This week's distance run was scheduled for Saturday morning, and once again I had plans out on the water, canoeing on the Shenandoah this time. As a result my run was rescheduled for Sunday with my friend/trainer. The mileage dropped back down to 8 this week, and I found myself saying "only 8 miles" as I prepared to get on the trail. Only? What the hell?
We got on the W&OD at mile marker 27.5 at the Carolina Bros. BBQ place in Ashburn, and ran 4 miles east to Sterling and back. Despite the fact that I had stopped drinking wine only 4 hours earlier, and had less than 3 hours of sleep, the run was not miserable. It was, however, pouring down rain for a good portion of the last 4 miles. Fortunately, I had already been educated that we run anyway. I fantasized about crawling back into my nice warm bed for the majority of the way. The best part? Thanks to all the wine (and lack of any water before, during, or after the wine) I did not have to stop to pee once during the 8 miles! Awesome. We were done in about 1 hour, 30 minutes.
This whole process began about two months ago, and for everything I have learned about the science of running, I have learned even more about myself. I think it has something to do with the solitude out on the trail, it is just you and the pavement, even if you are running with a partner. It also has something to do with the nature of progress itself, you set a goal, you meet it, and set the next goal. But there is also something else that I cannot identify, something greater than solitude or progress...perhaps I am in the midst of a shift in paradigm, the movement from can't to can to did, the evolution of will over weakness, the emerging emphasis of life in lifestyle.
What I value, what I want, has also changed. I was divorced nearly 3 years ago, and have dated sporadically, unsuccessfully, since. During these past 3 years I would say that the song, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2 would best describe how I felt about men and the whole dating process. I now believe that I was looking for the wrong thing. Instead of looking for someone to complete me, I should have been looking for someone that would help me to complete myself. Instead of looking for someone to please me, I should have been looking for someone that would push me. Instead of looking for a man that was going to love me, I should have been looking for a man that would run with me. Maybe instead of finding what I was looking for, I have found what I should have been looking for all along.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Double Digits
I did a mediocre job of training this week...
Sunday - 40 minute recovery run - ran up to the lake, ran two laps around, went into the gym to pee, then walked home (probably just under 4 miles total, 3.5 running)
Monday - 4 mile run on the W&OD
Tuesday - Lifting in the Gym - abs and chest - felt fine at the time...seriously sore by Thursday
Wednesday - 5 mile "run" - through Ashburn Village - worst training day yet...the day began with several mimosas and ended with a miserable whiny sloppy attempted run of 5 miles
Thursday - Core Strength Class at the Gym - chastised by the instructor for not selecting heavy enough weights, was late and had to take the spot at the very front of the classroom (next to the instructor and in front of the mirror) - again, felt fine at the time...seriously sore compounded
Friday - 6 mile run on the W&OD - thought I was going to pee on myself by mile 4 and actually almost did by the end
Saturday - Off, yet still quite sore. I had planned to take the kids out fishing on the Chesapeake all day Saturday, the direct consequence of this decision was that I was going to have to do the 10 mile distance run on my own Sunday. I asked my friend/trainer to run it with me. He has not been doing the distance runs with me, I usually go out with the TNT group, so this was a huge favor to ask. I thought he might agree to the last 5 miles, but he surprised me and said he would do the whole run with me. I could not sleep at all Monday night because I was so anxious about how I was going to run 10 miles.
We decided to meet at the Belmont Ridge access point to the W&OD, go 5 miles west and turn around, oh yeah, at 6 in the morning. I showed up a couple of minutes past 6, after forgetting and having to go back for the water (weight) belt and still barefoot. My friend wasn't there yet, odd for the militarily-inclined, so I stretched and waited (and worried). At 6:20 he still wasn't there, I knew I had to start right then or I would not finish in time to get the kids to Sunday School. Annoyed, I set off on our planned route.
At first I thought he was just a few minutes behind and would catch up with me, but a mile in that thought was ridiculous. Then I thought maybe he would meet me at the next access point, then I passed that access point. By the end of the second mile I knew for sure I was about to run 10 f-ing miles on my own...which, to reiterate, really sucks.
I spent the next half mile brainstorming all of the things I was going to say to him, or likely email to him, before indefinitely refusing to speak to him. Things like how inconsiderate it was to just not show up, how just like a man that was, how you can stand a girl up for a date but not a 10 mile run. I was going to remind him of all the recent attacks on the W&OD and tell him how dangerous it was to leave me to run alone at 6 in the morning. I was going to challenge both character and chivalry.
