Hell, pure and total Hell
It was horrible. The Mountain Mommas hike was a disaster, and one that will take me a while to recover. Frist I was at least 40lbs heavier than any of the other women there. I felt huge in comparison to all these lean mothers. Second, my child was by far the largest, meaning that not only would I be carrying all my own extra weight, but his weight as well, that's an extra 30lbs.
I wasn't sure if the hike would be on due to the weather concerns, but the leader said that we would go ahead and wip it out, to just bag the hike. I should have stopped rate there and said no, but I sucked it up and thought what the hell.
Rate of the bat the pace was very fast, faster then I'm capable of. I had to run up the trail to keep up, and I'm not a runner, or in that goood of shape. I quickly lagged behind. I was moving as fast as I could and still going so slow, breathing hard, sweating with my face turning bright red. I look up and all the other women look like they are just out for a stroll. Talking, not breathing hard, not sweating. I was so embarressed at my lack of physical ability. Then these two girls had to stop and they asked if I was ok, I said "NO, I'M FAT" It was harsh, and I later apoligized for it, but come on, I can't run up a mountain. I managed to stay in front of these women but it took evry once of focus and will power not to break down crying.
Everytime they all stopped for a break, by the time I reached them they would continue on, so I did not get a break until the halfway mark at 2 miles.
We decided to go back the way we came, and hope not to get rained on, sadly the storm wich we out walked was back the way we came. There was a lot of thunder, lighteing and dark clouds. I was concerned for some of the other women, there was one with an 11 week old baby. To get caught in the storm was a disaster.
And that is just what happened. We started walking back, some ran and it started to rain. The rain got harder and harder and then became mixed with snow. We came of a gully and were hit with the wind. Kids started screaming. Some women ran, I went as fast as I could go. I started to get a stich in my side, I was soaked, and soar. Then my son started to scream, he was cold and wet. The trail turned to mud and I started to slide all around. I thought this was so riduclous, this was wrong, we should not have been out here, all for out stupid fitness we put our lives and our children's lives in danger. Never again.
When my son started to scream, my adrelaine kicked in and I ran the last 1/2 mile to the car. No mind you I was so fatigues and I don't run, but hell if I can stand my son crying. By the time I go to the end I could barely get up the stairs to my car. My legs were like lead weights, I almost collapsed. But I had to get my son out of the weather.
We made it, we jumped in the car, warmed up, my son was ok, I was tired, and my face was about as red as could be. I pretty much had just power walked and ran a 4.1 mile hike in an hour and 15 minutes, this same hike took me three hours earlier in the week.
I'm amazed that I did it, but I never want to have to do that again. Fearing for my son was not what I had signed up for. I'm also not happy with the leadership, she should have stopped the hike or canceled it. I'm also canceling my hike for next week, I'm just not ready if this is the pace they keep on the hikes. Maybe next month, but it will take me a bit to get over this horrible dissapointment.
More bad news on the way, but this is enough for now.