Week 5: Sun, Rain and a Legacy of Daffodils

Most recently updated February 17th, 2023

– – Training Week 5 started with another nice day, but I decided to give my hiking boots a break and do kickboxing and upper body weights in my home gym.

Trailhead at Rock Nut Hollow near Duke Forest.
Trailhead at Rock Nut Hollow near Duke Forest.

Tuesday temps were going to be well above freezing and the sun came out again just in time for a short 5 mile hike at Rock Nut Hollow near Duke Forest.

Lenore led the hike with a great group of hikers!

View from the rock scramble.
View from the rock scramble.

It’s a scenic and fun route along the creek with a very steep (but mercifully short) hike up a “mountain” with a nice rock scramble on the return route.

I hiked with 10 lbs of extra weight in my pack, and we went at a moderate pace.

I love a good rock scramble!  In fact, I hiked the ultimate mile-long scramble on Old Rag at Shenandoah last summer 🙂

Kiosk on the Black Creek Greenway at Lake Crabtree.
Kiosk on the Black Creek Greenway at Lake Crabtree.

Wednesday, still trying to avoid mud, I scheduled a hike at Lake Crabtree where half of the trail is on paved greenway.

The sun came out and it was a beautiful hike! 

The natural trails were closed due to mud, but we went far enough to see the eagle’s nest at the pond across Aviation Parkway before turning back.

Some parts of the Black Creek Greenway are still closed due to construction.
Some parts of the Black Creek Greenway are still closed due to construction.

In spite of ongoing construction on the Black Creek Greenway, Silvia and I were able to get some time on natural sections of the blue-blazed Lake Trail on the way back, and finished at about 6-6.5 miles.

I carried 15 extra lbs on this hike, and I could really feel it in my legs afterwards!

In case you’re feeling proud of yourself (and you should!), I designed some Awesome T-Shirts to commemorate your training:

Thursday this week was the last day forecast to NOT have rain, so I took advantage to do some exploratory hiking at Eno River State Park.

View of the Eno River from the Cabelands Trail.
View of the Eno River from the Cabelands Trail.

It was my “rest day” for the week, so I just did some yoga stretches before heading out, and the hike itself was only a few miles and not very fast.

Exploratory hiking is never a sure thing – it’s more about the discovery than the miles!

This time I started from the Cabelands trailhead on the Eno River.


Who were the Cabes?

The area is called “Cabe Lands” because Barnaby Cabe and his family were settled there in the years prior to the American Revolution.

After America won her independance, the Cabes were patriots and loyal citizens, even representing Orange County in Congress and serving in the militia.

Remains of the Cabe Mill on the Eno River.
Remains of the Cabe Mill on the Eno River.

John Cabe built a grist mill on the Eno and owned many acres in the “Cabelands” area. 

He eventually had 9 daughters (with three wives) and many of his daughters married other mill owners along the Eno River.

Portrait of the owners of Cole Mill, Anothy(sic) Cole and Susan Browning Cole. ca. 1875.
Portrait of the owners of Cole Mill, Anothy(sic) Cole and Susan Browning Cole. ca. 1875.

One of the daughters, Rachel, married John McCown and together they built what was to become known as Cole Mill – which is another major trailhead access further downriver in Eno River State Park.

In the hard times after the defeat of Culloden in 1746, family groups – even whole villages – left Scotland for America.

The shipping lists of 1776 show the McColes landing at Wilmington, NC – but we have no evidence that these early Coles ever made their way this far inland, though many other families did.

The Eno River from the Cabelands Trail.
The Eno River from the Cabelands Trail.

Levi Cole, an older brother of Anthony Cole, said to have travelled from the English town of Leeds, appears to have been the earliest Cole in the Eno Valley. 

After her first husband died, Rachel married Colonel Sims and together they owned and operated West Point Mill at Roxboro Road. 

This mill is still in operation for demonstration purposes, and is the centerpiece for the West Point on the Eno park.


Grave markers of in the Cabe Cemetery.
Grave markers of Elizabeth Arnold McCowan and John Cabe McCowen in the Cabe Cemetery.

In my explorations, I was looking specifically for an old cabin from the 1770’s and also the Cabe Cemetery.

But also in the area are the remnants of the Cabe Mill.

Following the Cabelands Trail from the official trailhead, blazed in red, the map shows a left-hand trail-split, marked by two red blazes.

I followed the red blazes for the Cabelands Trail.
I followed the red blazes for the Cabelands Trail.

The Cabelands Trail continues downhill to the Eno River  – and this is the way I went.

Turning downriver, I followed the trail until just before the two wooden footbridges.

Off to the right through the trees, I could see the well-preserved stone foundations for the old mill.

Two footbridges beside the river cross the old mill race from the Cabe Mill.
Two footbridges beside the river cross the old mill race from the Cabe Mill.

I tromped around a bit, but couldn’t find a passable way to the mill ruins, so I continued on along the Cabelands trail beside the river.

Back on the trail, I followed the trail up toward the bluffs, now looking for the old cabin and the cemetery.

As I followed the marked trail uphill, and noticed a long flat area of land overlooking the lowlands below.

Daffodils cover the hillside where the old homestead used to be.
Daffodils cover the hillside where the old homestead used to be.

It turns out this was the site of the old John Cabe homestead, but nothing remains of the cabin.

Instead, only a field of daffodils appear in the Spring to mark the spot where Cabe’s daughters grew up playing in the yard.

I (reluctantly) left the daffodil-covered hillside and went in search of the Cabe Cemetery.

The daffodils are everywhere!
The daffodils are everywhere!

I was just about to give up, when I saw what looked like an unmarked trail to the right of the “official” path.

I followed that path straight to an area dotted with old headstones, some illegible and in disrepair, but some easy to read even after all of the years in the forest.

Marker in the Cabe Cemetery.
Marker in the Cabe Cemetery.

Friday I led an 8-mile hike that combined the Company Mill and part of the Sycamore Trail in Umstead State Park.

MUT intersection with the Company Mill Trail.
MUT intersection with the Company Mill Trail.

I only carried 5 lbs extra on this hike, and went for speed – rain was forecast to start again at noon, and some of us had meetings to get to as well.

We ended up going about 4 mph!

Saturday the weather was pretty good all day, but I was waiting for some contractors at my house (which is another story!) so I had to settle for kickboxing and weights in my home gym.

Sunday I had posted an 8-10 mile hike, but it was forecast for 95% chance of cold rain (about 40 degrees) and 15-20mph gusting winds for the whole hike. 

My cat when its begging to go outside and I open the door to heavy rain ...

That really didn’t sound like much fun.

So I rescheduled the hike for next week, and spent a good long time hiking uphill indoors on my treadmill wearing 10lbs extra in a pack.

I hiked 3 miles with 1500ft elev gain in 45 mins, then another 2 miles in 35 mins descending 2162 ft.   I’ll be ready for Mt Olympus in no time!  🙂

Next week, the weather forecast is much more normal.

Whatever that means around here….   But, no matter what, we know that:

Are you ready????


TAKEAWAY LESSON:  The weather can have a big impact on your workout plans!  Have a bad weather workout plan, check trail conditions before you head out, and don’t be afraid to wait for better conditions!


I hope you’ve found my Training Log ramblings to be helpful- or at least amusing! 🙂   To see more of them go to my Training Log.

You could also take a look at my 8 Weeks to Awesome Training Plan post, if you want to see what kind of training I’m doing.

Thanks for stopping by – see you next time!  LJ

Week 4: Don’t Get Stuck in the Middle (So Much Mud!)

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

– – It’s Training Week 4!

That means that at the end of the week we’ll have been doing this stuff on purpose for a whole month.  Woot! 🙂

I started on Monday with some yoga, and then joined Lenore and some other hikers in a moderate-paced  6.5 mile hike on Umstead State Park’s Company Mill Trail in the afternoon.

Trail crossing sign at the Company Mill Trail.
Trail crossing sign at the Company Mill Trail.

I carried 10 lbs extra in my pack to make it a bit more strength building for me.

