Got out this weekend for a bit of snowshoeing. My mom bought some snowshoes for Amy and I for Christmas and it was the first weekend that we’ve been able to get out and give them a test run. So Sunday morning we drove up to Roseville REI and picked up a 2010 Sno-Park Pass and then headed up to Donner Pass to do our first run. Parking was easy, and it was just a short walk from the parking lot to the left of Boreal under I-80 to the north where the trail started. There were a lot of dogs and Brodie didn’t know whether to go and play with them or roll around in the snow. To say he likes snow is an understatement.
We headed up the hill and into a meadow covered with snow. There were trails going everywhere so we opted to follow a trail that meandered through the meadow hoping that it went somewhere interesting. After about 10 minutes the trail left the meadow and started climbing up a hill. Within about 5 minutes of climbing I could definitely feel the altitude but it was just so quiet and peaceful it was worth all of the work. We stopped where we had a bit of a view and shared some water and a Clif Bar and Amy fed Brodie snow.
As we approached the highest elevation we would see for the day, we could look back across the valley and just see the top of Boreal (see image below). We wandered around along the top of the trail looking to see where we could drop back down to the meadow when we caught sight of another trail and were able to move down the hill and come out north of the meadow, after about 10 minutes of walking we were back in the meadow and headed for the car.
I was surprised about how much work snowshoeing was, but the rewards were definitely worth it. We were able to get outdoors and take the dog for a walk and see some really great views. We debated going into Reno for dinner and to see some friends but we got a late start and figured we wouldn’t get home until 10pm if we went to Reno and we both had things that needed to be done before work on Monday. So we dropped back into Auburn, stopped at Ikeda’s for a burger and headed home. Brodie slept in the backseat the whole way home.
Got a call Sunday morning from Mike “wanna go for a ride?”. So I got up made coffee and started putting together the things I needed for a ride. I have been looking for my cycling shoes for the Cannondale for about 3 weeks now and haven’t been able to find them so I decided to take the Centurion out for the day.
When I went up to Washington to be with Mom and Dad while he was dealing with cancer my Dad gave me his old Centurion Elite, the frame is a little big for me but it actually fits quite well once I’m up in the saddle. So one day to get Dad out of the house we went over to REI in Redmond and picked up parts for the Yakima rack for the Honda and got parts for me to get the bicycle back on the road. I rode it a few times while I was in Washington but then Dad’s health really started to go downhill and leaving the house became more difficult to do. I brought the Centurion home and have been using it to do riding and run errands like going to the post office, it’s a good solid bike, very comfortable and has a rather unique personality after having spent the last few years on Cannondales.
Anyways, I popped up to BART and rode out to Millbrae and the rode down to San Mateo to Mike’s place and we went down to the bike path along the shore and rode south to Sun’s campus then across to Palo Alto for lunch. Then we went through Woodside and back up Canada road to a bike path and then dropped back down into San Mateo along what I think was CrystalSprings Road. We talked for a bit and then I headed back to BART on the bicycle to catch a train and get home.
It was a good day and I had a lot of fun, got a sunburn but I got to lose myself for a while and just ride. The best part was that when I got home Amy had found my cycling shoes so that search is over and I can get to doing some serious riding. I had a great laugh with Mike on the ride when I told him that when I was riding regularly I spent more time at gas stations than anywhere else. Gas stations being the best place to buy water and fuel for the next 20 miles, it brings back good memories for me.
So the ride was most excellent and today I’m pretty tired but it was definitely a highlight of the last several months.
Well it’s over. I missed a few days here and there, but I was able to do more days than I didn’t so that works out.
My goals for this challenge were pretty modest, try to exercise every day, lose some weight, lose some inches and generally just get a higher level of exercise integrated into my everyday life. So I exercised most days of the challenge and I lost about 10lbs. I also lost a couple of inches off the waist and I look forward to getting a workout in when I get up in the morning. So all around I’d say it was a success.
The one thing that was pretty difficult was trying to get through this challenge during the holidays, my holiday schedule tends to be pretty fluid so I had a tough time getting away from my committments for a workout. However, all in all I think it worked out well and it certainly set a good precedent for exercise and nutrition in 2009.
Slowly closing in on the final days of this challenge. I have to laugh because when I started this I dreaded the weight training days. Now I look forward to them. I’m not sure what it is about weights that I find so fun, but for the most part I really have a good time when I’m working out with them.
Weight training day:
- crunches (25×4)
- bench press (15×3)
- dumbbell rows (15×3)
- military press (15×3)
- curls (15×3, 10×1)
- leglifts (10×2, 15×2)
Just a simple bike workout today. The ab workout yesterday had me sore today, so apparently I found some new muscles. Looking forward to seeing how the ab workout tomorrow will go.
Cardio day:
- Bike ride – (30m23s/428kcal)