Bike-70 minutes on the trainer
Run-15-20 minutes
I love the back week. From a shortened swim yesterday to an easy-peasy trainer workout tonight, this is a great week! The trainer workout tonight was really confusing. It said to "descend from a HR 3-4" and we all had different interpretations for what it meant. So I took it to mean that I should "ascend the stairs" to get a powerbar and then "descend the stairs" back to the trainer, while the others were still spinning! Hahahaha! What a chill week! So I looked up what it meant, which I probably should have done before the workout, but I think we did the right thing naturally. Here's the definition:
"What does "descending" mean?
In a set with a given number of repititions, you may be asked to "descend" the set from beginning to end. To descend the set means to get progressively faster with each repeat until you are going as fast as you can (or as fast as is required) on the final repeat of the set. Generally, the first repeat is done at a moderate speed so you don't begin too fast and run out of steam before the end of the set. Also, it is best to try to shave off the same amount of time from one repeat to the next, so that your progression throughout the set is both gradual and consistent."
The weather was great today, about 70 something for the workout. The run was nice too. We only had to run 15-20 minutes in HR 1. Quite a difference from last week's craziness! And the pups came on the run too. They were exhausted from the hike today. And that brings me to the best part of the day!
Last night I told the girls that we were going hiking with their aunt and cousin today. They were so excited they woke up extra early this morning and started singing their cute little whiney songs. We packed up a bag with snacks and water, and loaded up the car with towels in case they went for a swim. We drove downtown and picked up Kristi and Bella, the the five of us drove out to McKinney Ruffs Park. (I mean McKinney Roughs, but the pups like the first name better....) We hiked for three hours. Here are some of the awesome photos from the wonderful hike.
This was near the start of the hike. Notice how far Bella is sitting from her cousin Caribia who likes to eat small children.
I wish the pups were looking at the camera!
Bella and her mama by the river.
It was so green and lush by the river. When we hiked down into the valley everything was suddenly bright green! (The photo doesn't do it justice.)
A nice little area on the river.
Cheyenne and Caribia wanted to get in the water so badly, but it was pretty gross around the little island we were on and the current in the river was pretty strong!
This is the view as we were hiking back out of the valley.
The view from the top of the hill.
Cheyenne posing in front of the season's first bluebonnet. It's pretty hard to see the bluebonnet in the photo. It's even with her right eye, almost smack dab in the middle of the photo.
And would you believe this last photo.....
Caribia and Bella gave each other kisses! And Caribia wasn't just having a little appetizer, her fur wasn't even ruffled and her tail was even wagging!!! I think they're going to be friends! Yea!!!!
The hike was great. It's unbelievable how much energy little Bella has! For such a small dog she can really keep up! She kept up with Bug and Carib no problem, in fact, Bella was walking right up front next to them most of the time! It was funny to watch Bella's little legs go four times as fast to keep up with Carib and Bella's more casual gait.
There were a couple parts of the trail that were kind of steep, either up or down. Kristi was a little off balance because Bella was pulling her along. Bella's four pounds of extra weight threw off Kristi's balance. (And don't get me started about Kristi's balance to begin with...heehee!) I told her that I'd trade Bella's four pounds for the 90 pounds I had pulling me along! It was good training for my back and knee strength today!
I love to hike! I was telling Kristi all about the hikes that Chris and I have done, and in my mind I was already trying to figure out plans for another great hiking trip! My bucket list has two hikes on it. I really want to hike the Grand Canyon from rim to rim. I want to start at the north rim, hike half-way down and camp, then hike to the bottom and camp for a night, then hike half-way up and camp, then the rest of the way up and get a hotel room. And a delicious muffin and bowl of oatmeal from the Bright Angel Lodge. We've done the whole thing before, but only to camp at the bottom and then out the next day.
My other big bucket list hike is to hike the Cinqua Terre in Italy. Here are some photos from google images.
It's five towns along the north-west coast of Italy, each connected by a hiking trail. You hike from one town to the next and spend the day/evening in that town. Here's a description of the Cinque Terre from wikipedia. Maybe one day I'll make it there!
A walking trail, known as Sentiero Azzurro ("Light Blue Trail"), connects the five villages. The trail from Riomaggiore to Manarola is called the Via Dell'Amore ("Love Walk") and is wheelchair-friendly. The stretch from Manarola to Corniglia is the easiest to hike, although the main trail into Corniglia finishes with a climb of 368 stairs. The trail from Corniglia to Vernazza is steep at certain places. The trail from Vernazza to Monterosso is by far the steepest. It winds through olive orchards and vineyards and is rough in places, but offers the best view of the bay and the spectacular approaches to both Monterosso and Vernazza. The difference in height for the whole Sentiero Azzurro is more than 600 meters and the length is more than 10 km. It takes approximately 5 hours to walk it.
There are fees to use the more popular walking trails, but the less frequently traveled (and most arduous) are free of charge. You can purchase a pass that includes access to the paths as well as unlimited train trips between Riomaggiore and Monterosso. There is also a pass with an additional cost to include the ferries as well. These are great options if you are planning to spend the day between all of the towns. All of the trails are relatively narrow and are usually crowded in high tourist season. Experienced travelers know that short rains will clear the trails, and will jump back on the path after one has passed. The Park has trails that can take hikers up into the steep hills. Casual travelers should look at one of the park maps, which will give some idea of how difficult a trail is to travel. Although more challenging and strenuous, these high paths offer different sights from the main trail.
All the villages have small hotels or inns and there are many bed and breakfasts throughout the area, many with beautiful views of the Mediterranean and the surrounding hills. There are youth hostels located throughout the area. Also, many small apartment owners in some of the villages have banded together and offer use of their apartments through small, locally-owned hospitality businesses. The quality of these accommodations varies greatly, from great to something less than ideal for some. Finding an available room in the height of the tourist season can be virtually impossible in several of the towns, and because cars are not allowed, be prepared to drag your bags for miles over uneven stone streets, up steep inclines, and up staircases in the sweltering summer heat.
Someday! But for now, I'll just dream of completing the Ironman!
M :)
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