Question: What is the coolest thing about my preparations for this outrageous trip I’m taking?
Answer: Getting to know how FREAKING GREAT NATURE IS!
Seriously, since signing up for this trek back in December, I’ve really made an effort to spend more time outside. A lot of that has to do with the need to break in my hiking boots and the sheer terror I feel at getting blisters while in the mountains.
(Luckily, I bought my boots back in January and I’ve had plenty of opportunities to break in those suckers. I’ve used them in snow (see here), I’ve used them on hikes with friends in parks and forests, I’ve used them just solo walking by myself through my neighborhood.)
As you may know, I’ve switched up some of my normal workouts for the past few months and I’ve focused on getting outside. In doing so, I feel like I’ve really come to enjoy nature on a level I’ve never quite made it to before. It’s not that I’ve ever been so much afraid of getting dirty or grossed out by the creepy-crawlies you find in the forest, and I’ve definitely been known to build a fantastic racerback tan line while training for half marathons – I’ve just never had the same urge to get outside like I do now.
I have a new desire to explore, disconnect from the world, and appreciate the magical things that are way too often taken for granted. We only have so much time on this earth, and so much of that time is spent focused on silly little man-made materialistic things. Outside, there is a whole beautiful world to see!
This past weekend, my man-friend and I took a spur-of-the-moment day trip to Door County WI. It was a rainy Saturday and we didn’t want to waste the day watching TV. We decided to road trip to Door County and just drive around. When we got there, the rain let up long enough for us to explore some nature at Cave Point County Park. A cute little park which gives views of Lake Michigan and some amazing sea caves. Our visit was super windy which made for some prime wave watching on the lake.
Our quick trip was just enough time to recharge and relax. While we’ve visited this area so many times in the past, I really wanted to get outside a do something different on for a change. We were lucky to catch a break in the rain long enough to connect with this park and fill that piece of me that now craves a little nature.
PS, if you’re looking for a new vacation spot, you really should consider Door County, WI. If Wisconsin was a mitten, Door County would be the thumb. It’s filled with adorable small towns, state parks and campgrounds, wineries, and lots of amazing sunsets.
Look, its me and my new friend NATURE…
And on to the weekly updates on fitness, gear, and an emotion status check…
Fitness
Sun 7/15 – Taught RPM
Mon 7/16 – Taught RPM
Tues 7/17 – Practiced RPM
Wed 7/18 – 30 min walk outside
Thurs 7/19 – weights (back/shoulders)
Fri 7/20 – Rest
Sat 7/21 – Taught RPM and took a leisurely 20 min hike
Umm…not sure if you can identify a theme to my workouts this week..? Last Saturday my gym launched new music and choreography for all Les Mills programs including Les Mills RPM, the program I teach. All Les Mills classes are pre-choreographed to amazing music. The moves are put together by a team of top fitness professionals and are scientifically backed to ensure we all get fit, have fun, and stay safe. This means we instructors have to learn new music and choreography for each new release.
The week before we launch our new stuff is generally chaotic. For whatever reason, I always procrastinate learning the new moves and I end up cramming in the days before I have to teach. This past week I had two extra RPM classes, one to practice the new choreography on my own and I taught one extra class for my gym’s launch weekend festivities.
I absolutely love teaching group fitness (see my post here where I talk all about it) and so I’m not even bummed that my weekly workouts were heavy on the cardio and light on weights. I fully intend to pick up more weights this week.
Gear
Amazon Prime day was last week! …and I totally failed to take advantage of it. I did purchase a microfiber quick dry towel and a new shirt, but I probably could have found much more if I had tried. I need to sort through what I’ve got and figure out what else I need. I just dislike spending money, even on things I need…
I am considering getting a GoPro or some other sort of video-taking-device and/or a better camera. Chances are slim that I will ever visit Everest Base Camp again, so I might as well take a crap ton of amazing pictures, right? I gotta capture all that amazing nature-stuff.
More to come on the GoPro situation…those things are expensive!
Emotions
I am just barely keeping myself from hyperventilating at the thought that August begins next week. I keep daydreaming about what it will be like to board the plane, sit on my first ever international flight, wander through Katmandu, and experience the majestic mountains in Nepal. I keep thinking that something will prevent me from actually going on this trip, like this can’t possibly be a real thing I get to do.
Writing these blog posts has been more helpful in collecting my thoughts than I thought it would be. I’ve been able to take time to review the prior week and gage where I’m at, what needs to be done, and what I can relax about. I hope someone finds this slightly interesting, however if not, at least it’s been therapeutic for me so far.
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