We’re Only Starting On The Hills

We’re Only Starting On The Hills

QIC: Doublewide

Date: Valentine's Day

PAX: Hitman, Suede, Resistor, Chomper, Winklevoss, The….Vig, Bam, Mongoose, Balco, Litterbox

Somehow, someway, even though I announced at Run n Gun the day before AND made it known in the Slack preblast that my Q would involve a good amount of hills, 10 PAX + me (or 10 more PAX than I thought) showed up on a chilly Valentine’s morning. I have to give credit for the workout to Coach Cromwell, the track/cross-country coach at Mt. Tabor, who recommended that I incorporate lots of hills.

The Thang:
We warmed up clockwise around Hanes Park and stopped at the base of the Intimidator. We ran up and down a block, then up/down 2 blocks, then 3; we moved over 1 street to Brookstown and repeated. (I heard lots of mumblechatter regarding my choice of a hilly workout and tried to reassure the PAX by saying “we’re only starting on the hills”, however, after laying out the workout, I was told* we would be spending nearly all of our time on the hills. Whoops!) We finished it with 200-400-600 repeats on the track.

*Balco was the one who pointed out that my workout would be almost “all” hills, not “some” hills as promised. He’s got a spiritual gift to point out things he doesn’t like about my Qs and I appreciate that about him. Also, I found out he’s not related to a Yoder in my daughter’s kindergarten class.

• I heard a rumor that both Litterbox and Mongoose came, but didn’t confirm that until the COT. Those guys crushed it and spent the workout miles ahead of me.
• On my 2-block run up the Intimidator, I started with The Vig directly in front of me. “OK,” I thought, “let’s try to keep him close to really push yourself this time.” Literally the thought ended and he was turning around at the top and I was a good 78 feet back. He runs faster uphill than I run on flat ground.
• My favorite part was when Suede and Resistor came around HOT off one of the 200 “rest” periods just so they could get a head start on Hitman. They used your own move against you, Hitman! Suede also made Resistor feel his age when Suede said he was born in 1987, a year after Resistor graduated college.
• Speaking of Resistor, he texted me afterwards and said (I’m going to directly quote him here): “And I really don’t think you’re a good Q.” He said it was a typo, I said it was either a Freudian slip or brutal honesty.
• When I announced we were going 3 blocks up the Intimidator to 5th street, I heard some grumbling and disbelief, but tried to encourage everyone by saying “You got this, just pace yourself.” Thankfully (Bam’s words) Bam heard me and didn’t embarrass anyone by speeding up the hill. Always enjoy posting with that guy.
• Thankfully, Winklevoss did not run me over when he pulled in the parking lot. Thank you for sparing my life
• One of the reasons I do Redline is because I want to improve my running to be able to stay with Chomper at OGs. Today, he crushed it – sped through the workout AND did an extra 200 at the end. Alas, Friday will not be the day I stay with him.

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Thanks for the keys, Chomper, and for the EC to make me come back out to Redline after a couple of years off. Appreciate all you men.