Rock Circuit Trail

Never underestimate the Middlesex Fells. I've said that before, and I say it again today. I was thinking about going to the Whites and doing one of my 4000 footers, but I wanted to sleep in, and the weather in NH said views from the mountains wouldn't be that good. So, I decided to hike in the fells instead. My favorite hike over there is the Rock Circuit I think, anyhow, that's what I decided to do.

I guess I decided that since it wasn't a 4000 foot mountain I didn't need food, water or a map. Dumb! I also forgot how long the trail is - it's 3.7 miles, which isn't that far, but it's not short either. It was a really nice day, and the walk felt good (until the last 45 min or so, when I started getting really hungry and thirsty). I took one small wrong turn, which turned out really well because I found this guy rock climbing - I knew there were a few places to climb in the fells, but this one was pretty nice. The climbs were easy, he wasn't using a rope and he was alone. I don't know that I would be that brave - the top moves looked a little hard for so high up.

I was getting to what I hoped was the end, and turned on what I hoped was the trail back to the road, only it wasn't. I walked an extra 5 or 10 min to get to the wrong road. That was a bad moment on the hike. I cut one little corner out of the trail, but I decided it still counted as complete and blogable because of the extra walk on the wrong trail.

The entire hike took me about 3 hrs and 20 min, which I guess is OK. I talked to the climbing guy for about 10 min and I looked at views for 5 or 10 min on the way. So, that's probably 3 hours of hiking. After I was so hungry I went to Whole Foods and pigged out on the free samples - they had crab legs that were really good, and cheese! I bought coconut water, sushi, and pretend healthy chips. That's good post hiking food, right? :)

Jumped on the Box!

In one of the gyms, the one that I'm not usually in, they have a more cushioned box to practice box jumps. Since I went to the regular levels class today because I couldn't get my lazy butt to the 10:30 class, I realized I had time to practice some box jumps on the soft box. And I actually did some!!!  It took a few tries of not getting it - the first try I freaked out half way and landed on the box on my knees, which was embarrassing because there was a guy there who was all "are you ok, are you ok?" Then, I pulled it together, did a little two foot hop first, and jumped up!  I was so excited I did it!!  I did it two more times, with the two foot hop to get a little momentum, but whatever. Now I know I can do it, I just need to work on technique.

The WOD today was a hero WOD, which means it was particularly brutal.
WOD: 10 rounds (I did 8 because I was seeing spots out of my left eye)
100 meter run
10 burpees (I only did 6)
100 meter run
10 pull ups (I did 6 with bands)
rest 30 seconds
my time: 24 min 46 sec

It doesn't look so hard, but it really really really was.

The class that I'm taking this quarter has 4 case studies. I was almost done with the study that's due for this week, just one more page to write, and I went to look at the readings.  None of the readings had anything to do with the case, I was so puzzled. Then I realized that I'd done the wrong case! Sometimes I am such a flake! On the bright side, I then went and did the right one. And now case #3 is almost done. So, closer to done....  Once this class is done I have my elective and the research classes. I'm thinking I will start the research classes in January and then either take my elective in the summer (which I know I said I wouldn't, but I might) or take it next winter....  I don't want to be in the hardest research class in the spring when I'm writing all my letters at work - even I can only spend so much time writing.

115 pounds back squat!

I was pretty excited with today's WOD, lots of rowing with clean and jerks in between. Like a delicious Oreo  :)  And, I'm pretty happy with myself for having already done one workout on Monday!

First we did back squats to one max.  I was able to do 115 pounds with pretty bad form!!  (Two exclamation points about 115 pounds, not about the bad form)  I think 105 pounds I did with reasonably good form, which I was pretty happy with.

WOD:
1000 meter row
20 clean and jerk (I did 35 pounds)
1000 meter row
my time 13:43

It took me pretty much exactly 5 min both times to row 1000 meters. I did a little lighter weight on the clean and jerks because my legs are still sore from Saturday.

My nephew got engaged this weekend!  It's exciting, and she's really a perfect match with him. I remember when he was just a little butt in the NICU though. I feel so old.

