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09-13-2006, 06:44 AM
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More musings on where I'm headed with my training:
Aight...I've been in touch with my friend over the past couple of weeks. He now knows where my last 10 weeks brought me. And what I'm planning for this next 10 weeks and what I'm going to change in the 10 weeks after that. I had wanted his input on a couple minor things and I got it. We're on the same wave-length which makes me happy as it's his program I've been using. So this brought me to supplementation. I had just worked out in my mind what I want to add and why...and last night doesn't he e-mail me with the suggestion to consider the exact two supps I had finally decided on.  So in the near future you'll be hearing about my experience with 5-Tetra and Secretagogue-One. Reasoning for these two supplements: Last winter I ran a cycle of Symbiotropin (Almost the same as S-one.). I dropped my estra-test the month previous, ran the full cycle, and continued to stay off my estra-test until a month after I was finished with my cycle. I had told my doctor about my plans and she kept an eye on me. We both agreed that when I run a cycle again that I should stay on my estra-test. Anyhow. I ran the cycle right smack in the middle of my bad SAD/fibro time of the year and was extremely happy to find that I missed very little time in the gym. My performance improved when it normally would stagnate or fall off and I had very few really rough days. So before the 'bad' season strikes me I'm going to go back on the Secretagogue-one. *I may wait another month to month and a half before I add this in, once I start my cycle I'll post about it in my log. Now about the 5-Tetra: I've been feeling like I'm finally ready for a little help in the gym.* But quite honestly I couldn't make up my mind what I wanted to supplement for one very big reason...most everything bothers my stomach. And since sometimes I struggle even to eat because of stomach issues I have I was rather leary of adding in something that might wreak havoc. And most everything I was interested in using is known to cause stomach upset. Until I heard about 5-Tetra. My friend has been using it and it has not bothered his stomach. So...I ordered some last night. Again...once I start using 5-Tetra I'll post my experiences in my log. *I've discovered that it's rather difficult to discern if one has made enough 'natural' gains when they've lifted most of their adult life and are working on a recovery after some serious long-assed down time. Due to some issues from the lyme I have been having a hard time with deciding have I come along enough in my lifting? I'm not where I was before all this sheit happened. But I'm well beyond what I ever thought would be possible for recovery. Ironically even my doctor has been left scratching her head. Her response to me when I asked her recently about bringing my lifting up more: "You are your own best judge Amy. You have a very good grasp of your limitations and you have been working through them. Keep up the good work." Well that is all well and good...but it doesn't help me out much in some of my decisions!  **BTW...Both supps should come up with no problem on a google search. 
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...I am the wanderer's wandering daughter... Last edited by Hawkwind; 09-13-2006 at 06:47 AM. |
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09-14-2006, 07:09 AM
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Bleh! It's raining out. I had wanted to put in a couple miles outside! Looks like it'll be indoor cardio again today.
 I've been doing my cardio and yoga and such...just keep forgetting to log it. I've been going easy and relaxing a bit this week since it's my rest period and I have, as a friend of mine affectionately calls them, a long-assed hike tomorrow up Mt Greylock. My legs finally feel 'normal' again...yeesh. It's been weeks. I'm really missing my time in the gym! I'm getting antsy to train again. I'm so thinking of starting on my dead day Sunday...but technically that is my 'third' day of training. I really should wait until Tuesday and start my cycle on my 'first' day of training.
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...I am the wanderer's wandering daughter... |
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09-16-2006, 05:28 AM
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Took it easy yesterday. Gypy and I watched Trek. A DVD documentary made by a group of 4 guys (The Four Horsemen) that hiked the AT in 2001. Then we took off to the Berkshire Museum out in Pittsfield. It was our 'rain day' plan. Today we are hitting Mt Greylock. I'm packed and outta here shortly.
Tuesday I go back to the gym and start my next 10 week cycle! I miss it! Have a good one all!
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...I am the wanderer's wandering daughter... |
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09-16-2006, 05:33 AM
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Say hello to Pittsfield for me Hawkwind! If you get a chance to wander through Great Barrington, pop on in to the Harwood Mansion, aka Economic Institute of G.B. (at least that is what it was called years ago) and say hello to Mr. Frank Harwood. The richer half of the lineage for me! Hope the weather is good for your trek!
