On a more cheerful note

Jack and I did a 5.25-mile hike, with weighted packs, over the weekend. It was quite challenging without feeling brutal, and the fact that I wasn't really sore the next day showed me that I'm getting stronger and can amp up my efforts.

The Power of Words; or: Trying vs. Doing

just read a good quote, something Yoda says to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars:

"Do or do not--there is no try."

i'll keep this in mind today when doing >10 laps up the the big hill. "trying" sure won't cut it in September.

bad, whine-y poetry with Sam

i do not like it, Sam-I-am
i don't like this heavy backpack...
damn!

this heavy pack's upon my back
yet i'm not cut a bit of slack
another trip up the frigging hill
when all i want to do is chill

a lazy, buzzing presence
passes beside me
for the first time ever
i'm jealous of a bee

who can take a break
twenty times an hour
from that super-tough job of
pollinating a flower

(sigh)

however, my lungs
and legs feel stronger
i'm able to climb long
and longer!

ten trips up are
better than seven; and
soon i'll be on that mountain...
closer to heaven

i kinda like this, Sam-I-am
i kinda like being who i am

A post for April

my blogging slack-age was just pointed out to me...April is really flying by!
: O

i've added some intensity to my workout in the past several weeks; started using a weighted backpack when doing the treadmill (at the highest incline of 15, 3mph for 30-45 minutes) and also when hiking the "summit" at the end of Main Street in Chag Falls. it's funny because i used to feel like i'd really accomplished something when i went up it three whole times...without a weighted pack. the other day i did seven trips and could have done more - next time will be a minimum of ten. i'm definitely feeling stronger cardiovascularly (if that's a word) and otherwise. now i want to do more and more to see how far i can push myself. Jack keeps tell me to add more weight to the pack; i've had neck/back issues for years so it'll be a great excuse to find a massotherapist in the area.

Jack's sixteen-week countdown for Ranier in August has begun. it's great to have a training buddy.
: )

One more thing

Today would have been my father's 90th birthday. He died too young, at age 68, after decades of cigarette smoking and twelve years of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. He always used to say "if you have your health, you have everything"...and now I understand what he meant.

Here's to our collective good health!

Gratitude

I'm so grateful for good health; it enables me to handle my responsibilities, and also challenge myself to things I never would have dreamed I could do. Started training this week on the treadmill with a weighted pack, and the incline up to the highest level. (Five years ago I actually thought I was accomplishing something when I went to the Rec Center to read a book while sitting on my *** on a stationary bike - what a joke.)

Anyway, so far I'm doing well on the new plan and will be going to the rock gym this week to practice both climbing and belaying. Learning to lead climb, so I can eventually go across the ceiling there, will be so cool. I'll still have fear to deal with when doing the real climb, but if I can get strong and skilled enough it'll be more of a mental struggle than a physical one...with a little spiritual challenge thrown in for good measure.

the hills are alive...

thank you, bfftrainer, for the Julie Andrews visual...she might just (unbeknownst to her) become my ad hoc guardian angel...the one i can mentally turn to when i hit a tough moment!
: O

and the tough moments are sure to happen. not sure what the exact European location will be yet; all that is definite is that whatever we climb is going to be very, very tall, and there will be no losing nerve halfway up. also, there won't be any nifty built-in handholds and footrests like at the indoor rock gym. no color-coded routes. and, no springy, rubbery stuff on the ground to cushion falls.

it would probably be good to approach this systematically - that way i won't get overwhelmed. the first thing to "conquer" is the summit in downtown Chagrin Falls, aka Summit Street. the incline up to the top where Main and Summit intersect is pretty steep; so far my record is going up and down three times. Jack recommends twenty times. with a weighted pack. pretty much going up and down repeatedly until i'm practically falling over and barfing. because..."the only way to get in climbing shape, is to climb."

wheeeee!