It was a beautiful warm sunny afternoon, and we took full advantage of it before the rainy colder weather set in for the week.

Tuesday, I did an 8 mile hike, again in Umstead State Park, on a route designed to not be too muddy in the rain – this time on my own.

Kiosk and maps at a trail head in Umstead State Park.
Kiosk and maps at a trail head in Umstead State Park.

I took advantage of being solo to hike at my own fastest pace and try a little bit of a different route than usual.

Wednesday was another cold rainy  – and muddy! – day, so it was kickboxing and upper body weights day in my home gym.

Thursday was raining again, ALL DAY, so I went with the “rainy day” vibe and did a long yoga flow and  uphill fast training hike on the treadmill in my home gym.

I missed the outdoors…but…so much mud!


Does the Surface You Hike on Matter?

Paved greenways are a great alternative for hikers, walkers and trail runners when natural trails aren’t available.

But be aware that paved surfaces have a different effect on your body than softer dirt trails.

Trail marker in Bond Park
Trail marker in Bond Park

“Concrete is the worst surface you can run on,” according to Joseph Herrera, DO, assistant professor of rehabilitation at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

“In general, the softer the surface, the more joint-friendly it is,” says Dr. Herrera.

Uneven dirt or gravel trails also give you more balance exercise and work more of your core muscles naturally during your walk or run, so it’s a better workout.

Harder walking surfaces can be very hard on your knees, hips, and ankles. Be sure to choose the right footwear and stretch when you get home!

Blooming tree beside the House Creek Trail in Raleigh
Blooming tree beside the House Creek Trail in Raleigh

Friday, I had posted a greenway hike at the North Carolina Museum of Art Park, and a bunch of great hikers joined me!  

Hikers braving the pavement at NCMA!
Hikers braving the pavement at NCMA!

I prefer hiking natural trails, but I was in “mud avoidance” mode.

It was nice to go see what was happening at the NCMA Park,  anyway.

They’ve always got something new going on.

 

We hiked the Park trails, crossed the I-440 pedestrian bridge, and then took a left on the House Creek Trail (also a paved greenway) for something a little bit different.   

I’m not a fan of hiking more than a couple of miles on pavement, but when you get so much rain, it’s better for you (AND for the natural forest trails!) to stay away until they’ve had a little time to dry out.

Total distance was about 7.5-8 miles, and I had an extra 10 lbs in my pack.

Construction continues across the road from Schenk Forest.
Construction continues across the road from Schenk Forest.

I stopped by nearby Schenk Forest afterwards to see how the construction was progressing.

Good news!  They’ve closed off the pasture again near the main forest road, so the horses are back 🙂

Saturday was another kickboxing and upper weights day for me.

And after that there was a short cold walk in the woods followed by some jamming with musical friends, homemade guac and chips, and beer!

What? I earned it 🙂  Read about how I Hike for Beer. You could do it too!

Coming off of the Company Mill trail onto the MUT.
Coming off of the Company Mill trail onto the MUT on Sunday.

Sunday morning, it was back to the woods!

Though half of the route was on the MUT trails inside the park to avoid most of the muddiness, it was still nice to get back to my favorite forest at Umstead State Park.

I spent a lot of time in Umstead this week – partly due to muddy conditions.

I’ll try to mix it up more next week.

A 6.5 mile hike Sunday morning with 10 extra lbs in my pack and a great groups of hiker friends was not a bad start to the day…


NEW: Track Your “Awesome” Progress at Home!

Track your progress towards your fitness goals!
Track your progress towards your fitness goals!

You’ll get instructions and three printable trackers: 

    • Your Hike Plan Worksheet
    • Daily & Weekly Workouts
    • Weekly Meals tracker    

 Click Here to Order! 

A download link in your confirmation email let’s you get started right away. Happy training!  LJ


Mossy shelter at the Company Mill trailhead.
Mossy shelter at the Company Mill trailhead.

So, there we’ve done it!  Week 4 is finished, with just another 4 weeks to go.

Harumph.  I thought I’d be further along.  This is getting kind of tedious…

The trick is to keep your goal (your ‘why”) in mind and keep on going!  And also allow yourself to have some fun now and then.

Week 5 is next – with longer hikes, heavier weights, more uphill and more rain!!  It should be lots of fun!

That Man and I a few years ago....
Be Smoochy McSmoocherson  when you get your sweetie a nice gift!

And I don’t mean that sarcastically.

Pretty sure…

Oh, and it’s also going to be Valentine’s Day pretty soon!

Look for snarky and fun gifts in the IRW MERCH SHOP Valentine’s Collection!


TAKEAWAY LESSON:  Halfway there is also only halfway done – so don’t get stuck – keep going!  But also take the time to reward yourself for hard work and celebrate your personal wins at any point in your fitness journey 🙂


I hope you’ve found my Training Log ramblings to be helpful- or at least amusing! 🙂   To see more of them go to my Training Log.

You could also take a look at my 8 Weeks to Awesome Training Plan post, if you want to see what kind of training I’m doing.

Thanks for stopping by – see you next time!  LJ

Week 3: What is your “Why”? And don’t panic!

Most recently updated February 3rd, 2023

Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

– – Awesome Training Week 3 got off to a great start with some yoga and kickboxing on Monday in my home gym.

Hiking in Umstead on Monday.
Hiking in Umstead on Monday.

Tuesday I led a 9ish mile hike in the morning at Umstead State Park , combining the Company Mill and Sycamore trails.

It was a cold sunny day, but sadly there was bad traffic so only half of my group made it to the hike!  

We still had fun though, going at a good clip, and stopping to look at the carved tree art on the multi-use trail in the middle of the hike.

Then Jody showed me an alternative route for part of the return trip to the trailhead, so I learned something new, too 🙂

Wednesday I was kind of a slug.  Seriously.  But in my defense, I was really very busy panicking.

Detail of the carved tree art in Umstead State Park.
Detail of the carved tree art in Umstead State Park.

Why?  Well, remember when we started this training, I hadn’t decided on my goal hike yet? 

Usual “whys” for fitness goals can include feeling and looking better for life in general, or getting ready for a specific event – in my case, an ambitious epic hike!

I’ve been dithering about pulling the trigger on some international travel this year.   

Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand just before the pandemic.
Hiking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand just before the pandemic.

My last international trip was to hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in New Zealand just days before the pandemic shutdown about 3 years ago. 

I’ve stayed pretty local since then due to all of the travel restrictions and general airline weirdness.

This week, I finally made the decision to to take advantage of a January sale at my favorite sustainable travel company (read my page about it here.)

Hiking the Pyrenees in Spain a year before the pandemic.
Hiking the Pyrenees in Spain a year before the pandemic.

Because it’s so expensive to fly now, I also decided to combine 2 of  their week-long hike itineraries for the longest trip that I’ve taken in many years.


Aaaaand my “why” is… hiking Mount Olympus!  In Greece!!!

Hiking Mt.Olympus From Refuge A to Skala Peak
Hiking Mt.Olympus From Refuge A to Skala Peak

The itinerary has us hiking from Prionia up along the E4 to a mountain refuge (6890ft) on the FIRST DAY, and spending the night.

The next day, we’ll hike from there to 2 summits -Skala (9455ft) and Skolio (9550ft) –  and then ALL THE WAY back down the E4 from there to Prionia.  (See AllTrails description of the summits route.)

Olympus Mountain Refuge A to Skala
Olympus Mountain Refuge A to Skala

Seriously, my knees hurt just thinking about it. 

So, immediately after committing and sending the down-payment, I began to worry I’d taken on too much.

So, Wednesday was spent kind of freaking out. 

Why? Because the Mount Olympus hikes are just the beginning.

I also want to be in good enough shape afterwards to do the rest of the trip (and enjoy it)!

But then, I took some time and translated the original hike descriptions from km=miles and meters=feet so I could relate better.

Meteora Hiking Tour
I get to hike to the monasteries in Meteora! How cool is that?