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Papasmurf: "there are no miracle supplements, fix your diet" http://www.bodybuildingforyou.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39994 |
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09-17-2006, 11:21 AM
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Said hello to Pittsfield twice this weekend for you Narc.
Mt. Greylock 09-16 Gypsy and I started just below 390ft. at the Roaring Brook Road parking area in Williamstown, MA. and climbed to 2,500ft at March Cataracts. Notes of interest for hikers: *Top of Mt Greylock is at 3,491ft. - http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/western/mgry.htm & http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/trails/Mt.Grey-Summer.gif *Deer Hill Trail Falls is at approximately 2,000ft. *Deer Hill Trail shelter is at approximately 2,200ft. *Highest point of Deer Hill trail is 2,300ft. *Mt. Greylock State Reservation has 'land mass' in the towns of: Williamstown, New Ashford, Adams, North Adams, Cheshire, and Lanesboro, Massachusetts. *The Appalachian trail runs up and over Saddle Ball Mountain and Mt Greylock. If you are a north bound thru-hiker...thus begins your trek over New England's 3,000 footers. *Saddle Ball Mountain is the states first 3,000 foot climb, with Mt Greylock being the second. *There is a War Memorial at the top: http://www.lhdigest.com/Digest/Story...?StoryKey=1927 *As well as Bascom lodge: http://www.naturesclassroom.org/nc_bascom.htm where many AT hikers take a break. *The Legend of Chief Greylock: http://www.surfwiz.com/mount-greylock.htm *There is a small engine plane wreck on the Bernard Farm Trail. *More info about our trails: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/trails/greyTrailmiles.pdf Gypsy and I have done the Jones Nose trail up to the section of AT trail that goes over Saddle Ball Mountain to the summit of Mt Greylock and we have come up the Bellows Pipe trail to take the AT to the summit. This time we chose the Roaring Brook trail as we wanted to see the March Cataracts. We were not going to have enough daylight left to see them and get back to the Blazer the first time we hiked Greylock. We didn't have enough time to get to the summit this last time, but we did get the chance to see not only the March Cataracts and the Deer Hill Trail falls, but quite a few smaller falls were along our way on the Hopper Trail between the two larger falls. Hiking to the summit of Greylock from many of the lower points takes a good part of the day. Gypsy and I were pretty disappointed when we stopped to eat at the Deer Hill trail shelter at 2 PM and realized that we were not going to have enough time to get to the summit and back to the Blazer with enough light, it was at that point we realized we should have left an hour earlier for our three hour drive across the state. And knowing the trail back to the Blazer was a bit treacherous due to being on the east side of the mountain (which would get dark first), steep, winding, damp, and littered with damp shale which makes for some slick intense footing made us come to the disappointing decision to not finish the trek up Hopper trail to the top. But I'm getting ahead of myself...so let's go back to the hikes beginning. The drive up to Williamstown was relaxed and we found our little side road, which quickly became a one and a half lane dirt road to the reservation parking area for the Roaring Brook trail. At first we couldn't find the darn sign. So we parked where we suspected the area was. After pulling on our packs and locking up the Blazer we spotted the brown blend-in-with-the-trees park sign. Behind and to the left of my truck. At least we knew we now had the right area. On our drive up the skies had cleared a bit. So we were hoping the view would be good, but as we approached Greylock we noticed that not far up the mountain was pretty much covered in a shroud of mist and cloud cover. It looked like we would be spending most of the day hiking in that mist and cloud cover, so we resigned ourselves early on that if we did head to the top we wouldn't have much of a view and that we probably would have to deal with the onset of darkness earlier than we had hoped for also. My map had said that primitive camp sites were in that area. As to where they were located...we certainly couldn't tell and Gypsy and I have seen plenty of primitive sites on our hikes that we would have recognized them if they were there. Our hike started off relatively easy and mild, with a couple bridge crossings over Roaring Brook. We had damp wet trails in many places and that meant damp trail all day. But we've hiked Greylock with the trails so water logged they were 'running' like small brooks, so this we a 'piece of cake'. In short order we hit the steep elevation changes that we had spotted on the maps and were fully expecting after our last two experiences with our old friend Greylock. Early on I realized that the hike was going to be a 'two pole' hike. I had only brought one trekking pole with me. Time for me to strap that second pole to my pack and leave it there! Besides that, I had needed my inhaler the evening previous and in the middle of the night. Because of that I had hoped that I wouldn't have too much trouble. As the last time I had hiked Greylock coming up the Bellows Pipe trail I had needed my inhaler due to the leaf mould and it made the quick