Whoa! don't forget your medication

pennyknipprath

HI MFP

I decided about a month ago to hike the Manitou Incline, which is the toughest hike around these parts. It's just a measley 3/4 of a mile, but it straight up gaining 2000 feet in a short 3/4 mile. It's an old abandoned cog railroad,the locals use the railroad ties like stairs to go up. Just imagine the highest staircase you have ever seen.

I tried to make it fun by including friends from work, most of all of them bailed at the last minute. In the end only one freind came along. She is super fit and healthy and this is much less of a challenge to her. I forgot to mention shes 10 years or more younger than me.

Well after not too much of a challenge to my leg muscles, I started getting dizzy! Now I routinely hike 6 to 9 miles in the mountains so I thought this would be tough, but not impossible for me. I thought the dizziness would pass so I kept pressing on. It didn't and I was too far up to turn around and go back, but still far away from the top. The dizzy feeling kept getting worse. Now I'm in a pretty dangerous situation, I'm dizzy and can only take a few steps at a time and forced to sit down.

There is a cut off trail about 2/3 rds of the way up. I scrambled practically on my hands and knees to make it to the cutoff trail. I'm forced to stop several times, but finally make it. The trail winds down at a forgiving angle, so it's not too steep. I make it back to my car, dissapointed I didn't make it all the way! I I could'nt understand why this was so hard for me? I thought I was in better shape than that?

It wasn't until I woke up this morning and was doing my usual routine to get ready for work. I reach for my vitamines and medications. It hit's me! I forgot to take my blood pressure medicine, before I left for the trail yesterday.
NOTE TO SELF: Dont forget your medications, before you take on a dangerous challenge! I guess I'll reset and try again next month, when it's a little cooler.

By the way my younger super fit freind did make it to the top. Good for her, but no real surprise. Oh, to be 10 years younger super fit and not need Blood Pressure Medication.

I know no brainer, but being a creature of habit I find any change to my normal routine in the morning causes me forgrt to take my meds.

The one reward is this took me over 2 1/2 hours to complete even 2/3 rds of the trail. According to MFP at 2 hours hiking, ( I deducted 1/2 hour for the times I was sitting) burned 1000 + calories.

~Penny

Plates559

I take medication that will eventually turn me into a girl.