<p>Dad II- We’re all about fashion on this thread! You will be needing some tech clothes…</p>
<p>Mathmom- CONGRATS! Great accomplishment!</p>
<p>Well, it was storming this morning so I didn’t get up to run. I was really tired anyway. So- this means I’ll have to do something after work to keep the Stupid Streak going. I have a 5K in the morning, which is not particularly notable for me except that it is my first race with my corporate team. This corporate series is all about participation rather than speed, which is fine. However, they seem to have high expectations of me, even though I told them I ran a difficult marathon last weekend and wasn’t going to be particularly speedy. The fun parts are 1. the company pays the entry fee 2. you get a plastic beer stein at the finish 3. you get to use said plastic beer stein to taste some beer since this is a Germanfest race!</p>
<p>The vast majority of people can’t imagine running a marathon and their idea of speedy might be different from yours. In the corporate race that I run, about half the people are overweight and walking but you can see the team logo on their shirts and that’s what it’s all about: having a good time and showing your company team.</p>
<p>Beautiful pictures Idad. Surprised to hear that Welch/Dickey was the most popular trail in NH. I chaperoned a school trip when my D was in 7th grade to Mt. Monadnock and I couldn’t believe the number of people on the trail. It was crazy. </p>
<p>Went spinning today–first time in a long time and it felt great!! I’m walking in a diabetes walk in Boston this weekend–daughter of a good friend was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at the beginning of the year and she’s organized a team and raised a nice sum of money. Might do a power class on the weekend as well.</p>
<p>I probably mis-worded that. There would be lots and lots of hikes that have more traffic than Welch-Dickey. It’s the most recommended “family” day hike in the White Mountains. That eliminates a lot of trails that are either not day hike or family hike terrain. Anyway, it’s a really good hike. </p>
<p>I’ve got to drive over and do Monadnock sometime. I just got the book of hiking trails in Southern New Hampshire, including a bunch of nearby options for snowshoe outings, although it’s going to be hard to beat the Audubon Center on the lake.</p>
<p>The first two hours are the uphill climb to the first summit. I’m now able to keep my heart rate in the 80% to 85% max range, through a combination of going really slow, using the rest step, and stopping for quick breather as necessary. This is quite a contrast to the first time I did this hike when I was well up above 90%, which is simply not sustainable (at least for me). The only two sustained stops on the way up were the time I stopped and took my pack off to fish out a pair of gloves and the stop (about halfway up) on the first scenic overlook where I took a few pictures. Otherwise, nothing longer than long enough to catch a breath and get a drink of water.</p>
<p>The second big spikes (at around the 2.5 hour mark) were the climb up from the valley to the second summit. That actually had some pretty steep rock scrambling in a few places. Everything after that was downhill and low heart rate.</p>
<p>Well, you might look cute in a Nuu-Muu! (Kidding). Tech clothes are non-cotton fabrics that have good wicking properties in order to keep you warm (or cool) and dry without getting heavy and wet. They come in nice colors and soft fabrics. They are not found in nature!</p>
<p>Technical fabrics or technical clothing are terms used for synthetic fabrics to make them more desirable than natural fabrics like cotton or wool.</p>
<p>They are primarily used in fabrics for any activity that involves weather and/or sweat because these fabrics dry faster than natural fibers, don’t absorb moisture like natural fibers, and maintain their insulating properties when wet. Thus, they replaced cotton and wool in camping, hiking, and skiing, and outdoors equipment decades ago. Polartec fleece is one of the most widely used of these fabrics.</p>
<p>And, have taken over the high-end fitness and athletic markets. For example, all running clothing is made from “tech fabrics” (polyester, nylon, spandex) because it is light and doesn’t get heavy when wet like a cotton t-shirt.</p>
<p>As a result of this marketing, a cotton t-shirt might have a $20 price tag while a “tech fabric” t-shirt has a $40 price tag.</p>
<p>Personally, I bargain hunt. Short sleeve “Tech shirts” for running or fitness are typically $9.99 to $16.99 at places like Marshalls and TJ Maxx.</p>
<p>Any suggestions on gloves or mittens for me when I run/walk these cold fall mornings with my neighbors? I have eternally cold hands, with fingers that will go blue quite easily. Most gloves don’t work but loose mittens don’t work either so I usually wear a glove within a mitten and it’s a pain.</p>
<p>I guess I could share some good news too. As of this AM, I am about 3 lb away from my college weight. </p>
<p>As to the Tech clothes - I do have several of those for runnings in both short and long sleeves made by Nike, Puma etc. Other than looking good, the only benefit I experience is that they don’t stick on your body when you are in total sweat.</p>
<p>Inspired by Idad, I have been looking around for hiking clubs. Unfortunately, we really don’t have any hills within one hour of driving.</p>
<p>When we were living close to Stone mountain. I did enjoy going up that rock. You could lose 5 lb just by going up twice in an afternoon. And it was never boring because there were always so many people going up and down.</p>
<p>Sewhappy- there are a lot of good running gloves/mittens these days and many have the finger/thumb tips that will let you work your phone or iPod. Look online on the Brooks site or Roadrunnersports.com</p>
<p>5Ks hurt! Started 35 minutes late due to a course issue (police orders) and my legs stiffened up nicely standing there for that time. When I finally got to run I felt like a board. Sort of odd course which ran, literally, THROUGH the food/restaurant section of the Nashville farmer’s market. We could have ordered breakfast! The rest of the course had a few little hills but wasn’t terrible. I ran a blazing (not) 28:22 which seems to be what I run these days. Not awful for my age and the week after a marathon, but it sure didn’t feel comfortable! 3rd in age group. I had 2nd in sight (didn’t know she was in my age group) but didn’t catch her. First was way up there. I won a neat beer stein (with beer). Corporate team was fun and we had a company tent. Nice people.</p>
<p>Wow. Within 3 pounds of college weight is pretty impressive! That’s definitely party time…</p>
<p>Sewhappy:</p>
<p>Might not be the answer if your hands are that cold, but I really like fleece gloves for exercise stuff, mostly because they breath. They come in different weights – the very thin fitness fleece which is good this time of year. And, a heavier 200 weight fleece that are super warm. The only catch is that they aren’t the least bit wind or waterproof.</p>
<p>BTW, if your hands are ridiculously cold, you might want to get your thyroid checked. That, and dry cracking skin on my fingers were the only two symptoms of my low thryroid and they both were “cured”.</p>
<p>Sounds like a successful outing, MOWC. I would have stopped for eggs and bacon! That’s almost cruel to make you run through the food court.</p>
<p>I don’t know which I would have more trouble with: running before lunch or drinking beer before lunch. I know that both of them would have me laid out for a nice afternoon nap…</p>
<p>I have to admit that I wasn’t as into the 9am beer as some people were! This is a big Germanfest and has all sorts of booths, merchandise, food, and did I mention beer? I did drink one free beer.</p>
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