Mother Nature has conspired against me. She's placed the mother of all obstacles right at the hurting end of my favourite neighbourhood running loop - the proverbial thorn in my side. I call it The Vortex.
You see, we live right on top of a hill. So no matter how well I plan or from which direction I come, the final stretch home is always uphill. Not the short, steep kind, though. No. The gradual, endless kind. It's just cruel.
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But a hill in itself is not that much of an obstacle, right? Right. So here's the fun part: For some weird and wonderful climatological reason - I'm guessing it's a combination of the prevailing wind direction and the placement of the buildings and trees - there is always a headwind as you battle up that hill. Always. And it's always a howler. Whoopee.
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But even a hill with a permanent howling headwind is not that much of an obstacle, right? Right. The Vortex still shorts one final ingredient: A jogging stroller. With a 9 kg baby inside. I guarantee you: Not even the funkiest man-made obstacle comes close.
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For now the score is still Vortex - 1, Mama - 0. I get chewed up and spat out every, single time. Most runs end in a panting, sad bundle of blah. But I'm not about to give up. I will conquer The Vortex someday. And heaven knows, when I do, I'll be the strongest mama on the block.
LOL! I love this! The place my group runs has a long steady uphill. (as in 1 km long). But, no headwind, and I don't do it with a stroller. You will definitely be the strongest mama on the block!
ReplyDeleteOuch! Bit it will make you very strong for sure. Keep it going! I admire anyone that runs with a baby stroller.
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem when I run at my Dad's house. He lives on a long gradual hill, that always seems to be a bit breezy. Strange?
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