Here’s the rest of the trip’s hike itinerary AFTER the Mt Olympus hikes and summits in the first two days (translated to miles and feet):

Mt Olympus (Day 1-2) Miles Elev gain/loss Est hike time 
Day 3: Meteora 5 miles 2548ft 3 hours
Day 4: Zagori Mountain 9.3 miles 1765ft 6 hours
Day 5: Vikos Gorge 7.5 miles 984 ft 6-7 hours
Day 6: Travel to Corfu/rest Miles    
Day 7: Stavros-Pelekas 10.6 miles 2133ft 6 hours
Day 8: Giannades-Lakones 8.7 miles 1800ft 5 hours
Day 9:  FREE DAY!!! Opa!      
Day 10:  Angelokastro-Afionas 10 miles 1312ft 5.5 hours
Day 11:  Spartilas-NE Coast 9.3 miles 1968ft 6.5 hours

I stopped hyperventilating long enough to compare these hikes to some I’ve done pretty recently closer to home.

View from the trail in the New River Gorge last Summer.
View from the trail in the New River Gorge last Summer.

It was then I realized that the projected “miles per hour” on the trip is MUCH slower than I ever go, even on the steepest or longest local hikes.

With that in mind, the freakout dissipated a bit.

I hiked the Triple Crown in Virginia! It's a group of three hikes - Dragon's Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs - that can be done individually or tackled all together as a backpacking trip.
I hiked the Triple Crown in Virginia a couple of years ago! It’s a group of three hikes – Dragon’s Tooth, McAfee Knob, and Tinker Cliffs – that can be done individually or all together as a 40-ish mile backpacking trip.

Nothing much needs to change with my training except to increase the degree of elevation gain. 

So if I do that and also practice rock some scrambling before the trip, I should be fine.

I could even revisit some of my vertically tougher local hikes, too, like summiting Old Ragin Shenandoah, or head back to the Smoky Mountains for a few days.

Resting at the summit of Mary's Rock in Shenandoah.
Resting at the summit of Mary’s Rock in Shenandoah National Park.

And maybe add some time on the “mountain climber” machine at the gym because it LITERALLY simulates what I’m going to be doing. 

I feel much better now 🙂


Hiking MST Hike N at Falls Lake.
Hiking MST Hike N at Falls Lake.

Thursday started with a 9ish mile Saturday morning hike hosted by my friend Heidi on the Mountains to Sea Trail, at Falls Lake. 

Specifically Hike N,  which starts at the Cheek Rd MST Trailhead and goes to the Little Lick Creek Bridge.

Trees in the lake at the mid-point of the MST section hike from Baptist Rd trailhead.
Trees in the lake at the mid-point of the MST section hike from Baptist Rd trailhead, in Summer.

I do this hike frequently from the opposite direction, starting from the Rolling View side of the MST and going from there to the bridge.

It was interesting to come at this  hike from a different angle, a beautiful sunny day, and a great group!

Heidi led this MST hike at Falls Lake.
Heidi led this MST hike at Falls Lake.

I only had a little bit of extra weight in my pack, so the 9ish mile hike was good exercise, but didn’t exhaust me too much!

Good thing, because I had a full day after that  with That Man and Colleen (the prettiest puppy), hacking around outdoors and having a pretty great music rehearsal 🙂

Cyprus at Little Lick Creek bridge in winter.
Cyprus at Little Lick Creek bridge in winter.

The next day, Friday, I had scheduled a favorite 7-ish mile hike at Umstead State Park, this time on the Loblolly Trail going into Schenk Forest and the Reedy Creek Greenway.

This was to be my main “strength-building” hike for the week, so I had 10 extra lbs in my pack.

It was a great group of hikers and a beautiful day!

Kickboxing in my home gym with my little bro!
Kickboxing in my home gym with my little bro!

Saturday was kickboxing and weights in my home gym  before meeting That Man for a frozen (but sunny) test drive on the lake in a pontoon boat. 

We bundled up for a sunny chilly day on the water.
We bundled up for a sunny chilly day on the water.

I know, in January, really???  But why not?  We bundled up 🙂

The next day Sunday, I led a great group hiking on the Eno river, starting from the Pump trail, crossing the river at the Guess Road bridge and continuing along the Sawmill Trail.

This was the trail I scouted last week and it was my first time taking a group on that trail.  Everyone seemed to like it!  

View of the old sawmill dam from the MST.
View of the old sawmill dam from the MST.

We did a out-and-back hike of about 8 miles total.

Next week’s weather forecast is for a LOT of rain.

But don’t panic! 

We’ll find a way to get some exercise and time on the trail anyway, and I guarantee we’ll feel better about everything when it’s done.


NEW: Track Your “Awesome” Progress at Home!

Track your progress towards your fitness goals!
Track your progress towards your fitness goals!

You’ll get instructions and three printable trackers: 

    • Your Hike Plan Worksheet
    • Daily & Weekly Workouts
    • Weekly Meals tracker    

 Click Here to Order! 

A download link in your confirmation email let’s you get started right away. Happy training!  LJ


Meanwhile, I’ve got to find out if my gym still has a Mountain-Climber machine….

One of the creek crossings on the Sawmill Trail.
One of the creek crossings on the Sawmill Trail.

TAKEAWAY LESSON:  Don’t freak out if your goal seems unattainable, or the weather is against you!  Break your problem down into small do-able chunks until you can see the best way to tackle it.   And keep moving forward 🙂


I hope you’ve found my Training Log ramblings to be helpful- or at least amusing! 🙂   To see more of them go to my Training Log.

You could also take a look at my 8 Weeks to Awesome Training Plan post, if you want to see what kind of training I’m doing.

Thanks for stopping by – see you next time!  LJ

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Week 2: Make Time for Fitness AND Fun

Most recently updated February 3rd, 2023

Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

– – I began the second week of training on Monday – which happened to be Martin Luther King Jr day –  leading a great small group of hikers on another 7.5 mile hike on the Loblolly trail into Schenk Forest.

I added another 5 lbs extra pack weight (to make 10 lbs total extra) to make it a “strength training” hike for me.

Service project on MLK Jr Day at Umstead State Park
Service project on MLK Jr Day at Umstead State Park

A lot of people get MLK Jr day as a work holiday, while others choose to use it as a day to get outdoors.

Others do a service project in honor of King’s ideas. 


The Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr Day is a US federal holiday honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.  President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983

King won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his work, and at the time was the youngest person to have done so.

He was assassinated in 1968 at the age of 39 in Memphis, Tennessee.  Sunday would have been King’s 95th birthday. 

“Judge people not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

King preached against racial prejudice and political injustice, a warning politicians and political extremists should still heed today, more than ever.


Other people combined  day of service with getting outdoors,  as we saw at Umstead State Park on Monday.

Hikers gather before hitting the trail.
Hikers gather before hitting the trail.

Hiking to get in shape is great when you have a day off or on the weekends, but you may be frustrated when you have very limited free time.

It’s true, hiking can be very time-consuming, especially if you:

      • Take longer hikes or
      • Go at a slower pace, or have to
      • Drive any distance to get to a trail.

If you’re constrained by office hours and caring for children, it can seem almost impossible to have time for any kind of fitness training!  Believe me, I get it.

A view of Jordan Lake from the trail on the hike.
A view of Jordan Lake from the trail on the Wednesday hike.

I wrote an article about how I used to sneak fitness into the cracks of my life – maybe it will help. 

Even if you can just sneak in 1 shorter hike and 1 longer hike per week, your hiking will still improve!

Tuesday was a kickboxing and weights day.

Wednesday was a great, beautiful, fun day!   

It began with a 6-mile hike at Jordan Lake recreation area, on a trail I hadn’t seen for a while because it’s a longer drive from home for a regular workout hike.

Stopping at the overlook.
Stopping at the overlook.

But it was worth it to get together with some other hikers, led by my friends Heidi and Jody.

Anyway, this time I hiked it with 10 extra lbs in my pack again.  Yay  🙂

Sign in front of the farm.
Sign in front of the farm.

Because it’s a longer drive, I decided to add another event on after the hike as long as I was down that way, and make a visit to the Carolina Sunshine Alpaca Farm.   

(Carolina Sunshine took over the location after M&M Alpaca closed.)

