Stepping on a Public Holiday

two water bottles on kitchen bench ready for use — *_{two water bottles ready for stair climbing}*

Everyone and their dog were using “my” steps

#smilingontheinside – Friday 20 June 2025

Given it was Matariki – public holiday – I kinda thought the walkway – leading to “my” steps – would be busy … I sure hadn’t anticipated that everyone and their dog would be doing what I was doing at the same time I was doing it!

Man! It was busy!

At the busiest – for most of my stepping – there were four of us doing repeats. The first woman to join me was very one-eyed focussed. It took a few passes before she said thank you for me giving way to her on the landings. She was doing 20x repeats. Because she wasn’t going all the way to the top – she turned around on the last landing and went back down again, it meant she was only! doing 1,600 steps that day. Phewweeeee!!

And then there were a couple of men. One was a 111 call waiting to happen. He was a Big Boy and looked like he was seriously in trouble. After a while I could hear him dry retching – a sign of serious dehydration – your stomach revolts when you’re electrolyte levels get low. Big Boy didn’t have any water with him. Apparently it was back at the car. Dugh! He was carrying about 50kg more than was healthy. Towards the end he stripped off his shirt. Big Boy was not in a good shape!

He was accompanied by a much older guy with a Man Bun who kept referring to Big Boy as son. I’m not sure whether that was because he was, or a term … Man Bun was in prime shape. It was obvious he worked out beyond climbing steps. He was also much more fun than the very focussed woman and the guy who was struggling.

Man Bun was doing 20 repeats as well. I told him I’d keep out of his way – especially as he started off running up. He replied that the steps were there for everyone to use and we were all benefitting.

When I step I “walk out” at the top and the bottom – I don’t just turn around and go straight back down again. It probably adds another 1-2km to my overall distance. It also means I can keep going and don’t have to stop at the top. That gave all of them more time to do their stuff without me getting in their way.

On my last ascent I passed Man Bun on my way up. I told him this was my last and I hoped the rest of his weekend was a good one. He high-fived me and said how much he’d enjoyed watching me work hard.

I don’t think for a minute that anything I do is inspirational for anyone else … but maybe, just maybe, yesterday Big Boy might’ve gotten some hope to see someone old enough to be his mother in far better shape than he … maybe…? Who knows, eh…?

Dad’s Voice In My Head

Twas interesting… Fortunately, I hope!, I caught myself before I fell into the trap of must try harder… here I was, sharing steps with three others who were going harder, further, faster than I was.

You can always try harder Julie!

Getting over yourself takes energy. I used a lot of energy yesterday telling myself that what I was doing was okay.

I think, though, dad’s voice kicked in because I’d missed my steps on Monday because I was at Braemar. Even though I made up some of those missed steps on Thursday – not normally a stepping day – I was still “behind” for the week.

So I was feeling somewhat vulnerable… Exposed… Not good enough… A failure…

I finished this week two flights (168 steps) fewer than I had originally planned for, wayyy back when I said I’d increase my repeats one flight/week.

Wednesday (672) + Thursday (336) + Friday (840) = 1,848 steps for the week.

I played with fabric when I got home

I had a stack of work to do when I got home, but as it was a public holiday, I gave myself the day off and played with some fabric. Alan was still away so it meant I could spread out and take over the dining table and kitchen bench with fabric and stuff!