Hello!

My name is Sue, and I'm getting addicted to tough, long mileage, day hikes!!!

:-)

An inspiring story...I Dare You to Move!

http://www.expandoutdoors.com/blog/late-blooming-athlete-ann-mehls-262-mile-transformation-16142.html

I love this!  I'm a late bloomer as well.  Not for marathons but other things.  (And a marathon is on my bucket list.  I've already power walked one in 2008 as a fundraiser...now I want to run one.)

This blog post just gave me some extra fuel for courage for my 30 mile Art Loeb day hike coming up.  After this past Saturday, on the training hike,  I just didn't think I was going to be able to do 30 miles in a day!  I pushed through a tough 7.5 miles though.  Mentally, I pushed myself...i was in a ton of pain.  My knees still have a ton of work.  (muscular imbalance) I did not think I could go on.  The section we did really hurt.  Mentally, I pushed myself through it...kinda had to in order to get back to the car!!!

I just keep training.  I'm starting early too, at least...in my training.

I'm trying to strengthen my quads for the descents.

My goal is to do this trail in 14 hrs.  However, if it takes 24 hrs., fine!    But it has to be within a day!!!  Ha! (Needless to say, I'm bringing a headlamp!)

I used to feel bad for being a late bloomer at things.  It feels like it has taken me forever just to be in the shape that I am in right now.  I look at others with envy or in awe of what they can do.  I'm inspired.  I look at myself sometimes with embarrasment...for being out of shape.  Then those thoughts subside, and I look at myself and celebrate.  By doing all the things I do, even as a late bloomer, I'm celebrating life!  My life...no one else's.  Stop comparing yourself to others Sue!

I remember my very first climbing trip...it was a day trip to Rumbling Bald in NC in 2007.  I thought that hike into the crag was miserable!!!  I was a weak climber and scared.  The hike out was tough but did not hurt my knees like now though.  (Wish I would have known to condition properly and strength train...I don't care how in shape you think you are to be a weekend warrior...if you don't strength train and condition, you will eventually get injured or you will start hurting from overtraining only one muscle group(s).  Actually, weekend warriors probably need to strength train more so that any other type of outdoor athlete.)  It caught up to me.  But I remember the next day, I couldn't even get up out of bed and my whole body hurt from head to toe.  I was dehydrated, muscle fatigued, tired and exhausted.  (I have FMS and recovery is very important for me.  I have recently learned a lot about the recovery process, and I take it very seriously now.)

Today, I can go on climbing trips where we hike and climb for 3-4 days in row, and I get home late from these trips too and go to work the next day with just slight pain in my knees when I take the stairs down. 

Physical therapy has helped me and so has power walking.  I strength train as well.  I'm more active now than ever before.  Yeah, it still hurts, but at least I am moving!  I want to be fit for life, as I call it.  The greastest part too is that I'm totally living life to its fullest by getting fit for life!  :-)

I dare you to move!!!

There's always room to grow...

Think of the one area of life that brings you the most discomfort, Sue, and that's where you're ripe for growth.
Never fails,


The Universe

Updates

So this morning, I had my body comp done. 
I weigh 128 pounds, and I am 5'5".
My body fat percentage is at 28.51. 

Currently, I am reading Food for Fitness by Chris CarMichael.  Tonight, I will calculate my caloric intake needed for my Foundation Period.  I will also figure out my carb needs, protein needs and fat needs based on per pound of my body weight.  I wanted to wait until this morning to get these results first.

I have started a training schedule late in the year, but oh well.  The Foundation Period is the first training period. It usually lasts about 3-4 months.  This is my period where I work on my aerobic foundation. 

I knew I was a bit out of shape, but until I started training with a personal trainer, I really did not realize just how much.  I am out of shape!!!  Cross-training is some serious stuff!  It works your entire body!  I really need it.

I ended my first semester back in school with a B!  I am so stoked.  My first anatomy & physiology class, and I got a B!  Yay!!!

