“40 miles? Around a mountain? That’s crazy!” has been the immediate response from anyone I have shared my plans with. I agree; it feels crazy. At this point in my training I am grateful that I really did not have an understanding for what I was getting myself into. I have never trained for anything, so naturally the first thing I decided would be a good thing to train for is running around a mountain. With the added pressure of trying to garner monthly donors as I do so.
The only reason I am still doing this is because I am committed; to these women and this program. That also feels crazy. Never in my early life, and even in my somewhat naive dreams as a new nurse, did I think one day I would be helping run a program in Ghana. And yet, here I am- committed to 40 miles, committed to communities with whom my only connection is the women I see once a year.
A few years ago when I was living in Philadelphia and going to grad school, Mt. Hood became one of the things I missed most. I decided almost two years ago on my last trip to Ghana, and when I was going to be moving back to Portland, that dedicating myself to running Mt. Hood would be an amazing way to simultaneously show gratitude for being back and continued dedication to the women we work with. Now, the fact that I am actually doing this, is surprising even to me! I have a tendency to shirk from commitment if it inhibits the other things I want to do, or places I want to go, or just when things are challenging. I have never before been so bluntly faced with those aspects of who I am than through this process.
I have one month until my running commitment ends, but so look forward to a lifetime of going to Ghana; learning, continuing to being challenged, and working with those communities and women.