Heidi joined me for the visit, and it was a lot of fun. 

They all ran over to take a look at us.
They all ran over to take a look at us.

There aren’t so many animals in the herd right now – though they’re expecting more than 10 babies this summer! –  but the alpaca that are on the farm all have  a lot of character 🙂

This alpaca boy looks a little bit angry to me...
This alpaca boy looks a little bit angry to me…

For sure I’ll go back again after all of the babies arrive!

Thursday was another beautiful day, so I did some yoga, then took the weights out of my pack and set out to look for an old unmarked trail on the Eno River.

The dam at the West Point on the Eno park.
The dam at the West Point on the Eno park.

I started at the West Point on the Eno Park, and hiked a known trail along the river for a while, then set off to explore!

I found a trail that looked used, though it wasn’t marked. 

The Old Sawmill Trail goes right along the river.
The Old Sawmill Trail goes right along the river.

It traveled along the river, and was supposed to only be about a mile long, but kept going.

Time finally made me turn around, but I’ll hike that trail again for sure, and maybe take it all the way to the end! 

Friday I led a favorite  9ish mile hike out at Falls Lake on the white-blazed Mountains to Sea Trail, which will lead you all the way to Falls Lake Dam if you take it that far.   

Colleen, the prettiest puppy!
Colleen, the prettiest puppy!

Later I did another 3-ish miles on the MST in the other direction with That Man and the puppy.

So Saturday was a rest day.  🙂

Sunday had been forecast to rain all day, and lately I’ve started to hate indoor workouts, so I decided to have some fun with it!

Another view of the Sawmill Trail.
Another view of the Sawmill Trail.

I posted a 6-mile Rain Hike on the dirt and gravel multi-use trails in Umstead State Park. 

The idea was that we would hike in the rain on purpose and test out our rain gear.  (I put the extra 10 lbs back into my pack for this hike.)

Well, we did it, and it was fun – and most of us only got wet on the outside!

So……drumroll please… 39+ miles of hiking this week!  Not a bad Week 2, though I kind of slacked off with the kickboxing.

Happy New Year 2023
Every day is a new opportunity – keep it going!

But I’m still good with the New Year goals, and (so far) I’m still doing better than the 11% who quit before the end of the first month.

Tell you what, though, the motivation really flags sometimes – strangely enough it’s worse when I have a lot of time. 

Like if there’s no urgency, I have the leisure to procrastinate until there’s no time left.  Not good.

Buddha Quote: "The trouble is, you think you have time."
Buddha Quote: “The trouble is, you think you have time.”

I think if you’re having trouble doing the exercise you’re “supposed to” be doing, you need to forget about that, and seize any opportunity to work out that seems more fun – so you’ll actually do it.

Whatever gets you moving is your best workout option!

TAKEAWAY LESSON:  The right workout is one that you not only have the opportunity to do, but actually want to do.  So be ready to seize the day and try make your workouts fun!


NEW: Track Your “Awesome” Progress at Home!

Track your progress towards your fitness goals!
Track your progress towards your fitness goals!

You’ll get instructions and three printable trackers: 

    • Your Hike Plan Worksheet
    • Daily & Weekly Workouts
    • Weekly Meals tracker    

 Click Here to Order! 

A download link in your confirmation email let’s you get started right away. Happy training!  LJ


Alpaca having a discussion at the Carolina Sunshine.
Alpaca having a discussion at the Carolina Sunshine.

I hope you’ve found my Training Log ramblings to be helpful- or at least amusing! 🙂   To see more of them go to my Training Log.

You could also take a look at my 8 Weeks to Awesome Training Plan post, if you want to see what kind of training I’m doing.

Thanks for stopping by – see you next time!  LJ

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sent directly to your inbox (how convenient!) Click this Button! 

Week 1: Resolutions and Hope for the Future

Most recently updated February 3rd, 2023

Estimated Reading Time: 2.3 minutes

– – I started the Awesome hike training again  this past Monday, with some yoga followed by a Dam hike  (that’s a moderate-paced 7-miler to the Dam and back).

A view from the shore of Falls Lake.
A view from the shore of Falls Lake.

This hike was on the MST at Falls Lake in the warm sunshine with friends, led by my hiker friend Heidi.

The day before I’d led a brisk 9-mile fitness hike in the morning cold, so a warmer “moderate” hike sounded like a great idea!

Well, Heidi was extra-energetic, so the pace was a bit MORE than moderate!  (Maybe it was the sunshine.) But it was still fun 🙂

Looking down at the Eno River from the trail.
Looking down at the Eno River from the trail.

Tuesday was another 7.5 miles hike, this time on part of the MST trail on the Eno river.   I also added 5 lbs extra weight to my pack.

It was a cold morning, so my hike group had dwindled to just myself and one other stalwart hiker by hike time.

That’s fine – in fact, it was so pretty we took advantage of it being “just us” to hike an extra 1.5 miles along the river.

Wednesday I took as a very light, almost rest day, because at that point I realized I’d already hiked ~25 miles in the previous 4 days, and had committed to another 20 before the end of the week.

Last year I found out the hard way that over-doing can screw up your whole season!

That Man enjoying a birthday beer!
That Man enjoying a birthday beer!

So just some yoga and upper body weights.   

Besides, it was That Man’s birthday, so we took the afternoon off and went to check out  Zinc House, a new brewery/winery in the Falls Lake area.

It was a good day to visit, because we had the place mostly to ourselves, and got a chance to meet  Muskie, the owner’s golden retriever, who was making his rounds and getting pets 🙂

Fountain at the Zinc House winery and brewery
Fountain at the Zinc House winery and brewery

Most Common New Year’s Resolutions

Even if you aren’t doing the Awesome training because of a New Year’s resolution, there’s something about the start of a new year that causes people to commit (or re-commit) to some goals for improvement.

So, what do people want to change about themselves and their lives?

A Forbes Health/OnePoll survey found the most popular resolutions for 2023 to be (in order of most to least common):

      • Improved mental health (45%)
      • Improved fitness (39%)
      • Lose weight (37%)
      • Improved diet (33%)
      • Improved finances (30%)

Some less popular resolutions include stop smoking (14%), learn a new skill (12%) and make time for hobbies (11%). 

Fitness, weight and diet were all on my radar this year – and every year!  What about you?


Thursday I led a (small but feisty) group on the Lake Trail and greenways in Bond Park and all the way to Davis Drive park and back.   

I chose this route for strength training, because it’s pretty flat and can be a good choice after a recent rain.

Friday I joined a fun exploratory hike led by another hiker friend, Michael, in search of a lost quarry in Eno State Park. 

I still had 5lbs extra weight in my pack for mild strength training.

The hike was about 8 miles altogether, with around half (I think) off trail, and some hills. 

Off-trail is harder hiking, carefully choosing your steps to avoid rocks and potholes hidden under fallen leaves, and lifting your knees high over the grasses and other obstacles. 

And of course, finding your way back.

But we did find the quarry (and our way back)  and had a lot of fun doing it!

View of a cut in the quarry from the bottom.
View of a cut in the quarry from the bottom.

Saturday was cold and rainy, so I did my kickboxing and weightlifting indoors and called it good.


What Percentage of New Year’s Resolutions Fail?

The second Friday in January has been nicknamed “Quitter’s Day”, which might give us a clue 😉

And the joke with fitness friends is that machine lines at the gym will for sure be back to normal by March.

Sadly, it’s not really a joke.

One survey (of those who responded) found that:

      • 11% lasted less than a month.
      • 19% made it at least one month,
      • 14% made it at least three months,
      • 11% made it at least six months, and only
      • 55% kept their resolution from 6 months-year.

Ugh!  That’s kind of discouraging – on the other hand, it’s more than I expected.

So, if you just keep doing something for at least 6 months – even if you start from scratch every day – you’re still doing better than half of the people!

That means if you just have persistence, and hope to do better in the future, you’ve already won 🙂


Moss covered ruins near the old quarry.
Moss covered ruins near the old quarry.

Sunday, I had a great group of hikers join me on the 6.5 mile Company Mill Trail in Umstead State Park – despite temps in the 20’s to start!   