This past Saturday, I power hiked 4.5 miles and climbed most of the afternoon at the gym.
Sunday was Mother's Day so I went home to see my Mom.  This was my rest day.  :-)

So, Monday's 30 minute training went like this:

• 10 minutes warming up on the row machine
• 2 sets of 10 cable upright rows with a squat in there
• 2 sets of 10 cable rows
• 2 sets of 10 leg extensions
• 2 sets of wall squats - holding until it burned and hold for another 10 secs after the burn starts
• 2 sets of 10 pull-ups assisted with my foot in a massive rubber band
• At the end of each pullup set, I had to hold my chin above the bar for 10 seconds
• 2 sets of 10 biceps curls with a twist on the TRX suspension (feet on the ground)
• 2 sets on each leg of 15 lunges with my feet on sliders
• 2 sets of mountain climbers  - a variation with a right knee to right elbow and left knee to left elbow with feet on sliders
• 1 set of mountain climbers with my feet on sliders - both knees going into my chest at same time

I really thought I was going to puke after this workout!
She is not a good counter, so she tends to add onto my reps.  :p

Monday evenings, I usually do a yoga class, but I had some cavities filled.  I went home afterwards at 4:00 with my face numb and just took a nap and read some that evening.  I got some errands done too.

Tuesday was a light day!  I did my Daily Dozen and then a yoga class that evening.

Wednesday morning session:

• Body comp
• Hamstrings curls for 1 minute
• Leg press for 1 minute
• Cardio on the Elliptical for 2 minutes trying to go at 175
• Leg extensions for 1 minute
• 10 assisted pullup jumps using biceps (jumped up to the bar, pulled my chin up, lowered slowly and jumped down and repeat for 10 times)
• Cardio for 2 minutes on the Elliptical
• Cable bicep curls for 1 minute
• Cable triceps for 1 minute
• Cardio for 2 minutes on Elliptical
• Mountain climbers for 1 minute
• Burpees for 1 minute
• Cool down walk around the building
• 2 sets of abs: straight leg raises and crunches with legs straight up in the air

I dry-heaved on the way to my car and while I was driving home to take my shower!!!  During my mountain crawlers/climbers, I stopped and did child's pose!  LMAO!!!

I think this was the hardest workout I've had yet!!!

Anyway, I'm climbing tonight in the gym and will be stretching a ton.

I'm planning on running Thursday morning and doing a gentle yoga class that evening.

Friday morning at home, I'm going to try to push myself for either a cardio workout again or to do a session with myself like what I do with my trainer.  Hot Yoga is Friday night!

Art Loeb to Shining Rock

On Saturday, April 30, 2011, I went up to Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina and hiked anywhere from 8-10 miles on the Art Loeb with my friend, Charles.  We hiked out and back from Black Balsam Road to Shining Rock and back.  I considered this a training hike.  I'm going to hike this entire trail in one day come September!  (30.1 miles)

Traveling mainly along peaks and ridges rather than in the valleys, this trail is long and strenuous.  This trail houses some of the finest scenery to be found in Pisgah.

Charles knows this trail like the back of his hand.  He showed me the tricky sections, and I learned a lot thanks to him.  There's a lot to know about the balds up there, especially the weather patterns.

I was quite satisfied with myself too (my body).  It hurt, so I know I've got some training to do.  But I did find that I was actually in better shape than I thought.

The trail was gorgeous! You hike and hike over hills, hills and more hills and then look back on where you were before and think, "Wow, I can't believe we've already come this far."  Yes, it is THAT beautiful.  You kind of forget that your hip flexors are getting tighter.

The balds were amazing!  I was hoping for some blooms, but there were none.  Not yet anyway...AND we got really lucky too...no bad weather for us whatsoever!

This trail did indeed remind me a bit of the Kalalau Trail in Kauai, Hawaii, except that there was no ocean involved!!!

It ascends to over 6000' above the Blue Ridge Parkway at Black Balsam Knob. At Black Balsam, the trail's high point, is a plaque commemorating Art Loeb himself and the Trail. (the picture of me at beginning of this blog post)
This is the most famous and most popular section of the trail, for good reason. The views and uniqueness of this section of trail are unsurpassed in the region. Finally, it travels across several more mountain balds and through the Shining Rock Wilderness past Shining Rock itself, then up Cold Mountain, before descending steeply to end near the Daniel Boone Boy Scout Camp on the Little East Fork Pigeon River. A spur leads to the summit of Cold Mountain.

When we hike in September, we will start at the Boy Scout Camp portion.  I would rather ascend something steep than descend it.  Mainly, because of my knees!!!

My friend, Charles:

The trail is very rugged in many parts.  But then you get a break...it becomes very flat and sandy.  It is uphill and downhill.  I would definitely say that this is a difficult trail, but it is very forgiving though on the body more so than the Kalalau Trail was.

