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.