It was between HS19 and HS20 when we rode into our second big lightning storm of the Derby. Heidi, Gabrielle and I were trying to outrun it but the thunder cracks were quickly directly overhead. The strikes were so close the intense grumbling of thunder shook us as we galloped underneath it. It started to rain then hail and it just seemed to get wilder with every stride. We had our buffs pulled up and could hardly open our eyes because of the hail.

I could see flashes of lightning behind my eyelids and could feel Heidi and Gabbi at my sides, all of us sitting as deep in our saddles to stay out of our galloping horses way, encouraging them to run as fast as they’d take us. We flew through the storm-so real, so pure, so exposed, so alive! The storm had us in its grips and all we could do was be a part of it. This is what it’s like to be alive! This is the chaos that reminds us about the thrill of life.

I loved every moment.