My SECOND VENTURE into the swamp was exciting. I could hardly wait to go in again, this time my friend was running in the swamp, so even though I was doing my walk by myself I felt safer. This gave me confidence to forge on. As I was walking, I was amazed that I had the courage to walk this on my own before. The trail is beautiful but for someone who does not know about wilderness areas and being a lone female it feels unsafe. I kept thinking to myself, “what are you doing?” yet I kept going on. I now remembered a few landmarks, like a picnic bench that leads to the first bridge. I was also getting a sense of the different sections of the trail. There is a sugar sand section, then a section with pine needles on the trail, then a grassy section that leads to a section with water on both sides, where I think of gators and hope that there aren’t any. Then the picnic bench that leads to the first bridge.
I finally get to the first bridge with no incidents. What to do? I want to go on, to push myself to the second bridge, the long bridge. I don’t know how far it is from the first bridge at this point. I go on. If I can make it to the second bridge I know that this would be a good point to aim for in my future walk/runs. The trail winds a little here and it is narrow, there are stumps and bumps that one can trip on, I am very careful. I try to memorize where the bumps are so I remember them for the future. I keep wondering how much further the second bridge is and I think maybe I should turn back but I keep myself focused on the moment putting my fears out of mind. I wish I did not have fears, for it is so amazing to be there but thoughts race throught my mind. Thoughts from everyday life, all the life issues, the fears, the anger, the stresses, the hopes and fears. All of a sudden I am at the second bridge.
The second bridge is awesome. I am awe struck. I just walk slowly to the middle listening to the stillness. The stillness is amazing. It fills my being. It relaxes me, it gives me a sense of being alive. I look up the tall trees to the blue sky, I look out into the swamp. I just stand there in the stillness. I say a prayer of gratitude.
I made it to the second bridge. I have to now go back. I wanted to stand there longer but I knew I had to head back. Going back was easier, I was getting the feel of the different sections. I started running. I focused on the path and was able to concentrate on the moment. Soon I was back at the beginning of the trail. What a moment. I decided that now I would try to run in the swamp as much as possible and would make the second bridge my goal for the time being. This would be a good start for my trail running training. One step at a time.
