Colorado Springs - have to be outside

This week, I went to the Broadmoor Hotel Resort http://www.broadmoor.com/colorado-springs-resort.php, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.   Almost the full day was filled with meetings and meals, so there wasn't much time to enjoy this beautiful resort.  I did set my alarm and asked for a wake up call at 5:30 am, each morning so I could get my exercise in. 

Steve and I are signed up for the Amtrak in September again and we need to get the riding in.  I was concerned about having a whole week off the bike.

The resort had a lake with a walkway around it which was about .6 of a mile.   I jogged it on Tuesday  morning twice and my friend Beth joined me for a 2 miles walk on Wednesday morning on the back side of the resort.   The resort was at 6,000 feet and I didn't really feel the difference until I tried to jogged.

On Thursday morning since we didn't have meetings and my flight was leaving mid day, I signed up for 50 minute spin class.  I was the only one in the class, which meant I couldn't just sand bag because the instructor was watching me the whole time.   I did get 11 miles in and my face was red for several hours.

I'm back home for a week before another trip to Minnesota.  Hopefully tomorrow and Saturday we can get in some rides and get on with our training.

Let's go bike riding!

Well, Steve and I have signed up for the Amtrak century again in September.  I guess we better get some riding in.  I've been traveling so much for work, that when I'm home, it just feels so nice to sleep in a little.  But....I guess it's time. 

This morning we did our 14 mile Huntington Beach loop.  Not bad mostly 14 - 17 miles per hour.  My heart rate seemed a little up, so I'm afraid I may have lost a little conditioning.  It was nice to be back on the bike though.  This year for training we need to get some hills in before the century.   It's only a little more than 2 months.

After coming back from vacation in Kauai, on a morning jog though the neighborhood I had tripped on a raised sidewalk and banged up my knee and thumb.  I didn't realize I also had sprained my left wrist. It seem to be healing, but when I tried lifting my carry-on suit case on a work trip to Minnesota, I noticed it getting sore again.  We went to the doctor for an xray.  It's not broken, but I'm in a wrist brace, taking Naproxen and the doc wants me to do physical therapy.  Who has time for physical therapy? 

What concerned me the most was being able to lean on my hands on the handlebars of my bike.  The brace was annoying this morning, but at least it didn't hurt.  OK, many miles to go.

Finding time to exercise

After coming back from an active vacation on Kauai and then doing lots of walking over a New York long weekend, I have found it hard to fit in my regular exercise.   I went on back to back trips to Minnesota for work.  The first week my sister had to travel there for work as well so we stayed at the same hotel and got up every morning for a 1.6 mile walk.  The next week we had lots of rain so I was stuck in the hotel gym on the stationery bike.  I'm miserable when I have to workout inside.

The last week of June we joined our friends, the Chastelers for a trip to the California Wine country staying in the little town of Windsor.   My wonderful husband got up with me each morning and we did jog/walk intervals for 3 miles alternating with 2 days of swimming laps in the pool.   Felt good to stay active although I'm missing my strength training and loosing my core work. 

One day we canoed the Russian River 10 miles.  More of a float trip, but at least we were outside.  Then the next did a short 2 mile walk/hike in the Armstrong Redwood State Reserve.   I still don't think my working out is more than the great meals we are eating.  But at least I can still jog for a full mile.  It's not like starting at square one again.

When we get back, it's back on the bike as we have both signed up for the Amtrak again and it's time to start training to get in shape for the 100 mile ride the 2nd week of September.

Staying active in New York

The first weekend in June, Jessy, my sister-in-law Cyndi and friend Maleia did the big Apple. We enjoyed good food, drinks and fellowship, but we stayed active.  We walked many many blocks.  On Sunday Morning we got up early to beat the heat so we could jog the Brooklyn Bridge.  What a view, we could really see the city waking up and getting ready for the day as we jogged along.  It's about a 1 mile crossing.  After a yummy breakfast at a local bagelry referred by a local dad playing with his daughter in the park, we rented bikes and road Central Park.  Definitely the way to see most of Central Park. Total riding mileage was over 7 miles. 

