Firefighter Husband vs. Wife

Ok, I have to share this story with you. My husband who "gets paid to hike" took me on a hike on Saturday. I have never hiked this trail (although it's always been a goal) and was ready to accomplish this goal. It was only 2.8 miles........not bad, right?? WRONG!!! My husband carried our backpack full of water, snacks, and cell phone, which I thought was heavy. His response was "I wish I carried this light of a pack, my fire gear is about 30 pounds heavier. YIKES, I thought. I guess I'd never make it in the FF world. As we headed up this mountain, other hikers (young/old, in shape/out of shape) passed us up. My wonderful husband kept stopping, turning back and checking on me. I was tugging along at what felt like a fast pace, but really must of been snail speed. I said "I'm ok, maybe slow, but I'm not quitting!" He'd turn and continue with his hike. Only to stop again, turn around and check-on me. I made the comment of wow this is great excercise for you. Oh this is nothing he said, in fact I've ran this trail a few times. I'm use to hiking trails steeper than this. WHAT, I thought! I was breathing hard and sweating a lot. It crossed my mind a few times, that I could never be a FF. AND as not to add more "flame to the fire" I was hiking away from my car, he hikes away from fire. He kept telling me "you're almost there.....keep going." I'd stop and look up only to see what looked like a long way up. A hiker passed me on his way down and said "20 more minutes and you'll be there." I felt like shouting "20 minutes......that's not almost there." My husband turned around to wait for me when we hit the 2.5 mile marker, and asked me "do you want to turn around?" Drowing in sweat, I stop to catch my breath and replied "NO WAY, I may be slow, but I will finish this hike!" Now let me throw this in......I'm not totally out of shape (I kick-box and spin as well as workout at the gym) although this hike was proving me wrong. Finally what seemed like another hour, my husband turns around and says, "see that rock.....that's the top!" The last 15 steps felt like my leggs were cement. At last, I reached the top!! What a view!! Finally, a goal I set, I reached. I apologized to my husband about making him go slow. He smiled and said "that's ok, I was happy to have you with me. I didn't want you to go down with heat stroke." What a keeper, that man is!! I have a totally wonderful husband!! How cool is that?? So we rested a few minutes, he gave me a cold gatorade (as a reward) and I munched on a fiber bar. We headed down hill, which one would think would be easier. NOT!! I felt like I worked my poor little fragile body more than I did on the way up. My fingers were so swollen and my feet were aching. Hubby kept saying, look we're almost to the truck. Maybe it's my eyes, but it looked far away, still. Anyways, I'm happy to announce that a round-trip of 6.2 miles kept me busy for 4.5 hours. When I got home I crashed on the sofa for a nice nap. Today as I walk around the house with aching calf muscles, I can't help but think "I'm thankful to be a wife and greatful for my hard-working FF husband." This hike made me appreciate him more than I already did. He's in awesome shape, and well me that's a different story. Hope you post a comment about a story of hiking or a challenge you've had. Stay safe!!