<p>Christmas in October. My winter hiking/snowshoe pants arrived today. I’m all set for lightweight hiking pants with the sale LLBEAN ripstop (super lightweight) and the very cool Marmot Cruz pants. But, I have been on the prowl for one pair of heavier hiking/tech pants. I thought I had it with the sale LLBean Timberland pants. Love the shorts. Nice heavy nylon tech fabric. But, they only came in one length and, no matter how I cinched up the drawcords at the ankles to tighten them around the boots, they looked like MC HAMMER pants on me. So back they went.</p>
<p>REI makes their version in short lengths, but only available in one color and nowhere near as nice. So, I finally bit the bullet and ordered a pair of [Marmot</a> Scree pants](<a href=“Marmot: Outdoor Clothing & Gear Made for Adventure”>Marmot: Outdoor Clothing & Gear Made for Adventure) on sale from Campmor. Marmot makes their most popular pants in short, regular, and long, so I can actually buy pants that fit (which is a good thing, considering the price of these things…</p>
<p>Fantastic! Heavy, but unlined soft shell stretchy fabric. 90% nylon, 10% elastine – so they stretch in all directions (which is a good thing when an ol’ (formerly) fat guy tries to hoist up on a rock or over a fallen tree!). Not rain paints, but water resistant. Tons of zipper pockets. Zippers and draw cords to cinch the cuffs up against boots for snowshoeing or muddy hiking. Basically, the high tech version of blue jeans. Should cover the range from cool fall days to full on winter with long john or fleece base layer.</p>
<p>I made it about 2/3rds of the way up, turning around at the 3 hour mark, on a waterfall hike, but I’ve got four or five easier 4000 footers to climb next summer (Jackson, Pierce, Moosilauke, Cannon) before I’m ready to try that round trip again. Although I may do it again and turn around at the 4 hour mark, just because the trail is spectacular.</p>
<p>Until, I can comfortably do the Falling Waters Trail up to the treeline ridge (long, steep, and hard), there’s no way I’m even thinking about the treeline ridges around Mt. Washington. </p>
<p>If we ever get nice weather again, I’m planning to go back to Welch-Dickey, the first hike I did. Should be gorgeous this time of year and a way to gauge my progress. As the days get shorter, I’ve got some shorter hikes, closer to home, in mind. I’ve been saving Mt. Major, overlooking Lake Winnepesaukee.</p>
<p>This thread is very motivating! I have fallen off the health and fitness wagon for a few years now but trying to climb back on! mostly i go to the gym and do 1hr of cardio and lift some weights but that doesn’t seem like nearly enough.</p>
<p>I used to travel all the time in my job. I would take the stretchy bands with me. I also talked my way into one day free passes at local gyms. I also tried to forget about the nastiness of the floors in the rooms and I would get down on the floor. I figured the bedspread is probably just as bad…</p>
<p>iDad- neat new clothes! You are getting nicely outfitted.</p>
<p>I did some serious damage at lululemon up in PA. Main purpose was to shop tax free and use the gift card my daughter gave me for my birthday. I checked out and forgot all about the gift card. I even got a bright orange rain coat that I will use for work/casual wer. Not cheap but really cute and practical.</p>
<p>Turning to you fitness pros for some advice. </p>
<p>I started the Couch to 5K program a couple of weeks ago. Have never been a runner/jogger, but always a “wannabe” - usual fitness routine includes walking the dog 30-40 mins daily and some basic fitness center time, mostly in the winter. I am in fair shape but lack endurance. </p>
<p>Really pumped and enjoying the challenge of C25k! Starting week 3 this week. Have been having some annoying ache/pain in my left outside ankle (near the knobby/bony part of the ankle). Have been icing it some, taking some ibuprofen (though prob need to keep taking it consistently for a few days). I sometimes feel it when I walk, was bothering me a little last night in bed. Last ran on it Sunday night - a very slow/low jog - didn’t really feel any worse during the jog. </p>
<p>As I read other comments on the C25K board, people seem to run through aches and pains. Ok or not ok??? Any idea what might be triggering the pain in that part of my ankle??? Any other advice???</p>
<p>Was running on sidewalks - stopped that due to the uneven cracks and falling acorn debris - felt like I was dodging more than jogging! Am jogging in the boulevard now and trying to run middle of the road so I don’t have to deal with the side slopes. Will consider a new pair of shoes if I stick with (WHEN I stick with this!) this in a few weeks. Current shoes are a pair of lightly used (by me) Nike with decent support.</p>
<p>I’m not looking to be a running buff. The goal is to take as long as my body needs to be able to actually participate and run all/most of a 5k (can’t wait for my first t-shirt!!!) Looking for your wisdom. :)</p>
<p>"Walking 4 mph is really fast for me. I’ve got to really make an effort to walk very fast, almost shifting into “race walking” to go 4 mph. It’s definitely beyond my comfortable natural fast walking pace. "
-As I mentioned, I got very tired walking slowly. My H. said that my body is defying the law of physics (but he meant biology). When I walk by myself, I walk much faster than with him. He cannot walk my pace either. But I am sure there are people who walk much faster. I absolutely cannot run, I never could, we are all different. I also discovered that doing any physical activity, including walking is much easier after swimming. I cannot stop moving after, water seems giving body some kind of energy, I do not even sleep well after I started swimming again. It must be some chemical thing going on close to reaction to coffeine. I cannot figure out.</p>
<p>I think it takes time to build up strength and that part can be a little frustrating. Doing C25K I found the rest and cross training days were really important. A second day with no running from time to time when I was a little more sore worked wonders. </p>
<p>It also sounds like it could be related to the shoes you’re wearing and/or the way you land on your foot (the angle could be putting strain). I started paying more attention to how I place my foot and that helped.</p>
