I Like Being Yelled At

This morning my alarm went off at 5:45. It took me a moment to remember why I had set it so early on a Saturday... Then I remembered the hill repeat workout I was headed out to do! Ahhh! This hill workout is organized with two coaches and several athletes of different abilities, the goal is to work super hard. I was fortunate to be invited to this since I am not one of their current athletes. I was so nervous about being late this morning that I didn't even take time to make a pot of coffee. I zapped yesterday's; that is how serious I was! Anyhow, made it on time to head out with the group for our two mile warm up. La la la. Then we were instructed that we would be doing a continuous run up and down a .3 mile hill 6-8 times. With that, I was off thinking in my head that 6 would be just fine. I am slow up and quick down (just like on the bike, I love momentum). At about 4, I am thinking "oh good! Only 2 left!" After I finished 5 and I heard the lovely yell, "YOU ARE DOING 8!!"
"for real?!!!" I argue in my head, "But! But! Blah blah blah, just do it." I would never have done that without the verbal admonishment of the coach. She expected more of me than I did of myself. Done with 8. It is still not over--2 mile tempo run. I start out just trying to keep a consistent distance between myself and the girl in front of me, totally satisfied with the 8 repeats I wasn't killing myself on this last part. Then the running coach comes up behind me, makes a few comments with a bit of chit chat before telling me that we are about to kick it on the last mile. I didnt really get what he meant until he was literally pushing me along. Every time I would start to fall back he would yell, "GET UP HERE!!! I KNOW YOU HAVE IT IN YOU! YOU JUST AREN'T WORKING HARD ENOUGH!" I was dying and thinking, "I'm not in shape! I had strep throat this week! I have four kids!" But he got it out of me. I ran so hard. Heart rate hit 215 hard. All day I have been pumped about this workout and thankful for the people that pull stuff out of me.