Yesteray was a monster of a day for me. I trekked 4.5 hours through ice, snow, and some cleared paved surfaces with a 28 pound pack. The temperature was about 10 degrees F for most of the day. Lee came with me and we stopped for one hour to have lunch at a place in Lawrence. I recovered quickly for the most part......sore last night, but a good-night's sleep revived me. I get the sense that my body is adapting to the increasing work demand placed on it. I still think I need to do several 6-8 hour treks with a pack for endurance. I know I need to increase my pack to at least 30 pounds, but it's so darned hard to walk with that load.
Knowing that my top-of-the-line clothing is working for me is a huge confidence booster. I still have a few gear items to buy, but I'm good-to-go.
Oscar mike!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
January 2, 2010
Walked three hours today with a 20 pound pack and 7 degree F temps. Covered in down gear. Starving when I returned home.
What to eat? Having just seen Food, Inc., I have taken my food choices a step further towards health. On my desk for reading: The Omnivore's Dilemma, Fast-Food Nation, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto.
What to eat? Having just seen Food, Inc., I have taken my food choices a step further towards health. On my desk for reading: The Omnivore's Dilemma, Fast-Food Nation, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto.
Friday, January 1, 2010
January 1, 2010
Crazy the way time travels so fast. Training is good, mental health is good. I've been watching the 2009 Everest series Beyond the Limit on the Discoverey Channel, and of course, I'm riveted. I've read and watched everything about Everest. The crazy voice in me wonders where my imagination will take me if I reach the summit of Aconcagua next month. Denali next? Island Peak in Nepal (down the valley from Everest)? If I don't make the summit, I'll return to finish the job, like I did the Half Ironman in 2008. I like to finish the job.
Training has bumped up. I'm doing stairmaster (the revolving stairs) in the gym with a 25 pound pack and boots. I climbed stairs for 1.5 hours yesterday. Tomorrow I'll walk about 3 hours, outside towards Clinton Lake with my pack. The pack is an entirely new variable to add to the workouts. I've had some shoulder strain, some hip strain, but I'm adapting. In the next few weeks, I'll increase the weight to 30 pounds, which will be about right. It's been fiercely cold outside, but with my Feathered Friends expedition parka, I am so toasty warm. This thrills me because the -40 degrees F on Aconcagua scares me and my 108 pound body. There is a wind on the mountain called Viento Blanco--the White Wind--which can reach 100 mph. Will it blow me over? Will my digits freeze in my new Mountain Hardware expedition mitts?
Mental health is so much a part of this. Acknowledging my fear is good, but fear shouldn't hold me back. I try not to listen to doubtful voices because they don't serve me. It's so similar in the world of triathlon. Taking a mantra like, "I know I can, I know I can, I know I can" will take me farther than, "I don't think I can" or "Maybe I can".
One of my 2010 yearly goals is to meditate every day for at least 10 minutes. Meditation keeps you in the here-and-now and keeps the mind still. This is so important in mountain climbing and triathlon. Some people pray, but I prefer to do it in my own spiritual way, which is meditation.
As I come closer to leaving for my trip (February 8) I do feel more spiritual. I recognize the risk I am taking. There are casualties at such an altitude and it's very humbling to attempt such a challenge. I feel closer to my family and friends lately, and there is a lot of love and concern. I am enormously greatful for my life and for the opportunity to pursue my dreams.
Training has bumped up. I'm doing stairmaster (the revolving stairs) in the gym with a 25 pound pack and boots. I climbed stairs for 1.5 hours yesterday. Tomorrow I'll walk about 3 hours, outside towards Clinton Lake with my pack. The pack is an entirely new variable to add to the workouts. I've had some shoulder strain, some hip strain, but I'm adapting. In the next few weeks, I'll increase the weight to 30 pounds, which will be about right. It's been fiercely cold outside, but with my Feathered Friends expedition parka, I am so toasty warm. This thrills me because the -40 degrees F on Aconcagua scares me and my 108 pound body. There is a wind on the mountain called Viento Blanco--the White Wind--which can reach 100 mph. Will it blow me over? Will my digits freeze in my new Mountain Hardware expedition mitts?
Mental health is so much a part of this. Acknowledging my fear is good, but fear shouldn't hold me back. I try not to listen to doubtful voices because they don't serve me. It's so similar in the world of triathlon. Taking a mantra like, "I know I can, I know I can, I know I can" will take me farther than, "I don't think I can" or "Maybe I can".
One of my 2010 yearly goals is to meditate every day for at least 10 minutes. Meditation keeps you in the here-and-now and keeps the mind still. This is so important in mountain climbing and triathlon. Some people pray, but I prefer to do it in my own spiritual way, which is meditation.
As I come closer to leaving for my trip (February 8) I do feel more spiritual. I recognize the risk I am taking. There are casualties at such an altitude and it's very humbling to attempt such a challenge. I feel closer to my family and friends lately, and there is a lot of love and concern. I am enormously greatful for my life and for the opportunity to pursue my dreams.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
December 13
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.
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.
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.
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