Your "First" Fitness Morning

Do you believe that human body is perishable ?
If you do then shrug off that laziness, say goodbye to the sleep goddess and jump off your bed early morning.Put on your running shoes and off you go to the nearest jogging park.Believe me the moment you reach there you will find many many fitness freaks sweating out.Instantly you will get into the rhythm and will start feeling one amongst them.Noone knows its your first morning,
so dump the shyness and start taking your laps.

There will be few who are very serious about this walking business.They dont bother to look here and there while they walk.Ear phones plugged in they are quite oblivious to the world around.You can see the determination in their eyes and gait.Carefully you should give way to such co joggers
because if you come their way you are surely going to get an accidental shove away along with some grumble.

Do not feel disheartened, there surely are a more amiable breed of joggers.As you move ahead, if you are slow and steady (being your first morning), you surely will capture the waves emitted by these amiable joggers.How do you identify them? You should look out for the ones who come into the park, take a slow stroll and then occupy a very strategic position and watch the others take their rounds.You ofcourse have a choice to join this breed of watchers but honestly it will not fetch you anything.
If you feel the urge from within to join this group, think of that cosy sleep that you have sacrified , think of all the other comforts that you may have to compromise once you fall ill as you chose to watch others sweat and not do anything for yourself.Am sure you will throw away any such desire to join them.

Now that you are completely tuned to the rules of this park and have started taking it seriously,
did you notice your co jogger who just went passed you.She actually gave you a smile. Now that was the first signal, and the inspiration to increase your speed.
Very soon you are running next to her, and appreciating the cleanliness of the park and how well they maintain the trees.Every human being needs some motivation in life to do something new and something as hard as this.
Let this be your motivation, to wake up at the first beep of the alarm and reach your destination as early as possible.You are a "Fitness" freak now!! Enjoy the run!!

The Snow– A December to Remember

We had not planned anything; All we knew was that we were going to Tahoe. Excited yet unprepared!!

None of us had any gloves, cap or shoes to be worn in the Snow .Only precaution we took was the chain for the wheels to drive in the snow.

We started from Hotel Strata at 6am, picked up N from Marriott. Thus began our journey from West El Camino Real to Boreal (close to Lake Tahoe) up the US-80.We stopped over at Starbucks to have our breakfast around 9am.

By 11am we were only 60miles away from Boreal when we came to know there was a road block ahead. All the cars driving on US-80 were getting diverted. The police instructed us that to reach Tahoe we should take US-49 & 50.

Without losing any more time, B drove through the road smoothly .As we took the twist and turns of the narrow way uphill, I started feeling dizzy. The thoughts of seeing snow had taken a back seat for me now, as I had to take medicines to ensure that I feel better.

One clear hairpin like bend and there ahead of us was the first view of the snow and it was amazing. A white carpet spread all over the Christmas trees. I felt I had entered the childhood fairy tale story book, where the snow man with a carrot nose and the red cap would be standing there alone amidst the miles and miles of snow.

 

The view was amazing, so was the company.

We were following the trail of the cars. It was a single lane and the cars were moving slowly and cautiously keeping to the right .Any wrong move can be fatal. We noticed most of the people were stopping to put on the chains.

All this while it was drizzling, when that mild drizzle has transformed to snow fall. Awesome!!

We got off our car and stood by the road trying to relate to reality. For us it seemed a dream come true. A drop in the corner of your eyes, we were surely missing our dear ones!!

A road covered with snow on either sides, it was miles of white carpet till where your eyes can reach. In all this whiteness trails of cars of different colours moving slowly up the US-50.An incredible view captured in B’s camera.



 

In the chilling cold, with the snowflakes dripping all over our body these guys started the expedition of putting up the chains on the front wheels. No gloves on, the fingers were going numb in few seconds. They would take turns and get into the car to roast their numb fingers in the heater. While I was cozily parked inside the car. That’s the Selfish me. But I actually didn’t want to spoil the broth.

After a long effort of half hour the chains were finally on. We were now ready to move up the hill to Sierra at Tahoe.



It was almost 8 feet of snow on both sides. The road had sharp turnings. We had to take the hairpin like bends very cautiously and definitely challenging for someone driving in snow for the first time. We were in safe hands of our friend who drove through slowly not faltering at any point. Cautious yet playful.

When we reached the top at Sierra at Tahoe, the clock said it was 1.30pm

Moment we got off the car, the gusty wind seemed to be sweeping our feet off the ground. The snow was piercing us deep within.We rushed inside straight to the second floor where you get the ski boarding equipment. But unfortunately enough to our disappointment the last training class for the day had started so it didn’t make much sense to try skiing without any proper training and then land up injuring ourselves. They asked us to come back the next day. We knew we had to wait till we come back again to Tahoe L

Not losing any more time, we hopped into the snow like toddlers, throwing snowballs at each other!! Pushing each other in the snow till we were out of breathe.

Soon we realized we were not appropriately dressed for the snow. Our fingers couldn’t sense anything. Eyes half closed barely making through that snow cloud. By this time we were hungry and thirsty too. We decided to go up to the restaurant and refuel ourselves. On our way to the restaurant we participated in a survey and won a free glass of Hot ChocolateJ

Once at the restaurant we helped ourselves with some yummy beer battered fish and chips, sandwiches, Buffalo wings and pizza. Of course there was red wine, Jack Daniels and some strong beer also.

Now we were energetic again and also warm from inside to bear the blisters from the snow. As we walked into the snow in the skiing area it was heavenly. The fresh snow was lying everywhere .One step into it and you will sink in it for some time. We played in the snow, rolled on it and danced around.

 

The snowflakes were piercing our skin still we were enjoying nature’s bounty. The wind was too strong and chilly. Walking casually I slipped into the fresh snow, immediately it was knee deep and I soon found myself screaming for help. When i finally got pulled out of it I couldn’t stop rolling with laughter. Fresh snow and Quick sand isn’t the same J

Clock was ticking away, and we had to head back before the roads close down. Those deadly bends didn’t seem dangerous anymore. Having come down a few miles we thought of having the chains removed. Pulled over close to another van, seemed they had stopped to play in the dark woods covered by snow. We could hear chirping of several kids in the darkness of the woods.

The guys got off and started several methods to take the chain off but all efforts were in vain. Finally they sought help of the family ahead of us. They seemed well equipped. While I was once again cozily parked inside as that’s what my friends had told me to do, they relentlessly made efforts to take the chain off. Sitting  inside in that comfort zone I stared into  the darkness next to me , trees standing like monsters , snow covered and deep within me a fear of getting lost in that darkness. Overwhelmed by all these thoughts initially I missed the sight of few hands waving at me outside the window. Coming back to my senses I realized the whole gang was shouting at me trying to say something waving  their  hands…pulled the window shield down and all I could hear was “Get Off” Get Off” “We need to take the tire out”

Seems they were trying to take the tire off for quite some time and were clueless what was stopping the car from moving up. It was me J Finally the tire was in K’s hand, the chain was pulled out and I contributed by putting the chain into the box. Well applauded!!!

Waving a goodbye to our saviors in the Van we set forth towards El Camino Real. Stopped over for a quick grab at McDonalds.

Post-midnight I finally found myself cozily tucked into my bed, eyes closed and the snow princess taking me on a ride on her reindeer over the white carpet once more.