As I was pondering all of my possible reactions, I heard footsteps coming up behind me, and of course assumed it was the attacker coming to get me after sensing an unaccompanied female runner. It was not, it was my friend, who ran over 2 1/2 miles to catch up with me. I would like to point out that if I am running with him and stop to tie my shoe and he keeps going it is absolutely exhausting to make up the 7 missed steps...2 1/2 miles is a long f-ing way.
We ran out the rest of the 5 into historic Leesburg, then turned around. At about 5 1/2 miles we stopped at a gas station so I could, you guessed it, pee. Then we kept going. Strangely enough, this was by far my easiest distance run to date. The last 1/2 mile was really a struggle, but otherwise I think this was my best run so far. I finished in 2 hours and 10 minutes, (his time was probably faster given the first 2 1/2 miles) which is about a 13 minute mile pace, not terrible.
I feel like Dora the Explorer, "I did it, I did it, I did it, yeah!"
Sunday - 40 minute recovery run - ran up to the lake, ran two laps around, went into the gym to pee, then walked home (probably just under 4 miles total, 3.5 running)
Monday - 4 mile run on the W&OD
Tuesday - Lifting in the Gym - abs and chest - felt fine at the time...seriously sore by Thursday
Wednesday - 5 mile "run" - through Ashburn Village - worst training day yet...the day began with several mimosas and ended with a miserable whiny sloppy attempted run of 5 miles
Thursday - Core Strength Class at the Gym - chastised by the instructor for not selecting heavy enough weights, was late and had to take the spot at the very front of the classroom (next to the instructor and in front of the mirror) - again, felt fine at the time...seriously sore compounded
Friday - 6 mile run on the W&OD - thought I was going to pee on myself by mile 4 and actually almost did by the end
Saturday - Off, yet still quite sore. I had planned to take the kids out fishing on the Chesapeake all day Saturday, the direct consequence of this decision was that I was going to have to do the 10 mile distance run on my own Sunday. I asked my friend/trainer to run it with me. He has not been doing the distance runs with me, I usually go out with the TNT group, so this was a huge favor to ask. I thought he might agree to the last 5 miles, but he surprised me and said he would do the whole run with me. I could not sleep at all Monday night because I was so anxious about how I was going to run 10 miles.
We decided to meet at the Belmont Ridge access point to the W&OD, go 5 miles west and turn around, oh yeah, at 6 in the morning. I showed up a couple of minutes past 6, after forgetting and having to go back for the water (weight) belt and still barefoot. My friend wasn't there yet, odd for the militarily-inclined, so I stretched and waited (and worried). At 6:20 he still wasn't there, I knew I had to start right then or I would not finish in time to get the kids to Sunday School. Annoyed, I set off on our planned route.
At first I thought he was just a few minutes behind and would catch up with me, but a mile in that thought was ridiculous. Then I thought maybe he would meet me at the next access point, then I passed that access point. By the end of the second mile I knew for sure I was about to run 10 f-ing miles on my own...which, to reiterate, really sucks.
I spent the next half mile brainstorming all of the things I was going to say to him, or likely email to him, before indefinitely refusing to speak to him. Things like how inconsiderate it was to just not show up, how just like a man that was, how you can stand a girl up for a date but not a 10 mile run. I was going to remind him of all the recent attacks on the W&OD and tell him how dangerous it was to leave me to run alone at 6 in the morning. I was going to challenge both character and chivalry.
As I was pondering all of my possible reactions, I heard footsteps coming up behind me, and of course assumed it was the attacker coming to get me after sensing an unaccompanied female runner. It was not, it was my friend, who ran over 2 1/2 miles to catch up with me. I would like to point out that if I am running with him and stop to tie my shoe and he keeps going it is absolutely exhausting to make up the 7 missed steps...2 1/2 miles is a long f-ing way.
We ran out the rest of the 5 into historic Leesburg, then turned around. At about 5 1/2 miles we stopped at a gas station so I could, you guessed it, pee. Then we kept going. Strangely enough, this was by far my easiest distance run to date. The last 1/2 mile was really a struggle, but otherwise I think this was my best run so far. I finished in 2 hours and 10 minutes, (his time was probably faster given the first 2 1/2 miles) which is about a 13 minute mile pace, not terrible.
I feel like Dora the Explorer, "I did it, I did it, I did it, yeah!"
Saturday, July 11, 2009
You Have A Choice...
First, a recap of this week's training...
Sunday - Recovery Run (3.75 miles)
Monday - Ran the country road loop around my grandparents' house (approximately 4 miles).
