Saturday, June 5, 2010

Feeling Awesome

My street is just off of a crazy hill. To run any distance at all, I have to either drive somewhere or face the hellishness that is my hill. One mile. Up. Way up. Straight up. (And after you get up the hill, there are still lots of hills, but nothing even close to Hell Hill.)

When I moved in, I decided I hated the hill. I had to walk at least four times on the way up.

A few months later, I still hated the hill. I had to walk at least three times on the way up.

Eight months later, I still hate the hill. Until today, I walked at least twice on the way up.

BUT...

I made a goal that in 2010 I would tackle the hill. I would make it up that darned hill without stopping once.

And guess what happened this morning?

Yup. You guessed it. I KILLED HELL HILL. I killed it.

It's not like running a race. There's no one to celebrate with me at the finish line. No one's handing me a medal.

But I've learned something about myself in the process. The hill stopped me from wanting to run at the beginning of the move. I cursed it. I complained about it.

And then I decided that since the mountain is here, I need to learn to live with it. I ran it in the sleet, the wind and the snow. I tried to push myself further every time I ran it. And eight months later, I am stronger than I was when I moved here.

I know the take-home lesson. I know it's a little trite. But it's also very true: We can't get stronger without challenges. Sometimes the challenges totally suck. But sometimes we manage to grow because of them, and find ourselves at the top of our mountains with our lungs burning and our hearts full of celebration.

Yay me!

10 comments:

Megan B. said...

Congratulations! That sounds like a huge accomplishment to me.

Lara Neves said...

Good for you!

I can't even walk up the hill my house is on without stopping or having an asthma attack yet. It's really ridiculous. And I walk it everyday to get to the bus stop. :)

Sibber said...

YOU ROCK!!! Congrats! That is truly a great accomplishment! I'm so proud of you... maybe I can be like you when I grow up... It's hard to just walk up my hill without stopping... so really, honestly... I think you are awesomely amazing! GOOD JOB!

Anonymous said...

love this. Isn't seeing improvement the BEST?

Thanks too, for your sweet comment on Segullah.

Danielle said...

Way to go on that mammoth accomplishment! You have given me hope that my goal to conquer Memorial Hill in Midway isn't completely out of reach. You're my idol.

Malisa said...

Yay you!

Amber said...

You are soo good at setting goals...and accomplishing them!

tonandboys said...

You never cease to inspire me! This is exactly the motivation I needed today.

Debbie and Boys said...

I love analogies like this that my mind could just "run" with. Soooo many metaphors here! Thanks for sharing

Natalie said...

Wow! That's awesome! I want to see a picture of this Hell Hill. You are very motivating for me, too. Also, just think of how much better the backs of your legs will look since you are working that blasted hill into your routine. :)