My Big Horn Sheep

Kim and I have been doing a huge amount of hiking lately along parts of the Appalachian trail near our house.  When I say huge, I mean 8-12 miles at a shot, on the part of the trail affectionately known as "roller coaster", the most strenuous part of the entire thing.  Well, I guess it's part of getting older or being less in shape than Kim, but she, like a big horn sheep, just seems to bound up the steepest sections without any effort at all, while I'm sucking wind just trying to ensure I put one foot in front of the other, overcoming the mental and physical exhaustion calling me to just stop and collapse.  It's so bad that at one point toward the end of our last hike, a young through hiker with a good 40 pounds on his back, passed me up, met Kim further up the trail where she was patiently waiting for me and as he passed her, commented, "don't worry, he's still coming."  HA!  I guess Kim decided she wanted to capture some of this in the video clip below.  I know, that's just not right. 

Why is it that when we were in our first years of marriage, it was Kim who had to struggle to keep up with me on strenuous hikes?  How is it that as the dude, she is now able to do more than I am?  I can't believe she is teasing me?  As I make it to where Kim is patiently waiting for me to catch up, the competing, comparing, complaining, and clinging begin to set in.  Stop, drop, and be I think.  Time to choose positive and playful.  At last, a downhill stretch.  Off I go, my trekking polls up and behind me like a downhill skier, as I sprint past Kim, her laughter trailing off behind me.  I'm no longer encumbered by the uphill struggle, my long legs taking me down faster than ever, forcing Kim to literally trail run to keep up.  Now I will show her what it feels like to get left behind.  HA!  "Oh and by the way babe, my new nick name for you is Big Horn Sheep".  She responds, "baaaaahhhhhh".