After my inelegant dive onto the stony Arum trail, I was more determined than ever to show myself that I could handle this trail “running” thing. I was a little cautious for a couple of weeks as I negotiated the trails with a track of stitches running up my arm.
Back on the trails with my track of stitches - up Bosvark
I could not wait for the stitches to be removed. However, I was disappointed when I went back to the ER on D-Day. Nope, she said… come back in five days. Evidently, us oldies heal slower than the yunguns. Well, eventually, after nearly three weeks, I was stitch-free and brand new! A consequence of my dive was that I became super duper conscious of where I was placing my wayward feet and concentrated on where to place my poles to best prevent a stumble (for which I had a knack). I became a stone dodger of note.
One of the many bridges over streams or torrents - dependent on the weather
Upwards to the small Old George Dam
Soon, I was eyeing lesser known trails and looking further upwards, but not quite heavenwards - I left that to the pros. I knew that the MUT Challenge was going to be much more than a challenge for me, more like a life or death duel (how can they call a gruelling 25 kilometre mountain trail a “challenge”?) ! Would I survive it? Was I overestimating my ability? Was I nuts?Somehow, I just believed that I COULD do it… that, when the day came, all would be hunky dory!
Whaat!! 24.5 kilometres long and 910 metres of elevation!
Then, common sense prevailed. Maybe I needed a coach? So, I promptly did a bit of Googling and found a local trail running coach. I parted with my moola and received a programme that looked like something a young bokkie would embark upon. I had made it very clear to him that I was very unfit, “mature” and only wanted to stagger along in survival mode. With very little enthusiasm, I started doing things like "fast, slow, fast"; "fartlek" (really?); "hill repeats" and other torturous exercises with strange names. Nooo… not for me! I am far too undisciplined to pursue activities that don't give me joy.
The higher you go, the more incredible the views are
When I moaned to my older son about my totally disinterested coach who was absolutely unsuitable for a staggering ducky, he said, “Try my coach.” What? No way! He coaches athletes, not falling, stumbling staggerers.
Well, I took the bull by the horns and contacted him, fully expecting him to say "thank you, but no". Wow! What a great guy! We had an online chat and he really got me - he understood that all I wanted to do was finish within the time limit. I wanted to be at the back of the field with no one bothering me while I sweated and mumbled profanities on the harrowing journey up the mountain. Every Sunday, I would get my programme for the week and he would send encouraging messages on WhatsApp. Respect!
After the rains there's quite a bit of splish-splashing
Disorientating mist plus wet fingers equals no navigation app
And so, it started. This was the final commitment. Icy rain, howling gales and heat waves did not deter me - I embraced the weather with vigour! I was in the forest and on the mountain five days per week, negotiating waterfalls, fighting sucking mud, getting lost in disorientating mist and sliding down slippery trails - I was sticking to my programme, no matter what. And... the cat was out the bag and I was not going to disappoint my mountain goat sons!
Soaking wet, but loving it
My focus became sharper, my steps became more confident, my breathing steadier, and my spirit soared. Sound too good to be true? Of course, there was occasional muscle soreness, cramp, fatigue, and many moments of self-doubt, but in those moments, I would remind myself of the motto that I have adopted: she believed she could, so she did. This motto has become an integral part of my subconscious, my motivation and the way I am now living my life. When those steeply ascending trails confronted me, I would remind myself that I could.
And so can you!
No matter what the challenge is, embrace it, believe you can do it, and then DO IT!
Beautiful fynbos
Believing that you can do something is liberating - it frees you from worry and negative thoughts and it encourages you to take chances - good chances.
Brand new
My advice to you:
Be responsibly reckless; be free!
Jane the Staggerer
Mountain Mom
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