elevation changes very tough on me as the albuterol in my system brought on a higher heart rate, which led to a really nasty headache. It became evident at about 500ft that I was going to have to take short frequent breaks to keep my heart rate under control. At the third stop I grabbed my gatorade bottle out of my pack pocket and sipped as we went up hoping to keep the albuterol headache at bay. I didn't want to keep slowing our pace and I was getting really frustrated with the headache that was coming on. About the time we hit Deer Hill Trail at 700 ft I remembered that I had Power Gel's in my pack. The gatorade wasn't helping keep the albuterol headache at bay enough. So I had Gypsy grab a gel out of the back of my pack and as we hiked along I put that down and miracle of miracles my headache was gone within fifteen minutes! What a relief! I always carry either Power Gel or GU along with a bottle of gatorade...the gels rescue me often! To be continued....
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...I am the wanderer's wandering daughter... |
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09-17-2006, 11:23 AM
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Gypsy and I had been a bit focused on getting to March Cataracts, but we had noticed on the map that if we took a loop trail we would find falls on the Deer Hill trail, as well as a shelter...which usually means a privy which is almost always good news on a long trail. We decided to continue on the Deer Hill trail for the falls instead of continuing on to the intersection with Hopper trail that goes to the summit. The falls were further down the trail than we expected, and after a quick chat we decided that since we were part way down we might as well continue through the loop. We are very glad we did. The falls were very pretty and after a rather treacherous decent and an interesting pack-on scramble over a large downed tree that had been cut a bit to accommodate a climb over we were face to face with a beautiful fall.
After taking a short time to photograph, get a vid clip and let me wash my muddy feet off a bit we continued down a gorge over a bridge and then began a really steep climb back up from the gorge we were in. The trail was so steep in sections that the those that help maintain the trails set in logs and rock steps. Those suckers are a royal pain to climb in a pack as they are always a bit on the 'tall' side. Even for someone as leggy as I am. Our steep ascent brought us up to the Deer Hill shelter. Where we discovered that whomever had been there last departed in such haste that they left a small cooking pot near a tree, a pair of socks hanging in the rafters, a guide rope hanging on a shelter nail. and a pack strap on the ground. After a quick lunch at 2PM and a good long look at our maps and making the absolute final decision that we did not have time to ascend to the summit we headed out...to find that the previous occupants had also left their bear bag line hanging in a tree. We certainly hope they were only backpacking for the weekend because they left behind a few important articles. We made decent time up the remainder of Deer Hill trail and we were sorely tempted at the intersection of Hopper Trail and Sperry Road to take that last little bit of trail to the AT and then the summit. But according to our watches and still rather heavy mist and cloud cover we knew that we were going to have to forego a trip to the summit if we wanted to see on our way down that last stretch of trail to the truck. So we headed down Sperry and into the primitive camping area where we would pick up the March Cataracts trail. The rangers on duty told us that they had been there earlier in the day and they were running well and very beautiful. So we headed out, pretty much following along an elevation contour which made the going quick. Realized half way there that we should have asked the rangers if they would watch our packs and get in some 'slack-packing' with just our cameras. Eh, maybe another time. As we were getting closer to the cataracts we could hear a lot of voices, young voices, and as we came over the last of the trail we found a large group of what we assume to be scouts and leaders. The boys were having a great time at the falls. It brought back memories of youth group and 4-H trips for me. They were heading back so we stood off trail so they could pass and then we had the cataracts to ourselves. I climbed in close and got good and soaked. And...forgot once again that my map was in my map pocket and it got a bit wet. In spite of having a light protective coating on it. I'm forever getting my maps wet! We did get some great pictures and I got a couple vid clips before we decided that we better get our backsides in gear for the trip back down the mountain. As we headed back, the sun finally made an appearance! We both were pretty happy about that and we both hoped that it would stay out for our trek back. On our way through the camping area we stopped quick to chat with a mom and her kids coming up one of the loop trails and then with me munching on my apple we headed down the mountain. Thanks to the late appearance of the sun we were able to take our time a bit going down, which was good as the going was so slick in spots that you would hear Gypsy's foot go and then shortly after one of mine would go...we slipped and slid down for a quite a ways. It would have