The Hills

"These hills are where we all trained for Boston," Maggie announced. At least, I think that's what she announced. I don't claim accuracy for anything said to me between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. At 4:40 this morning, I crawled out of bed for the start of hill training. I don't know how I didn't register that hill training would be very ... well ... hilly.

I had never been to Flagpole Hill until this morning and I really can't recommend it as a destination for anyone. We started our ATP workout with a little 2 mile jaunt and then did an exercise where we run up and down the same hill for 10 minutes at a time with a 3 minute break in between. Sounds easy --- and it is ---- except for the running and the hill part. I think I made it up the hill about 1/2 as many times as the "Boston" folks, but I did not die (even though I announced my impending death many times during that portion of the workout).

After this little Sisyphus exercise (yes, I just referenced Greek mythology), we ran 2 more miles and then got out our towels for core work and stretching. Everyone was laying out their mats on the concrete in the park instead of in the grass. When one ATP member put his mat on the grassy area, someone says, "Oh, don't touch the grass. This place is infested with fire ants." WTH, people. I think that about sums up the first day of hill training.