This trail has some noticeable hills, especially right toward the end (ugh!) so it’s a great training hike.  (I still had an extra 5lbs in my pack.)

We also ran into a huge number of  blackbirds flocked to a single tree in the  middle of the forest.  We only saw them because of how loud they were!

I’d never seen that in the forest before, and it was probably due to the very cold temps.

Blackbirds congregate for warmth, to find food, and keep an eye out for predators.  
Blackbirds congregate for warmth, to find food, and keep an eye out for predators.  

This week, I also did long-form yoga or at least stretches every day.  And as for my diet… I don’t want to talk about it.  I’ll do better next week 😉

And now at the end of the week… drum roll, please…   

I’m pretty much the same.  

Well, crap.   

Hikers at the lost quarry site we found in Eno State Park.
Hikers at the lost quarry site we found in Eno State Park.

Logically, I know it will take longer than a week to see or feel any difference.

It’s okay, though.   As my kickboxing instructor says, “If you’re moving, you’re doing it!”  And tomorrow is another day!

But here’s the thing:

You DO have to do the work  – or at least some of it – every day.

      • Even if it’s boring, painful, inconvenient or all of those. 
      • Even if you start over every single day. 

It’s just going to take a while.

So, on to the next hike – which is tomorrow morning 🙂

TAKEAWAY LESSON:  Patience and hope for the future is required for training, and instant gratification is never fast enough!!


NEW: Track Your “Awesome” Progress at Home!

Track your progress towards your fitness goals!
Track your progress towards your fitness goals!

You’ll get instructions and three printable trackers: 

    • Your Hike Plan Worksheet
    • Daily & Weekly Workouts
    • Weekly Meals tracker    

 Click Here to Order! 

A download link in your confirmation email let’s you get started right away. Happy training!  LJ


I hope you’ve found my Training Log ramblings to be helpful- or at least amusing! 🙂   To see more of them go to my Training Log.

You could also take a look at my 8 Weeks to Awesome Training Plan post, if you want to see what kind of training I’m doing.

Thanks for stopping by – see you next time!  LJ

To get New Idratherwalk Posts
sent directly to your inbox (how convenient!) Click this Button!

 

The Awesome Year of the Trail

Most recently updated February 3rd, 2023

Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

Starting next week, as I have for the past 3 years, I’ll be spending  8 weeks training for an awesome epic hike.

I don’t know yet what hike that will be, but in any case it’s a good idea to be ready to hit the trails before Spring break and definitely before Summer vacations begin.

In fact, now that they (“they” are  the NC General Assembly) have designated 2023 to be “The Year of the Trail” in North Carolina, the trails will likely be more popular than ever.

I hiked the Flat Top Tower Trail in Moses H Cone Memorial park on the Blue Ridge Parkway this past summer. I found it by accident while hiking nearby Grandfather mountain, and I'm so glad I did! Read about the Blue Ridge Parkway, Cone Memorial Park, this hike and other local attractions, and how you can visit too. #Idratherwalk #Hiking
Hikers on the Flat Top Tower Trail in Moses H Cone Memorial park on the Blue Ridge Parkway this past summer.

The big challenge from NC State Parks and Rec is for people to walk 100 miles within the coming year.

One hundred miles in a year is not really a problem for regular hikers (I usually hike ~30+ miles per week) so while all of the trails will be busier,  it’s safe to say the shorter, easier, and easier to get to beginner-level trails will likely be the most crowded.

All the more reason to train up to tackle more ambitious trails, both locally and in your Bucket List locations!

The Holidays are just now winding down...
The Holidays are just now winding down…

The holiday season is just now winding down, so this past week I started to focus on getting back to my normally pretty disciplined training routine.

That routine includes several hikes per week – and starting next week I’ll post the training hikes on my hiking Meetup, so you can hike with me!   

And of course, there’s weight training and cardio each week, with stretching every day.

Hiking down - and up! - 820 steps at the Kaymoor Miners Trail in New River Gorge NP.
Hiking down – and up! – 820 steps at the Kaymoor Miners Trail in New River Gorge NP.

Over the next couple of weeks, along with more focused and increased physical training, I’ll also try to clean up my diet.

Because of my asthma, I’ve adopted a “clean” diet ( you can read about my Anti-Asthma Diet here )  that focuses more on protein and veggies, and less on dairy, breads and grains. 

And no more Holiday cheese platters!

Motivational sign in my home gym.
Motivational sign in my home gym.

Combined with intermittent fasting, this diet works pretty well for just about anyone, whether you’ve got asthma or not!

Luckily, I live within walking distance of a couple of different grocery stores, so I’ve also decided to walk to the store for smaller trips (that don’t include cat litter), and carry groceries home in my back pack.

Carrying your groceries on your back gives a whole new meaning to “eating light”  🙂

I just finished making a checklist/tracker to help everyone measure their hike progress, available now on the IRW Merch Shop!       See below:


NEW: Track Your “Awesome” Progress at Home!

Track your progress towards your fitness goals!
Track your progress towards your fitness goals!

You’ll get instructions and three printable trackers: 

    • Your Hike Plan Worksheet
    • Daily & Weekly Workouts
    • Weekly Meals tracker    

 Click Here to Order! 

A download link in your confirmation email let’s you get started right away. Happy training!  LJ


(Or, you could subscribe and download the pdf for FREE here.)

Anyway, gotta go sweat.  See you next time!

Hiking on the Brumley Mountain trail in Virginia.
Hiking on the Brumley Mountain trail in Virginia.

TAKEAWAY LESSON:  Any diet (and possibly strength training) begins in the grocery store!!

I hope you’ll find my Training Log ramblings to be helpful- or at least amusing! 🙂   To see more of them go to my Training Log

You could also take a look at my 8 Weeks to Awesome Training Plan post, if you want to see what kind of training I’m doing.

Thanks for stopping by – see you next time!  LJ

To get New Idratherwalk Posts
sent directly to your inbox (how convenient!) Click this Button!

 

Week 9: Bonus! (A.K.A. Training Never Stops)

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

Week 9 Training is a bonus!

Mostly because when we last left our training in Week 8, I was trying to work myself back from total lameness.

And, actually, that’s going pretty well.  🙂

But, to save myself from myself, I didn’t post my usual weekend hikes on my Meetup.

Well, actually, it was to save myself from my regular hikers, who have grown to expect high-paced longer hikes from me – and I just can’t NOT do that when I’m with them!

So, instead on Saturday I did some yoga, and then joined my friend Douglas for a shorter more moderately-paced hike on the Sal’s Branch Trail in Umstead State Park.

Sal's Branch trail is adjacent to Big Lake in Umstead State Park.
Sal’s Branch trail is adjacent to Big Lake in Umstead State Park.

Sunday was a rainy day so I did the kickboxing (minus hi-impact) and upper body weights again.

Escape to the Beach

In an effort to do something fun, use some expiring hotel points – and still avoid hurting myself – I decided to take myself down the Coast to Myrtle Beach for a few days.

I like the beach in the Winter, when it’s less crowded and you can walk the beach for miles without suffering heat stroke 😉

This isn’t my first mid-Winter escape to the beach.

The Fountain of Youth in St Augustine is surrounded by peacocks!
The Fountain of Youth in St Augustine is surrounded by peacocks!

Last February (when it was raining like Noah was still afloat) I drove all the way to St. Augustine, FL then made my way back up with stops at Hilton Head, and a lovely weekend visit at St Simon’s Island.

Visiting a historical cemetery on St Simon's Island.
Visiting a historical cemetery on St Simon’s Island.

In this part of the world, there are many beaches to choose from – and lots of hiking and walking opportunities at each one.

I’ve written about a few of them:

I’m sure I’ll also get around to writing something about walking and hiking around Myrtle Beach soon, too 🙂 

Hiking Sunset Beach, NC.
Hiking Sunset Beach, NC.

Monday I did some more kickboxing and weights, then loaded the car and hit the road!

On the way down the coast, I stopped at Bird Island on Sunset Beach, home of the famous Kindred Spirit Mailbox.