<p>I do a lot of stretching on my cross training days. Can’t say whether that actually makes a big difference or not, but I feel good about it. ;)</p>
<p>Bunsen, thanks for the feedback on Precor. I think I actually solicited advice on this way back and you replied then, as well. We were able to breathe life into our ancient, beloved Nordic Track but it’s finally totally finished. And they truly “don’t make them like they used to.” So we are going to splurge on a Precor. We like the 9.31 because it has bigger, longer arms. The cushioning on the belt is really terrific. They have them at our fitness center. But for my DH, he also needs one in the basement if he is going to fit it in.</p>
<p>I think we are going to order from Amazon. </p>
<p>I’m sore today. Damp and rainy here. I fear I’m developing arthritis. Yuck.</p>
<p>abasket- It’s hard to say. I would do 3 Advil 3 times a day for a week and see if that helps. Treat it like a prescription. That is what my PT always had me do for an injury that had inflammation with it. See if your shoe is hitting that part of your ankle bone. Try to stay on level ground like you are now doing- no slopes. Maybe ice a couple of times a day. Take a day off. Congrats on your progress with C25K!</p>
<p>sewhappy, you might want to check Precor home exercise equipment stores before ordering from Amazon. They might match the price and throw in a freebie - delivery + installation. The treadmill so uber heavy (and that’s why it is sturdy), that even Mr B the I’ll Do It Myself guy appreciated the fact that he did not have to deal with the lifting. The install guys were happy when they realized that they did not have to lug the box upstairs - our exercise room is next to the front door.</p>
<p>^ Understood. But the state tax for new jersey will be waived for a few months longer by Amazon. And we can have it delivered plus set up for $250. Will certainly shop the locals, as well. But the ones near us keep trying to get us to go with LifeFitness . . .</p>
<p>I would say definitely not OK, especially for us geezers, to try to exercise through pain. I’m also not a big believer in eating ibuprofen to dull the pain enough to exercise (my one exception is that I do take two ibuprofen before starting a long hike and two for the car ride home afterwards!)</p>
<p>I think the distinction has to be made between a general muscle soreness that lasts no more than a day or so after exercise and pain in joints/tendons. The general muscle soreness, like sore arms from doing push ups, is OK and probably inevitable. Pain in joints and tendons is another story. That’s an injury and trying to exercise through it is not going to help it heal.</p>
<p>I think this the most succinct way to look at it:</p>
<p>My attitude: When somebody pays me a couple million dollars a year to get out on the field and play thru pain, I’ll go. But, as a 58 year old geezer who is trying to use exercise as a way of improving my fitness and quality of life, it doesn’t make a bit of sense to “play through pain”. Not when there are so many options and it’s easy enough to find some other workout while a particular sore boo-boo heals.</p>
<p>An hour of cardio and some weight lifting sounds like enough to me! Be patient. You’ll start seeing some really motivating gains.</p>
<p>I think it’s better, over the long haul, to not try to get in shape in one day… Half hour a day, a few times a week, will make a huge difference. It’s all about finding a schedule that sustainable permanently. For me, that has to include some days with short, intense 20 minute workouts mixed in with some longer stuff. One hour is my limit.</p>
<p>You definitely shouldn’t rely on ibupropen (Vitamin I) to mask pain so you can exercise, but it DOES reduce inflammation which is necessary for the healing of some injuries. That’s why if you are going to take it, take it as a prescription dose for a short period (week to 10 days) of time to see if the inflammation goes away.</p>
<p>So what does arthritis feel like? I’ve been increasingly stiff and sore, especially in the morning – especially in hands and ankles. Just kind of lousy feeling. It’s rainy and damp here. My old dog has arthritis, according to her vet, and I feel how she looks. This is just so lousy. I’m fine otherwise. But my body hurts.</p>
<p>Am I suppose to go to a doc and take something? If I exercise more will it go away? Have been trying that but it isn’t working. I eat tons of salmon and walnuts and kale. Try to get my vitamin D by walking/running outside every day. What more can I try?</p>
If you live in the northern 2/3 of the US, it is pretty much impossible to get vitamin D from sunlight exposure this time of year. Supplementation is a must. With the approval of my doctor I take 5000 IU/day in order to get my level up to 50+ng/ml. Keeping my level high has made a huge difference in how often I get sick in the winter.</p>
<p>I was having a lot of pain in my fingers and knees. Arthritis runs in my family. My doc had me take high levels of fish oil - 4 to 6 grams of high-concentration omega-3’s per day. It helped my joints a lot, and my cholesterol levels too.</p>
<p>We don’t eat salmon any more, most of the stuff we get in the store is farm-raised, and not only has a lot less omega-3, I think it tastes bad. The wild stuff is really expensive.</p>
<p>Inexplicable power outage this a.m. Generator doesn’t power the exercise room. Schedule for today made going to the gym a no go. Beautiful morning, so I just headed out for 35 minute run. Felt great. I wish I could bottle all this gorgeous sunshine and save it for February.</p>
<p>OTOH, completely blew it on the diet front. Not sure what I was thinking, but had nothing to eat all morning. HUGE Costco session and more driving, waiting and appointments ahead. It’s now noon and I haven’t eaten all day and had the run earlier in the day. Without thinking I tear into the giant bag of soft pretzel rolls. Felt like I had no other options and was trapped in the car. Unloading the car late, I realize I had purchased 3 giant bags of high quality beef jerky. Coulda had that instead. Even with all my tracking and pretty consistent effort in my eating habits, it’s amazing how easy it is to find oneself unprepared and become a sitting duck when it comes to “temptations” – (weren’t even remotely worth it )</p>
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