailTales

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