At about 2.25 miles down the beach from the 39th Street public access, I did find the mailbox.

I also found a Memorial to one of the mailbox founders, and a couple of benches.

The Kindred Spirit Mailbox and benches, about 2 miles form the last Public Beach Access.
The Kindred Spirit Mailbox and benches, about 2 miles from the last Public Beach Access.

What’s the Kindred Spirit Mailbox?

For over 35 years, a small black mailbox printed with the words “Kindred Spirit” has stood in the dunes on the shore of Bird Island, an uninhabited island at the west end of Sunset Beach, NC. 

The Mailbox first appeared in 1981 on a small sandspit near Tubbs Inlet between Sunset Beach and Ocean Isle.  

For a many years, visitors had to wade across Mad Inlet to Bird Island at low tide to reach the mailbox, but since then several large hurricanes changed the location of the box and the island’s surrounding waterways.  

The Kindred Spirit Mailbox and bench.
The Kindred Spirit Mailbox and bench.

Most stories say the mailbox was first put up after the Kindred Spirit saw a mirage of a mailbox on the shore during low tide.

This vision inspired them to plant a mailbox, with a communal notebook inside, so visitors could leave a message.

The mailbox caught on quickly, and many visitors used the mailbox to express their hopes and thoughts, even saving the island with their handwritten pleas.

Once a prime target for resort development, Bird Island is now a Nature Preserve operated by the State.

The original placement of the mailbox was done by Claudia Sailor -the Kindred Spirit – a woman from Hope Mills, NC. 

She maintained the mailbox in secret along with Frank Nesmith (the mailbox co-founder) since its inception.

Memorial to one of the Kindred Spirit co-founders.
Memorial to one of the Kindred Spirit co-founders.

Sailor passed away in 2013, so local author Jacqueline DeGroot recruited a team of volunteers to help watch over the landmark.

Nesmith preserved Claudia’s life work by having the notebooks (over 30 years worth) accepted into UNCW’s William Madison Randall Library. 

The collection now numbers over 500 journals, and is still growing!  Each summer DeGroot brings the handwritten notes, prayers, and letters to UNCW to add to the collection.

Along with the messages that saved Bird Island, many of the personal thoughts and hopes left in the mailbox are now published on the Kindred Spirit’s website.


Access Sunset Beach from the last Public Beach Access to get to the mailbox.
Access Sunset Beach from the last Public Beach Access to get to the mailbox.

After a quick sit-down for some water (and nuts and berries) I continued the rest of the way down to the Point. 

I didn’t write a note for the mailbox – THIS is my message!

It was only another .25 miles or so – then I turned around and made my way back to my car (for a total of ~5 miles beach hiking) and got to my lodgings just ahead of sundown.

The point at Sunset Beach.
The point at Sunset Beach.

Tuesday was supposed to be a cloudy, cold day, so I hadn’t planned any big excursions. 

Luckily for me, it turned out to be another beautiful warmish sunny day!!

 Bonus Good-Weather Day!!! 

So after some yoga and breakfast,  I hit the road again, this time to visit Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve.

Rumor had it (okay, it was Alltrails) that there was a 4 mile hike there that would be different than the beach.

Well, rumor – and Alltrails – had it wrong.

Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve entry.
Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve entry.

I showed up and went inside the park gate, and the road was just a simple dirt track cut out of the forest.

I kept driving to see if there was a Visitor’s Center or something, maybe some trailhead signs.

Nope.   Finally after a few miles, I saw a white pickup parked along the road, so I pulled up and rolled down my window to talk to the folks inside.

The whole Preserve looked like this, basically.
The whole Preserve looked like this, basically.

The two young women (and their dogs) said that the place was basically a hunting preserve, and that you could walk the fire-breaks, but they’d just done that and found some bear scat.

Hmmmm.  There HAD been a sign that said all visitors were required to wear Blaze Orange during deer hunting season…    

But it was the bear scat that was the deal-breaker.  I decided to head for Huntington Beach State Park instead.

I first visited the Park on my last trip to the area about 6 months ago,  so I already had a general idea  of the layout.

Hiking down the beach towards the Jetty at Huntington Beach State Park.
Hiking down the beach towards the Jetty at Huntington Beach State Park.

This time, I specifically wanted to do the hike to the Jetty, which is usually frequented more by Birders, but at ~ 6miles it’s also one of the longer available hikes in the area.

With all of the screwing around with the driving and not-hiking at the Preserve place, it was almost 2pm by the time I reached Huntington.

I was concerned I wouldn’t have time to finish the Jetty hike before they closed at 6pm – but I did it, and it was sooo worth it!

View from the Jetty back down the beach.
View from the Jetty back down the beach.

Wednesday I decided to stick around near where I was staying, because traffic in Myrtle is already heavy (in February!), and I didn’t want to waste any more beach time stuck in my car.

So I started with 45 mins of yoga, then did a quick 10 miles (!) on the beach right outside my door.

The beach I didn't have to drive to was also very nice!
The beach I didn’t have to drive to was also very nice!

I really hadn’t meant to hike that far, but I was in the zone.  Later, I accidentally hiked 3 more miles.  Oops.  🙂

Thursday was more yoga and a quick 3 mile beach walk, and then I scampered up the Coast to home again.

A view from the Jetty on the Marsh side.
A view from the Jetty on the Marsh side.

Friday I had posted my first Meetup hike in a week or so, just the 6.5 mile Company Mill  trail in Umstead State Park.

I had a great group of hikers join me, and we went at a good clip! 

I was wearing ankle and knee compression for a little help, and I’m happy to say I didn’t have any issues  🙂

That Man and the puppy.
That Man and the puppy.

Later,  That Man and the puppy joined me for another 4 mile urban hike – and we discovered a new pub! 

Not sure if the cider and stout canceled out the exercise, but anyway, it’s nice to have another dog-friendly pub within walking distance.

So that winds up Week 9. 

But, here’s the deal: training never really stops. 

You can focus it more by training for a specific race or hike, or to get in shape for:

    • your daughter’s wedding,
    • or a school reunion,
    • or your next doctor visit.

But that’s not the real goal.

More than tuning up for a single event, we train to be fit enough to enjoy our lives and activities every day.

TAKEAWAY LESSON: We’re really training for life.   We all want to be able to do whatever we want to – both ordinary and extraordinary things – for as long as we can.  And have fun doing it!

See you next time 🙂

Hiking the Jetty at Huntington Beach State Park.
Hiking the Jetty at Huntington Beach State Park.

I hope you’ll find my Training Log ramblings to be helpful- or at least amusing! 🙂   To see more of them go to my Training Log.

You could also take a look at my 8 Weeks to Awesome Training Plan post, if you want to see what kind of training I’m doing.

Thanks for stopping by – see you next time!  LJ

To get New Idratherwalk Posts
sent directly to your inbox (how convenient!) Click this Button!

 

Week 8: Don’t Be a Lame Duck!

– – Training Week 8 started Saturday with a 45 minute yoga flow session.

I also tried out a short hike in the afternoon at Falls Lake with That Man and the puppy, but my leg started hurting after about 2 miles.   (Heavy sigh.)

Don’t get me wrong, it’s fine.

But I REALLY want to stop being so, well, lame.   Literally.

Sunday, anticipating that I would NOT be ready for my already-posted  9.3 mile hike on the Mountains to Sea Trail along the Eno River, I got one of my regular hikers to take over and lead the hike for me.

All reports are he did very well 🙂

Trailhead at the Pump Station Trail
Trailhead at the Pump Station Trail

And I did more bleeping yoga.   And 45 minutes of *very mild* treadmilling in my home gym.

Monday, I did another Infrared sauna session (see Week 7) and then joined Lenore and some other hikers for a 5ish mile hike in Hollow Rock Nature Park and Duke Forest.

Entry sign, Hollow Rock Nature Park
Entry sign, Hollow Rock Nature Park

I was feeling lucky, so I didn’t wear any ankle support, but I also didn’t add any extra weight to my pack.   

I also thought about bringing hiking poles – which I almost never use.

