May
21
This week I got the proverbial “Bean in my bonnet” and decided to have a go at the Doc’s long standing squad record on the track. I am not one who is very verbal about the goals that I set myself, mainly because I keep them for my inner competitor. Strangely, it is often the crazy little challenges, said in passing, or decided on the spur of the moment that appeal to me the most. Take for instance, the race to the only open check out at the supermarket, or spotting the last parking space in a lot – every situation has a potential competition attached to it….
Yesterday, I don’t know what it is that inspired me, but I thought, ‘It’s time to give the record a try…’ So, on a less than magnificent day (it was was windy and a chilly 17 degrees), I headed out to the deserted track. I prepared well for the assault – 3 bottles of Gummi Bear juice, some gels in case of a potential bonk, some dry clothes for the victory ceremony after and a chocolate as a reward…
I did a quick 3 lap warm up (didn’t want to tire myself out too much before…) and then with the sounds of “Chariots of Fire” in my head, I began running. The time goal was reasonable – in fact, I thought ‘How hard can that be? When I was in high school I could run that in….” It was more the quantity that seemed to be the challenge – one hundred and five, ok, one hundred and six if I was to become the new record holder. By my own admissions, I am rather mathematically challenged, and without Wongstar to ask for calculations, I had to do the theoretical sums as to how long this was going to take me. The whole morning it seemed…
So with no audience, apart from two stadium grounds keepers basking in the Winter sun, looking at the grass grow, it was just me. Despite the very dry thin air, I hardly noticed the first ten intervals, the times were good – 3 seconds slower than what the Doc said, but I figured there could be an adjustment for the altitude – at 1650m above sea level one does suck for air a bit! When I do things like this (ok, I have never done THIS before!), I like to make things tough. I don’t use Ipod, I want to see if my brain can handle the task and the monotony. I reward myself with Gummi juice only when I have completed a certain number of intervals, and I try and break the task into little groups.
I reached twenty. Shew…. is that all? Why are my lungs and legs burning already? This is SUPPOSED to be quite easy isn’t it?
Twenty five. Ok, good job, basically a quarter done! Get a nice drink of bottle 1 of Gummi Bear juice. Am sure that is going to help and I am going to feel great any second now…
Thirty. The ground keepers are yawning, contemplating whether they have the energy to make morning tea.
Forty. Oh boy! I don’t want to admit it, but my legs are starting to feel like tree stumps AND I am breathing hard – this can’t happen when I still have 66 to go!!!!
Forty Five. Ok, still managing, but need help. More Gummi Bear juice
Forty Eight. Oh sh_t! We have drop off and just ran 5 seconds slower.
Forty Nine. 5 seconds slower again! But I really pushed harder on that one???
Fifty Two. Broken. I need help…. go and sit in the sun and watch the grass grow. Two bottles of Gummi Bear juice still fully loaded. No celebration. No reward.
I failed. For now.
Part 2 coming soon, updates to follow and maybe a pic of the grounds keepers!
