In last week's post, I introduced my idea for going on an upcoming pilgrimage-- a journey that would involve a lot of hiking. I ended with the plan to develop a training program to follow over the next few months to see if it's a reasonable goal for me--for the level of fitness I can obtain at sixty-eight years of age. After that post I received encouragement from readers and my friend, Terry called me.
"You can absolutely do it, Connie," she said. "And you're right; you have to prepare to have your body ready."
Last June, she did a more extensive journey than the one I'm considering. Terry said she should have prepared more, but somehow, made it even with an ankle injury soon into the journey.
"It was a life-changing experience and I'm so glad I did it," she told me. I'm planning to meet her for coffee soon and hear about her adventure. She will be a wonderful resource for me as I prepare in the next months.
Whenever I have an idea, a big goal, I'm hesitant to tell others. I don't want to have witnesses if I fail, if it's too much to carry out. But on the other hand, by releasing it to the Universe, as some would say, by taking a risk and sharing your dream with others, good things show up in your path to support your dream. Terry shared with me about the best type of boot socks to buy. Later in the week, I talked with my cousin, Danny and he has a water bladder, a hydration system that's used for long hikes, that he'll give me. On most hikes, I've been guilty of not carrying enough water; this time around I need to be better prepared and pay more attention to my level of hydration, something that can be trickier as we grow older.
I decided that last week would be partly a time of getting my baseline. It started with a 1.5 hour hike on Monday evening. I'd kept my five-year-old grandson all day and so it was later than usual time for me to exercise. Since it would be getting dark, I had to consider where to find a well-lighted path with others all around. Since moving to my town--Apex last November, I haven't explored a lot of the area. Monday, I started out walking downtown.
The town got its name from being at the highest point of a thirty-one mile stretch of Chatham Railroad that ran between Raleigh and Moncure. In the 1800s, steam engines trains would stop at the Depot to replenish their water. I've loved hearing the trains at different times of day since moving to the area. Soon after I started on my downtown trek, I was greeted by a passing train.
I walked up and down the Main Street, observing the store fronts and making a mental note of where I'd like to return. As it grew darker, I found a park that I'd only noticed when passing. Tucked in behind the skate park that faced the road, was a multi-use recreational facility with a large soccer field and behind it a baseball field and batting cages. A well-lighted, paved path formed a semi-circle around the area.
I was delighted to see lots of kids practicing while there were adults jogging and walking around the path. It felt like a safe place to walk-- which is first on my list of priorities. It was close to the Apex Senior Center which I've become familiar with over the past few months. The Center was open until nine o'clock and had a filtered water station for me to refill my bottle.
Two days later, I completed another hike at Hemlock Bluffs and this time walked all the trails with a weighted backpack. There were more people there in the late morning--unlike the previous time when it felt more isolated. I'd worn my running shoes instead of my hiking boots--which I realized was a mistake when I saw the warnings about copperheads. It's not unusual to see those poisonous snakes this time of year; they are one of the six venomous snakes in North Carolina. They're easily camouflaged under autumn leaves and a hiking boot's thickness would have been better protection against a potential bite. The information and snake display at the Stevens Nature Center reminded me of what I was watching out for.
Besides the two days of increased hiking, I did a thirty minute bike ride as a form of cross-training and added in some exercises. Overall, I felt pleased with my increased activity level, with stepping forward on my goal. But by the end of the week, I realized I may have pushed too hard. My muscles ached from too much weight in the pack and I caught a virus--maybe due to over tiredness.
Was I too eager and pushed too hard my first week? Possibly.
In this upcoming week, I'll look for ways to moderate my training schedule. Last week I found good places that are close by. I was reminded of the importance of safety-- in well-lighted, well-traveled paths and protective boots. I worked on keeping more hydrated by finding water sources.
And for those days when I accomplished my goals, I gave myself a literal pat on the back and verbal affirmation, "Good job, Connie!" when I finished the planned exercise. At the end of the day, I awarded myself a gold star on my written plan. There's an Inner Child in me that likes seeing those gold stars beside that checked-off item.
This post is late going out, but like my week of training, it's the best I can do. I'm tired now and haven't the energy to go back through and further edit. I just want to get a good night's sleep, and be ready to start anew tomorrow morning.
Wishing you a great week ahead,
Connie
