Next time invite everyone else out to help, and give them spoons :D
I felt the same way as you did removing a hunk of grass in order to establish my small garden at my new house. Its given me back about 6KG of chilli, so I see it as very much worth it at this point.
Take a soak in a bath, always makes me feel better after physical labour or a workout.
The hard part is getting back out afterwards.