In fact, the last time I carried hiking poles, was years ago hiking in Italy with a group – where they “strongly encouraged” everyone to rent poles.  (Mine never left my pack.)

I was encouraged to use hiking poles in Italy.
I was encouraged to use hiking poles in Italy.

I forgot to bring my poles on Monday, but did end up finding a sturdy hiking stick along the way, which helped support the bad ankle crossing streams and rock scrambling.

Hiking into Duke Forest
Hiking into Duke Forest

I did okay, and we had fun exploring!   When I returned home, I snarfed some ibuprofen and applied a bag of frozen veggies to the ankle.

Part of my adventure for the past few weeks is that my asthma meds have run out, because my prescription order for new ones have gone missing from the Port of Los Angeles.  (Read story from CBS here.)

Cargo Container Theft in LA Is a Big Problem
Cargo Container Theft in LA Is a Big Problem

Anyway, I’ve had to get creative with alternate asthma treatments.  (Learn more about vitamins and supplements that help your asthma.)

That means my challenge lately has been to try to stay in shape and at the same time avoid triggering massive asthma attacks or further injuring my leg.

So, I’m just focusing on what I CAN do – and planning for new hikes when I’m on the trail in earnest again.  🙂

That Man's REAL girlfriend :-)
That Man’s REAL girlfriend 🙂

Tuesday, I broke out the Pilates!!

AND I also treadmilled a couple of miles, and took another 2-3 mile urban hike with That Man and his (real) girlfriend, Colleen.

Wednesday I was supposed to join Heidi’s hike on another 6 mile section of the MST at Falls Lake, but it was a rainy day and slipping in the mud while nursing an injury seemed like a SPECTACULARLY bad idea.

If it seems like a bad idea....
If it seems like a bad idea….

So I did the stoopid yoga again, PLUS Pilates and took myself on a soft-surface hike in Bond Park for about 4 miles – wearing compression on my ankle AND my knee.

Thursday I did my long-form yoga and took another Infrared sauna session.

Rock scramble at Rock Hollow. There's a trail there somewhere...
Rock scramble at Rock Hollow. There’s a trail there somewhere…

Oh, yeah,  I forgot to mention that Chromotherapy is included in the Infrared sauna sessions.

Colored light is turned on in addition to the Infrared inside the sauna to complement the treatment.


What is Chromatic Light Therapy?

Chromotherapy is a centuries-old concept that uses the visible spectrum (colors) of electromagnetic radiation to cure diseases, on the premise that each color is associated with a different bodily response.

Chromotherapy chart

Color has been used to treat all kinds of medical conditions since ancient times. Color light therapy history dates back to ancient Egypt, India, China, and even as far back as the Mayan culture.

10 Benefits of Color Light Therapy

Color light therapy is attributed with many benefits, ranging from emotional to physical, including:

        • Reduced Swelling and Inflammation
        • Pain Relief
        • Accelerated Healing
        • Increased Range of Motion
        • Decreased Muscle Tension
        • Improved Circulation
        • Regulated Mood
        • Improved Sleeping Patterns
        • Relief of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
        • Anti-Aging Benefits

Although thought of as “alternative” medicine, a recent  scientific study from the NIH explores Chromotherapy’s history, uses and effectiveness in treating different disorders or illnesses.

In fact, today the medical benefits of color light therapy are being investigated and implemented in major hospitals and medical research centers worldwide.


The other thing I did on Thursday was to go and consult my new friend Joe at  B.E.S.T. Physical Therapy in Cary, NC.

I’ll let him introduce himself to you as he did to me:


“Hello –
Joe's actual face :-)
Joe’s actual face 🙂

My name is Joe Villecco and I’m a physical therapist with B.E.S.T. Physical Therapy in Cary.

As the new year begins, I can’t tell you how many people I talk to about starting new habits and ways that they can do that.
P
For many of my patients, running or traditional gym workouts are just not their cup of tea. I have frequently recommended hiking in the past but with no resource to point them to!
P
Enter, the I’d Rather Walk blog and Meetup! “

(What Joe didn’t tell me until later is that he earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University and has his Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from SUNY Oneonta, where he also became an ACE Certified Personal Trainer.)
Joe at B.E.S.T. Physical Therapy in Cary
Joe at B.E.S.T. Physical Therapy in Cary

I took the opportunity to visit Joe at his office, and talk to him about my leg problems. 

I stressed out my leg with too much activity all at once.
I stressed out my leg with too much activity all at once.

He examined my leg and moved it around a bit, gauging pain level etc. – and assured me that it was NOT a stress fracture in a leg bone.  (Yayy!!)

He did say that it was probably a stress injury caused from jumping up activity too much all at once.

So anyway, yeah, I know exactly when and why that happened – beautiful weather, lots of fun hikes posted, FOMO. 

Joe recommended only bumping up your activity by 10% each week to avoid injury.  Now I have to carefully build back up to my previous level.


 More About B.E.S.T Physical Therapy 

In addition to his other qualifications, Joe is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy (OCS) and completed his Orthopedic Residency through Evidence In Motion in 2018.

Orthopedic Clinical Specialists are experts in evaluating and treating musculoskeletal conditions – an honor that is held by < 5% of all physical therapists in the United States!  

At their practice at B.E.S.T. Physical Therapy in Cary,  they focus on a 3-step approach.

Step One   – is to reduce pain and improve function as quickly as possible to return to activity.

Step Two  –  is complete symptom resolution and working on correcting weaknesses, mobility deficits, movement impairments, etc.

Step Three   – is to create a daily at-home plan to attack ongoing weaknesses to reduce the risk of any future injuries or problems.

During a typical visit, they use various hands-on techniques to reduce pain and improve mobility, and then they go on to use individually designed corrective exercises to further improve any weaknesses.
P
The goal at B.E.S.T. Physical Therapy is always to get you back to what you enjoy doing as soon as you can, and Joe truly loves to see his clients leave the clinic more resilient and with a higher quality of life than they had before!

For those of you who might also be interested in seeing if some PT might help you, I’ve invited Joe to come give a short talk and some pre-hike stretches at one of my regular Meetup hikes in March.

Keep your eyes peeled for that notice!

Winter hiking isn't the most scenic, but it's still great exercise!
Winter hiking isn’t the most scenic, but it’s still great exercise!

Now, I’m sure all of this stuff about my total lameness is entertaining  – but for those of you who are NOT lame, Week 8 training should be kicking your butt!

If you go back to the beginning and look at the 8 Weeks to Awesome plan, by this time:

      • Your weekly Long Hike should be about 10 miles, and
      • Your Strength Building hike should include an extra 25-30 lbs in your pack.

Regular weekly maintenance (whatever level you are) should look like this:

      • (3 days) Strength training workouts,
      • (2-3 days) 1.5-2 hour moderate endurance hiking or jogging workout, and
      • (1 day) high intensity workout  – like fast hiking or running
      • Stretch every day
Sample Weekly Workout Schedule 
Monday Strength Stretch
Tuesday Endurance Stretch
Wednesday Strength  Stretch
Thursday Endurance Stretch
Friday Strength Stretch
Saturday Hi Intensity Stretch
Sunday Endurance  Stretch

Some people think a daily workout is too much, but it’s okay as long as you vary the intensity – for instance, don’t do two really long, high intensity workouts back to back.

And as I learned (the hard way), don’t go jump up your activity by more than 10% per week!

Hiking with That Man and Colleen.
Hiking with That Man and Colleen.

Friday was the ankle mobility exercises Joe gave me plus more yoga, kickboxing (without the hi-impact parts), upper body weights, and another leisurely 2-3 mile walk with That Man and his furry side-kick in the forest.

And so ends Week 8.

….and I’ll bet you thought this was going to be my last Training Log post!   Nope.

Because I’ve been so lame this week, I’m adding a Bonus Week to the training log, including a special event.  🙂

So you’ve got that to look forward to!

Flowers blooming in Duke Forest.
Flowers blooming in Duke Forest.

