<p>~ 3 1/2 mi rolling hills run. Lovely out. Perfect running weather.</p>
<p>sabaray- that is a GREAT t-shirt. I do have a shirt that says “Like, Ever”, but it’s my sleep shirt. H is going to bring me my skinny jeans and jean jacket. Otherwise I would be in my work trousers and cardigan- very nice but not at all “cool”.</p>
<p>So help my visual. I live in FLAT Ohio. Picture FLAT Stanley books. 
When you speak “rolling hills” are we talking bumps on the trail/sidewalk or huffin and puffin hills? Steep or gradual??? Tall or short???</p>
<p>These are not killer hills, but they’re not bumps in the sidewalk either. I feel 'em; however, they don’t leave me passed out at the side of the path when I get to the top of one either. When I first started running, I used to only go halfway down one that is at the end of the path before turning around. That seems like a really long time ago now, lol.</p>
<p>I believe I used to write gentle rolling hills. They’re not super long at all.</p>
<p>There’s another park where I run sometimes that the hills are longer and tougher. That’s one of the reasons I only choose to run there so often.</p>
<p>Thanks, kmcmom, good to know it’s normal. That I won’t be looking like the incredible Hulk on one side, and Olive Oyl on the other. I’ve heard it’s actually good for your brain to try to do things with the opposite hand/arm, anyways.</p>
<p>Well. I applaud you rolling hills runner - is flat landed people salute!</p>
<p>I’m back. Did two short waterfall hikes today in Crawford Notch. A 3 mile round trip to Arethusa Falls. And a 1 mile round trip to Ripley Falls.</p>
<p>About as pretty a day as you could imagine. Low 70s. No wind. Brilliant blue sky. Not a single cloud. Leaves just starting to change.</p>
<p>Chased the temps all day. Woke up in the 40s wearing powerstretch fleece hoodie and tights. Got too warm packing up the tent and switched to long tech hiking pants and a long sleeve tech t. Changed to shorts and a short sleeve shirt in the parking lot at the first trail.</p>
<p>Legs are sore. Quads just above the knees, outside of the hips. Yesterday’s trail was boulder/rock hopping start to finish.</p>
<p>More later after a massive dinner salad…</p>
<p>Wow, you guys have been busy! Cool hiking, idad. Looking forward to your photo report. </p>
<p>Enjoy the Taylor Swift concert, MOfWC. Have fun!</p>
<p>My exercise today consisted of a 2.5 mile dash through the streets of San Francisco. The folks fom the startup I was visiting forgot to tell me that they planned on meeting me at their other location… I decided to leave the car in the prized parking spot by their “office”, and ran towards the meeting place. The guys were very impressed that I could walk so fast! I could have used my running shoes or at least my heels - walking that far in flats stinks!</p>
<p>2 hour tandem bike ride w H and then CorePower yoga. The local hs football team was there. Yoga appears to be big among those guys. It’s no longer girly stretching!</p>
<p>After the workout. 
