Transitions
“The mountains are calling and I must go.” – John Muir
8.6 miles, 24,000+ steps, 99 floors/flights. 4 hours.
Those were the stats logged on my fitness tracker from Sunday’s stroll up and down Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, Mt. Desert Island, Maine. This, on top of mountain climbs on both Saturday and Monday, making it a perfect 3-3 long hiking weekend!
But Cadillac Mt. was the one I thought just might break me – the now officially “out of shape” and imperfectly perfect, middle-aged ME! Seriously, that hike was a mental game. Just about everyone I met on the trail was in their 20’s and clearly physically fit! I felt like I was back in weight-loss boot camp pushing myself past every mental limit or barrier just to finish.
Near the end of the 4.2 mile hike down the mountain I had to focus on things other than how sore and tired my legs, and knees, were from the pounding. I kept repeating, “Lor, we’ve got this! You can totally do this!”
I knew from experience that my mental and physical capacity was stronger than any excuses I could conjure up. But that didn’t prevent me from considering stopping many times before the actual summit. Nor, did it thwart the idea once I reached the summit that I could ask a “cute guy” on a Harley for a ride down the mountain. [Those of you who know me personally, know exactly how that might have ended! 😉 ] Read more