Tuesday - Off day as a result of insomnia Monday night.
Wednesday - Ran a lap around the lake near my grandparents' house (approximately 3.3 miles).
Thursday - Core strength class at gym, 55 minutes, then one pathetic lap around my lake (1.25 miles)
Friday - Weight lifting with concentration on abs and arms in the gym
As usual, there were many tactical errors on my part this week. First, I ran less than 8 miles over the course of the week, not including Sunday's recovery run. Second, on Friday I "hydrated" with mimosas instead of water. Not a good call. I was reasonably concerned going into today's 8 mile group run. Concerned enough that I prayed; I prayed that I would finish, then I submitted an addendum prayer that if I couldn't finish please just don't let me die with that ugly water belt on my waist!
I woke up extra early this morning and worked in some stretching, ate a handful of dry cereal, and drank some water. By the time I arrived at the location of our 8-mile group run on the W&OD between Sterling and Ashburn I had actually worked myself into a state of fear. I looked around and I didn't see my mentor, which scared me even more, because without her I was still basically going to be running on my own.
The coaches started with what is called a "Mission Moment." Coach Kim told us about a woman who joined Team in Training a few years back, she was always really quiet, no one really knew why she was there. Then about halfway through the season she shared her story. Her 10-year-old daughter had died of leukemia two months before, a week before her 30th birthday. She raised $20,000 in honor of her daughter, so other parents would not have to experience such a loss. I cannot imagine. She has raised $20,000 every season since, and has to date raised over $300,000. This brief story, this mission moment, helped put what I was about to do back into perspective. How many miles could you run to save your child, to prevent your child, from dying? 8 miles didn't seem so far anymore.
After we did a little warm-up run and stretched, Coach Chip asked how many people were running 8 miles for the first time ever - about 1/3 of the runners there raised their hand, including me. This, too, helped calm my fears, if only slightly. I joined the 11.5 minute mile pace group, and off we went. After 4 minutes I realized that the group I joined was actually a run-walk group, so I was on my own again...which, sucks. The first mile I kept telling myself that "the first mile always sucks." By the second mile I had already started the countdown to the turn-around (half-way) point. Somewhere during mile 3, I fell into step with the 12 minute mile pace group, which included my mentor Caroline, I was so happy to see her!
By mile 5 I really did not know if I had it in me. My legs were tired. My lungs were tight. The f-ing water belt (i.e. weight belt because I was not actually drinking any of the water) was heavy and hot on my waist. I wanted to quit. OK, not quit, but I wanted to stop and walk. But, my breathing was still steady, and Caroline was still going, so I kept running.
At the start of mile 7 I hit the wall. I knew it was still another 2 miles to go. I knew I had already gone further than ever before in my life. I knew there was going to be a huge hill at the end. My breathing was still steady, but had dropped down to a 3 count from my usual 4 count...it always gets faster toward the end, but typically not until the last 1/2 mile. But now it was just Caroline and I, everyone else in the pace group had dropped back some, and Caroline was keeping us at a perfect 12 minute mile pace. I thought that I might actually collapse. Almost puked, twice.
Then I remembered the quote the coaches sent out to us this week, which of all places came from a Gatorade bottle, "You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off your face."
Today I chose to wipe the sweat off my face. I completed the 8 miles. 1 hour, 36 minutes. No quitting, no stopping, no walking.
Sunday - Recovery Run (3.75 miles)
Monday - Ran the country road loop around my grandparents' house (approximately 4 miles).
Tuesday - Off day as a result of insomnia Monday night.
Wednesday - Ran a lap around the lake near my grandparents' house (approximately 3.3 miles).
Thursday - Core strength class at gym, 55 minutes, then one pathetic lap around my lake (1.25 miles)
Friday - Weight lifting with concentration on abs and arms in the gym
As usual, there were many tactical errors on my part this week. First, I ran less than 8 miles over the course of the week, not including Sunday's recovery run. Second, on Friday I "hydrated" with mimosas instead of water. Not a good call. I was reasonably concerned going into today's 8 mile group run. Concerned enough that I prayed; I prayed that I would finish, then I submitted an addendum prayer that if I couldn't finish please just don't let me die with that ugly water belt on my waist!
I woke up extra early this morning and worked in some stretching, ate a handful of dry cereal, and drank some water. By the time I arrived at the location of our 8-mile group run on the W&OD between Sterling and Ashburn I had actually worked myself into a state of fear. I looked around and I didn't see my mentor, which scared me even more, because without her I was still basically going to be running on my own.
