Labor Day Lowdown
A few things that crossed my mind today:
Denver Half Marathon. I ran it last year when the weather was awful (cold, rainy, miserable) and swore I would never run it again. It appears that the desire for a new challenge has clouded my memory because I just registered for the race and want to beat my time from last year. The six-week training program starts tomorrow morning.
Altitude. As much as I try, I always seem to struggle with it. On a hike up Roger’s Pass yesterday, after sleeping at around 10,000 feet, I started feeling the beginning effects of the altitude around 11,000. Slight dizziness and a headache are indicators for me. I drank a lot of water and had only one wobbly moment, but I made it up to the top of the pass, topping out at 11,900. It frustrates me that my body and my mind can’t be depended on at a certain point. So what do I do? Make plans to summit a fourteener next weekend. The only way to get better at something is to do it more often and like Mountain Gazette says, “When in doubt, go higher.”
Backpacking. Still love doing it and long for the day I can do another long trip. As I hike, I think about how similar the trail is to life. The obstacles you encounter, instead of hindering you, can actually help you progress down your path. You carry what you need on your back and if you bring too much, you end up hurting yourself. Picking good company to walk with is important in insuring you have fun when it rains. There is something about being able to pump your own water, catch your own dinner, and survive a storm that makes you stronger.
Gossip Girl. I can’t believe how excited I got for the premiere of a TV show. That isn’t Lost. I came out of the GG closet tonight and showed my fiance the (dark? shallow? trashy?) side of me that LOVES this show. After watching it with me, he called it a teenage version of Sex and the City. And he’s not too far off. What can I say? A girl’s gotta have her guilty pleasures and I cannot get enough of Chuck Bass.
Good sauce. However you define the good stuff, I had lots of it this weekend. Pushing my body to achieve more. Playing cribbage. Eating fish caught out of a nearby lake. Drinking hot chocolate and laughing. Disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with friends. Napping in a tent while it rains outside.
There’s nothing better than a three-day weekend to remind you what all that labor is for…
