The Land of Oz

I got to thinking about the land of Oz on my run yesterday.

There I was, eight miles deep into a new-to-me trail in the Colorado wilderness, and the gorgeous greens of the forest floor catapulted me straight into Emerald City.

I started thinking about adventures, and the main characters who stepped courageously into stunning, unfamiliar worlds.

How Dorothy suddenly found herself in a strange new land with a quest unfolding before her. Then came thoughts of Narnia, and the Wonderland down the rabbit hole. I took an elevator in my mind to Wonka’s candy-coated realm and the coveted Golden Ticket that granted entry.

Fabulous, wild, incredible worlds, full of texture, intriguing characters, lessons, and mystery.

But also treacherous ones, with mystical challenges lying ahead for each story’s hero.

There’s a kind of momentum in these tales that compels the character forward. It removes the option of hesitation. Dorothy was dropped into Munchkin Land. Charlie was swept up in the thrill of winning his way into Wonka’s factory. Alice fell headfirst into the rabbit hole. Lucy’s curiosity pulled her through the wardrobe into a surreal, snowy land.

Each one receives a bounty of reward at their journey’s end, but not without heartache, difficulty, a build in self-awareness, disappointment, and real danger.

Am I an Alice? A Lucy? A Charlie, a Dorothy? Are you?

As I charged up and down the terrain of Rich Creek on my run, I realized these characters were truly thrust into adventure, naively, blindly, without any guarantee of what they'd face. And yet, they said “yes.” Through action, through heart, through their relentless forward motion. Even when doubt crept in. Even when all they wanted was to go home and feel safe again.

I want to channel that spirit as I continue on my path toward the Leadville 100 this summer. I want to be wide-eyed and welcoming toward whomever I might meet, whatever challenges I face, and whatever lessons I’m meant to learn along the way.

Jumping over a muddy creek and finding my footing on a rocky path, I silently hoped that I would continue to say yes to the ever-unfolding adventure in front of me.

Even if it means falling down a rabbit hole, or getting swept up by a tornado, only to find myself in a strange, new land.

I hope I look around, orient myself to the new world, and discover that I am the hero I was searching for.

And so can you.