Oy, trekking around Lawrence on the hills of KU with a 35 pound pack is a challenge. The added weight is really making all the difference in doing stairs. I may add another 5 pounds to the pack by January, but I definitely need to increase the time variable. I only did 2 hours today and I was really feeling the weight on my shoulders and core. Of course, 35 pounds is approximately 1/3 of my body weight!
I leave town tomorrow for two days and then also out of town Fri through Sun so this week will be a light workout week.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
December 8
A day of physical rest so I can mentally focus. The mental training for climbing Aconcagua is similar to training for a triathlon. Negative thoughts are just a waste of time and progress. All the mental chatter clutters the focus. It's best to keep a 'present' mind which is still and sharp. Self doubt can be felt and recognized as easily as lactic acid in the muscle.
My massage therapist, Holly works on me in preparation for the climb. After a crazy swim in a sprint triathlon this season, when I 'lost-it' in the crush of swimming bodies and struggled to a life boat, Holly worked on my ribs and diaphragm, helping me to open those areas during inhalation. I had no more problems with the swim the rest of the season. For the climb, Holly will do more of that work, because at 23,000 ft. in altitude, the body works on the equivalent of one lung. There is so little oxygen, that the tiniest finger wound doesn't heal.
I discovered today that Aconcagua is the 2nd highest of the Seven Summits--the highest being (of course) Mount Everest.
My massage therapist, Holly works on me in preparation for the climb. After a crazy swim in a sprint triathlon this season, when I 'lost-it' in the crush of swimming bodies and struggled to a life boat, Holly worked on my ribs and diaphragm, helping me to open those areas during inhalation. I had no more problems with the swim the rest of the season. For the climb, Holly will do more of that work, because at 23,000 ft. in altitude, the body works on the equivalent of one lung. There is so little oxygen, that the tiniest finger wound doesn't heal.
I discovered today that Aconcagua is the 2nd highest of the Seven Summits--the highest being (of course) Mount Everest.
Monday, December 7, 2009
December 7
I've added a gallon of water to my pack for weight and I'm ready to add more. This AM it was a windy 23 degrees F and I debated just staying in bed instead of hitting the hills. I'm reminded of a saying by the auther David Kessler: RULES WORK WHERE WILLPOWER DOESN'T. If you make a rule and if you have disciplin, the power of the rule will trump a weakened willpower. I followed my rule today, which was, GET UP AT 5:30 AM, DO HILLS FOR AN HOUR.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
December 1
Oy, it's December 1st and quite a while has passed since my last message. First there was a flu-like sickness, then a medical procedure which zapped my energy, Thanksgiving, and family STUFF. The good news is that I really didn't miss too many workouts and today I kicked it in.
I did an 1.25 hours of hills and stairs, then went to the gym to lift weights. What an amazingly awesome morning it was, at the Campaneli at the KU campus, as the dawn broke. Quiet and still. I've started to visualize the mountain--Aconcagua in all of its windy glory--waiting for me to give her the respect she deserves so that I will hopefully reach the summit. Only one-third of all climbers make it to the summit--the others succumb to altitude sickness or to the viento blanco (white wind), which will often blow at 100 mph. This mountain makes its own weather.
Weight-lifting is going well, although my neck has been stiff from upper body workouts. I'll start to see Holly, my massage therapist, next week and she will work her magic.
.....and my weight it good. Thanksgiving didn't entice me into total gorging......I was conservative in what I ate and kept portions just right. My light scales say 108 lbs, my heavy scales 112 to 113. Yup, I'm a freak about weight.
Tomorrow I'll hit the hills again very early, with a light backpack. It's time to start simulating the real deal.
I did an 1.25 hours of hills and stairs, then went to the gym to lift weights. What an amazingly awesome morning it was, at the Campaneli at the KU campus, as the dawn broke. Quiet and still. I've started to visualize the mountain--Aconcagua in all of its windy glory--waiting for me to give her the respect she deserves so that I will hopefully reach the summit. Only one-third of all climbers make it to the summit--the others succumb to altitude sickness or to the viento blanco (white wind), which will often blow at 100 mph. This mountain makes its own weather.
Weight-lifting is going well, although my neck has been stiff from upper body workouts. I'll start to see Holly, my massage therapist, next week and she will work her magic.
.....and my weight it good. Thanksgiving didn't entice me into total gorging......I was conservative in what I ate and kept portions just right. My light scales say 108 lbs, my heavy scales 112 to 113. Yup, I'm a freak about weight.
Tomorrow I'll hit the hills again very early, with a light backpack. It's time to start simulating the real deal.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Training for Aconcagua: November
I am settling in to the November Plan and this is what it looks like:
Mon-Wed-Fri: wake up at 5:30 AM and go to KU to do stairs and ramps for an hour at different spots on campus.
Tues-Thur: lift weights, upper and lower.
Sat or Sun: hike for > 2 hours in hiking boots to include hills.
Sat or Sun: rest day, whichever day I'm not hiking.
Wildcard: add two additional workouts to the week, which may include a run, bike, swim, or another weight lifting day. If I'm tired, I'll rest (I have coach Ryan to thank for that suggestion).
This plan totals about 8 to 9 hours per week of working out. This shouldn't be too difficult, since I did more than that last year training for the two half ironmen.
Today's hike lasted 2.5 hours--it was just so gorgeous outside--Indian Summer in Kansas at its best. I am feeling very positive.
Mon-Wed-Fri: wake up at 5:30 AM and go to KU to do stairs and ramps for an hour at different spots on campus.
Tues-Thur: lift weights, upper and lower.
Sat or Sun: hike for > 2 hours in hiking boots to include hills.
Sat or Sun: rest day, whichever day I'm not hiking.
Wildcard: add two additional workouts to the week, which may include a run, bike, swim, or another weight lifting day. If I'm tired, I'll rest (I have coach Ryan to thank for that suggestion).
This plan totals about 8 to 9 hours per week of working out. This shouldn't be too difficult, since I did more than that last year training for the two half ironmen.
Today's hike lasted 2.5 hours--it was just so gorgeous outside--Indian Summer in Kansas at its best. I am feeling very positive.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Training for Aconcagua
Wow, my first blog, and I have coach Ryan to thank for it. There is something about putting your endeavors in writing which validates them and gives them a certain gravity. So, here goes.
I've climbed Kilimanjaro, trekked in and around Everest and Nepal three times, explored Bhutan up to the Tibetan border, got up close and personal to the Kazakhs in Mongolia and consider myself an OK age-group triathlete. Now is the biggest adventure yet--a summit attempt on Aconcagua in Argentina, the tallest mountain outside of the Himalayas, soaring to 23,000 feet. I'll be blogging on my training from now, until I leave on February 8.
More to come.
I've climbed Kilimanjaro, trekked in and around Everest and Nepal three times, explored Bhutan up to the Tibetan border, got up close and personal to the Kazakhs in Mongolia and consider myself an OK age-group triathlete. Now is the biggest adventure yet--a summit attempt on Aconcagua in Argentina, the tallest mountain outside of the Himalayas, soaring to 23,000 feet. I'll be blogging on my training from now, until I leave on February 8.
More to come.
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