Book baby, garbage cans, etc.

Calvin and I (and Michelle too, of course, though she slept the whole time) went to Book Baby today at the Anderson-Foothill Library. It was great. Calvin totally loved the other kids, the songs, the books, the bubbles, and the balls and boxes to play with afterwards. Fabulous! I think we will return often.

In other news, the weather was so gorgeous that we all took a wonderful walk after dinner - we meandered around the block, following Calvin who dutifully pointed out all the blue and green garbage cans ("Boo", "Dean") and the fire hydrants, the rocks, and all sorts of wonderful things.

Changing the subject yet again, on Tuesday I had my cholesterol checked and it was normal (not that I was expecting otherwise). Michelle had her 2 month shots the same day, and I got a tetanus/pertussis shot so I could sympathize with her (seriously, they are recommending now that adults get a pertussis booster, as whooping cough cases are on the rise). I also got an appt for a bone scan due to my strong family history of osteoporosis/osteopenia. It's Tuesday morning at 10 am. Now I just have to find someone to watch Calvin for an hour or two so I can go - Michelle I think can come with me, no problem - she usually sleeps in her car seat just great. Anyway, any takers to watch Calvin for me for an hour?

Loren wants to watch a movie tonight, so I'm going to go ahead. I'm sure I'll regret it when the alarm goes off at 5:45 am, but what the heck. I can hopefully get in a nap tomorrow.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I did a sub-11:00 mile walking! Woooo hooo!

Today it just seemed right. The weather was a perfect 55 degrees (I love it when it's just a little nippy - perfect for exercising) and sunny (well, the sun wasn't all the way up, but it was beautiful). I decided to go for it and try to see just how fast I could go. I pushed really hard most of the way and finished the 3.75 mile SH Park route in 40:07, for an average 10:43 mile!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ave HR 149.

Yesterday I did an easy 35:32 time over 3.02 miles... about an 11:46 mile. Ave HR 138.

Friday's Feat!

I got featured in Friday's feat in Salt Lake Tribune columnist Sheena McFarland's blog. Check it out here!

W-F exercise

Wed walked SH Park 3.75 miles 42:09.
Th walked uncertain distance, but it felt good. 35 minutes, high intensity.
F walked to Laird and 1900 E, about 3.1 miles (ish). 35:36, about 11:29 mile.

We did it!

Alex, Erica, and I hiked Mt. Timpanogos yesterday. It's a total of 14.06 miles on the Timpooneke trail, and 4389 feet of elevation change. We left the trailhead at 6:30 am, and got to the top at 11 am. I was pretty scared on the top part, as the drop-offs by the trail were very steep. The vertigo was quite something - I had never really experienced anything like that before. Alex & Erica were quite encouraging though, and up we went. Fortunately, the altitude didn't really bother me much (though Alex and Erica noticed it more, being from sea level). The views from the saddle and the summit were so beautiful - I was amazed (actually, the scenery on the whole hike was fabulous - it was just a gorgeous hike). We ate lunch on top of the mountain, and descended starting at about 11:40 am. We got back to the car at 3:30 pm, very dirty and tired, but feeling victorious. My muscles aren't too sore today, except for my calves, which are hurting. (However, it didn't keep me from going on my walk this morning, which felt good - I did an 11:17 mile for 3.12 miles!). I'm happy that the training I did enabled me to actually do the hike pretty well.
MORE PICTURES HERE

Visitors!

My brother and his fiancee, Erica, are coming TONIGHT! I am so excited to see him and to meet her! Yay!

We are planning to hike Timp on Monday. That is going to be a challenge, but I've been working out hard and think I'm ready. I hope.

Working for the elusive sub-11:00 mile

Wed 8/16 biked to circuit training workout and back

Th 8/17 pushed the kids in the stroller to Liberty Park, fast. Got 30 min high intensity exercise. It was HOT though. Later that night, biked Emigration Canyon (7.6 miles, 1333 ft elevation change) w/Dorothy. It took 55 min to get to the top of Little Mountain. It was an awesome ride!

F 8/18 biked to circuit training workout and back

Sat 8/19 walked to 923 Diestel & back, 3.12 miles. 35:18, which is an 11:18 mile.

Still working for that darned elusive sub 11:00 mile. I will get it someday... I have been close - did SH Park in 11:07 once. Will keep trying!

Exercise update

Saturday 8/12 walked to 953 Diestel; 3.02 miles; 35:20 (11:41 mile). 64 degrees, felt good. Average heart rate 141.

