Today we tackled the first of a list of 20 hikes that we have challenged ourselves to complete: The Muizenberg Mile. This is a walk from Surfer's Corner at Muizenberg Beach to St James Beach and apparently it's a mile long (1.6km).
It was a good starting point and while it wasn't extremely difficult - for someone who has previously thought that going to get the mail from the mailbox at the end of the drive way was a mission - it's still a good bit of exercise. It helps a lot that the views are gorgeous, and also that today was overcast so we weren't walking in the sun or heat of any kind (always a plus for a fatty!).
I dread the thought of getting so hot and sweaty. I don't do well in the sun and I get hot very quickly, more than likely a side effect of all my insulation I know, but it doesn't change the fact that I don't like it and it makes me miserable. I also really don't like the side of me that comes out when I am hot and sweaty. I become the heat hulk, forcing myself through whatever we are doing just to get to where I'm going faster so that the hellish nightmare will end and I can retreat back to my nice, cool, shady house once more.
And God help anyone who gets in my way or tries to be 'motivating'. No, I don't want to hear about how we are 'nearly there'. 'Nearly there' has such an enormous range of what it could actually mean that I don't want you getting my hopes up by saying it when we are actually 'still very f-ing far away'. I don't want to hear about how it will all be worth it when we get to the top and see the view; screw the view! If I wanted to see the view so bad I could Google it, there's always someone else who has been up here and taken a picture! Talking about our progress and how fit we are getting, in that moment, I couldn't care less about being fit or making progress. I think we can all see where I'm going with this, when I am hot and sweaty - it's just best for everyone if I'm left alone.
Learning to push through that is what I hope to achieve with these hikes and I really want to do it for the sake of my super duper awesome and amazing boyfriend who patiently puts up with the she-hulk whenever we try to do any sort of activity. If you are reading this N, I love you all the stars and thank you for putting up with me for all these years! <3
I also like the idea of the hikes because at least they have a starting point and a finishing point that are visible to you, unlike being on a treadmill or cross-trainer where you feel like you are working and working but not getting anywhere. There's a real sense of accomplishment with a hike and I really like that I can feel proud of myself for finishing it and being able to say I did so. No one wants to hear stories about staying on a treadmill for an hour, but going and doing that super difficult hike? That's amazing!
I'll probably never understand the people who hike for fun and will do the same hike numerous times (Seriously? Why? What is there left to see that you haven't seen the first 500 times you did it?), I do like the challenge aspect of being able to say I have done them all.
So while I may never WANT to hike, I do NEED to - and that is an important lesson for me.
Exercise is never going to be fun and I'm never going to want to do it but I need to, so why not make a challenge of it and enjoy beating each challenge and gaining a sense of pride over it?
Maybe I'm just too competitive, but hey it works for me and that's all that really matters at this point.
Stay strong peeps and find the things that challenge you too!
You've got this :)
xx E
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