The coaches started with what is called a "Mission Moment." Coach Kim told us about a woman who joined Team in Training a few years back, she was always really quiet, no one really knew why she was there. Then about halfway through the season she shared her story. Her 10-year-old daughter had died of leukemia two months before, a week before her 30th birthday. She raised $20,000 in honor of her daughter, so other parents would not have to experience such a loss. I cannot imagine. She has raised $20,000 every season since, and has to date raised over $300,000. This brief story, this mission moment, helped put what I was about to do back into perspective. How many miles could you run to save your child, to prevent your child, from dying? 8 miles didn't seem so far anymore.
After we did a little warm-up run and stretched, Coach Chip asked how many people were running 8 miles for the first time ever - about 1/3 of the runners there raised their hand, including me. This, too, helped calm my fears, if only slightly. I joined the 11.5 minute mile pace group, and off we went. After 4 minutes I realized that the group I joined was actually a run-walk group, so I was on my own again...which, sucks. The first mile I kept telling myself that "the first mile always sucks." By the second mile I had already started the countdown to the turn-around (half-way) point. Somewhere during mile 3, I fell into step with the 12 minute mile pace group, which included my mentor Caroline, I was so happy to see her!
By mile 5 I really did not know if I had it in me. My legs were tired. My lungs were tight. The f-ing water belt (i.e. weight belt because I was not actually drinking any of the water) was heavy and hot on my waist. I wanted to quit. OK, not quit, but I wanted to stop and walk. But, my breathing was still steady, and Caroline was still going, so I kept running.
At the start of mile 7 I hit the wall. I knew it was still another 2 miles to go. I knew I had already gone further than ever before in my life. I knew there was going to be a huge hill at the end. My breathing was still steady, but had dropped down to a 3 count from my usual 4 count...it always gets faster toward the end, but typically not until the last 1/2 mile. But now it was just Caroline and I, everyone else in the pace group had dropped back some, and Caroline was keeping us at a perfect 12 minute mile pace. I thought that I might actually collapse. Almost puked, twice.
Then I remembered the quote the coaches sent out to us this week, which of all places came from a Gatorade bottle, "You have a choice. You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off your face."
Today I chose to wipe the sweat off my face. I completed the 8 miles. 1 hour, 36 minutes. No quitting, no stopping, no walking.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Sleepless in Pennsylvania
My schedule for this week is as follows:
Sunday - 40-minute recovery run
Monday - 40-minute run
Tuesday - off
Wednesday - 40-minute run
Thursday - Core-strength class at gym
Friday- off
Saturday- 8-mile group run
After my six mile run on Saturday, I had a 40-minute recovery run scheduled for Sunday. Since this was also on my own I decided to run 3 laps around the lake (3.75 miles), which took more like 50-minutes. My IPod battery died at the end of the first lap, so I ran the next 2.5 miles carrying an IPod that I couldn't even listen to.
Monday I drove up to Pennsylvania with the kids to visit my grandparents, and after 5 hours in the car (which, by the way is less time than it will take me to complete the marathon) I really didn't feel like going to run when we got here. They live deep in the open country of the northeastern corner of the state - marked by a beautiful landscape, kind people, and economic hardship. Despite the fact that I was still tired from the drive, I knew I needed to run, and they suggested a 4-mile loop around their house. I changed clothes, let them give me landmark-based directions, and set off.
What they did not tell me was that it is uphill the whole way. I am certainly not an engineer, mathematician, or generally bright with these sorts of things, but I did not realize that it was even possible for an f-ing circle to be uphill the entire way around. It was. OK, maybe there were two very brief declines, but seriously...this was not a day that was scheduled for hills. It took me over an hour. Oh, and I had not drank any water all day.
Monday night I was plagued with insomnia, something that has only happened to me once before, but is infinitely painful and frustrating, so Tuesday was determined (by me) to be an off day. I hope to sleep tonight as I am planning a 5 mile run around a huge lake tomorrow!
Mostly though I am just looking forward to getting back into my regular routine with my running partner - it makes everything less painful, more entertaining, I am more motivated, the time goes by more quickly and the running feels more effortless. Running alone sucks.
Sunday - 40-minute recovery run
Monday - 40-minute run
Tuesday - off
Wednesday - 40-minute run
Thursday - Core-strength class at gym
Friday- off
Saturday- 8-mile group run
After my six mile run on Saturday, I had a 40-minute recovery run scheduled for Sunday. Since this was also on my own I decided to run 3 laps around the lake (3.75 miles), which took more like 50-minutes. My IPod battery died at the end of the first lap, so I ran the next 2.5 miles carrying an IPod that I couldn't even listen to.
