<p>What a great video, iDad. It looks like it was windy up there at the top. Did you see many other hikers besides the few in the video? It looks just gorgeous. When I ran there in 2008 I stayed low and ran from town to the edges of Acadia and a little bit into the park before I needed to turn around. Some climbing but not terrible.</p>
<p>MOWC:</p>
<p>Running in Acadia would be awesome. John D. Rockefeller built 45 miles of crushed stone carriage roads, complete with beautiful stone bridges and landscaping. These were donated to the park when he died. Perfect for easy biking, running, etc.</p>
<p>[Acadia</a> Carriage Roads](<a href=“http://www.affordableacadia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/CarriageRoad.jpg]Acadia”>http://www.affordableacadia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/CarriageRoad.jpg)</p>
![http://www.affordableacadia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/CarriageRoad.jpg]Acadia](http://www.affordableacadia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/CarriageRoad.jpg%5DAcadia){kind=link}
<p>I saw maybe half a dozen pairs of hikers on the mountains the first day, then another half dozen on the 2 mile stretch back along the pond. That’s a popular “nature walk” from the Jordon Pond House restaurant area. Still, that area is slightly more remote.</p>
<p>Saw a lot of people on the second day.</p>
<p>Plant Mom:</p>
<p>There were a few high places on the Spring Trail, but nothing that raised my heart rate (and I don’t like heights). The strategically placed wood railings helped. There are some trails in Acadia with scary exposure, but I didn’t include those in my routes! I didn’t know how hard the hiking would be or how to calibrate the guidebook “ratings”, so I picked two routes that wouldn’t scare me to death. Overall, the difficulty was pretty much in line with what I’m used to in the White Mountains, although in places, there was some pretty impressing trail building (cutting stone steps, etc.).</p>
<p>Back is fine. It’s prone to acting up, but I’ve learned to stop immediately if I feel an issue.</p>
<p>Smart plan Mathmom- don’t push the back!!!</p>
<p>Been pretty much a no show with working out, literally been working 14, 15 hour days, and when I try to exercise I am tired enough that I worry about hurting myself. Tried running simple intervals one day and thought I was going to fall over, got dizzy. Between long hours at work, working at home, not getting a lot of sleep, doesn’t help.</p>
<p>The good news is I am finding out how much nutrition helps with all this. Even though I haven’t regularly worked out over the past month, I haven’t gained any weight, am not putting on fat, and someone today who last saw me 6 weeks ago said I slimmed down. Some of it may be loss of muscle mass because I haven’t worked out, but eating clean (basically, limited simple carbs like pasta, white rice, wheat, very limited), no sugar or sweeteners added, vegetables and lean protein, healthy fats (nuts, oils), and fruit and berries, occassionally cheese. I am happy I didn’t reach for the comfort food to try and make up for the stress, I have my occassional meal that is ‘less healthy’, like pizza or a hamburger on a bun, but other than that, have stuck to it. </p>
<p>Hello, Everyone. I’m just dropping by to tell you all that my back muscle pull has resolved (I know you were all on the collective edge of your seat), I’m working hard at the gym, and I’m also getting a ton of sleep. Sleep, it turns out, is way underrated. I highly recommend it.</p>
<p>Keep up the good work, everyone. @MOWC, soon you’re going to be back in the saddle and better than ever.</p>
<p>musicprnt:</p>
<p>Sounds like you are doing great! Diet is probably 90% of it. Exercise is good in it’s own right, but eating right is the battle.</p>
<p>VeryHappy:</p>
<p>Yay. Nothing says good news like back pain going away!</p>
<p>Yay, VH! Yay big time. </p>
<p>Happy belated b-day, NRE. </p>
<p>(Whoever brought Top Pot donuts to work today needs to be spanked! I took a small, symbolic piece so I would not look like marathon running, clean eating, anti-donut nazi).</p>
<p>Yay, Veryhappy. Glad you are pain free!
