Inspiration

I must say there have been many times where I have thought something to myself and though I have not prayed to God about it, I find that it happens. One of those instances was today. I think I might be coming down with a head cold so the thought of doing Jacobs ladder once let alone twice was an effort in itself. My boss is on holidays and will not be joining me for two weeks. I kept thinking that today of all days was when I really needed someone there to make sure that I did not quit.

I got to Jacobs ladder and went down it in record time. Coming up though it was like the first week. My legs did not like what I was doing to them and my lungs were complaining bitterly. I got to the top did some stretches and turned around to leave. I then thought, "I am quitting again. When the going gets tough I quit." I was even feeling a little more energetic and still I was going to head back to the car. Visions of the week before when I did it twice kept flashing back. There were times when I thought I would not make it and yet I had to. That was on a very hot day too. Today was cool. I had no excuse and new I would kick myself so I decided to do it again and take it slowly coming up.

I was almost at the bottom when I stepped aside to let some faster people go in front and an Asian girl sped passed and said "come on you can do it." I just grinned and didn't think of it much at the time. I reached the bottom and turned around to come back up. I changed my tactic and instead of pushing myself to a certain spot and stand there puffing for 5 minutes, I stopped more regularly to catch my breath and recovered a lot quicker. On my way up I saw the girl 2 more times and both times she encouraged me. The last time I was so close to the top and she stopped and said "go on you are almost there."

It was exactly what I needed. There were many other stragglers on the stairs huffing and puffing but she chose me to encourage. I thanked God for answering the prayer that I didn't think to ask. I feel like I really accomplished something today. I pushed through the pain barrier and even managed to beat last weeks time by 10 minutes.

I would love to do it 3 times soon but I have to leave by a certain time to be elsewhere so right now it is not an option. I will work on trying to stop less. I would love to be able to get halfway without having to stop 3 times.

It's interesting, I am getting to know the regulars. There is a group of mega fit guys who go up and down with chains around their neck and 30kg in a backpack. One looks like he is in his late 50's to early 60's and totally puts me to shame. In my two climbs I saw him 5 times!! That is including the time he does up top with his weights!!! The first time I saw him he had chains around his neck and I thought yep, I've died and gone to hell.