Sunday 8/13 walked about 4 miles while camping. It was beautiful up in the mountains and it was an amazing walk. 52 minutes; ave heart rate was low 140s.

Monday 8/14 walked pushing the stroller because Loren had an early morning appt and my alarm clock didn't go off. It was a decent walk but a bit warm.

Tuesday 8/15 hiked up Mt Van Cott above the U of U. I'm not sure how far I walked, but my book Hiking the Wasatch suggests 2 miles round trip. However, I think it was farther because of where I had to park - there is now a building where there used to be parking when the book was written. I am guessing maybe 3 miles round trip. It took about 1 hr 10 min, and it is 1148 feet of elevation gain, according to the book. My quads were really feeling it on the way down - it was quite steep, that's for sure. I'm still trying to get ready for the Timp hike next Monday the 21st, so I thought a real steep hike was in order.

Book game

Sara wrote in her blog about some books. I love to read, though my taste is definitely not as sophisticated as hers. Nonetheless, I thought I'd write about what I like.

1. One book that changed your life: Walking: The Complete Guide to the Complete Exercise by Casey Meyers (see my previous post as to why).

2. One book that you’ve read more than once: Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card. He is one of my favorite writers, and this book is a classic in the sci-fi genre.

3. One book you would want on a desert island: If I can only pick one, I agree w/Sara that it would have to be the Bible.

4. One book that made you laugh: The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy - OK, it was fluffy, but it really was funny. I'm also enjoying the Girlfriend's Guide to Toddlers.

5. One book that made you cry: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Great book - I love time travel books, and this one had some new twists. It was super sad, though.

6. One book I wish had been written: How to Survive Med School, Residency, Quitting, and Career Indecision And Trouble That Seems To Go On Forever.

7. One book you wish had never been written: I've read some really really BAD sci-fi books my dad passes on to me... but they were so bad I've forgotten (mercifully) their titles.

8. One book you are currently reading: John Adams, by David McCullough. Great book so far. I finished 1776 (by the same author)not long ago for book club, and it was fabulous, so now I'm reading John Adams for an encore. I am bummed, though, because I don't think I'll be able to attend book club w/my brother and his fiancee in town this weekend.

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (recommended by Kate Wheatley).

10. Tag five people: Tania Choi, Sara McNeil, Mark Peach, Sam Wheatley, and Danny Maland (don't even know if you all read my blog, but hey, it's worth a shot!).

The book that has changed my life

Aside from the Bible, the book that has most changed my life in the last year (I discovered it in August - my mom actually had a copy!?!?!) is Walking: A Complete Guide to the Complete Exercise by Casey Meyers. It is an awesome guide to help the average person learn to do "aerobic walking". This is NOT race walking (though now I am very interested in race walking and trying to learn some of the techniques). It just means that you are walking fast enough to get your heart rate in the aerobic training range of 65%-85% of max. Yes, you can do this by walking. You do not have to run and risk knee or other injury to get the maximum aerobic benefit.

The principle is this: walking is a LESS efficient gait than running when you do it very fast. That means you use MORE energy, more oxygen, etc. to walk fast than to run. Therefore, it is VERY good exercise. The key is to use a bent arm swing when you walk, so that you can go fast enough to get your heart rate in the aerobic range. It really works, and it's the best exercise I have ever tried - and I'm a former confirmed couch potato. No more! It really has changed my life to find an exercise I love. The best part is, when I work out, I get to eat more :) and still lose weight!

Well, that's enough ranting... you should try it for yourself! Let me know how you like it. I will be happy to help you learn the technique if you like - it is really very easy.`

Walking 8/10

SugarHouse Park, 3.75 miles

Total time 41:31 (11:07 per mile average!)
Mile 1 11:37
Mile 2 22:26 (10:49! WOW! My first whole mile under 11:00!)
Mile 3 33:48 (11:22)

Average heart rate 148.

Temperature was a perfect 62. Could not have been better weather for an aerobic walk.

I'm wondering if my mile markers are off, since my 2nd mile is always faster when I do this course. I will have to go double check one of these days.

Today was my record time! I am hoping to break an 11:00 mile over the whole course eventually. That would mean going quite a bit faster, but I think I can do it. I have been re-inspired by reading my favorite walking book again and got some great technique tips. See post above for more info.

SMILES!

