Jill Hedgecock

Fiction Writer

hiking

Ten Wondrous Things: Inca Trail Conditioning: Week 10

It’s week 10 so it seems appropriate to take stock on progress to date.

Wondrous Thing No. 1: I am not dead. Okay, that’s a bit melodramatic. But seriously, I did 7 miles in 90 minutes this week and I am not dead. That is a wondrous thing!

Wondrous Thing No. 2: Joining a gym (and liking it – sort of). Gyms are for people that enjoy exercise (aka not me). I took First Aid to meet my physical education requirement in college; I don’t like to sweat…still I kind of like body pump and do like to swim.

Wondrous Thing No. 3: Buying my first sports bra at over 50.

Wondrous Thing No. 4: Learning to breathe right. Thanks to my soccer daughter, she informed me that when you feel winded, breathe through your nose, and exhale through your mouth.

Wondrous Thing No. 5: I can read on Stairmaster. (Thank goodness – it helps me endure).

Wondrous Thing No.6: Hiking higher than soaring hawks and turkey vultures. It’s kind of a heady thing to look down and see winged creatures below you.

Wondrous Thing No. 7: St. Elmo’s Fire would become my theme song. (I can climb the highest mountain.)

Wondrous Thing No. 8: Wildflowers. How great to see the incredible diversity of spring flowers. Gorgeous!

Wondrous Thing No. 9: Amazing hikes. I had no idea how much amazing open space lies almost at my doorstep.

Wondrous Thing No. 10: Splat! I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that my gym cloths would be drenched to the point that they make the same sound as dropping a wet bathing suit on the floor.

Inca Trail Conditioning: Week 5 – Goals and Personal Trainer’s Advice

You’d think that my gradual approach to my Stairmaster goal of 1 hour at Level 6 would have made the journey tolerable. Monday’s goal of 2 miles at Level 6 and the rest of the hour at Level 5 went smooth enough, but Wednesday’s challenges was tough, tough, tough.
Here’s my survival guide:
1) Remind yourself that if you stop, you have to do it all over again on another day.
2) Music: St. Elmo’s Fire has become my theme song: I can climb the highest mountain. But using a lower tempo song seems to extend my endurance, even though those stairs are still coming at me at the same relentless pace.
3) Reach goals. Tell yourself you’ll consider stopping at the end of the next song, or after the next mile or when you’ve reached a new number of floors, then when you get to that goal, pick a new one. Each reach goal gets you closer to your target.
This week I also received a free trainer consultation with my new gym membership. After listening to my trip plans, he advised me to use a bike for cardio and use a sled to gain upper body strength, both would cause less wear and tear on my body, and one long hike on the weekend. Though pulling the sledding equipment is an option, I was instructed to push from behind. Trust me – pushing that weighted metal across a carpeted floor is no cake walk. Two sets of back and forth had my heart beating like a racehorse. The trainer recommended swimming only as bonus exercise, which was a bummer since I love the way my muscles feel after a long swim.
My week in review:
Monday – Usual morning hike carrying slightly less weight, 60 minutes Stairmaster – 4.4 miles, 210 floors, 2 miles level 6, rest level 5.
Tuesday – Usual morning hike slightly less weight, 60 minute Body Pump class. Added weights left my arms numb.
Wednesday – Usual morning hike – back up to 12 lbs , 60 minutes with Trainer (planning, floor exercises and sledding), 60 minutes Stairmaster – 4.7 miles, 225 floors, all level 6 (yay!).
Thursday – Usual morning hike with full pack. Dog agility sprints.
Friday – Extended hike (1.25 hr) with full pack, 1 mile Stairmaster at Levels 7 and 8, Body Pump – more weight for some exercises.
Saturday – Short hike with full pack. Dog agility sprints.
Sunday – 6.5 mile waterfall hike along Mt. Diablo with the girls, hubby and my sister. Lovely scenery, tough hills. A great workout.

Next week’s goals – Spin class, sledding and Stairmaster – 5 miles.