Oh, I'm an idiot!

So, I am walking.  I'm doing between 4 and 5 miles a day. When I first started this route two weeks ago, people were passing me like water.  All I heard while walking was "Left!  left!", meaning that people were passing me on the left and I needed to get over already.  I was slow, bay-bee.

But, this week I found that I was a bit speedier.  The walk wasn't quite as hard, and I was actually keeping up with people and even passing the really slow ones.  I have a bunch of of songs on my IPOD that are upbeat, and as long as I keep those on, I can keep a good pace up.

Wednesday, I found myself coming up on a trio of guys.  Younger guys, probably 25 or 30, sauntering along and talking.  They covered the path, blocking my way around. The next part of the path contains an incline, and I still struggle with it.  Hmm.  Should I slack off, and stay behind, or try to pass?  If I could get around them, by the time I got over the incline I'd be in good shape and not have to slow up the entire time. I decided to go for it, and uttered my first ever, "LEFT!"  A glance behind them, and apparently they decided I meant business.  I look fairly fearsome when I walk - hair every which way, hat shoved down on my head, sweat pouring off my face.  I don't sweat beautifully, that's for sure.

I passed around the guys, using my right arm to push the single stroller - Emma was at my girlfriend's house and I just had Riley - swinging my left.  Man!  UP an incline, passing a group of guys, and I felt great!  I moved safely around, muttered "thanks" and continued over to the right side of the path.  Where my stroller decided to continue moving to the right, and went straight off the path, into the muddy grass.  Thinking quickly, I slapped my other hand onto the handle of the stroller and decided to play this off, pretending that I had MEANT to do this.  "Riley!  Isn't this fun, in the grass!" I jostled the stroller around, pretending that I was four wheeling my daughter, making engine noises, all the while trying to get the damned thing back on the path.  No go - for some stupid reason it kept veering off to the right.  Where I promptly got stuck in the mud. 

A glance to the side - for by this point, the men in question had caught up with me - confirmed that, indeed, they had secured a laugh at my expense.

Next time, I slow up.

Comments

[chris]

And then you posted about it so we could all have a laugh too... though I am totally laughing with you ;-)

Can i just add that I am so impressed with your exercising. Go you!!!

[Theresa]

Ugh. That's just like tripping on nothing in front of a group of people and pretending it didn't happen! Use two hands next time! LOL

[Mrs. Fun]

Love your quick thinking. I hope you had a good laugh about it too :)

I really need to start walking in teh mornings.

[Ginger]

LOL! I say you keep going for it. And if you get a chance give us some audio... I bet listening to you bark "LEFT" would get me off my ass and moving!

[Utenzi]

Michele sent me your way, Carmen.

It sounds like you're living in a pretty serious area if even your walking path has "left" calling fitness nazis. Wow. I need to start walking more but it seems like so much trouble...