TAKEAWAY LESSON:  Training towards a goal should include a rest period just before the event.  For any kind of training – ongoing or towards a goal – it’s a good idea to only bump up your activity by 10% each week, or you risk injury.


I hope you’ve found my Training Log ramblings to be helpful in your training process – or at least amusing! 🙂   To see more of them go to my Training Log.

You could also take a look at my 8 Weeks to Awesome Training Plan post, if you want to see what kind of training I’m doing.   It might work for your goals, too.

Thanks for stopping by – see you next time!  LJ

Week 6: Don’t Stop Now!

– – Training Week 6 started with a cold Saturday morning 9 mile hike on the MST at Falls Lake. 

Cypress tress in the water near Little Lick Creek bridge on the MST.
Cypress tress in the water near Little Lick Creek bridge on the MST.

This hike is one of my favorite sections of the MST, because it’s long enough to know you’ve had a hike, and has some interesting features along the way.

I normally don’t lead hikes on Saturday, but the weather forecast for Sunday was for snow, ice and extreme cold (again), so I switched it up.

Needlessly, as it turns out, because the forecast was completely wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong!  Oh, those wacky meteorologists…..

Hiking at the North Carolina Museum of Art park.
Hiking at the North Carolina Museum of Art park.

So, instead of cowering inside all day Sunday and doing the dreaded housework, I did some kickboxing – and, yes, housework. 

Pretending to be sculptures in the Rodin garden.
Pretending to be sculptures in the Rodin garden.

Then I convinced That Man and the puppy to join me in the afternoon for a nice 4 mile walk at the North Carolina Museum of Art.

Monday, it was forecast to be rainy all day and evening – and it was!! 

So it was a treadmill training and weight lifting day.

Tuesday – I was able to join Lenore and other hiker friends at Umstead State Park – and this time I was not thwarted by a slow lumber truck! 

We hiked the MUT about 6 miles, and I had a heavy pack, so this was my official Strength Building hike for the week.

View of the old boathouse at Umstead State Park.
View of the old boathouse at Umstead State Park.

THE SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION PART

A couple of weeks ago I got an email out of the blue from Mary Insprucker, host of the “Triangle 411” podcast.

She wanted to know if she could interview me about hiking and the I’d Rather Walk meetup group.  How cool is that?

So I said okay, and the interview was just published.  Here it is:

Triangle 411 I’d Rather Walk Hiking Interview

Please feel free to share with wild abandon!!! 

I just hope I don’t sound like a doofus…   


View of the Eno from the MST at Penny's Bend.
View of the Eno from the MST at Penny’s Bend.

Wednesday was another gorgeous day, so another hiker and I explored a new-to-me trail from Penny’s Bend to the River Forest trailhead. 

Trail sign at our turnaround point.
Trail sign at our turnaround point.

The whole RT route was about  8.8 miles on the MST – our turnaround spot was just a mile or so from West Point on the Eno.

Penny’s Bend Nature Preserve is a small 85-acre natural area in northeast Durham that is owned by the Army Corps of Engineers and managed by the NC Botanical Gardens. 

Map on the kiosk at Penny's Bend.
Map on the kiosk at Penny’s Bend.

The nature preserve protects a peninsula of land that is surrounded on three sides by the Eno River just upstream of where the river flows into Falls Lake.

Thursday I hosted a longer training hike at Umstead State Park with a great group of hikers, hiking about 9 miles  on the Loblolly Trail into Schenk Forest and back. 

For some reason this hike kicked my butt…

Friday was such a gorgeous day, I spent most of the day hiking a new-to-me section of the MST with a wonderful group of hikers led by Rich B from the “Life is a Hike!” meetup. 

Hikers on the MST Hike K.
Hikers on the MST Hike K.

MST Hike K is a 14 miles out-and-back between Hwy 98 and NC 50 near Falls Lake.

It was fun, but after completing that hike, my legs hurt and I realized I’d hiked 51 miles during the week! 

So, I got off my feet and let That Man pamper me with a nice dinner  🙂

This MST section runs opposite the Rollingview Marina on Falls Lake.
This MST section runs opposite the Rollingview Marina on Falls Lake.

I may have slacked off a bit this week on the kickboxing and weight lifting because the sunny warm weather made me do a lot of hiking and ignore the rest.   

That said, there’s still time to focus and get back on track before the 8-week program is over.   

Okay, then – time to go work up a sweat somehow.


THE SHAMELESS SALESY PART

In case you haven’t noticed, Valentine’s Day is just a few days away. 

If you haven’t planned anything yet, here are few suggestions from the IRW Merch Shop Valentine’s Collection:

At this point, your gifts won’t get there in time, but you could tell your sweetie it’s on the way!


Week 7 is next.  Let’s make it a good one 🙂


TAKEAWAY LESSON:  Don’t give up if you miss a cross-training workout or snarf too many jelly beans – every day is a new opportunity to do better!!


I hope you’ve found my Training Log ramblings to be helpful- or at least amusing! 🙂   To see more of them go to my Training Log.

You could also take a look at my 8 Weeks to Awesome Training Plan post, if you want to see what kind of training I’m doing.

Thanks for stopping by – see you next time!  LJ

Week 5: Ice and Rain

– – Training Week 5 started with another snowy, icy Saturday morning – so it was treadmill training for me!

But Sunday the roads were clear – although it was still very cold! – and I went back into the woods with a great group of hikers for 6 miles on the Loblolly Trail in Umstead State Park.

We started a bit later than usual due to the cold, so I had time before we started for some extra yoga 🙂

A thin skim of ice on Big Lake in Umstead State Park.
A thin skim of ice on Big Lake in Umstead State Park.

Monday I attempted to join my friend Lenore for another hike, this time on the other side (Glenwood entrance) of Umstead State Park, to hike the multi-Use Trails.

But I was thwarted by a slow lumber truck that made me late, so I went my own way.

This was a short Strength Building hike for me, so I carried extra weight in my pack and hiked around 6.5 miles.

I decided to check out a trail at Forest Ridge Park.
I decided to check out a trail at Forest Ridge Park.

Tuesday was supposed to be kickboxing, but it was an unusually warm day, and I just had to get outdoors, so I went to check out a new trail – recommended by another hiker – at Forest Ridge Park, and did a short 5 miles on the Shoreline Trail.

 

It was another trail along the shore of Falls Lake, but this time not part of the Falls Lake Trail or the MST.

Hiking the Shoreline Trail at Forest Ridge Park.
Hiking the Shoreline Trail at Forest Ridge Park.

Wednesday I scheduled a long hike (`9 miles) that we hadn’t done in a while, due to weather.

The hike follows the MST along the Eno River from the Old Pump Station ruins to the Old Mill at West Point on the Eno.  

There’s been construction along there for a couple of years, and it looks like it’s finally winding down.

Construction is finally winding down at the dam at West Point on the Eno.
Construction is finally winding down at the dam at West Point on the Eno.

Thursday was another long hike at Umstead – 9mi on the Co Mill & Sycamore trails, followed later in the day by another 4 miles on Loblolly and MUT with That Man and puppy.

Second hike of the day at Umstead with Colleen, the prettiest puppy :-)
Second hike of the day at Umstead with Colleen, the prettiest puppy 🙂

Friday it was supposed to rain all day, so I’d planned for kickboxing and indoor work.

Turns out we got hardly any rain at all.  Hmmmph.

Nevermind, we’ve made it through 5 weeks so far.

In case you’re feeling proud of yourself (and you should!), I designed some Awesome T-Shirts to commemorate your training:

Wednesday this week was Groundhog Day, and the Rodent says we have 6 more weeks of winter.

Whatever that means around here….   But, no matter what, we know that:

Are you ready????


TAKEAWAY LESSON:  The weather can have a big impact on your workout plans!  Always check the weather and trail conditions before you head out, and even though the forecast is wrong A LOT, plan as if you believe them 😉


I hope you’ve found my Training Log ramblings to be helpful- or at least amusing! 🙂   To see more of them go to my Training Log.

You could also take a look at my 8 Weeks to Awesome Training Plan post, if you want to see what kind of training I’m doing.

Thanks for stopping by – see you next time!  LJ