Tuesday, July 22

Tuesday
178 pounds. My legs are still sore, and if I sit down for more than 10 minutes I walk like I ran a marathon the day before when I get up. I feel like I lost all fitness while down south. While in Florida, I could actually SEE it decline! My dad had just had a double bypass, and the kids were taking turns staying with him. I went last and stayed until he could mow the lawn and hoist the 5 gallon water bottle, then a week or two extra, for luck. My stay overlapped with those of Lorelei, Chris and Tony, so I got to hang out with some brothers and sisters I don't see often enough. Anyway, dad was checking his blood pressure three times a day with his spiffy automatic sphygmomanometer, so we kids did the same. It was a contest, of course. When I first arrived, I would usually win both bp and hr, with numbers like 124/78 and 52. By the end of six weeks (or thereabouts, all the days fade into one tiki bar blur) I'd get stuff like 148/90 and 60. Hell, another six weeks and I'll be having the bypass. Except for the one day I hashed, and one day I played 18 holes of golf (with cart, NObody walks the game in south fla), I got absolutely no exercise. Unless you count Golden Tee Golf.

I like to get at least an hour of exercise a day, so to make up for the last three months, I should get four hours a day for a month. Right? Of course not. That's just crazy talk. I need a sensible training plan. Let's see, what am I training for anyway? Hmmmm……. Something to do with mountains. Something stupid and dangerous. Oh yeah, that's right, the presidential traverse.

I couldn't help myself. Reading the map, looking at different routes up Madison, I just had to have a little peek at another. There are numerous trails, including one which is dead flat and soft along the old train line (which does not go up the mountain), so I figured I could just take another easy day. The day was overcast, cool and occasionally drizzly, again, just the way I like it. From the parking lot, I took the train trail - 1 flat mile east to Howker's Ridge trail. I walked the mile, just to warm up the legs (I stretched at home) in about 15 minutes, then turned up the trail. The trail has a real nice lower section, much of which is runnable, then turns steep. There are a couple nice waterfalls, including one you have to cross. It's maybe a little faster than air line on the way up, but much easier on the way down. There are a series of promontories called Howks, with very dramatic panoramic views. I didn't get onto the trail until about 5:15, so I decided to go up for an hour and a half, which would get me back before dark, absent any misadventures. And there weren't any. I stayed on my feet the whole way and did NOT finish bleeding! First time for everything. 90 minutes up, 83 minutes down. The legs even feel a little better.