been brutal to try and do that with darkness closing in on us. On our way down the mountain Gypsy and I came to a decision. The next time we come to Greylock we are staying overnight. We really hated being on the mountain and not making that last climb to the summit when we were so close! We made it back to the truck with decent light and only a few close calls on twisting our ankles. I had taken my brace out of my pack recently and I really regret that I did as I twisted my knee at one point and I would have liked to brace it. Guess that brace it going to become part of my pack supplies from now on also. We finished up our hike by having supper on the lowered tail-gate of my Blazer sitting next to Roaring Brook, which by the way is very aptly named. We had a great hike even though we didn't get to the summit. One last note: We also came to another decision while we were traveling out to Mt Greylock. We want to do the 114 mile Metacomet-Monadnock trail next year in July during Gypsy's shop close-down. So that means I absolutely must get a few more pieces of my gear and we are going to have some planning ahead of us this winter. We both have the guide book now and we are going to have to plan were to have someone meet us so we can restock our food. We don't want to bring all of our food with us for that hike. We want to start at Mt. Monadock in New Hampshire and travel south to at least the MA/CT border. **All the trails Gypsy and I have taken up Greylock have been considered strenuous or aggressive according the state website. All moderate trails we used were near the top of the summit. We've hiked a few other trails that I didn't mention in this trip log. http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/trails/greyTrailmiles.pdf Oh yeah...a couple other things....Gypsy and I have both decided that since our back packing season is winding down due to the days getting shorter we are going to do two things: We are going to get some letterboxing in before the winter freeze hits.  We are both starting on cutting. She this week/I started this past week. ...she warned her family. I'm not warning J!  *I want to go easy on the cutting over the next ten weeks. Then depending on where I'm at...I'll decide if I'll need to get more aggressive mid winter about this.
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...I am the wanderer's wandering daughter... |
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09-18-2006, 08:01 PM
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The two waterfalls we hiked to see ...
Deer Run Trail Falls:  The 'stick' in the picture is actually a fallen tree that was probaby about 26-29 inches around the trunk. March Cataracts: 
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...I am the wanderer's wandering daughter... |
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09-19-2006, 12:49 PM
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Thanks Hanna.
 Full body day: Squats set 1 12r/100# set 2 10r/110# *Up 10# Sissy Squats - forgot them! Seated calf-raises 12r/140# Machine calf-raises 12r/140# Seated alt. DB press 8r/20# 4r/20# Incline DB front raises -skipped...no incline benches available today DB bench 12r/20# Incline DB flyes 8r/15 4r/15# DB concentration-curls 8r/20# 4r/20# Incline DB-curls 8r/15# 4r/15# Tri machine #7 12r/65# *inner setting Tri machine #16 1r/35# *Note: All underlined sets are a 'stretch/pause' set.
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...I am the wanderer's wandering daughter... |
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09-20-2006, 08:29 AM
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You never know who you are going to help...
I'm sore today! But happily so.
Anyhow...little story about yesterday... When I joined the "Y" back in January I met a lady and chatted with her for a bit after my training: Hawkwind's musings....er ...log! I had not seen her again...but my daughter-of-my-heart and the grandies flew in shortly after that and I went out to Idaho, not once by twice. So my time at the gym for a while was limited and then I was gone for months. I always wondered what happened to her... Yesterday I saw her on the eliptical as I was heading for the free weights area...we smiled huge smiles and waved to each other across the gym. I got down to business and by the time I was nearly done she showed up at the bench I was at to chat. She was so cute...in the past few months she's lost pounds and inches. She wasn't in the gym as faithfully as she had wanted to be due to some pretty hectic life issues. But she did straighten out her diet and start using fitday.com to track herself. Her transformation is amazing. From the lady that was so blue that she was ready to toss in the towel, to a dynamo that is completely determined to keep at her training and diet. She hugged me and kept saying, "I'm so glad you talked to me that day. I keep telling everyone I know that I met this lady that was so inspirational and then everytime I wanted to give up I would think about what you told me that day and I kept going forward and not letting my slips hold me back." I can tell you that I blushed like crazy a couple times because I'm a pretty low-key person. But I am so very happy that she found it within herself to move forward. So...it just goes to show...you never know the life you can impact by just sharing a little bit of yourself/time with someone.
