Hidden Gold

I knew before I left the house that my usual routes were not going to be enough...not today. I want to push myself. I want that rush of pain- like in Tahoe.

I ran down and up American River Trail (almost stepped on a dead snake) to Sweetwater. Now usually I would turn right and continue on until I reached second gate. However today, with the fear of a thousand snails, I turned left. Left goes way, way out, eventually to third gate.
It was a beautiful run. After I passed a huge house, the one with the curvey shaped brick wall and chimney, the road flattened, laying out a spectaular view of the canyon. Gorgeous.
Luckily the trees were so tall and congested that I didn't have to melt in the sun. The pines shaded my steps and breathed cool mist on my determined face, as if to greet me in the most friendliest fashion.

I was going uphill now. Getting steeper and definitely longer uphill distances than I am used to. Finally, as I turned a corner and noticed the hill wasn't about to let up. I stopped. Yes, I know- I stopped. I just needed to catch my breath. I gave myself a good long 5 seconds and took off again feeling a bit more perk in my step. However it wasn't long before my butt was once again on fire, my legs begging for mercy and my head throbbing from the pressure. I'M NOT STOPPING AGAIN! That next breath caught me power walking. I pretended I was using a rope to pull myself up the mountain. 1,2,3,4,5....9,10,11...that's enough! I narrowed my sights on what I hoped was the top and ran for it.

All that was rushing through my brain was a single question. What is "Hill of Hell" like? That's the hill you must first go up when you run the half marathon at Tahoe. Is that hill harder than this one? Probably. No matter. I'll master this hill one day, just like I mastered the crazy steep hill of Otter Trail.

Downhill was glorious. One more little uphill and I made it to "Hidden Gold". I hit my hand on the stop sign and stomped my feet on all four corners of the intersection as my official way of marking the half way point before turning back to do it all over again.

I am happy to report that I didn't stop on the way back, though I sweat like crazy! I won't sugar coat this. It was HARD!!
But I did it. I found a way to push aside my fear and take the plunge. I suspect I have many more mountains to climb, more tortures to endure, but that's life...filled with sweat and tears.