trail of lights
this morning's workout called for 7 miles of track work, and i was champing at the bit to get out: 30-degree temperature, coupled with 20% humidity on a cloudless morning. i was feeling fresh and wanted something big.
based upon independent testimony from kate, roger and michael, i decided to do mile repeats on the lou neff loop of zilker park. they all had nothing but good things to say about this type of a workout in a marathon training plan.
mind you at this time of year, lou neff transforms into austin's very own trail of lights, an annual must-see for visitors and residents alike. granted, the lights aren't plugged in at 7am, but i figured that the loop would make for an entertaining, if not unique workout.
upon arriving in the park, i was thrilled upon realizing where the start/finish line for my repeats would be: the yule log! it's the only sight on the trail that the city can't unplug: an oasis of smoky, ashen warmth on the mile-plus perimeter of the park. i hung my jacket and hat on the picket fence and began my workout.
the first mile got wild in a hurry,
but i just kept chugging along on the second.
though by the third mile, i was gassed and seeing nothing but stars:
deep in the workout as my brain turned to mush, the trail stopped being a novelty. it transformed into a surreal montage of images, authored somewhere in between tim burton and roger waters. the worst was at the 1000m mark, where one took a blind left hand turn to head back west across the park. waiting to greet you on the other side of this turn was this year's "candyland" display:
when your brain has no oxygen and your legs are on an acid trip of their own, the last thing you need to see are cupcakes and popsicles staring at you--nay, taunting you--with their twisted smiles and carefree, caloric demeanors.
BWAAAHHH! i'm getting the jibblies just looking at that picture! i now understand what some people mean when they say that they're scared of clowns. at that moment, in the given state of fatigue/fear, closing your eyes and hammering on was all you could do to make the images go away.
after the fifth and final interval, my body was trashed. my hamstrings were piano-tight, and my lungs were taking in all the icy cold air they could. every ounce of my legs was burning. i leaned against that white fence, put my toasty jacket on, and stared detached into the morning embers: ashes glowing, fire crackling.
12 hours later, the smell of yule accompanied other requisite odors when i cleaned out my gymbag for the day. indeed, it's the most wonderful time of the year.
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