<p>In lieu of photos, here’s a good YouTube someone shot hiking on this trail loop. I’m glad I wasn’t in a dog hiking group:</p>
<p>[Welch</a> Mountain/Dickey Moutain/Welch Dickey Loop - YouTube](<a href=“Welch Mountain / Dickey Moutain/Welch Dickey Loop - YouTube”>Welch Mountain / Dickey Moutain/Welch Dickey Loop - YouTube)</p>
<p>Thanks for all your good wishes. I am fine now. The spasms happened on a day when I unpacked a lot of boxes (we’re still getting settled in our new house), moved stuff around, and went to the gym and lifted some heavy things over my head. So maybe these old muscles were not happy with all of that. Whatever.</p>
<p>Great job, everyone! Im catching up on my CC reading today after being on the road for quite a while. Not counting some running through the airport and hauling around 50-lb bags, there was not much exercising done this weekend. My D was really happy that i brought her some tech clothing for her soccer practices, and she was impressed that I can do 30 pushups non-stop in under a minute. She wanted to join a local health club which had a swimming pool, but the dues were close to $200/month. :eek: She said that even if she had the money, she would not be happy to be around the ritzy crowd. She has been looking for some ways to exercise (tried to run outside, but was told that no one does it there where she lives - true, I have not seen a single jogger), so she was extatic when the local university’s men’s rec soccer team let her play with them - they can now call themselves coed. :)</p>
<p>200 for a single membership is quite steep. Our local Y with pool, tennis, and everything else is about $40.</p>
<p>I dropped in to Marshall’s this morning and was amazed that all of the Marmots were gone except for one down car jacket. I checked it out and not enough pockets for me. But it was very light and warm.</p>
<p>Ran 2.5 miles, walked 1:30 min, ran 1 mile. I’m feeling more confident that all the calf issues are gone. I’m even thinking about doing the turkey trot next week.</p>
<p>I made a playlist with a 90 bpm metronome superimposed over music I like to run to. It’s helping me keep my turnover up, and I’m kind of surprised to find that a quicker turnover is actually less tiring. It’s harder on my brain, but that’s what the metronome is for.</p>
<p>VeryHappy leaning over boxes is horrible for backs, so I bet that was it. Had a good day at the gym, have an art opening this afternoon with some of my paintings and then a much delayed birthday dinner tonight at a place where you have to book two months in advance. Likely to have too much food and drink at both places!</p>
<p>blankmind, I don’t think I’d like the metronome over my music, but I do have a “Ytunes” playlist that only has fast paced songs that I like to exercise to.</p>
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<p>Yeah. The one I got only has two hand warmer pockets. That’s it. It does have two big open mesh pockets on the inside, specifically for nalgene water bottles so they don’t freeze. </p>
<p>Personally, when I get to the point where my water bottles are freezing solid, I’ll probably hang up the hiking boots 'til spring! I took a little 16 ounce thermos bottle of coffee in my backpack yesterday. It was very tasty and warming when I stopped for my lunch of cashew nuts. I’m going to have to rethink my winter hiking snacks because my usual apple is just not very enticing when it’s cold. One of the ladies was passing around a 2lb pack of red twizzlers. It took a lot of will to resist that!</p>
<p>The one that I looked at had one of those water bottle pockets. I was wondering why the pocked was so deep. I was hoping that it was a mobile phone pocket but it was too deep for that.</p>
<p>Yeah, they make other versions of down jackets with more pockets, hoods, and so forth:</p>
<p>[Marmot</a> Men?s Jackets & Vests Down | Marmot Clothing and Equipment](<a href=“http://marmot.com/catalog/mens/jackets--vests/down/216-303-167--4?ft=167]Marmot”>http://marmot.com/catalog/mens/jackets--vests/down/216-303-167--4?ft=167)</p>
<p>Alas, most of them are not available at Marshalls for half price! Beggars can’t be choosers. :)</p>
<p>I figure that most of the time I’d be wearing a down jacket, I already have a fleece or something on underneath with a pocket for the iPod or phone!</p>