Monday I drove up to Pennsylvania with the kids to visit my grandparents, and after 5 hours in the car (which, by the way is less time than it will take me to complete the marathon) I really didn't feel like going to run when we got here. They live deep in the open country of the northeastern corner of the state - marked by a beautiful landscape, kind people, and economic hardship. Despite the fact that I was still tired from the drive, I knew I needed to run, and they suggested a 4-mile loop around their house. I changed clothes, let them give me landmark-based directions, and set off.
What they did not tell me was that it is uphill the whole way. I am certainly not an engineer, mathematician, or generally bright with these sorts of things, but I did not realize that it was even possible for an f-ing circle to be uphill the entire way around. It was. OK, maybe there were two very brief declines, but seriously...this was not a day that was scheduled for hills. It took me over an hour. Oh, and I had not drank any water all day.
Monday night I was plagued with insomnia, something that has only happened to me once before, but is infinitely painful and frustrating, so Tuesday was determined (by me) to be an off day. I hope to sleep tonight as I am planning a 5 mile run around a huge lake tomorrow!
Mostly though I am just looking forward to getting back into my regular routine with my running partner - it makes everything less painful, more entertaining, I am more motivated, the time goes by more quickly and the running feels more effortless. Running alone sucks.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Five Guys and Six Miles
So, this was the plan for yesterday...run two laps around the lake (2.5 miles) then get in the gym and work on abs and arms. Yeah, um, I went to Five Guys instead. For anyone not from the DC metro area, Five Guys is the the best hamburger place in town. After consuming what probably amounted to over a pound of food I did walk around the lake once, but there was no running, and no lifting...oh well, I guess that is what "off" days are for...no, probably not.
Because today is the Fourth of July, I was left to complete the weekly distance run, 6 miles, on my own. When I awoke at 7:00 this morning I was reasonably daunted by the task at hand - I was going to be running alone because of the holiday, it was going to be the furthest I had run to date, and I had fueled my body with a greasy yet yummy cheeseburger the night before. I hastily chugged a bottle of water for hydration on drive to the trail.
I got on the W&OD in Ashburn by the Carolina Brothers BBQ place at mile marker 27.5 and planned to run out 3 miles to mile marker 30.5, then turn around and come back. At the first mile marker, so 1/2 mile out, I realized that in my anxiety about the run I had forgotten to go pee. And I drank a bottle of water on the way there. Awesome.
The first two miles were rough - it seemed like I could not get into a good pace, my knee was making some sort of clicking noise, I thought something was stuck to the bottom of my shoe, aaaand I still had to pee. Then something happened. (no, I didn't pee) My breathing, my pace, my arm swing - it's like it all aligned. It became so much easier, I was actually enjoying the sounds of the morning, and perhaps for the first time was not solely focused on the degree of pain associated with each step.
Until about mile 4, at which point I realized that I really, really had to pee. I do not use public restrooms, I certainly do not use porta-potties, I do not go in the woods. I thought about all of the above. Then I snapped back to reality and decided that I would rather pee in my pants. This made for a long final 2 miles. I did make it though. On my own. No walking.
When I got back to my car I looked at my stop watch (i.e. cell phone) and apparently it took 1 hour and 20 minutes to run the 6 miles. No wonder I was not in pain, I was running a 13 minute mile.
What I Learned: 1. Do not eat Five Guys the night before you run. 2. Do go pee before you run.
Because today is the Fourth of July, I was left to complete the weekly distance run, 6 miles, on my own. When I awoke at 7:00 this morning I was reasonably daunted by the task at hand - I was going to be running alone because of the holiday, it was going to be the furthest I had run to date, and I had fueled my body with a greasy yet yummy cheeseburger the night before. I hastily chugged a bottle of water for hydration on drive to the trail.
I got on the W&OD in Ashburn by the Carolina Brothers BBQ place at mile marker 27.5 and planned to run out 3 miles to mile marker 30.5, then turn around and come back. At the first mile marker, so 1/2 mile out, I realized that in my anxiety about the run I had forgotten to go pee. And I drank a bottle of water on the way there. Awesome.
The first two miles were rough - it seemed like I could not get into a good pace, my knee was making some sort of clicking noise, I thought something was stuck to the bottom of my shoe, aaaand I still had to pee. Then something happened. (no, I didn't pee) My breathing, my pace, my arm swing - it's like it all aligned. It became so much easier, I was actually enjoying the sounds of the morning, and perhaps for the first time was not solely focused on the degree of pain associated with each step.