 

 If you look closely, you can see Looking Glass Rock in the distance on the left.  This is one of our crags where we rock climb in western North Carolina.  This was the view from the top of  Tennent Mtn.

I can't wait to get back there.  I'm going to do a few more training hikes there before the big day.

I would also love to backpack here.

Shining Rock Wilderness area:

Charles:

The view from Shining Rock:

Charles at The Art Loeb plaque:

What a gorgeous day!!!

Thought of you...

Thought Of You

Quote for the Week

"Nothing happens without personal transformation."

So I hired a personal trainer.  First one ever.  Feels weird.  I pay someone $30 for 30 minutes to work out with me and show me what to do.

The early mornings are not something I am used to doing for a hard workout though!

I had my first session at 6:30 AM Monday morning and today at 7:00 AM.  I'm doing it again next week.  I just want to get stronger, and lately I felt like I needed some extra motivation.

I'm actually super uncoordinated on some of things she has me do.  LOL

Monday:

• pullups on the rings with feet on ground
• plank variation
• squats with free weights
• lunges with free weights
• running
• 2 different sets of abs on a balance ball
• squats with the kettle bell (where you swing with your hips to lift the kettle bell up with straight arms)
• used kettle bell for triceps

Wednesday:

• squats with no weights as a warm up
• pullups on the rings with feet on the ground
• pushups with one hand on a ball (as you lift up you have to roll the ball to the other hand and do another pushup)
• triceps on the rings with feet on the ground
• kettle bell squats mentioned above
• lunges with kettle bell
• situps with a weight ball (on the way up i had to toss the ball and catch it on the way down)
• abs lifting heavy ball from side to side
• the ropes

These are hard workouts for me.  They only last 30 minutes, so we push it hard or 30 minutes.  I'm also doing my Daily Dozen, and now that school is out for the semester, I can finish reading Fit by Nature by John Colver.

2011 Charleston Bridge Run

This was my 3rd year running the bridge in Charleston!  As usual, it was a blast of a weekend.

I only had to power walk a little of it this year.  (the uphill section of the bridge)  I ran the rest.  I just ran a slow, steady pace.  12+ minute mile pace...minus out the walking part. 

This year, I did the 10K in 1:17.

In 2009, I did in 1:20+, and I power walked and ran it.  I did intervals of power walking and running that year. 

Each year, I improve...and each year it is more fun than the last! 

expand your horizons to this website!

Expand Outdoors

a new goal

I've set up a new personal challenge for myself for September this year.

The Art Loeb Trail

It is 30.1 miles long.  Read the above link.

I want to hike it in a day!

My training has already begun.

Back in 2008, I power walked a full marathon in one day and a half marathon the very next day to raise funds for a charity to help in the fight against breast cancer and raise breast cancer awareness among minorities.  I raised $1900!  This was done on paved roads.

Anyway, wish me luck!!!

When someone asks you, "What is your goal?" I hope you have a good answer!

Why Don't You Look Like A Fitness Model?

This is an awesome article.  I LOVE it!

I really wanted to share it.

Although, I have been blessed with somewhat good genes, I am not perfect.  Although, I was blessed with a somewhat nice figure, it hasn't always been in the best shape. 

For years, I have just been 'lucky'! 

It wasn't until I started climbing...until I started wanting to do races and strength train and really condition my body and get strong that I realized I wasn't so lucky afterall.  I was clearly not in shape. Most of my life, I just got away with my looks as a skinny person with a flattering figure.  That doesn't mean shit when you are climbing up a mountain side!

First, you have to hike an approach to get the rock face.  Then you climb the rock face all day.  Then you must hike out.  That doesn't even begin to describe other activities such as bouldering, backpacking, mountaineering, ice climbing, obstacle course races, 10Ks, half-marathons or marathons and kayaking...among other things!

Had I not found climbing, I'd probably be a lazy bum right now.  Climbing got me in shape for climbing.  But then I started to get in shape to be a better climber.  Now, I want to be in shape for LIFE!  Now that I have been climbing for a couple of years, I have now been introduced to the outdoors.  There are so many types of outdoor activities that require you to be in shape.  AND you can simply get in shape by just being active in the outdoors period!!!