Double WOD

Two WODS today, and the warm-up was kind of like a third WOD. It was intense.  I'm so out of shape after my six weeks off, I did level 1 on both of the WODS, and a little less on the warm up. And, at the end I was seeing spots and kind of needed to puke!

Warm up: 12-9-5
Front squats with just barbel (I lifted 15 pounds)
Burpee box jumps (I did 9-5-3)
Front lifts

WOD 1:
21 front squats (I lifted 45 pounds)
20 ring rows (everyone else was doing rope climbs)
15 front squats
16 ring rows
9 front squats
12 ring rows
my time: 8:20

WOD 2: (3 rounds)
400 meter run
15 burpee box jumps
my time: 17:40

The second WOD was supposed to be 4 rounds, but I couldn't manage the last one, it was killing me! I decided that even with just 3 I had done a good workout, and could call it a day. Especially since I was last, and everyone else had done 4 rounds and still finished ahead of me. It was the damn burpees that did me in!

I recently applied to be a mentor though Big Brother's Big Sisters and on Thursday I finally met my mentee! Our first meeting seemed to go pretty well, we will meet once a month and then connect once a week via email. I'm pretty psyched about it, finally I get to be the Big Sister!

Back to Crossfit with Christine!

I'm definitely feeling better, no excuses for not going to crossfit. Today's WOD was a tough one, but all things I kind of like - rowing, deadlifts, box jumps (steps). No running, no snatches, no 80 wall balls, no handstands...  So, I went back!  I'm pretty sure I will be sore tomorrow, but it was actually really nice to be back - who would have expected it?

WOD: Christine
3 rounds
500 meter row
12 deadlifts (I lifted 83 pounds)
21 box jumps (I stepped)
My time: 15 min 34 sec

WOD 2:
1000 meter row
100 sit ups
10 minute cap

I got to 89 sit ups. Couldn't quite finish, and I am sure I will feel like someone punched me in the stomach tomorrow. But, it felt good to be back sweating and doing and exhausting workout and pushing my limits.

I just set up a snapchat account for my work - it's where the kiddies are, so I guess that's where I should be too. Sending out snaps tonight to my sister and my neighbor upstairs (Slamchowder) it was so fun - of course I did some cat snaps :)

Waumbek - my 300th post!

Even after doing OK on the Mt. Major hike, I was still nervous enough about my hiking that I decided to do an easier hike for my next 4000 footer. I chose Waumbek which is one of the mountains that's really far up north and can't be combined with any of the other mountains. It's a 2.5 hour drive to get to on a good day, which is not a drive that I'll always be wanting to do. On the other hand, the hike is 7.2 miles (I made it 7.4 by going a little past the peak to a lookout that's a little beyond the peak) and it's more gradual than most NH mountains.

Once again I got off to a late start. I left home around 8:30, which was just stupid on my part. Of course there was a ton of traffic because it's a work day, and then I got caught in construction - which was particularly annoying because as far as I could see they weren't actually doing anything. Just a few cops and a few construction folks putting down cones and acting important. It was 11:45 by the time I got to the parking lot, which is way longer than it should have taken! (I did stop to pee and get more coffee, which led to another stop to pee, so not all driving.)  Thank heaven for books on tape. It makes the drive so much easier.

It was so pretty up in NH, peak foliage I think, the trees were all changing color. Lafayette and Washington even had some light snow up top! The trail at the bottom was covered in leaves, it was so crunchy and nice walking through. Of course, since I started at 11:50, I was worried about the time. The sunset is around 7, but it gets dark earlier in the woods, and it's hunting season. Not that hunters usually go near trails, but still, I didn't really want to be out in dusk. Book time was about 5 hrs and 15 min, with the first uphill part being 2 hrs and 20 min - to the top of Starr King Mountain.  