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...I am the wanderer's wandering daughter... |
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09-20-2006, 12:52 PM
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Today's cardio was some serious trail training.
Goals:
I chose a trail that would be an ascent going out and an ascent coming back. I also fully expected washout rubble and lots of hills to practice on. You see. I was stubborn about even using trekking poles. But a couple years back I twisted my ankle a good one and bought two...but have been stubbornly only using one for the most part. My climb up Greylock this past Saturday drove home the importance of using two poles. The poles take a great portion of the bearing load off your legs. You save your legs in the long run and can often get more mileage in. I was at least 10 minutes into my trek when I remembered I had wanted to time myself. Oh well, I checked my watch quick and muttered, "next time..." to myself and kept going. I was actually getting irritated with having two poles in the beginning. What you want to do is match the left pole to the right leg and the right pole to the left leg so that you are more apt to prevent yourself from going down as you will have the opposite foot and pole 'planted'. I had brought my MP3 player since Gypsy wasn't going to be with me and I'm rather glad I did as at one point I realized that I was beginning to get the hang of this important little trick with the beat of the music. Hooyah! I made the top of the first hill, smacking my legs with the dayumed poles a couple times, but keeping my footing rather securely and interestingly enough...faster than I had expected. The descent was as treacherous and I expected, but even with having a foot slide on the rubble from time to time I caught myself each time with one or two poles planted. Cool. I made it down that mess in short order. Okay...maybe two poles aren't so bad after all... Yeah right, then came the swampy area, just as I had started to get the hang of things. Got through that mess and was back to dry trail. In short order I was cruising along. Much faster than I had expected! I only stopped very quick a couple times to take some pics and each time I pulled my camera out while moving stopped for the pic and stuffed that bugger back in its case while getting on the move again. Throughout most of the trail I just sucked down water from my hydration tube. Something else I need to be better about when it's not hot. About 2 miles out a headache started. I was expecting that warning sign and prepared because I had not really slowed my pace down. I 'half' unbuckled my pack slung it around quick while still moving. Grabbed a GU packet, sucked that down and drank down quite a bit of water at that point. Keeping up a very brisk pace I was moving back up and through a rather hilly area. My pace rarely slowed now that I was getting the hang of moving with the two poles. Only slowed a tiny bit in a very washed out section. Not yet ready to teach myself how to 'swing' through on my poles. That's for another time. Approximately 3 miles out I took a quick break to sit on a rock beside a favorite brook. My heart rate although up had remained steady. I let it return to almost normal and took off again. As I reached the top of the ascent trail to my truck I checked my watch ... somewhere around an hour and 45 minutes. Since my pedometer died I'm not sure if I did 3 or 4 miles. I took a couple extra 'loops' for the helluvit...so it was probably closer to 4 miles. Pretty dayumed good. I 'flew' through those trails today. Goals - all met. My right foot cramped up a little while after I got home. I'm still sipping on gatorade. I expected some cramping as I pushed myself hard most of the way through those trails. Yeah...I'm a bit sadistic when it comes to my training.
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...I am the wanderer's wandering daughter... Last edited by Hawkwind; 09-20-2006 at 12:57 PM. |
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09-21-2006, 08:30 AM
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 Morning lads and ladies! OMG...I'm so sore!  And I'm heading to the gym shortly for upper body.  Trying to decide if I should do more trail training this afternoon since it's so cool or just give it a rest since I'm hiking tomorrow Gypsy. Decisons, decisions, decisions 
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...I am the wanderer's wandering daughter... |
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09-21-2006, 08:49 AM
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Quote:
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TEAM 7 MOTOROLA |