I want to be a personal trainer in my future, and I also want to work in the physical therapy field now.  I have been conditioning and working harder to get stronger myself.  I want to be in great physical shape so I can participate in fun, adventurous activities in life and remain healthier for along time...not to look like a damn fitness model.  I also want to help others like me who want to get in great physical shape for life. 

I want to climb mountains.  I want to run a marathon one day.  I want to be a personal trainer.  I want to help others succeed at things, the same things I never thought I could do.  I want to be healthier.  I want to take care of my body, you only get one!

You don't have to look like a damn fitness model to be considered in great physical shape.  And just because you look like a fitness model, does not mean you are in great physical shape. You also don't have to be able to do 25 straight pull-ups, 250 dead lifts and run a marathon in 3:30 all in one day to say that you are in great physical shape either!

36...the age of new skin...

So...yeah, I'm 36 now.  Nothing feels like I am, except for my skin!

Today, I spent a lot of money on new facial creams and cleansers.  Depressing!

My skin is so dry these last few winters, and I feel young....but my skin is in the late 30s now.  I actually had to buy lotions for mature skin.  WTF?  Me???

I see little changes now in my skin when I look in the mirror.  I know it is something we are going to go through, but I'm not taking it very well.

Satchidananda Murtaye

So, remember a few blogs back, I told you about how we are tearing apart the Anusara Invocation line by line each week in hot yoga class?


This is the second line: Satchidananda Murtaye 

There are a total of 4 lines in the Invocation.
The 3 remaining lines of the Invocation describe the inner teacher.
The first line asked "Who are you?"  Answer: You are your highest teacher.

Satchidananda Murtaye: "Who assumes the forms of Reality, Consciousness and Bliss"

The word 'murtaye' is often shortened to murti. A murti is a form or figure.

A murti gives a form to that which is formless so that we can better understand it.

Artists explain things through sculpture, music and paintings.  Poets explain things through metaphors, etc...to help us understand.  'Every color, placement and paint stroke, musical note and word has a purpose. These give form and explanation so that the stories and teachings can be shared over and over.'

Therefore, the formless inner teacher now takes a form.

Sat = Truth
Chit = Ultimate Knowledge/Consciousness
Ananda = Bliss

 It takes the form of Truth, Ultimate Knowledge/Consciousness, and Bliss.

What do these things look like?  Good question.

We are the outer form of our inner teacher.  The form is You!  Every bone, hair, and blemish.

You can actively choose to do as you wish with your form.

In Anusara Yoga, this form we choose to take could be a certain pose.  Or the form could be an offering to The Devine.  For me personally, I want my outer form to show my inner teacher.  I want to learn from that mirror of me and put the best me forward.  I want to shine my light and help others to shine theirs.  I want to be a nice person and be genuinely kind. I want to have an open heart and an open mind. I want to be loving.  I want to be stress free. I want to take care of my form...it is all I get...I am a temple.

What form will you decide to take?

This is one of my favorite songs by Switchfoot!  It is called the Economy of Mercy. I really like it.  This line of the Invocation kind of made me think about these lyrics a bit for some reason:

"There's just two ways to lose yourself in this life
And neither way is safe
In my dreams I see visions of the future
But today we have today
And where will I find You?

In the economy of mercy
I am a poor and begging man
In the currency of Grace
Is where my song begins
In the colors of Your goodness
In the scars that mark your skin
In the currency of Grace
Is where my song begins

These carbon shells
These fragile dusty frames
House canvases of souls
We are bruised and broken masterpieces
But we did not paint ourselves
And where will I find You?

Where was I when the world was made?
Where was I?

I'm lost without You here
Yes, I'm lost without You near me
I'm lost without You here
You knew my name when the world was made"

To me, this song has several meanings.  I won't go into all of those here.  However, I'm lost without my inner teacher.  I am lost without spirit and without grace.  We did not paint ourselves, true, but we can still choose our form.

Thank you, Dara, once again!!!

Thought this was kinda of funny this morning...

After an awesome weekend of climbing for 3 days straight and passing a lead fall test and leading some, I go to work this morning, and I find this in my inbox:

"First, choose from the options that thrill you.
Then, choose the ones that also teach you.
And from these, Sue, choose the scariest.
Butterflies in your tummy are good,
The Universe"

2 miles!!!

I ran 2 miles this evening!

I've been doing squats lately, and they are helping. My legs feel like they can actually work and carry me. However, I am done at 2 miles though. Whew!

Squats and dips in the morning!

Man, it feels good to see results!