I tried to book it as much as I could for me heading up. I was actually feeling pretty good for most of the hike - breathing heavy but still moving, feeling strong! The guide book broke the hike from the parking lot to a ridge and then from the ridge to the top of Starr King. The only thing was the ridge wasn't really clear from walking. According to the book, the ridgeline was about 1 hr 20 min, and the top of the mountain 2 hrs 20 min.  I was thinking that the hike would be uphill but the kind of hike that you could walk to the ridgeline, and then a NH kind of hike to the top - which is to say someone just blazes a trail straight up pretty much, and you need to use some trees, rocks, etc to help you up. After about 2 hrs I hadn't reached the part I was expecting, where it really gets steep and I was worrying. Suddenly, though, I could see the trees getting thinner, and I was thinking, if this is the ridgeline I'm in trouble and may need to turn back. Ha! It was the top of Starr King!  I was 20 min faster than book time!! That should help me get my confidence back :)

The top of Starr King was really nice. There were these birds, grey jays, hanging out. They will land on you and eat out of your hand if you feed them. I didn't feed them, though, I kinda don't believe in that sort of thing. There was also an old chimney from a cabin that had been there. The clearing up there had some nice flat rocks, and it was sunny, and warm. You could see the Presidential range, including Washington (and I felt impressed with myself again for having walked the Presi traverse.)  There was one other person up there who was unimpressed that I hiked faster than book time. After he left, I had the place to myself for a little snack.

From Starr King it is a mile of ridge line to Waumbek. It took me about a half hour to get there.  There's no view from the top, but .1 mile after there's a blowdown with an amazing view of the Presidentials again, where I stopped, ate a sandwich, and chilled. I kinda wanted to stay there forever, it was so nice! But, I did need to get back down.  I swear I thought, "I haven't heard any hunters." and almost immediately after I started to hear shooting! But it was so much, it must have been a shooting range.  I did at one point startle what must have been a wild turkey, it sounded like a really large bird, and it made a lot of noise taking off. Turkey.

Anyhow, by the time I finished eating my sandwich (three slices of cheese on a challah roll, and you can't believe how good that tasted) it was about 3 and so reluctantly I headed back. I stopped again for a short pause on top of Starr King and headed down.  I went down using my poles, and trying to let gravity help me, instead of fighting it. The trail wasn't very rocky for a NH trail, and it was pretty gradual as well. But, it had rained the day before, and there were a ton of leaves, so it was a little tricky. I slipped on a couple rocks but didn't fall at all.  As I was about half way down, a trail runner and his dog passed me going up! Ha! I wasn't the last one that day!!

I got back to my car around 5:30. I was a little tired, but not too bad. My feet weren't killing me, no blisters, and I didn't wonder why I had gotten myself into this crazy challenge. So, not a bad mountain!  It took 2 hrs and 45 minutes of driving to get home. I've gotten into the very bad habit of stopping at the rest area just past Concord NH and getting pizza or a burger. So, it was about 9 when I got home. It was a good day, and I'm feeling good about the hike! Next time, something bigger!!

Mt. Major, my most climbed mountain!

After all these 4000 footers, Mt. Major seemed really really easy. It turned out after the last hike that I wasn't totally exhausted because I was a bum, it was because I had a sinus infection. I don't think the hike helped it. Anyhow, I decided that I would do Mt. Major as a way to ease back into hiking and exercise in general.

I like that you can sleep in a little with Mt. Major. I got up at 10. Left at 10:30, was on the mountain around 12:30 ish. It took a little over an hour to get up to the top. When I got there, there were THREE school buses in the parking lot. I was sad. But, I had driven all that way, and it was a beautiful fall day, so I headed up. Fortunately the three bus loads of kids were on their way down. It was actually kind of entertaining to hear the little snippets of conversation as they went by.  And, by the time the trail got narrower they were gone. Yay!

When I was almost at the top, this small plane buzzed really close to the mountain. It kind of freaked me out!  I think they were going in low towards Lake Winnipisakee.  There was someone up on one of the ledges with a drone taking pics of himself. You really can't get away from technology anymore.  But, the view was amazing, and the walk down was really nice - I took a longer and more gradual route down. Total hike was only 3.9 miles and it took 3 hours total, but that's with stopping at the top, and several stops due to the large masses of kids.  Still not breaking any speed records.

It's now been a full month since I froze my crossfit membership! I can feel the difference. I have to go back - next week when staycation is over, I'm gonna hit the box again. And, it's gonna suck.