Getting There

 Monday morning, the one good thing about Monday's is I am another day closer to retirement. 

I cannot ever figure out why I always have a bad nights sleep on Sunday night. I don't worry or stress about the week ahead. I keep the same bedtime routine as I do on other nights. But I just wake up every hour or two and often lay awake for an hour or more between two and four a.m.. I had thought for sure when I went to bed last night I would sleep well. I was physically worn out. 

I began my Sunday as I begin every other day with my Yoga routine. I then watched CBS Sunday Morning as I do most Sundays. I then mowed the yard... the entire yard, front and back. It was hot and muggy. I also forgot to turn the self-propel back on on the lawnmower so I got an extra upper body workout. That would normally be my work-out for the day but I did go on Saturday and get a pass for the gym. I went Saturday and did forty five minutes on the treadmill and a short stint on the elliptical. On Sunday I did fifty minutes on the treadmill with varying heights on the incline from -3 to the highest of 15. I tried to mimic what I would do on a hike. I varied the speed based on the incline from 2.0 to 2.5 mph. My average for the workout was 2.4 mph. I then climbed on the stair-stepper And did 5 minutes at 45 steps per minute. I will have to get used to their machine and hope to get up to ten minutes at 50 spm in a few more visits. It was a good workout. It will take a few more trips though until I begin to feel comfortable there. It has been at least 12 years since I had a membership there. 

This morning I had to drag myself out of bed. I was still so tired. I did my yoga and then I got on my stair-stepper.... I struggled to do 100 steps. I was doing 300 last week and didn't feel as tired as I did this morning. I have really been doubting myself since. I was honestly thinking of calling it all quits. But I tell myself to look at how far I have come in the past year. I've gone from couch potato to accomplishing 6 mile hikes. I've gone from 25 steps to 300 on the stair-stepper. My knee pain is rarely a blip on the pain meter. I am healthier than I have been in years. I am sure the worst is behind me and the progress will continue at an even faster pace. If my knees stay strong I shouldn't have to deal with those set-backs. Working out at the gym should build my cardio which I really need to focus on the next few months.  

I just have to keep telling myself I will get there....

Colorado - Manitou Incline

    Big Bend

        Inca Trail

            Everest Base Camp Trek