Running "Killer-manjaro"

Our neighborhood terrain is unusual for Cape Cod. A little topography lesson might be in order first. Cape Cod is a peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic ocean from the southeastern part of Massachusetts much like an arm bended at the elbow. The western-most area of Cape Cod, known to Cape Codders as the "Upper Cape" includes something we refer to as the "holly ridge". This is a series of hills and prominences that centuries ago were covered by forests of the American holly. The remainder of Cape Cod is at sea level and is known for beautiful beaches and harbors. Our neighborhood sits right on what was once the holly ridge. There is literally one flat road in the entire neighborhood; every other street, all 14, were built on hills. This makes for a very challenging run.

There are four significant hills in this holly ridge neighborhood. I've named the biggest hill "Killer-manjaro". "Killer-manjaro" or "KMJ" has a 13 ft gain; its elevation above sea level is 39.6 feet. But here's why it's killer-force: it goes from 26 ft above sea level at its base to 39.6 ft at its peak. Running up this hill is more than challenging; it takes everything I have to reach the top. The other 3 major hills on my neighborhood run are smaller but no less challenging, especially running them after I've scaled Killer-manjaro.

I've plotted out a 13.1 mile route around the neighborhood, with each mile completed noted on the cheat sheet I carry in the pocket of my Nike running shorts. I know when I've run each mile. By mile 2 I've run up 2 moderate hills; at 2.6 miles, I arrive at KMJ. When I first started running outdoors this winter, I walked up KMJ, calves burning, lungs about to burst, heart pounding. I tried running it fast, slow, sprinting, walking - it didn't matter. I could not get up that blasted hill without feeling like I was dead on arrival.

My family has often referred to me as the family "book nerd". When in doubt, or when a problem is encountered, I taught my children to get a book and figure it out. So I bought more running books and I read running websites and running blogs (the latter especially useful for motivation). I learned that running hills ("hill work") is considered the best training there is for speed and endurance. If you can run up a hill, run it effortlessly with good form, without cardiac arrest, then running on a flat plane should be a piece of cake, so to speak (http://www.runnersworld.com/video). I began to incorporate hill work into my runs this summer.

I run with my friend Jan who is new to running outdoors but who now runs with me at the ungodly hour of 6am most running days. (BTW: 6am on Cape Cod is perhaps the most beautiful time of the day.) Her legs are stronger than mine, and she's been running longer and can run faster than I'll probably ever be able to run. Jan typically runs along side me up KMJ, giving me pep talks which keep me focused on my continued climb upwards. We tell each other to remember our form: head up, chest out, back straight, no slouching! Run after run after run, we'd get to KMJ and ask each other, "are you ready?" "Let's go!"

Fast forward to this week. Jan was at an appointment the other day, so I was on my own. I ran up KMJ without thinking about it; it was there and it was part of my running plan for the day. It wasn't until I was on my way down that I suddenly realized I'd run up KMJ seemingly effortlessly. Not fast, certainly not with any PR in mind. My legs are stronger now. My calves have "definition". I'm no longer out of breath when I tackle KMJ.

It was a day to remember: I ran up KMJ and never gave it a thought. I wish Jan had been there to experience it with me. But we're scheduled for another 6am run tomorrow and I can't wait to show her how I conquered KMJ. It's the little things in life , as they say. For me, conquering Killer-manjaro was huge and sweet!