9-24-13

I'm in Germany this week, staying in a castle built in 1184. The meetings are torture but the workouts are ok. Germany has beautiful forests and there is a sense of sharing that is missing in the US. I am not a socialist, but I love the fact that the open land is accessible to the public. My friend Jose and I have been running in the trails in the forest behind the castle. Not sure if I can do it justice, but the Bavarian foothills have beautiful  tall trees, deciduous and evergreen, trails everywhere, and people who enjoy and  respect them. Our run/walks have been timed, 40 min to an hour, very taxing due to the uphills and the fact that Jose is a better runner than me. I sent my wife a pic of a field of  sunflowers at sunrise the other day. I wish someone had sent  it to me. Eating too much,drinking too   much and falling asleep during the business stuff, but the workouts are worth it. If only Americans respected the land the way the Germans do...

9-17-13

Over the weekend, after years of trying, coaxed my wife into hiking with me in an unmanagedforest where   an old steam powered pulley system carried coal from the Wyoming Valley to the top of Penobscot mountain (PA) on its trek to the NY and Philly industrial centers. It worked from about 1840 to 1940. Now there are remnants of the system amidst a beautiful mountain stream and mixed hardwood forest. Beautiful fall day made for great photo opportunities and a big Facebook album which made her day. About 4 miles with a tough climb out. Not sure if it improved her resolve to get fit or discouraged any further hiking until we become flatlanders. Probably depends on how many FB "likes" she gets.

Today, another cool September day, did our 3 mile lunch jog with our sales administrator. Very fit 50ish woman, maybe 5 feet tall and 100 lbs, maybe not. Could outrun me any time. The lunch  walks are just interludes between yoga sessions, where she alternately instructs and participates. And she is always smiling. Must be the lifestyle.

9/16/2013

Well there I got work to settle down a bit.  So, back in the gym today:

Canoe Portage

fugly bar bell, and weighted vest

a whole medley of movements, back and forth on the tennis court, or around the indoor track,
50 minutes of continuous work, not fast but steady

9-10-13

Walked-ran the 3 mile home course his evening, with Tate. 42 minutes, equal to my prior best, in humid 86 degree conditions. Took the starch out of the rest of the night for me. Most of the time I do this course I see an old man, who apparently lives with his son/daughter, walking laps around the cars in the driveway. Not that I have stopped trying to manifest positive outcomes, but sometimes I wonder if that's what I am inevitably training for.  Hopefully, many more interesting workouts til we get to that one.

9-9-13

Continuing with the lunch time walk-run routine, sticking with a 3 mile route based on time constraints. Steadily increasing the proportion of run vs walk. Time down from about 50 min in April to about 40 now. Record is 38. Recently I added a weekend walk run on the roads if a hike is not possible. Really tough hills on another 3 mile route, out and back. Best time is 42 min to date. Having to force myself to remember that the objective is to achieve a high quality of life for a long time, and best not to get carried away. Knee pain is never far off and running is the genesis of it. With fall coming and darkness arriving earlier, I want to integrate some strength training. Feeling trim and fit but would like to regain strength and some muscle mass. The evening dilemma: work out, study Spanish or have another glass of wine? Can't let the grape win too often.