Hiking the Kalalau Trail - Na Pali Coast

For our biggest hike we planned and did the Na Pali Coast, Kalalau Trail.  On a previous trip, we had done a hike with the girls to Hanakapi'ai Beach which is about 2 miles each way.  This time we decided we would like to hike as far as we could without a permit.  After hitting the beach, we headed inland on a tougher trail which was covered in jungle.  The way was tough and you could tell the average tourist didn't normally try this route.  We had to cross the stream 4 times, I gave up on the boulder hopping and after just about falling flat on my backside into the stream decided to slosh across walking in the shallows.

We did meet quite a few people on this trail unlike our one earlier in the week doing the Power Line.   Mostly couples and no children.  There was a all sorts of terrain, from red clay, to rocks to roots, to lava rock, to crumbling dirt.  We climbed up hill for 2 miles and were rewarded with an air conditioned (the breeze from the falls hitting the pool was a natural cooler) view of Hanakapi'ai Falls which fed the stream.   Very pretty.  It was like we hiked through Jurassic park to get there.

After a leisurely lunch we retraced our steps.   Although we had waited an extra day for our boots and the trail to dry, it started to rain on our way back.   The trail back from the falls was OK, but back from the beach to the trail head was very muddy and very slippery.   It was a lot slower going back.

This gave us a total of 8.5 miles for the day.   Our legs were sore, but it was fun - another day on Kauai, going somewhere we had never been before.

Kayaking the Hanalei

So my lovely trainer mentioned that getting in and out of the hammock does not count as exercise (course she has not seen my husband get in and out).  In keeping with our active vacation yesterday we kayaked the Hanalei river.  On past trips we have paddled the Wailua which includes a short hike to a water fall, but found that to be very touristy and too many people.  This trip took us up into the state ecological reserve. 

We could paddle as far inland until it was too shallow to paddle.  Steve even got out and walked over a couple of shallow areas to go even further.   Paddling up river was a workout as we had to constantly paddle against the strong current and winds.   We were rewarded with lots of birds, wild bamboo, growing bananas and turtles.   Yes, Steve, turtles count as wildlife.  All sizes and many of them sunning themselves on logs and branches floating in the water.

Then we paddle back downstream and out into Hanalei Bay.  Because the surf was flat, there not very many people at the beach.  We were able to find a secluded beach around the corner from the new St. Regis (formerly the Princeville Hotel) to have a leisurely lunch.   Then we went back out into the salt water and enjoyed the rolling waves and attempted to kayak surf the breakers.    What fun with such a buoyant kayak.

I was very sad to paddle back and give up my boat.   With the rolling waves I thought it was as nice as my hammock.  

When we got back we did the "map my kayak (run)" and figured we got a total of about 6 miles of paddling in.

Hiking in Hawaii

Those of you that know me, know that I would much more prefer to be outside then inside.  Exercising in a gym just doesn't do it for me.  So what a better place to be exercising than on the island of Kauai.   Steve and I decided it was time for a trip while children were all in school.   We spent the 1st  three days on the west side of the island at the Waimea Plantation Cottages.   These were original cottages used by the sugar cane workers.  They restored them with the original wooden floors, new paint, found vintage porcelain fixtures and island furniture.   

As we have been to Kauai many times over the last 14 years, we haven't spent much time on this side of the island except for a trip to Waimea canyon and Polehale Beach at the end of the road.   This time we planned for some hiking.   On our 2nd day here we did the Alakai Swamp.  We did about 6 miles because we didn't have enough food (hadn't gone grocery shopping yet).    There were miles and miles of board walk and gorgeous views of the Na Pali Coast as well as the canyon.    On our 3rd day we hike from the end of Polehale Beach, rock scrambling to a private cove for a picnic lunch.  This was only about 2 miles but the rock scrambling was tough and the warm air kept us sweating. 

Day 4 meant time to leave our lovely cottage and head up to the North side of the island where we normally stay.  We did a two mile walk run on the black sand beach before hoping in the car for a driving tour by all the old sugar cane factories.

My frist 5K!

