Mind vs. Body

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the show. Tonight we are featuring the war for Cathy's fitness, in a matchup between two strong foes - Mind and Body. So - let's get ready to rumble!!

In the left corner, we have Mind. Weighing in at around 3 pounds, this master of manipulation has one goal: to take things easy.

In the right corner, we have Body. Body weighs in at around 137 pounds (exclusive of Mind), and would you look at that outfit! Just fabulous. Body is strong, but wants to be stronger - fit, but wants to be more fit. So, lets see how Body matches up against brain!

And here we go.... the warmup walk has started. Brain is trying to extend the warmup walk - it's chanting that warm ups are good for people with hip problems. Body is fighting back, contending that this weekend's race is a FIVE kilometer run, not a ONE kilometer walk combined with a FOUR kilometer run. And it looks like Body will win this one - it's running.

And Mind is taking a beating - Body is running, down the hill, around the corner, and back up the hill. You can see that Body is not happy with the pace. Mind is whispering that a slow start is better, reminding Body of how out of breath it got last time. Mind is doing a good job, Body is running pretty slowly. And around the next corner they go - and, would you look at that! Body has picked up the pace - she's really moving now!

Oooohh - look at the move Mind is making. Mind is making the case for a shorter run. Let's listen!
" Turn left at the next corner, and you can be home in 10 minutes, instead of 25, Body. It'll be easier, but you'll still be getting a run in. You'll still be maintaining your fitness level. And it's all downhill - you can avoid that big giant awful hill at the end of the run. Come on, turn left, turn left."

What is Body going to do? Is it strong enough to withstand this barrage? It is! Body goes straight! This is big! What a victory for Body - no turning back now, 5K it is! And look at that pace! As Body hits the downhill, her stride picks up, her arms are pumping, and she is flying!

Okay, the downhill portion of the course is over, and we are on flat road again. Mind has not recovered from the beating it took - the music is drowning the only sounds Mind has been able to make. But it looks like Mind is getting ready to make its move! It wants to stop! Mind wants to stop. Mind remembers that last week, along this very stretch, for the first time it was able to make Body stop. Last week, Body had a cramp, and Mind was able to exploit that, but today Mind will have to work harder to win this battle. Mind is reminding Body that it is getting tired - that fast pace has slowed a bit, and that the big giant awful hill is coming. Body seems to be holding up, but Mind isn't giving up..... now Mind is saying that Body doesn't have to stop for long! Jus t a little stop. That Mind is clever, it knows that once Body stops, it is really hard to get going again. OH! Body just told Mind to fuck off! And look at Body go! Around the corner, and Body is just kicking that hill!

Almost to the home stretch, and Mind is at it again! Last time, Body told Mind that the end of the run would be the top of the hill, not the corner. Body wanted to run as much of the route as possible, while still having a healthy cooldown. Mind is trying to get Body to stop at the corner, like the last couple of times. Mind is saying it's only a few hundred feet, but it is a really frickin' hard few hundred feet. Body is rounding the corner! But she is slowing - is she going to stop? She's stopping! No! NO! She is keeping going. Can you believe this? She is keeping going and she is kicking up the hill, look at that! She is cresting the hill! And she is slowing to a walk. Body has beat the crap out of Mind on this run.

Congratulations, Body.