[Introduction</a> to Hot Tubs](<a href=“http://www.consumersearch.com/hot-tubs/review]Introduction”>http://www.consumersearch.com/hot-tubs/review)</p>
<p>Not disagreeing with the merits of a bathtub full of ice, but somehow a hot tub sounds more appealing…</p>
<p>A traffic jam on the freeway and a blister on my foot (the result of my SF street running in flats) resulted in a significant dent in my bank account. I decided to get off the freeway to grab some coffee and ended up in the shopping center where I bought the weird Nike sock shoe. Nike finally figured out how to squeeze $$$ out of runners, the crowd that generally snubs their nose at blingy Nike shoes such as those overpriced Air Jordans and the like. Also bought a pair of PureCadence 2 - so far, I could not figure out why people gave it such negative reviews.</p>
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<p>[Grace</a> And Gridiron - Video - ESPN](<a href=“ESPN - Serving Sports Fans. Anytime. Anywhere.”>ESPN - Serving Sports Fans. Anytime. Anywhere.)</p>
<p>3.6 miles on the treadmill in my new Nike sockshoe. I disliked the tight fit around the foot at first, but running in them actually felt good, and I also appreciated how lightweight they were! I think the sock part will stretch out a bit. These are going to be my new treadmill and travel running shoes - no way I’m going to run in them outside under the pouring winter rain.</p>
<p>I looked up the Nike sockshoe - interesting concept (have they been out awhile? I’m probably out of the loop…). If you care to share, post a link to the style you bought - will be curious to see how/when you like using them.</p>
<p>abasket, I think these are fairly new. This is my shoe (the price equivalent of a pair of Air Jordans :eek:):</p>
<p>[Nike</a> ‘Free Flyknit’ Running Shoe (Women) | Nordstrom](<a href=“http://m.nordstrom.com/Product/Details/3587266]Nike”>http://m.nordstrom.com/Product/Details/3587266)</p>
<p>Hops - cool video! “They don’t make leotards that big” LOL. He is a perfect candidate for that DWTS show. :)</p>
<p>I was going to ask if it was the Flyknit. Those are very well liked. I haven’t tried them. It would be nice to have something light for travel. The Hokas take up half the suitcase, but I need them for my longer runs.</p>
<p>Yes, love my Hokas, by boy are they voluminous! I am going to try the flyknits for a longer run on a dry day and will report the experience. They have that Nike + thingy incorporated into the sole, I think. The shoes run true to size - 9, my regular size, was just right for me. </p>
<p>How was the concert?!</p>
<p>The concert was really good. I ran 3 miles with my daughter right after work and changed at her house. The tour is “Red”, and I was wearing a red t-shirt! I wasn’t thrilled with the opening acts (Casey James, Ed Sheeran) but Taylor’s show was incredible. I can see why she has all the nominations. Last time I saw her in concert was 2010, I think. Going to something like that in a suite is the way to go)- not that it is going to happen again anytime soon! Great food (much of it healthy) in the suite, and drinks, etc. You could get up and move around and the seats were really comfortable. I didn’t get home until almost midnight, but I’m glad I got to go. She is an incredible performer, whatever anyone might say. She sure has grown up a lot, too.</p>
<p>Not sure if this will come through as a link that you can access, but it was on the back page of today’s WSJ. I know we don’t all feel the same way, but this is how I feel about the current state of road racing. </p>
<p>[The</a> Slowest Generation: Younger Athletes Are Racing With Less Concern About Time - WSJ.com](<a href=“The Slowest Generation: Younger Athletes Are Racing With Less Concern About Time - WSJ”>The Slowest Generation: Younger Athletes Are Racing With Less Concern About Time - WSJ)</p>
<p>These guys did a better job of capturing my tough day hike up Mount Jackson than I did. The 7 year old girl is a pretty darn good scrambler!</p>
<p>[Jackson</a> Webster youtube](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-NBsGgmyp4]Jackson”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-NBsGgmyp4)</p>
<p>My original plan for this summer was to three hikes in the South Presidentials. This one first (because it’s the shortest), then Mt. Pierce, then Mt. Eisenhower. I ended up doing Pierce first, then Eisenhower. Good thing because this was, by far, the toughest of the three hikes.</p>
<p>I’m starting to understand the “understated” nature of the guide books. This one has a couple of hints:</p>
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</p>
<p>This trail was a rocky, root infested, muddy pain the entire way, starting right from the car. It was SO slow, from the combination of steepness and rough footing. Nothing terribly difficult just one miserable step after another. About an 1/8 of a mile from the top, I had to lash the hiking poles to my pack and use my hands and feet to hold on – to rocks and mostly to tree branches lining the trail.</p>
<p>Downhill was excruciatingly slow as the footing on the rocks just didn’t allow any kind of rhythm. It was just stepping from rock to rock to rock. I didn’t finish til 6 pm, with sun already gone behind the mountains. Over seven hours to do the 5.5 mile up and back.</p>
<p>The view, however, were unbelievable. 360 degree Panorama from Crawford Notch to the South, Bretton Woods to the west, and Mt Washington to the north.</p>
<p>Still, I think I’ll go back for more Eisenhower and Pierce before I do this trail again. I can see why the vast majority of YouTubes for this hike are winter hikes. This trail would be much better buried in snow!</p>