Until about mile 4, at which point I realized that I really, really had to pee. I do not use public restrooms, I certainly do not use porta-potties, I do not go in the woods. I thought about all of the above. Then I snapped back to reality and decided that I would rather pee in my pants. This made for a long final 2 miles. I did make it though. On my own. No walking.
When I got back to my car I looked at my stop watch (i.e. cell phone) and apparently it took 1 hour and 20 minutes to run the 6 miles. No wonder I was not in pain, I was running a 13 minute mile.
What I Learned: 1. Do not eat Five Guys the night before you run. 2. Do go pee before you run.
Friday, July 3, 2009
"Free Falling" Dance Mix
I ran around the lake once before my core-strength training class at the gym last night, which actually felt quite good after running those stupid hills the day before. I completed the 1.25 mile lap in 10 minutes which is at a much quicker pace than usual (albeit not "quick.")
Class consisted mostly of various balls and those damn glide discs this week, and after a short 55-minute workout I am now aware of muscles in my ass and inner thighs that I had no idea existed. All the while I had the pleasure of listening to some modern dance-mix CD that remade U2 and Tom Petty songs - so in retrospect I guess the glide discs were not the most painful part of the class after all.
Today is technically supposed to be an off day, but I plan on going to the gym to work on arms and abs. I am already trying to mentally prepare for the 6 miles I have to run tomorrow, which will quite possibly be the farthest single run of my life to date. I am also going to try to incorporate carrying water with me for the first time with this run, of course this is in addition to the 20 pounds of fat between my belly-button and knees that I am already lugging around with me.
Class consisted mostly of various balls and those damn glide discs this week, and after a short 55-minute workout I am now aware of muscles in my ass and inner thighs that I had no idea existed. All the while I had the pleasure of listening to some modern dance-mix CD that remade U2 and Tom Petty songs - so in retrospect I guess the glide discs were not the most painful part of the class after all.
Today is technically supposed to be an off day, but I plan on going to the gym to work on arms and abs. I am already trying to mentally prepare for the 6 miles I have to run tomorrow, which will quite possibly be the farthest single run of my life to date. I am also going to try to incorporate carrying water with me for the first time with this run, of course this is in addition to the 20 pounds of fat between my belly-button and knees that I am already lugging around with me.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Hills
Throughout the day today I recall thinking to myself, "oooh, today is the easy day, yessss." I thought this because the plan was to run hill repeats for 40 minutes. Easy enough right? Short bursts of hard running, breaks in between. I was looking forward to a change in the normal routine of miles of continuous running. That was a mistake.
It all started off easily enough, a 10-minute leisurely walk to what I will forever remember as "the hill." It looks petite and really quite non-intimidating as you drive by, it sits just behind a goal, nestled between a soccer field and two rows of townhouses. Who would have guessed it to be the actual inner circle of hell?
Before we began the plan was to run 25 - all the way to the top and back down the other side counted as one. After 6 I begged and breathlessly pleaded to reduce the number to 20, which the devil disguised as my "friend" and "trainer" graciously agreed to. I thought I was going to puke the entire time, and for the next 20 minutes after. I had to stop after every 2 to catch my breath and prevent cardiac arrest. I don't really like to touch grass, and I laid in it, twice. Well, kind of, the second time it was more of a collapse.
Oh, and, the worst part is that it is a realistic possibility that my right leg will need to be amputated from the knee down due to the fact that apparently those were the only muscles I used during this entire demonic routine.
It all started off easily enough, a 10-minute leisurely walk to what I will forever remember as "the hill." It looks petite and really quite non-intimidating as you drive by, it sits just behind a goal, nestled between a soccer field and two rows of townhouses. Who would have guessed it to be the actual inner circle of hell?
Before we began the plan was to run 25 - all the way to the top and back down the other side counted as one. After 6 I begged and breathlessly pleaded to reduce the number to 20, which the devil disguised as my "friend" and "trainer" graciously agreed to. I thought I was going to puke the entire time, and for the next 20 minutes after. I had to stop after every 2 to catch my breath and prevent cardiac arrest. I don't really like to touch grass, and I laid in it, twice. Well, kind of, the second time it was more of a collapse.
Oh, and, the worst part is that it is a realistic possibility that my right leg will need to be amputated from the knee down due to the fact that apparently those were the only muscles I used during this entire demonic routine.
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