King of the Hill: Hololo Mountain

19^th February 2011

I’ve never been a particularly nervous or anxious person, but there is something about running that always seems to bring on a little tightness in my chest, a little flutter in my stomach and makes my leg muscles tense up. Running for me, is the most honest test of my body’s endurance, strength and most of all, my willpower. It’s just you, the demanding road under the soles of your beat-out trainers and your mind. You can never be more alone than in that moment when you call on your aching body to perform what your mind wills it to do. The King of the Hill Run on Hololo Mountain was a testament to this.

The race started on Hill Crest Avenue in St. Ann’s at approximately 8am. To say that I was intimidated by the turn-out was an understatement. Groups of participants proudly wore their running sports tops with printed titles such as “Trinidad and Tobago Regiment” and “Once a Week” to name a few. Again with the flutter in my stomach, as these well toned bodies bounced and stretched on the already steeply slanting road, as I made my way to the registration table to be measured and weighed for my handicap assignment.  I was given a 4:15. My mutantly fit brother Rahul, was given a 2:30, while my always toned and super athletic fiancé Edward, was given a daunting 0:47.

I had the best intentions. I had never seen the course and started off in my mind with the thought, “It doesn’t matter if you finish last, just keep running, even if it’s just a jog”. After the huge stop clock at the start line signaled my start, I reminded myself to keep to my pace and gingerly set off with 'Airplanes' by B.O.B. featuring Hayley Williams coming through my headphones. It was an immediately uphill start. I rounded the first bend and found another hill staring me directly in the face. Determined not to fall down on my “jog to the end” I ploughed into the next few inclines. Finally some relief came with the first small decline. By this time, my breathing was ragged and my leg muscles were on fire. I jogged to the end of the decline and then had to submit to oncoming hill. As the fitter participants ran past me, I consoled myself with, “Walk quickly until your breathing settles and then you’ll start again.”

My trek continued in bursts of jog-walk-jog-walk until it became very evident, even to my willing mind, that this Mountain was going to kick my butt. Edward found me struggling up a hill in silent determination. With a little flick on my bum to let me know he was there, he slowed his pace and stayed with me. Three-quarter of the way to the top, while struggling up a 75 degree angled hill, my lungs were begging for more oxygen. It was the first time in my life that I felt completely out of my league, and my body asked my mind, “What have you gotten us into?” I call out to Edward and escape my ipod to hear his voice. Knowing that I was struggling, he slowed his pace further and reached his hand out. No words, just encouragement. I would never forgive myself if I didn’t complete this course, even if it meant crawling over the finish line hours later. I press on.

The leaders of the pack are heading back down and as they fly past me, I can see both relief and struggle on their faces. A few manage to utter some encouraging words as the wind carries their words in stolen breaths back to those still struggling on the uphill. Rahul comes down while I’m still struggling up and I manage to find some air in my lungs to scream encouragement as the effort is etched on his face. He completes the course in an impressive 38 minutes. There are signs taped to the road surface and stuck on supports on the road side, “You have done more difficult things than this”, “Pain is only weakness leaving the body”, “The mind is the muscle that needs exercise here”, “There are no losers, only last winners” to recall a few. Without fail, everyone’s pace quickens as they pass these signs, encouragement having taken its root.

One hour and eight minutes later I cross the finish line with Edward at my side and Rahul clapping me home. It is a bittersweet moment. I am happy that I didn’t give up but disappointed that I couldn’t push myself harder to be faster and stronger.  I look back at the last hill of my descent and promise Hololo Mountain that I will take her on again.

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