There are days when the urge to run is hard to find. Today was one of those days. With the impending Hurricane Lee, my mind was filled with storm preparations and potential impacts in the day leading up to its arrival. With the storm at hand, the mental fatigue was real, and running was the last thing on my mind. However, the lack of rain and the thought of a day spent idle nudged me to put on my running shoes.

The rains came later and our neighbor lost a tree that came down on their power line, but we never lost power during the storm.

The wind was strong, blowing steadily in the 20-30 mph range with gusts reaching the high 40s. I decided to avoid my usual route in front of the house and opted for the Tiffany Bump, a route that offered some protection from the wind. The driveway was littered with branches, a testament to the wind’s strength.

The run started with a gust that made it feel like I was running in place. As I descended the hill, a couple more gusts hit, one of which brought down a decent-sized branch that narrowly missed me. Between the mental fatigue, wind, and the constant worry of falling branches, this run was far from enjoyable.

I managed to reach the turn-around point at the Bump and made it back up to Wade’s mailbox on Steven’s Hill (just over halfway up). However, after that I had to walk a couple of times to keep my heart rate in a reasonable range. Initially, I had planned to run 3.0 miles, but as I reached our mailbox, I decided to call it a day. The risk of falling branches was too high, and safety was more important than getting in another mile.

This run was a mixed bag. On one hand, I was glad I ran. On the other, the joy of running was overshadowed by the worry of falling branches and the relentless wind. To add to it, my stride felt off, an anomaly I couldn’t quite put my finger on. It was one of those runs that reminded me that not every run is a joyous romp through the countryside. Some are battles against the elements, mental fatigue, and even our own bodies. But in the end, each run, no matter how challenging, is a step forward.