Watching the Ironman Triathalon always, always, always make me tear up?

It’s one of the most consistently well done sports programs on television. The focus on the human drama is compelling — a woman with only one natural leg, making it to the marathon just in time; a man with ALS who’s trying to finish his last race — and Al Trautwig’s commentary makes up for all of the other lame-ass shit I’ve heard him say over the years. I’ve only been watching it 20 minutes and I’ve already brought out the kleenex.

My own athletic quest hit a snag today, as I hit the wall at 5 miles today. I had a few good miles, followed by a few slower miles … and then I started to get chills, my peripheral vision started to go and I was very afraid of fainting. I sat down, took a bite of my chewy granola bar and contemplated by last 1.5 miles. Yeah, not so much. My fingers were swollen to double their normal size and a recent scar on my hand had actually bubbled up into a blister, whereas before it had been flat.

Thank God I had my cell phone on me — I’ll never walk without it again. I called my friend Shelly, who came to my rescue. As she cheerily pointed out, I was a dumbass for drinking only water, not Gatorade, given the distance I’m walking and the temperature/humidity (84% at 8 a.m.). Yeah, she had a point.

I’ll still go for 7 miles next Saturday. I’m not ready to give up yet.

∗ Posted by Monique on 08.05.2006
∗ Sports, Television, Walking