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.