On Saturday, Steve, Jessy, Jake and I did the Orange County ECO mud run.  It was a fun 5 K with muddy obstacles along the way.  I planned to pace myself because I wanted to run the whole 3.1 miles.   But I also knew that Steve would want me to run with him.  So I kept and eye on him and slowed down when I thought he needed me to.  I know that I could have pushed a little harder because I don't think my heart rate went up very high and my recovery seemed like nothing.  

Jessy made us matching shirts and we got a lot of comments on them.  Thanks to Brittany for the idea.

At each of the obstacles we had to slow down a bit and almost stop.  I really didn't want to get mud in my face, ears, mouth or eyes.   Jessy crawled through every one and Jake actually rolled around in the last one.   Jessy ended up with very abraised knees that will take a little while to heal.  I walked through the obstacles or went around.

Everyone was dressed in costume and having a lot of fun.  There were very few of us taking it seriously.  About half way through were some inner tubes we were suppose to hop through.  I did hop and came down very hard on my right foot.  I could feel my plantar fasciitis stretch and crack.  I was very disappointed because it was just a little sore after I had warmed it up.  I was in a lot of pain.  Steve said I should just walk but it felt better to jog.  I think because I was running more on my toes then using the heel.  

I only stopped where needed because of the crowds at the obstacles and then would grab water at the water stations, but other than that I kept jogging the whole 3.1 miles.    I think at the pace I was doing I could have done a 10K.  My finish time was 42:40, better than I though it would be, but I know I could do even better.

Weekend workouts are best outdoors...

This last weekend Steve and I did a 17 mile bike ride on Saturday and Cyndi and I bagged another Orange County Peak on Sunday.  What we thought would be a little over 6 mile hike ended up 10 miles as we decided to make the trip all the way up to Sitton Peak.  It was well worth the trek and we have another peak completed on our list.  Top elevation was about 3200 feet.  The last 1/4 mile was 300 feet of elevation gain but provided us with a 360 degree view of the So Cal area - Ontario to Orange County.

This week work took me to Baltimore, Maryland.  The hotel did not have a gym but with the room key we were allowed access to Bally Fitness.  I did pack workout clothes but wasn't sure I would be able to do any true workouts with the time change.  But the first day I put in a one mile run around the Maryland DMV campus next door to our hotel.  As I am still nursing a sore heel and walked in heels on Tuesday, on Wednesday I headed to Ballys for cardio on a stationery bike and some assisted pull-ups.  Tomorrow is an early morning flight, but I'll try to get my ab work in.


Saturday is the mud run...not looking foward to getting dirty.

Rita is back and raring to go...

Sounds like over her Easter vacation she only got one run in, so she decided we need to kick it up a notch. Lots of cardio and different moves. On Wednesday we did reverse suicides. This is a modification of interval training. Cones are placed along the parking lot going up hill. You run as hard as you can to the farthest cone, then jog back to the start. Then you run hard to the 2nd cone and back and so on. In between sets we would work on other strength areas with the bands.

On Friday we did speed training with parachutes. You place the parachute strap around your waist and run up the hill as fast you can trying to "inflate" the parachute. Then an easy jog back and do it again. We did a circuit with different stations including throwing a bag of weights up the hill, one-legged squats and rope wiggling including squats.

Cyndi wore her garmin on Wednesday and Friday and we seem to get in a total of 1.5 to 2 miles with each morning work our.

Next Saturday is the mud run. I really am not looking forward to getting muddy and definitely not looking forward to getting mud in my ears, nose, mouth or eyes. I know with Steve and Jessy there they will make sure I don't get away clean. My plantar fasciitis is flaring up again. I am a bit concerned, but as long as it warms up I should be OK.

Today Steve and I went for a 17 plus mile bike ride our normal beach route. It felt good to be back on the bike. Funny though, I kept thinking we had a head wind, but then realized going 15 miles an hour when you are use to running at about 4.5 miles per hour would seem like a head wind. I just don't remember that from before. It was a good workout and being fitter, my heart rate came down very fast when we stopped at lights and at the end of the ride.

Going to Baltimore this week for work. Let's see if I can fit in some workouts, but I'm not sure the early morning thing is going to work for me because of the time difference. I have to keep making good food choices.