The Ellimpics Update: A One-Woman Wrecking Crew

The upside of no one participating in your virtual event is that you win everything!!!!!

Of course when there is nothing tangible to win, there is less incentive to participate.

Me?

I don't need no stinkin' prizes. I compete with myself. Really. Otherwise, why on earth would I *race* on an elliptical with no one around (except for gawkers wondering what in f*ck I am doing)? There is no glory. There is no fame. There is just the satisfaction of knowing that I did something to the best of my ability...something that made my body feel good and strong. And that, my friends, is #winning.

As the lone XL-Landian competing in this year's Ellimpics, the governing body of sports for the country of XL-Land decreed I compete in a minimum of 3 events to justify the costs and bother of sending me to the Games. I asked to be entered in 4. Thus far, three have been completed...the half-marathon on Saturday, the 5K Tuesday, and... as poor event planning would have it... the 10K on Wednesday.

Having events on consecutive days was quite a challenge. I actually wasn't going to structure it that way...and being the race director, I had the option. But looking at the rest of the week, cranking out the 10K on Wednesday evening seemed to make the most sense. (I wanted to do it before I run Moeser Thursday which I want to do before a massage late in the morning which will be happening before I get my hip yanked later in the day...and by doing it Wednesday, I get to take Friday OFF in preparation for my possible elliptical marathon and 7-mile run this weekend).

I'm not going to lie...ellipticalling like a madwoman after a long day of momming is not easy. And yes, we did happen to go to the zoo today. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow...this post is about The Ellimpics.

I got to the gym around 6 p.m. and warmed up. After 10 minutes on the Stairmaster and a mile and a half on the elliptical, I was ready to let 'er rip. But only doo-doo machines were available. I was working with a time crunch...needing to be home in time to put the kids to bed. I stretched a little bit and extended my warm up for a couple more minutes, and thankfully someone got off one of the better machines.

I was so ready.

Mile 1 ... 6:21
Mile 2 ...12:35  (6:14)
Mile 3 ...18:35  (6:00)
5k  19:14
Mile 4 ...24:33  (5:58)
Mile 5 ...30:25  (5:52)
Mile 6 ...36:08  (5:43)

Mission accomplished:  6.2 miles ...37:11  (5:59 avg pace)

I felt really sluggish though was able to keep turning it over decently. I never hit that "O, please, o, please, o, please...just let me stop" place, so I guess I could have gone harder. Whatever. I didn't think I'd break 38:00 so I was pleased.

Another after-the-fact picture for you...

I really wish there were some other people doing this. Remember...The Ellimpics go through this Sunday and any kind of rehabby exercise is eligible for entry...even walking backwards on the treadmill! It's so much more fun to play with others that it is to play with myself. Wait. That didn't come out right...

It's time to stop lamenting that we cannot run very much for now and embrace the gifts we have, enjoy the outlets we can utilize, and celebrate what we can do.