Success – lessons learned one hill at a time!

I ran a 25k race today. That’s just less than 16 miles. Moments before the start, the race director reminded us that there are 16 hills on the course. This is the fourth year I’ve run this race and I always forget about the hills. What I remember is the amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean all the way along the course. You see this race takes you around the perimeter of Cape Ann which is a jut of land about 40 minutes north of Boston.

As I started running I was musing to myself about how I keep forgetting how significant the hills really are. It only took a few miles to remember however because my quads were feeling it. The first big hill is about half a mile from the start and they never stopped.

By about mile 6 or 7 my legs were feeling the ups and downs as well as the 80 degree heat and sun. I started to wonder how I was going to finish the last 8 or 9 miles on legs feeling like lead. I reminded myself that speed didn’t matter. I was out there this morning for the fun of it. (I know, running 25k might be considered kind of a crazy way to have fun.)

“Stay in the moment” I said to myself. “Enjoy the scenery.” And so I did. One mile at a time I finished the race. Every couple miles I would pass someone and then a couple miles later he or she would pass me. We cheered each other on, laughing at our game of leap frog.

When we had about a mile to go, I asked the woman near me if we had any more hills. “One. steep” she said. We were almost done the race and no sign of this hill. I had decided she must have been mistaken. But oh no she wasn’t!! Not only was it steep but it curved around like a corkscrew. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at how my memory forgot the hills, especially this one! Thank goodness for the three women spectators at the top cheering and making all kinds of noise. I thanked them, letting them know that their hooting and hollering helped me haul myself up the hill.

From there it was an easy jog to the finish only a couple hundred feet away. That is until I spotted a guy coming up beside me. I told him I didn’t have enough energy to race him to the finish. Well, or maybe I did! And from somewhere deep inside I found the energy to bolt ahead and beat him! What a fabulous finish! 2h34m58s!! Not fast, but fabulous nevertheless.

❤️ What I love about distance running are the lessons I learn. Today I was reminded that:

• It’s the journey that counts more than the destination – no wonder I keep forgetting the hills when the experience itself is fun and the scenery breathtaking.
• Success takes community. Chatting and cheering each other on energizes everyone and we all win.
• A little competition can get the adrenaline flowing even when you think your energy is gone.
• Checking “mile markers” along the way helps to gage progress and know whether to speed up or slow down to keep moving towards your goal. Sometimes slowing down will get you there faster.
• In order run hills well, you need to run hills!!
• Anything is possible, one foot in front of the other, one mile at a time.