Disturbingly Fun!

Remember a couple of days ago I was mumbling (okay, whining) about a sore throat et al.? Well, fast forward to this morning and what can only be described as a sinus infection in the making! Dammitjim! I’m not willing to claim defeat yet… I had LOTS of sinus issues last year, but there were a few times where I suspected one on the attack but it never transpired. I’m quite certain that will be the case with this one! Just certain!

So, while I’m at work, trying to ignore the burning pain, the sinus pressure, and the mid-afternoon exhaustion, I’m really, REALLY wishing I hadn’t said “hey, let’s go run hills tonight… no I promise I won’t cancel for anything…” What was I thinking? Ugh!

I met up with my friend for a slow warm up jog and I’m huffing and puffing almost immediately… oh my, this isn’t gonna be good! We get to the base of the first hill and it doesn’t look so bad. Our first lap up the hill is as slow as you can go. Now I’ve been warned that the slowest lap is the hardest, but I’m a slow person so I really didn’t buy into the hype. Well… about 3/4ths up the hill my legs were BURNING. I made mention of this to my friend and she says “YEP”… gee, thanks for that! We made our way down the hill and did it again, this time at a nice comfortable pace (if such a thing exists when one is running UP a hill). For the third lap we take the hill just a bit faster. As I’m running up and down this hill in front of people’s houses (some of which were out in their yards and undeniably aware of our presence) I wonder how crazy they think I am? Then I laugh to myself that they probably think my friend is even crazier, because she comes back every week and does the same routine. Wait… now she has a following of crazy people running in circles in front of strangers houses. Yep, I decided they’d find her to be the crazier of the two of us. Yes, I’m proud that I can form actual thoughts while huffing and puffing up and down this damn hill. My friend on the other hand – chatting up a storm as if this is nothing! Don’t dare ask me to answer any questions right now… I would have to give up breathing to talk… and quite frankly CPR is not on my agenda today!

Then there is hill #2. It’s a slightly longer hill but not so steep. Same routine… 3 laps, slow, medium, medium-fast. Huff and puff and puff and huff! This. Is. Not. Easy. There was a time or two that I slowed to a walk but only for 2 or 3 steps and then I pushed thru. Dang! Not easy! BTW - Dang was NOT the word that fell from my lips, but we’ll go with it for now ;) Bring on hill #3… at first glance I was ready to run the opposite direction. This one was steeper than the first. Ugh! Up I go, feeling the burn… Up I go, wanting to quit 3/4ths of the way in… Up I go, cursing, slowing, but being encouraged and coached to keep moving. DONE! Three laps on three hills. Yay! Wait. Remember the warm up jog… yep, still some pavement to pound to get back to my car. Dang! Final verdict on my first set of hills… it wasn’t easy, but it didn’t suck, in fact it was kinda fun! Many, many thanks to my friend for keeping me company, cheering me on, and being there for yet another milestone!

Checking in… Fast food – doing great! Actually sounds awful, with the exception of just one place. So far so good! Eh hem, I do have to admit that I’ve not done quite as good as I had hoped on choosing healthier foods at home. A work in progress though! I did stop to check out a website suggested by a friend - www.ourbestbites.com – there are some YUMMY recipes there I can’t wait to try! …2 lb a week challenge – see previous note about not-so-healthy foods :( Still maintaining, no gain or loss… Making all my training runs – well, I missed two last week, but had a 5k walk on Saturday, soooo at least I got something in. Just lost track of time more than anything else. Will keep working on this one too!

The TSC Alliance has a slogan this year that I just love! It absolutely fits their mission, but I think it could be applied in so many ways in life… “We will give everything. But up.” This should be how everyone approaches their own life! I love it! I will use it to motivate me… tomorrow! Good night moon :)