Michelle SMILED at Loren on Monday night, and she smiled at me several times yesterday! It is so great to see her developing and the smiles are the cutest. I will try to get one on camera soon.

Walking 8/8

Yesterday I walked for 35 min but did LOTS of hills. I went UP the hill on Harrison between 1100 and 1300 East 4 times. That is one steep mother of a hill! I hope it helps me get ready for Timp in 2 weeks. Today I biked to circuit training (about 550 calories total burned) and tomorrow I plan to do another long walk, hopefully UP hill somewhere.

Enjoying the journey

WW for the week was a new challenge. I did great all week but gained 2.2 lb. My leader thinks it's b/c I have been training so much for the Timp climb, and that when you work out >1hr at high intensity that you can actually end up gaining. I think maybe that has something to do w/it, but maybe it's water weight, or postpartum hormones, or who knows what. In any case, the lesson today was about enjoying the journey and not being in too much of a hurry to get to goal, because this is a lifetime thing. That was appropriate and helpful, and I'm excited to have a great week and keep up the positive changes I've made. Went to Bern & Tyler's baby shower tonight and ate great - even had points for delicious cake! I was certainily enjoying my journey tonight!

Exercise

Friday 8/4
No weight training class, so I went biking - to 1514 Emigration Canyon Rd. Time uphill: 35 min. Time downhill: 17 min.

Saturday 8/5
Walking - 3 miles, to 1300 S 1900E. Time: 35:06. 11:42/mile. Felt tired today.

8 mile challenge

I'm currently training to climb Mt. Timpanogos w/my brother on August 21, so I thought I'd do a longer walk to get in shape. I did almost 8 miles this morning to see if I could keep up the pace. It was a pleasant morning (about 68 degrees) with low humidity and a nice breeze. I took the dogs, and they managed to do the whole thing, believe it or not.

Stats:
7.92 miles
1:35:09
average mile 12:01 (darn it, just a litte faster and I'd have cracked 12 min for the distance)
average heart rate 139
calories burned 847 (wow! I am going to enjoy some great food today!)

Mt. Timpanogos hike stats (we may start and end at the same spot and not do the car thing, in which case the stats will be a bit different):

Distance: 12.9 miles (plus 5.3 miles by car)

Elevations: 4,580 ft. gain, 4,840 ft. loss
• Timpooneke Trailhead (start): 7,170 ft.
• Emerald Lake: 10,380 ft.
• Mount Timpanogos: 11,749 ft.
• Mount Timpanogos Trailhead (finish): 6,910 ft.

The Garbage Can Flood of 2006

Yesterday there was a HUGE thunderstorm here. Lots of damage in Provo and other places. However, in our neighborhood, there was just the giant garbage can flood. We live on a hill, and when it poured very very hard for a while, the gutters filled with water. LOTS of water. A 2 foot wide fast-moving river of water. My mother-in-law heard the noise first - "Wow, that thunder is really loud". She looked outside and saw garbage cans being carried down the street from above. The uphill neighbors' cans careened downhill, hit our cans (one of them still FULL!) and carried them downhill. Fast. We ran after the cans, me with the baby in the sling, Calvin watching at the door. I came upon our green can and had to wrestle it upright and put slimy tomatoes and other garbage back in it, getting wetter by the second as it poured rain on me. I dragged the can up the hill and through the river of water, getting myself totally drenched. The minute I set foot in the river, the force of the water against my leg caused the water to shoot up to soak my shorts and underwear. Meanwhile, MIL was dragging the blue can (empty) up the hill to our house. Whew. The baby actually slept through the whole thing, believe it or not. She was pretty wet though, so I had to change her clothes, which woke her up - go figure. What an adventure!

Biking - Monday 7/31; Walking - Tuesday 8/1

Biking:
City Creek Canyon with Dorothy - about 55 minutes to the top (maybe as much as 57? didn't look at my stopwatch right when we got there). It was pretty good until the last 5-10 min, when my legs got really tired after some huge hills at the end. I'm thinking I might need to look into a bike w/lower gears. Total time 1 hr 19 min (though that includes a couple stops, notably at the top).

Walking:
To Laird and 1900 E. 3.08 miles, 35:10. Average 11:25 mile.
65 degrees, 74% humidity. Felt good to start, but was a bit warm by the time I got home.
Felt great on the way out, but on the way back my legs were tired, probably from the biking and weight training on Monday (I did walking lunges w/50 lb in weight training).