Suffer The Pay-Off

Finally, after more than two months of a lay-off from running the trails, I'm back at it again. Coming back gets harder every year. A lay-off for a 22 year old is one thing. But, double that, and you have sufferfest written all over it.

Above is a picture taken sometime around the New Year, when I was fairly obsessed with seeing how quickly I could power up the three snow-filled miles to the top of Black Cap. At this stage of a come-back, I'm gunning for making it without stopping to walk the steep parts. As you can see, the views are spectacular, with Mount Washington, the highest mountain in the northeast US, in the background. Clear out a tree at the bottom of that picture and you could spot my house down there. Sometimes, I'd look down and wonder if I'd remembered to shut the stove down. The obsessive-compulsive element of me complells me to look if smoke might be billowing from our rooftop.

Springtime has melted winter away. I've unscrewed the sheet-metal screws from the bottom of my running shoes. It's just me, my rubber 'souls' and...two full grown puppies, Bud and Bodhi. Running was once a thing of solitude. I would sometimes encounter a coyote, moose, deer...and who knows what else awaited me? But, now the little boys tromp along beside me, nervous that I might take a turn without them knowing. Last fall, as little puppies, they took off like a shot after a lone deer grazing on the grass on more than one occasion. That really bothers me, and I can only hope they don't get into a scrap with something.

I prefer running alone, deep in the woods and mountain trails, my breath and stealth footsteps the only sound I make. However, as I sit here now those little energy bugs lay in the kitchen bored silly. So, I've begun to bring them with me, now that the snow is gone. When I lace up my running shoes in the pre-dawn morning they're at the ready. There was a time when they lagged behind. But, it seems they've gotten into shape far quicker than me. Now, they turn to watch as I hammer my way up the trail. They never stray far, a bit nervous they'd be left alone with the mean, mean monsters that live in the woods.

After two weeks of getting back at it, I've made significant progress. The challenge is to power right up Black Cap, sit atop it to enjoy the view, and back down before the kids wake up. Then, I'll take on Mt. Kearsarge, a bigger mountain off to the right of the picture above.

But, ooohhh, the struggle to regain my shape. Make a mental note not to take two full months off from running. Motivated by a hilly road race in Jackson this June, I have alot to work for, namely my ego. I don't like to race unless I can compete for finishing in the top ten. I'd like to say that First is all I could live with. But, top ten is about the level I stand in the ranks of running.

Either way, I suffer the pay-off. This is my muse.