Would you believe that I did it again?

Yes, it is true.  I did the Lyrebird track again.  It was my idea.  Maybe you saw this coming?  I don’t know what is happening to me and it is frightening.  This time I did it 20 minutes faster and I didn’t die or even feel like dying was a possibility.  The planets must all be aligned to make me behave this way as this is not normal.  I’d better have a wine, or three, with dinner.  Recollect myself.

The Widow Maker

Last weekend I was convinced to come along with my sister and her friend to climb the Lyrebird Track next to The Thousand Steps.  It runs from Upper Ferntree Gully to One Tree Hill.  Whether to go or not was a dilemma that I pondered and asked advice about for the whole previous week, eventually deciding to take my beau’s advice to “Just do it”.  (He said it rather insistently.)  I got up at 6:30am on a Saturday and “just did it”.  This is someone who cherishes 11 hours (if not more) in a coma on the weekend nights.  This is someone who’s friends finds it unbelievable that she is in love with someone who loves exercise and sport, me being more inclined towards cigarettes, chocolate and wine (or any alcohol, if the truth be known).

So I did it.  My beau came along enthusiastically.  We took the lead.  Me in my hiking boots, two layers of thermals, beanie, gloves and hiking poles; him in his track suit, Japara and smile.  After about 200 metres I started gasping for breath.  We paused and my sister and her friend passed.  My lungs burned.  After a time I started again and got another 100 metres before it happened again.  This time more ferociously.  So it went until we got about half way, with my beau by my side spurring me on.  I refused, between gasps, to go on.  I complained about jelly legs.  He waited.  I threatened him with divorce.  He waited.  I told him that it was not humane.  He waited.  I was going to throw up.  He didn’t relent.  After a while I could breath and he said “Lets start slowly.  We can make it to the top.  We have to go to the top.”

I wasn’t happy but I walked.

I stopped every 100 metres but I made it to the top.  I passed my sister near the top and asked why I wasn’t that far behind.  She said “Oh, we have been to the top, half way back and back to the top again.”  I shouldn’t have asked.

The weird thing is I called her today and asked if they are doing it again because I would like to join.  It nearly killed me but I have felt great all week and had heaps of energy.  Really weird.  Maybe my beau has been right about all the energy being put into exercise being worth it.  I’m not sure if I have had an epiphany but I am coming around to see things his way.  Just don’t tell him that.  Who knows what time I’ll have to get up.