Boot Camp Hill Training: Fail

By Amy Ebedes

Murphy is a rat-bastard.

It’s the end of the fourth week of Boot Camp, and I’m really getting into it.

Last night, I was gloating to my friend at how easy I was finding the 05h00 wake ups. I even turned down a post-dinner “drink or two” because “sorry, I have to get up for Boot Camp tomorrow morning.”

My (first) alarm went off at 04h55 and I was instantly awake. I got up with my second alarm. This on it’s own is a massive achievement for me, as it usually takes four or five rounds of snoozing before I am able to summons up the will power to drag myself out of bed.

Once I was up, I was up. I even played a game of “Fetch” with the Jack Russel while waiting for my coffee to brew – instead of staring at it, bleary-eyed, willing it to hurry up.

In my car at 05h41 – the time was specifically noted at how early and how keen I was – and off I pottered to Boot Camp. I even – very smugly – tweeted before I left: “Hill Training at Constantia Nek. Bring It”.

I was giving myself Noddy Badges all round this morning. I was chuffed.

Boot Camp this morning was hill training on Constantia Nek. When being told this earlier this week (and while specific directions were being discussed), I thought to myself “Constantia Nek – of course I know where Constantia Nek is”. This thought drowned out any conversation and caught the tail-end of “where the fruit vendors set up stall”.

I don’t know where Constantia Nek is. Especially not in the dark. More specifically, I have know idea where the damn fruit vendors sell their wares. After 40 minutes of driving up – and down – the winding road, I resigned myself to defeat.

It serves me right for being so damn smug.

I’m very bleak I missed a hill training session. I’ll have to recruit my running buddies (the Jack Russel and Bull Terrier) and punish myself up Devils Peak this evening. On the plus side, I am chuffed that I have conquered the getting-up-and-exercise barrier. I hope the enthusiasm will continue at the end of the six weeks.

Lesson learned: Murphy is always watching.

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