Every year the hill brings it’s own anger. Every year it shows it in a new way.
The first year was HOT.
The second year it rained.
This year, I thought I was ready…
Spoiler alert: you’re never ready.
This year, I thought I’d write a practical guide to Hell on the Hill – by the numbers – mostly determined by the thoughts going through my head as I did it.
Pre-Hill
The music is blasting,. You’re jacked on inspirational stories. Jesse and Sara donate $1,000 to a charity for every runner and before the race each runner takes a minute to tell about their story.
-After a 5 minute break and it’s time for the starting line.-
You’re jacked on inspirational stories. The music is blasting.
Start Line – “Let’s do this – LFG!”
Hill 5 – “Getting after it. I’m making great time.“
Hill 8 – “I’m at 10, right? You gotta be kidding me.“
Hill 20. – “This clicker is busted. I hate everything about this. Counting is a scam”
Early 30s – “I’m slowing down already. There is no way I’m going to finish”
No damn way.
I’m not even 1/3rd of the way done and I’m already slowing down.
Every Year, Hills 30-45 are the Dark Night Of the Soul
Far enough to be hard, but not far enough to see progress. It’s easily the hardest part of The Hill every year for me – even though it’s not physically the most demanding.
Hill 45 – “It’s hot as hell, but somehow I’m also almost halfway. Get to 51”
Hill 51 – “Finally, less to do than I’ve already done”
Hill 60 – “Mathematically, if you keep going, you will finish. Do not stop.”
Put your head down. Shut your brain up. And go.
Forget the counter. Forget the timer. Just get after it.
Up. Down. Up. Down.
Chunk it up. Stay cool. Keep going.
Then finish.
100 – “Boom. Done.”
Now do a bonus lap for good measure.
Enjoy.
#respectthehill
#youcandoanythingforfourhours
#grassgrowsback
#yougoupyougodown
#chipaway
previous HOTH recaps | HOTH4
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