“I’ve run out of up” – I’ll never forget those famous words shouted by Nat Go at an upcoming little hill on one of our “climby” ladies’ rides. We had done all the hard work that day, climbed to lunch and we just had a few rollers to get over before around 20km of downhill back to the car.
After that fateful call, in true the spirit of the ladies’ ride, we turned off the pace that day, invoked Rule #1 and cruised home.
Lately, however, it’s happened to me. I think I’ve run out of up – permanently. This year I made a pact to climb our local mountain – Mt Cootha 100 times this year. I was going to be trying this year after all, and 100 seemed like a reasonable number. Well at the time of writing, we’re in week 6 of the year and I’ve climbed Cootha 4 times!
Every time I think I’ll head out there I just can’t bring myself to do it. The other day, I got about 200m up the climb and turned around. I think I’ve run out of up – permanently. Now hopefully this is a temporary condition. It’s been fiendishly hot at home – certainly not climbing weather.
Our local hills just don’t have enough reward for me to get up them. All there is is pain and suffering all the way to the top. No summit Cafe, no Fudge shop, no “Best of All” lookout. I like my climbing to come with a reward.
Watching others suffer is reward enough but coffee or food or a spectacular view at the top are really want I’m looking for.
Not to mention the best reward of all – downhill!
