wurple.net

So I went for a little run on the weekend and I confirmed what I’ve always known – running is evil.

When I say a ‘little run’, I really mean that it was a little run. Nothing more than a sprint across a field and back. Of course, me being me, all physical activities turn into a life and death competition, whereby I must destroy the competition and win… even though I wasn’t sure exactly what I was winning.

And so I found myself lining up at the edge of a muddy field in a pair of jeans and hiking boots, ready to dash across to the other end and back again. Maybe it’s from the mountain bike racing, but it seemed that when presented with the situation, my body knew exactly what to do. Heart rate went up, arms and legs coursing with extra blood, slightly sweaty hands…

Ready to compete.

It took me back to lining up at the athletics track at school, then busting my gut to win a tiny little blue ribbon to stick on my sports uniform. Then taking it up a level and competing with other schools. Why exactly was I doing it back then? Heck, why was I doing it now?

At the word ‘Go’, we all took off. My reactions were a little bit slow, but I found myself cutting through the crowd and moving to the front of the peleton pack… and then off the front of the pack. Approaching the other end of the field, I realised that had to slow my thundering pace… which I did quite badly… in fact, I think I may have almost landed on my face due to trying to stop too fast.

I did eventually turn, but that poor effort put me back in about third place. At this point, I actually realised how much I was hurting. Not only were my legs hurting, but my glutes, abs, lats… heck, everything was hurting. Of course, the beauty of adrenaline is that you can push these feelings aside and blast on through the pain. Which… I did… and I found myself off the front of the pack again limping into what turned out to be quite a convincing victory.

Somewhat satisfied that the race done and won, I lay down in the grass and turned myself to the task of surveying the damage. I was sore… very sore. Sore all over. Plus, my head was spinning. Right. I need to breathe. Hmmm. Grass is cold and wet. Meh. Too tired to get up.

So very sore…

But I won… and that’s what’s important right?