An Uphill Climb

We ran and in some ways are still are running with heavy hearts on the news of CBU's tragic accident and the traumatic injuries to one of our beloved alums, Rebecca Trupp. While the prognosis as of this writing is hopeful, she still has a long way to go and will be working hard to recover in the coming weeks and months.

The news hit us hard Tuesday morning and we were somewhat numb as to what to do. After some time of talking and crying we decided to go ahead and do the planned run up Deadman's Pass. Some said, "It would be a tribute to Rebecca."

Knowing some would struggle with the emotions and carry the weight of sadness and fear, we made our way up the hill in whatever fashion we could muster. Some ran, some walk, some did a little of both. Some cried.

As I struggled up the mighty grade, I thought of Rebecca and how she was such a fighter, especially on hills. During her years running with us, she was just so tough on hills, she was such a fighter. As my heart rate redlined and my quads ached, I thought of her. I thought of how I never once witnessed her giving up. I kept going. So too did her former teammates and those few among us who never had the opportunity to know her and be inspired by her.

Our usual celebratory spirit at the summit was naturally muted. We enjoyed the view. The brisk wind whipped at our dampened bodies. We waited for the last to arrive, took photos and headed back down.

I couldn't help but think of the parallels this run had to what perhaps Rebecca is now going through. She's on an uphill climb of recovery. There will be pain. Patience and endurance will be critically important.

Along the way, she'll need our cheers, our support, good words well timed. Just as we urged each other on to the top of Deadman's Pass Tuesday morning. Those words of encouragement ... "You can do it, keep going" will be what will sustain Rebecca in the coming weeks.

Some wonder why we annually choose to tackle such a tough run. You could say it's because it's hard. But really its because of what awaits us at the top. The view is simply spectacular, and given the toll such vistas require, they are all the sweeter.

I can only imagine that such views await Rebecca when the healing process is complete. I hope so. Until then, she will trudge onward, one step at a time, progress made.

You and I must cheer her on. We must not fail.