Those of you who know me are well versed in my lack of athletic abilities. I tried out for the volleyball team five consecutive years in elementary school and never once made the first cut, much less the final roster. Heartbreaking, really. Then when I moved on to high school it became a cruel twist of fate that my best friends were captains of our state champion volleyball team and all I could do was sit in the stands and feebly cheer them on. #1 Cheerleader--that was me! (I should mention that that's a self-proclaimed title, I wasn't technically on the squad)In my adult(ish) years, I've learned to work with my limitations and stay away from v-ball pipe dreams. Although, there was one moment of glory a couple of months ago when I was asked to fill in and play with a beach volleyball team that was short one girl. My redemption lasted for one full rotation and I was totally vindicated. My first serve went sailing over the net....we don't need to talk about the second serve.....Anyway, I've since taken up activities that don't require much hand-eye coordination, such as biking and running. This has been a semi-successful strategy. In regards to my head on collision with the parked car, I believe that the blame lies entirely with the Land Rover and its ridiculously large rear end. A car that big is nothing more than a safety hazard for bikers like me. Running has been equally rewarding despite the constant tripping and weak ankles that cave in completely with each step.
I am now training for a half marathon, so I've been trying to get in some serious mileage while here in DC. My new favorite run begins at the Capitol (which is right behind my house), continues down the National Mall, passes the Washington Monument, goes down to the Lincoln Memorial (I give ole' Abe a shout out) and then all the way back to the Capitol. It is a beautiful route which can only be rivaled by a run down Esplanade and along the Mississippi River. However, I am now restricted to running only during daylight hours. This is a self-imposed punishment for sheer stupidity. Last week I went for a night time run and somehow got lost in between the Washington Monument and the Capitol. For those of you unfamiliar with the Mall, the space between the Washington Monument and the Capitol is about a two mile stretch and is completely bare, no trees, buildings, or even large shrubs. It's absolutely empty. Furthermore, the monuments light up at night and can be seen for miles and miles. In addition, the Capitol is on a hill (hence Capitol Hill), making it even more visible. So, to get lost somewhere in between point A and B is virtually impossible, yet I managed to do it like a pro. Not only did I have to run much longer than I intended, but I also somehow ended up on the set of Transformers 3. So, I will be starring as that really sweaty, confused looking girl in the background who is on the verge of passing out. I think they can probably work it into the story line, I can't imagine there's much of a plot to begin with.
Obviously needing to diversify my workout, I opted for a hike this weekend in Great Falls, Maryland. Not surprisingly, my past experiences with hiking haven't been the best. My first hike was 7 years ago in the Patagonia region of Argentina, and even with the several falls and near-death accidents, the most tragic aspect of that hike was my head-to-toe denim outfit. I wish I didn't have the pictures to prove that. My second big hike was 5 years ago in Interlaken, Switzerland with 3 other friends. Two of them decided to take the "extreme path" (this isn't actually a path, they just went running into the woods like a couple of crazies) and were subsequently lost on the mountain for the remainder of the day...along with our ID's and beer money, which are survival tools out there in the wild. And finally, my last hike 2 years ago in Antigua, Guatemala ended with me straddling a crevice on a volcano while my boyfriend chatted up the tour guide in the distance. My scars from digging into the volcanic rock lasted longer than our relationship, he became an ex quickly thereafter. So, it was quite brave of me to give it another go. Not only did I (not so gracefully) survive this one, but I also scaled a legitimate rock formation without breaking any bones or ending a long-term relationship. Success.
I think yoga is going to be next.
No comments:
Post a Comment