Because of the pandemic, yesterday was the first day in two months that I could leave my home without an official document explaining why I left my home. Yesterday was also the first day in two months where I could go further than 1km from my home to run or exercise. And of course, yesterday, we expected rain.

Is this article difficult to understand? Go to the adapted version!

I left for my run much earlier than I usually do, around 9:30 am. I had one objective, to run/walk up the mountain until 11 am when it was expected to rain. I didn’t know how hard it would rain, or exactly when it would arrive, but I figured that if I made it back around 11, I shouldn’t get too wet or miserable.

My backpack was filled with water, a baseball cap, sleeves, lightweight gloves, a buff, and a whistle. I was carrying more gear than I had in months. Technically, it wasn’t that heavy, but when you’re used to just carrying your phone, it does make a difference!

Getting started running is always a challenge for me. I know that if I can survive the first thirty minutes, I can easily go an hour longer. Luckily with the cooler weather, I didn’t have to worry about losing energy because of the heat. I felt pretty good. It was a great day to go on an adventure!

My first stop was Fort du Replaton. It was originally used to defend the Frejus tunnel, which links France and Italy. Normally at this point, it would be time for me to turn around. I could maybe go up a few switchbacks towards the next fort, Fort du Sapey, but I couldn’t go up very far. I needed to make it home before my hour was up.

After reaching the first fort, it was time to head further up the mountain. I didn’t have enough time to go all the way up to the second fort before the rain came. Since I could stay out longer than one hour, I wanted to take this opportunity to go up as far as I could before I needed to turn around.

Moving up through the switchbacks, I wondered how far I’d run. My legs felt light and I felt like I could run for hours. As I rounded the next turn, however, I stopped dead in my tracks. I was face to face with a cow. Actually, I was face to face with two cows with really big, pointy horns. It was kind of scary!

The path was narrow, and to be honest, I’m not sure how they got so far away from the rest of the herd. Maybe they were social distancing? All I know is that I was not able to go around them. Unfortunately, I had to turn around.

Disappointed, I ran back down to the first fort. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go because most of the other trails in the area were pretty steep. I decided to take the trail that leads up to the fort from the other direction. It has a gentle slope. I knew I could make it down and back over to the other side before it rained.

With very little excitement, I made it down to the beginning of the trail on the far side, turned around, and started running back up to the fort. At least I was getting more elevation gain in, so that was good. I wouldn’t feel so guilty eating my creamy risotto for lunch!

As I was running, I was looking down at the ground. Technically, I should wear glasses when I drive, but for running, I don’t wear them. This can be a problem because there are vipers in my region. When I run, I see at least one!

Actually, when I say that I see one, I’m usually about to step on it because I see it at the last minute. As a result, there is a lot of jumping, screaming, and funny arm movements as I try to get out of the way of the snake. I’m sure for anyone watching, it would be hilarious.

Today, it was cold and cloudy, so there was no chance that I’d see a snake, but as always, I was looking down. I didn’t see a snake, but I did see an enormous snail crossing the trail. Of course, I had to stop and take a photo!

As I reached the fort, it started spitting. Luckily, it wasn’t very cold and there wasn’t a lot of wind.  By the time I got home, it was starting to rain. I made it just in time. 

I was hoping to have an adventure today, and Mother Nature definitely didn’t disappoint me. It was not the adventure I was expecting, but a close encounter with a couple of cows and snail is still pretty fun. I can’t complain!

No matter where you live, I hope you are safe and that you, too, can soon have eased restrictions for going outside and enjoying the mountains. If this Coronavirus has taught us anything, it has taught us that life is precious.

Happy trails!

Adapted Version

Freedom At Last (Finally, Our Independence)! Back in (Returning to) the Mountains After Two Long Months

In parenthesis () there are explanations of words and phrases. These explanations are in italics.

Because of the pandemic, yesterday was the first day in two months that I could leave my home without an official document explaining why I left (departed from) my home. Yesterday was also the first day in two months where I could go further (more) than 1km from my home to run or exercise. And of course, yesterday, we expected (knew it was going to) rain.

I left for my run much (a lot) earlier than I usually do, around 9:30 am. I had one objective- run/walk up the mountain until 11 am when it was expected to rain. I didn’t know how hard it would rain, or exactly when it would arrive, but I figured (thought) that if I made it back (returned home) around 11, I shouldn’t get too wet (opposite of dry) or miserable.