I had 2 donuts and the chocolate bacon potato chip candy bar today. This needs to stop!</p>
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<p>You’d love the group at my gym MOWC. There’s a Dad who brings in his 3 sons a few mornings a week. They are probably pre-teens. The four of them get on the treadmill and put on head phones and play games on their iPads. They stay on the treadmill for a fairly long time and never look up from their iPads. </p>
<p>Rest day for me. Ditched my walk because it was raining.</p>
<p>So how was the candy bar? Since you ate it, should I assume it was good??! </p>
<p>The candy bar was absolutely fantastic. It was worth it. Turns out it’s a well-known brand and is available locally. I will avoid it. It’s called Hammond’s and this bar is Pigs n Taters. For all my snarkiness yesterday about it, they really have a hit with this one.</p>
<p>Bromfield- are they moving slowly while they play on the iPads? I can’t imagine being able to do that! I’m challenged to advance songs on my iPod while I’m on the treadmill!</p>
<p>Sabaray:</p>
<p>Good to hear that hubby is showing an interest in getting a little more fit. I heard Alwyn Cosgrove make an excellent point in a recent podcast: the biggest mistake he sees is people setting out all gung ho at a rate/intensity that will never be sustainable. That lasts for a month or two and then they stop. So, if I could offer one piece of advice: go with the tortoise strategy!</p>
<p>Next installment of Acadia videos. The end of the first hike. Sargent Mountain and Jordan Pond. Note the carriage road and the granite double arch bridge. John D. Rockefeller built 57 miles of these grave carriage roads for horse drawn carriage rides… His estate gave them to the park…</p>
<p>[Sargent</a> Mountain and Jordon Pond](<a href=“Sargent Mountain & Jordan Pond - YouTube”>Sargent Mountain & Jordan Pond - YouTube)</p>
<p>Good morning. Before I watch the next awesome video, idad, who were the musicians in the video before the one you just posted?</p>
<p>Gorgeous vista…I should probably reconsider my “not going anywhere this summer” stance 
Said stance was because last summer it seemed we were off visiting folks every second weekend and I just really enjoy this season AT HOME and prefer people come here instead (there is an actual camping area on our property with a big fire pit, river access, etc. so anyone who wants to camp, swim, kayak etc. can do so here.)</p>
<p>So with the exception of one wedding, we’re staycationing every weekend until I go do the Monterey-San Francisco-Napa trip with my girlfriend in September.</p>
<p>The reality this summer though is there’s too much work with September deadlines to really get away anyway. A blessing but also a curse, if you know what I mean. :)</p>
<p>So the bus will be bringing us all to your place, kmc, and iDad will be doing the cooking? I might have to get a tent and a sleeping bag. </p>
<p>iDad, you have described H to the letter. His work is very high stress so he lets everything but work slide - then when he has down time, will attempt to “crash” weight off. Strenuous exercise, heavy yard work, rigorous dieting - can’t be sustained when he goes back to his actual job. I am going with him to the appointment so he is actually truthful about his habits and the doctor gets a clear picture of what “strategies” H attempts. </p>
<p>Beautiful morning here - we had another big storm last night but today is cool and pleasant. Nice session with the pups already this morning. </p>
<p>Nice videos, idad. We were at a family wedding up there several years ago; gray and cloudy most of the time we were there, but still incredibly beautiful.</p>
<p>musicprnt - yes, “clean eating” is something that definitely makes a difference for me. I’ve been trying to up the protein and reduce the carbs. H doesn’t believe me about any of this, but since he doesn’t do any food prep, he eats what I make! I try not to be obsessive about the number of the scale – it matters more to me how my clothes fit. That said, I did just buy a new scale since our old one seemed to be a little erratic – and immediately discovered I’d lost a couple of pounds!! 
</p>
<p>VH - glad to hear your back is better.</p>
<p>Haven’t been to the gym since Monday, but have been getting in some walks, with and without the puppy. </p>
<p>Thank you all for your good wishes.</p>
<p>MOWC, that candy bar sounds fantastic!</p>
<p>Yep- another great video. I love the rocks. Maine is really pretty- I went a couple of times on business to some extremely remote parts (forestry client). I loved it. Winter would do me in, though.</p>
<p>Decided to go to a park I don’t get to often after dropping off my D2 at her ACT test. </p>
<p>Little did I know that park was having a 5k today! Cars EVERYWHERE!! When I pulled in the people asked me if I was there to run the race - I said, “here to run, but not the race!” They diverted me to another park entrance which was Just fine. I did end up crossing paths with the front of the race - had to stop for them to clear - kind of weird watching them going by and not joining in! </p>
<p>Anyway, got 3.5 miles in and if my H can find an extra tshirt (he works for the park system) at least I earned it! :)</p>