Sunday Hiking at 5:30 a.m.

I am not a morning person, nights are my specialty.  It’s not that I’m grumpy in the morning or breathe fire at anybody who walks in my direction before I’ve had my first cup of coffee (I’m pretty much happy all the time, sleepy or otherwise), but rather because I legitimately am a night owl and also tango with insomnia every damn night of my life-so, I usually don’t fall asleep until 3 a.m. and waking up at 5:30 a.m. to go hiking today was very hard but worth it.  It has been in the 100-108 degree range this entire last week, and I never woke up early enough to avoid the unbearable heat, a heat that has already killed a few Arizona hikers in the past week or so.  There has been heat advisories everyday (typical) and when you wake up at 11:00 a.m. or later (thank you, summer break!) you end up missing the only coolish/safe/logical time to hike!

Today was my first hike since last Sunday, but for some reason when I woke up my legs were screaming with soreness.  Even the first few steps on the mountain today were brutal, and it was a LONG uphill hike for me today.  But I do not back down from hiking, and I got my ass up that mountain eventually.  Off all the days I can decide whether or not to go hiking, Sunday is non-negotiable.  Hiking on Sunday is like my church.  Sometimes it feels as if hiking is my religion and the mountains are my church.  So, I hike every Sunday, religiously.

Today as I hiked, Maya Thompson and RoBaby were on my mind and heart.  MamaMaya is running (as we speak) in the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon.  She is calling it, “Maya’s Marathon of Madness: If Kids Can Fight Cancer, I Can Run a Marathon Without Training for It!” and she is doing just that!  I am so grateful that I have gotten to meet this incredible woman, but I wish it were not under these circumstances.  Today, she runs for her son Ronan who lost his life to cancer.  She also runs for each and every child that lost their life to cancer as well as the children fighting it right now and the children in remission.  During her “Marathon Training” she helped raise enough money to fund an incredible and cutting-edge Neuroblastoma study led by Dr. Yael Mosse at CHOP.  This study is going to blaze new trails and save these babies’ lives.  The things Maya is doing, well, there are really no words for it.  She has the passion, drive, dedication, and spirit to make real change, and I am absolutely positive she will.  Because Ronan should still be here, but Maya is continuing this fight for him, for all the kids affected by cancer, kids like my own little brother.

Here’s a beautiful picture from my Sunday Hike today.  My legs are completely fried right now, but the burn in my legs and the ache in my muscles reminds me that I am alive.  I am healthy.  I have wonderful family and friends.  My heart continues to beat.  I have the freedom to go hiking, unlike the many children and adults in this world that are confined to a hospital bed because they are sick with a disease that should have a cure by now.  Each day that I wake up, with the ability to walk, talk, breathe, climb, and love-well that is a blessing-and I count my blessings everyday.  Happy Sunday everybody, I hope you all have a fabulous week!