My backpack was filled with (full of) water, a baseball cap, sleeves (something to put on your arms for warmth), lightweight gloves, a buff (something to warm your neck), and a whistle (an object that makes noise). I was carrying more gear (equipment) than I had in months. Technically, it wasn’t that heavy (opposite of light/does not weigh a lot), but when you’re used to (something you do most of the time) just carrying your phone, it does make a difference (it does feel heavy)!

Getting started (starting) running is always a challenge (difficult) for me. I know that if I can survive the first thirty minutes, I can easily go (continue) an hour longer (more). Luckily with the cooler weather, I didn’t have to worry about (be stressed about) losing energy because of the heat. I felt pretty good. It was a great day to go on an adventure!

My first stop was Fort du Replaton. It was originally used to defend the Frejus tunnel, which links (connects) France and Italy. Normally at this point (place), it would be time (the moment) for me to turn around (go home). I could maybe go up a few switchbacks (turns to go up steep terrain) towards (in the direction of) the next fort, Fort du Sapey, but I couldn’t go up very far (a long distance). I needed to make it home (return home) before my hour was up (ended).

After reaching (arriving at) the first fort, it was time to head (go) further up (higher up) the mountain. I didn’t have enough (sufficient) time to go all the way up to the second fort before the rain came. Since I could stay out (outside running) longer than (more than) one hour, I wanted to take this opportunity (use this time) to go up as far as I could before I needed to turn around.

Moving up through (in) the switchbacks, I wondered how far I’d run. My legs felt light (opposite of heavy) and I felt like I could run for hours. As I rounded (finished) the next turn, however, I stopped dead in my tracks (stopped quickly). I was face to face with a cow (a big farm animal that eats grass). Actually, I was face to face with two cows with really big, pointy horns. It was kind of scary!

The path was narrow (opposite of wide), and to be honest (to tell the truth), I’m not sure (I don’t know) how they got so far away (distant) from the rest of the herd (group of cows). Maybe they were social distancing? All I know is that I was not able (capable) to go around them. Unfortunately (sadly), I had to (it was necessary to) turn around.

Disappointed (frustrated), I ran back down (down again) to the first fort. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go because most of the other trails in the area were pretty steep (opposite of flat). I decided to take the trail that leads (continues) up to the fort from the other direction. It has a gentle (small) slope. I knew I could make it down (go down again) and back over (return againI) to the other side before it rained.

With very little excitement, I made it down to the beginning of the trail on the far side, turned around, and started running back up to the fort. At least I was getting more elevation gain (going up in elevation) in (included in my run), so that was good. I wouldn’t feel so guilty (bad/wrong) eating my creamy risotto for lunch!

As I was running, I was looking down at the ground (ground/earth). Technically, I should wear (use) glasses when I drive, but for running, I don’t wear them. This can be a problem because there are vipers (type of snake) in my region. When I run, I see at least (minimum) one!

Actually, when I say that I see one, I’m usually about to (almost going to) step on it (place my foot on it) because I see it at the last minute (just before my foot goes down). As a result, there is a lot of jumping, screaming (talking with a loud voice), and funny (bizarre)  arm movements as I try to get out of the way of (move away from) the snake. I’m sure for anyone watching, it would be hilarious (very funny).

Today, it was cold and cloudy, so there was no chance (possibility) that I’d see a snake, but as always, I was looking down. I didn’t see a snake, but I did see an enormous (very big) snail (mollusk) crossing (traversing) the trail. Of course, I had to stop and take a photo!

As I reached (arrived at) the fort, it started spitting (very small drops of rain). Luckily, it wasn’t very cold and there wasn’t a lot of wind (moving air).  By the time (when) I got home (returned home), it was starting to rain. I made it (returned home) just in time (at the right time). 

I was hoping to (wanted to) have an adventure today, and Mother Nature definitely didn’t disappoint me. It was not the adventure I was expecting, but a close encounter (to meet something at a very short distance from you) with a couple of (two) cows and snail (mollusk) is still pretty (a lot of) fun. I can’t complain (say something negative)!

No matter (despite) where you live, I hope you are safe (not in danger and healthy) and that you, too (also), can have eased (less strict) restrictions for going outside and enjoying the mountains. If this Coronavirus has taught us anything, it has taught us that life is precious.

Happy trails! (Be well!)