OUCH.
So, WHN (I am now resolved to quit calling that one guy I married “dear husband” because it sounds corny and cheesy and sometimes, I want to kill him. So I will now refer to him as “what’s-his-name.” It makes me giggle.) and I went on a hike this past Sunday in order to fulfil a resolution to Do More Things Together. We went down to a place we both played as kids and, coincidentally, where WHN first “officially” asked me to be his girlfriend.
The thing is, when WHN hikes, he HIKES. This is no casual meander through the woods, stopping occasionally to admire the view. He sets his pace, squares his shoulders, and GOES. I am left to keep up with him (to be fair, he will slow down if I ask him to), stopping every so often to snap a picture and then scurrying to catch up with him. The day was perfect – a bit cool and overcast but a nice temperature. We had a backpack with a Camelbak in it, our first aid kit, some Luna bars and my camera. I started out optimistic and cheerful.
We hiked a couple of miles to the Nature Center, checked it out, hiked around it a bit and then back to our car. All in all it was about 5 miles. At about mile 4 I started making little “ouch” noises, as the muscle on my right inner thigh had decided that it wanted to pull everytime I took a step. I stayed cheerful and smiling, though, and tried to enjoy the beauty and nature around me. After a while the “ouch” noises seemed to be getting progressively louder, and it was making WHN look at me worriedly, which just made me giggle.
I was tiring quickly, but we soon reached our car and the wonderful salvation of LUNCH. Since I wasn’t “technically” on the wagon, we dined on delicious cheese bread turkey sandwiches, BBQ potato chips, root beer and chocolate chip cookies.
After lunch we enthusiastically (my enthusiasm was mostly faked by this point, but he was having so much fun that I didn’t want to disappoint him) headed for another 4-mile trail. We parked the car, loaded up, and headed into the woods at where we THOUGHT the trail head was…only to discover a tiny, non-marked trail that quickly ended in water. So we headed back to the car. On the way out I spotted the REAL trail head. So we parked the car, loaded up, and headed into the woods, only to discover a big, well-marked trail that quickly ended in water. It was cold enough to make us shudder at the thought of hiking 4 miles with wet feet. So we headed back to the car. Deja vu, anyone?
We wound up doing a beautiful hike around a lake on a trail that was paved and lined with benches. WHN told me that the trail was 1.8 miles and we started cheerfully off. After about 20 minutes we still weren’t even halfway around the lake and my inner thigh muscle had started to protest in earnest. But it was beautiful outside and we were spending Quality Time, so on we hiked!My “ouch” noises got progressively louder and more pronounced, and that made him look worriedly at me, and that made me giggle, so by the time we were through I was possibly slightly hysterical. After what seemed like hours, we finally walked (or hobbled in my case) back to the car, only to discover that the trail was actually 2.8 miles long. Oh, well!
I may sound complain-y, but in truth I had a wonderful day. We hiked close to nine miles in one day, and I was both amazed and proud of myself.
However, the next day, and still a bit today, my calf muscles are indeed protesting the unaccustomed abuse I inflicted on them. Hence the stepping and wincing bit.
Tonight I am grilling some steaks and serving them up with whole grain brown and wild rice and steamed, non-seasoned veggies. And, of course, watch the Biggest Loser! And tomorrow I am going on my first offical Run of my 10k training!
Today for lunch, I ate my first baby carrot in a few months and it reminded me of how healthily I was eating all summer, and how good it felt. As I crunched into the carrot, I felt like I was home again. And I was happy to be there.
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