<p>That’s crazy high for a monthly pool fee, Bunsen. We’re paying 800 for a a family of four membership annually. I never know when one of my kids will be home to use it so for now am still purchasing the family membership. Includes a pretty good fitness room with various equipment. And classes at a discount. My semi-private swim lessons are 20 bucks. </p>
<p>I ran/walked yesterday after my very exhausting swim session. Then went to ballet in the afternoon. Today doing nothing whatsoever in terms of exercise. My body is really tired. I feel as if my mind/body synthesis is being really challenged by the swimming and dance lessons. Brain tired too!</p>
<p>Here’s a cool dieting tip a friend gave me the other day. She said when you’re trying to reduce your food intake it’s really, really helpful to knit because knitting is sort of engrossing and also it takes both hands and does not leave a hand free so no munching possible.</p>
<p>Great weekend of activity. An hour of upper body lifting and an hour of indoor cycling wattage based intervals yesterday. A 70 mile outdoor ride today. Toughest thing about today was figuring out what to wear, knowing that the temperature was 50 degrees when starting this morning but would rise to 65 as the day progressed. Decided to dress for the 65 degree temperature. Was cold for the first 30 minutes but then things got better.</p>
<p>Did a 90 minute spin class on Friday–wiped me out, so I decided to rest on Saturday. Today I did a fast 3 mile walk–47:50 time. Going to an introductory Cross-Fit session on Monday. </p>
<p>Hope you’re feeling better today, VeryHappy.
Enjoyed the UT clip of the trail you hiked, IDad.</p>
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<p>It’s a very enjoyable hike. I guess it must be, this was the third time I’ve done it since July. Easy, and quick, to get to, just 5 miles off I-93. Big parking lot (with restrooms), just the right length and challenge to be a good workout, but not crazy grueling – although I was wiped out yesterday when I got home. Varied and interesting terrain. Terrific views. Revisiting familiar hikes is fun because you don’t have to worry about missing a turn and getting off trail.</p>
<p>Thanks, Bromfield. Yesterday I did the exact same workout (well, not the exact) at the gym and felt fine. No back spasms at all. Go figure.</p>
<p>Stretching vid yesterday and today. I brought my running gear in today as it’s 66 degrees out but I may just do a few miles on the treadmill instead. This cold remains a problem and I’m starting to think that I have an infection. I need to see the dentist for a chipped tooth (it chipped a long time ago) and I’m hoping that it doesn’t turn into a root canal. The stretching is nice for getting the blood flowing but it’s hard to workout whe I feel like I don’t have any energy.</p>
<p>In playing tennis last week, I felt that I didn’t have enough energy for long points. I’d just run out of gas and have to force a shorter point.</p>
<p>^I also was low on energy when I did not swim on Saturday, I had no time. So, from now on, I am making time to swim no matter what, I want to feel full energy all the way till I go to bed. I love to stay busy, I do not like to be forced to sit around and be bored…I am making point to talk to everybody who ever swam competitively or otherwise to get their opinion. So far, all are stating the same, feels great and very addictive with definite endorphines or some other positive thing going on in your body. Anyway, I had much harder time walking my 4 miles. Walking after swimming is really nothing, do not feel my weight at all.
Everybody with low energy, strongly suggest to try swimming before you do other activities. Remember trithlon, that is what they do!</p>
<p>Just popping in here to comment on the back spasms. I have been experiencing the same thing for about 4 days. I have pain in my lower back but also have pressure around my abdomen. It sometimes feels like a tight belt wrapped around my abdomen area and lower back. It doesn’t really hurt when I am sitting but is painful when I try to walk. It seems to improve a bit with motrin. </p>
<p>Please let me know if this sounds like something I should have checked.</p>
<p>RTR, I vote for getting it checked.</p>
<p>Good chiro has helped me. He also educated me to the point that I take care of myself when I know it is coming and I am aware of triggers.</p>
<p>RTRMom2, if you’ve had it for four days, I also vote for getting it checked out. There are so many things it could be. Can’t hurt; might help.</p>