Chest destruction complete, I zombie walk to the stepmill for the second time today. My energy reserves are low, and brain power flickering. My will is just sufficient to step on this ultimate high intensity interval butt kicker. Two minutes on level 10, one minute all the way up to 20. Repeat for 25 minutes. Running up the step mill every third minute feels a little rowdy. It sounds like a herd of elephants. (a very small herd of a single 182.8 lb. elephant.) Still, it seems obnoxious. But I've got a goal!
As I approach the tail end of the intervals, I get lost in fantasy. This year Bodhi and Cameron, are 9 and 11. In 2.5 weeks they will be bodybuilding in the little dudes class. We've been posing in the garage and practicing quarter turns. Their routines are coming together and boy are they excited to be bodybuilders. My thoughts turned to them and how fun it will be to hang out with them backstage.
Two goals of mine are to win my class, and win an overall. At the end of the show, all class winners square off to compete for the overall title. The best bodybuilder becomes the Alaska State Champion, Mr. Alaska. That's where my thoughts ran away. I visualized winning the whole thing, and my boys coming up on stage with me. I would love nothing more to have a Mark Mason photo stage photo of me and my boys posing down together! Before I realized, I had sprinted nearly two minutes. The Intensity of my pounding heart felt good! A gust of wind beneath my wings I suppose. The energy of my goal made me stronger. It was such a fun thought, I finished strong at max speed, that normally has me dangling from the machine.
I slid off the step and sat relishing the scene, marinating in my own happy, sweaty juices.
Isn't it fun to dream! It's a privilege the rest of the animal kingdom doesn't get to enjoy.