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Post by mocamper on Dec 20, 2016 21:40:02 GMT -8
This year was a good fitness year for me because, for the first time in my life, I was able to consistently exercise and train without injury.
I have been training since February. I use my mile time as a gauge of my fitness, and when I started, I could only run about 9-minute miles. Now I can run a 7-minute mile and not even be straining. I feel very proud of myself for this accomplishment.
I credit the training plans from Military Athlete.com for getting me to this point. Ruck running is hard, but it is satisfying to be able to run three miles with 25lbs on my back. It really toughened me up both physically and mentally.
The best part however was having my 16 year old son working out along with me. When he was younger, he wanted to come run with me, but I wouldn't let him because he couldn't keep up. I feel bad about that sometimes. But we have a nice bond now, and he is a great motivator. Now it's me who can't keep up with him. We conquered Kings Peak, Utah this summer. I'm looking forward to more adventures with him.
What was your greatest fitness or health achievement this year?
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Post by rwtb123 on Dec 21, 2016 1:59:03 GMT -8
Consistency is the key for me also.Not only in training, but also diet and rest/recovery.I spent much of the year training to add size/strength to my upper body by training consistently heavy in the gym while doing minimal/moderate aerobics.As a result, my waist expanded enough that none of my clothes fit, anymore.So in response, I tweaked my diet, which had evolved to fit all day cycling and moderately heavy weight training,by cutting overall calories and hidden sugars.Now burning more fat again while training, I once again fit my wardrobe from 3 1/2 years ago.As the year comes to a close, I probably had my best week of the year training 4-on moderately heavy while increasing my cycling levels to years past.
Now, I'm looking forward to next year planning to continue making progress, while feeling fit(or super-fit if you will).I am glad several others continue to post consistent results,as well, and hope this will all help inspire many more...
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T4
Trail Wise!
Posts: 100
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Post by T4 on Dec 21, 2016 4:55:57 GMT -8
Kudos to all for hitting their fitness goals.
I'm not much of a gym person, but I surf, swim, bike, canoe and hike quite a bit. This past summer I hit my lowest weight since high school (over 25 years ago), and so far I've been reasonably successful at fighting off the holiday sweets.
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walkswithblackflies
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Resident terrorist-supporting eco-freak bootlicker
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Dec 21, 2016 6:47:31 GMT -8
Consistency here as well. I set a New Years Resolution to walk/run 1,000 miles. It looks like I'll end up somewhere between 1,100 and 1,150. I only did around 4 long runs (8+ miles), and a handful of medium runs (5-8 miles)... so it really was all about getting out numerous time per week for shorter runs. I also rode my bike to work 45-50 times. Worked through a couple minor calf/hamstring issues and a major low back problem to meet my goal.
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whistlepunk
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I was an award winning honor student once. I have no idea what happened...
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Post by whistlepunk on Dec 21, 2016 8:51:21 GMT -8
The year is not over yet. I could still do some more.
My current numbers: 650 situps, 23 pullups, 328 pushups. I weigh less than anytime in the last 20 years. I have my sixpack back. Resting heart rate in the low 50s. My doctor looked at my lab tests and said I have the health of a 30 year old. I am 62.
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davesenesac
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Our precious life is short within eternity, don't waste it!
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Post by davesenesac on Dec 21, 2016 10:09:11 GMT -8
The wilderness trailhead quota for my 9 day Pine Creek backpack showed Friday and Saturday dates reserved long before my trip. A week before Thursday had a single slot open up so reserved that on recreation.gov. I was just coming off a 9 day trip with a bro and had also done a 3 day backpack weeks earlier plus have been very active again this year as a landscape photographer on road trips day hiking despite being an 8-5 m-f hi tech working person.
www.davidsenesac.com/2016_Trip_Chronicles/2016_Trip-Chronicles-0.html
Permit secured, I submitted PTO for Friday and after leaving work a wee early would drive 6 hours from mid afternoon Thursday from my SF Bay Area workplace to the trailhead below the Eastern Sierra. Would pick up the wilderness permit in a night box and then set out night hiking in the evening, reach the wilderness boundary on my reserved entry date that would fulfill the permit requirement. The fitness challenge was the effort to reach the wilderness boundary 2 plus miles in and 2400 feet uphill on Thursday my entry date then start camping. In other words my permit entry date would not be legally fulfilled by hiking Thursday night outside the boundary and tenting there and then hiking in Friday morning.
www.davidsenesac.com/2016_Trip_Chronicles/summer_2016-13.html
After the long drive, my hike began with headlamp at 9:10pm in the evening at 7440 feet. At SS retirement age, I am 66" and 140# with a heavy carrying weight just below 60 pounds. Although I often hike at night, it is always a challenge because stepping can be rather awkward. The trail for first 2 miles was steep though relatively flat but had a lot of loose rocks I had to avoid stumbling on in the darkness. Had to push my respiratory limits. About midnight a couple notches below delirium reached the wilderness boundary and at 1am reached 9700 feet or 2300 feet uphill that was the first possible spot I could tent without doing so in the middle of the trail as the trail side canyon slope topography was steep most everywhere.
Part of pushing physical limits beyond one's normal capability while backpacking is not doing so such that one becomes so sore the following day that it significantly affects hiking on subsequent days. In this case was able to do 1500 feet the next morning on Friday to reach Granite Park without being too unpleasant. My camp spot was down in the bedrock granite flats in lower frame below. Indeed a very good place to be a photographer.
David
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Post by hikerchick395 on Dec 21, 2016 10:21:10 GMT -8
dayhiking Mount Whitney
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2016 10:33:50 GMT -8
My greatest, was when I hiked 18 miles in one day, with backpack on.
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foxalo
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Life is infinitely stranger than anything the mind could invent.---Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
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Post by foxalo on Dec 21, 2016 11:02:33 GMT -8
Getting out of bed and not dying each day.
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Post by trinity on Dec 21, 2016 13:42:51 GMT -8
At the age of 51, I completed a Tough Mudder with a group of military vets a decade or more my junior. Keeping up with them felt like a pretty good accomplishment.
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reuben
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Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
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Post by reuben on Dec 21, 2016 14:40:49 GMT -8
Getting back to camp after getting semi-lost on the Lagunas Altas trail in Patagonia Park and almost having to spend the night up there. That was painful.
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JiminMD
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Unrepentant Smartass
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Post by JiminMD on Dec 21, 2016 15:13:53 GMT -8
I was able to pass a very physically demanding test at work which allowed me to win a job that I've wanted since I was a little kid. Now I need to stay in good condition to get through the formal training in 2018.
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Post by mocamper on Dec 21, 2016 16:33:11 GMT -8
I was able to pass a very physically demanding test at work which allowed me to win a job that I've wanted since I was a little kid. What's the kind of job is it? Sounds exciting.
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Post by hikinggods on Dec 22, 2016 20:58:39 GMT -8
Climbing a 12,500 ft. peak 12 days after finishing chemo. Running 4 miles one month after chemo. Making a 30 mile BPing trip 6 weeks post-chemo. Hoping for bigger/better things in 2017!
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JiminMD
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Unrepentant Smartass
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Post by JiminMD on Dec 23, 2016 14:04:57 GMT -8
I was able to pass a very physically demanding test at work which allowed me to win a job that I've wanted since I was a little kid. What's the kind of job is it? Sounds exciting. I'll post up about it as soon as I actually get my transfer. I'd hate to discuss it and have an admin issue get in my way.
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