The heat index is somewhere between OMG and WTF!

 The 100 degree days are in the forecast and with the high humidity it will be unbearable outside. I am now even dreading my trips to the gym as there is no shade to park in and the car is an oven to get into when I leave. It is not nice as I am already hot and sweaty from my workout. I drive straight home and jump into a cool shower. I have started my twice weekly evening workouts. My first was Tuesday and then I will go again tonight. There is a bit of shade cast by the building on the parking lot so it is not as bad as on the weekend afternoons. 

I have been focusing my workouts on getting my steps up on the stair-master. Saturday, Sunday and again on Tuesday I did fifteen minutes and 825 steps. I hope that by Sunday I am doing 900 steps and then increasing it by 100 each week. That should put me over 2000 by the time I go hiking in Colorado. The Manitou Incline is 2744 steps so I think I will be prepared. The main differences will be is that I will have a back pack on and camera gear plus water on the incline, but I will be able to stop for breaks and rest along the way. I am also hoping it will be in the 40's - 50's. The gym can be a bit warm some days. After I complete my workout on the stair-master I do 40 - 60 minutes on the treadmill with variations on the incline. The treadmills that are nearest the fans they have l mounted are in high demand, I've been fairly lucky so far to get a good spot. 

I spent a few days last week in Corpus Christi visiting my son. My trip was delayed by a day due to Tropical Storm Alberto. It left a bit of flooding in its wake and closed down quite a few things on Padre Island. It also created a hot and very humid few days. The air was so thick it was like breathing soup. The heat index was 102f.  We did find an open beach on Friday, but the water was high with a strong undertow and rip currents so we just got our feet wet. We just took a nice stroll up the beach and watched the pelicans flying over. It was kind of cool to see the waves as high as they were. I don't think I've ever seen the gulf so choppy. I also on Friday morning went to Oso wetlands for a bit of bird watching. I did spot some birds I had not seen before including a Roseate Spoonbill. It was in flight and quite stunning with it's bright pink feathers and large size. I had been hoping to see one for the past several years and had not had any luck until now. 

Mentally my struggle has just been motivation. Since I have stepped up the workouts at the gym it takes quite a bit more to keep going. I am a homebody and for me to get out in this heat and go where there are other people takes me out of my comfort zone. It crosses my mind some days to just give it all up and take life easy. Why do I feel the need to challenge myself? I can see though that I am inspiring at least my youngest daughter. She goes on a 4-6 mile hike most mornings now. She told me this week that she will most likely be coming to Colorado with me. I think her love of the outdoors is beginning to exceed mine. That is enough to keep me going for at least a while longer. 

Some pictures from my trip to the coast.

A New Determination...

 After last weeks post about motivation and how it was again a struggle, I have found a new determination to succeed. I had a look at a few blogs and videos about the Manitou Incline, and the Inca Trail. I feel that I can conquer both and then go for the Everest Base Camp trek. I just have to get more workouts and more challenging workouts into my weekly schedule. 

I have been meticulous about not skipping my yoga routine every morning. I have added to it a bit when time allows. I have moved my stair-stepper workout to the evenings when I get home from work. I find I can do much longer workouts as I am not having to watch the clock or worry about wearing myself out before going to work. I have been doing 600 - 800 steps every night. I plan on adding gym workouts after work in a few more weeks. Just one to two nights plus my two weekend workouts. I feel like the motivation is there now to get in shape to tackle the hikes in Colorado I have planned this Autumn. 

My gym workouts this past weekend went okay. Saturdays was better than Sundays. I think I was a bit worn out on Sunday after doing a fairly intense hour on the treadmill with quite a bit of the time spent on the steeper inclines on Saturday. I did a full hour on it plus time on the Stair Master. I plan on adding weight training to one of my evening workouts and maybe my Sunday workout. I really feel though that cardio is my weak point right now and the treadmill at steep inclines seems to have the greatest impact for that. 

I've been feeling great lately and full of energy. Now I must stay motivated and determined to succeed!

Motivation

 Summer is here. It is hot and humid due to all the rain we have had this Spring. Heat indexes are hitting over 100f. I haven't been on the trails since early April. I am now hitting the gym on Saturdays and Sundays. I hop on the stair-master for 200 to 300 steps and then on the treadmill for an hour. I vary the inclines through-out so I get challenged a bit as though I am on a trail. I'd rather be on a trail. I have been diligent about doing my yoga daily. It is one of the first things I do every morning once the dogs have been out and fed. I really enjoy the quietness and the meditative environment before the day starts. 

Summer in Nepal is Monsoon season. The trekking season has ended until October. I enjoyed the past few months as people posted updates and pictures of their treks to EBC. I am starting to feel like my opportunity to go will never arrive. I feel like I am losing interest and motivation as time passes. Did I err in setting such a distant goal? I was so excited and determined when I started out on this journey. I knew I it would take time to get fit enough to take on the challenge of EBC. I wasn't prepared for the set-backs. I have misjudged  how my age is impacting how much harder it is to get fit.  I am not yet ready to give up though. It is because of this dream that I am driven to work out, get out, and hike. 

I don't really have anyone beside me to keep pushing me and encouraging me. I have to be my own motivator. My kids are proud of me and what I am doing which does help as they are the reason I am doing this. I want to inspire them to accomplish their dreams. Motivation right now though is my biggest obstacle. I had thought that with a gym membership I would go three times a week, Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday evening. I just have not been able to make myself go on Wednesdays. I have just been mentally exhausted by the time I get home from work. I do however get on my stair-stepper at home on Wednesday nights and do extra steps over what I do in my morning workout. I am really going to try though to get to the gym more often as it gets closer to my hiking trip to Colorado. I have set myself some big challenges there that will determine my trekking path moving forward. Here is my plan:

Three days camping in Mueller State Park with several four plus mile hikes ( I hope to do 7 - 8 miles a day).

1 day hiking in the National forest near the park with altitudes above 10,000 feet.

A short hike at Pikes Peak - 14,000 ft.

Short hikes (under 4 miles) at Garden of the Gods

Finish up on the final day attempting the Manitou Incline. 2744 steps with a 2000 ft. gain in elevation in less than a mile. The trail back down is 3.5 miles. 

I feel I need to successfully complete the Incline to feel confident enough to do the 4-5 day Inca Trail. Completing the Inca trail will give me the confidence I need to do the EBC trek. If I fail to complete the incline on this trip I will give it another try in the Autumn of 2025. 

I am already feeling a bit more motivated.