Two for Thomas

Due to work conflicts, I've been missing the mid-week run practices. The hill workouts and interval training that I so enjoy. Tonight I had the rare opportunity to work in a hill training session after work.

My plan was for a 1 mile warm up, 4 hill repeats on Wilke, then a 1 mile cool down. I felt really slow, tight, and creaky on the warm up. It did not feel good to run; my legs were tired, my rhythm was off, and my heart rate seemed elevated. Granted, I'd made some poor food choices in the late afternoon, but I trudged on, nonetheless. Not really looking forward to Wilke.

Wilke is one of those hills that really should have its own theme song that cues up as you approach the base. Something like Also Sprach Zarathustra or the theme from Jaws. At least that's what I thought until I biked River Place last Saturday. Today it seemed smaller. After my rough warm up, I was unsure that I'd get in the planned four repeats, but decided to take them one at a time. As I prepared for the first ascent, a mountain biker headed up Wilke. After he'd gotten good head start, I began my persistent jog up the hill, focusing on knees up and pumping the arms. About a quarter of the way up, I realized I was gaining on the mountain biker. I was amused, grateful for the hard training, and wondered if I'd actually pass him. To my surprise and jubilation, I motored right by him about two-thirds of the way up. An auspicious start and a good confidence booster.

By the third repeat, I was in my element, enjoying the opportunity to be out on such a beautiful evening, seeing West Austin stretched out below me in the distance each time I walked to the bottom of the hill, and listening to my own labored breathing as I worked up the hill.

But don't get me wrong, this was a hard workout. My legs felt heavy and weak at times, and there came a point on each ascent where I wondered if I could make it to the top without stopping to walk. When those moments came, I thought of Thomas, who maintains such a positive attitude through chemotherapy and bone marrow aspirations. Thomas, who welcomes pain in his legs following treatment because it means he's growing neutrophils, Those thoughts pushed me up that hill, time and again. And after completing the fourth round, I decided to add two for Thomas. Those last two repeats were awesomely tough and just plain awesome. I raised my arms in triumph as I crested Wilke one last time, sending energy to Thomas and his family as they continue to fight his disease.

From a sluggish start to a jubilant finish, inspired by this young man fighting leukemia. I felt so good after conquering Wilke, that I ran the cool down back to my car faster than I'd run the warm up. I love negative splits!