One adventure per week...

Homestead ruins (if you image some ruins, you might be able to see some)

Road on way to ruins

Goal: One new adventure a week
Why: Why not? This should help with two goals: take more advantage of what my state has to offer, and documenting will help me remember it.

Date: July 31, 2010
Adventure: La Madera Road Hike in between Ortiz and Sandia Mountains, by Cedar Crest, New Mexico. Scenery was supposed to be ghost towns and petroglyphs. (Hike #20 in 60 Hikes within 60 miles of Albuquerque).
Grade: C

I carved a few hours out of a Saturday to explore a small town close to Albuquerque. I found a hike that was supposed to take me by some ghost towns/ruins. I needed to be careful what hike I picked because the knee can’t quite handle much yet, but this was along a road, so I thought it would be perfect. Although I felt completely lame hiking on a dirt road (it was a ROUGH dirt road, to be frank—so not completely lame), the scenery was incredible and I soon felt at home. Late summer is the rainy season in Albuquerque, so dark clouds threatened the horizon. I thought it could be kind of fun if the road was washed out, but it was not to be. The knee held up for about 11/2 hours (45 minutes each way). Deer petroglyphs, multiple ruins, and gorgeous scenery was supposed to be on the trail. Why a C: a) I was hoping there would be walking trails to the ruins and petroglyphs, but instead there was private property past the road, and you had to look from the road. b) You can’t get a high grade if you are walking on a road. c) I didn’t walk far enough to see any ghost “towns,” just some rock walls that maybe some kids put up a hundred years ago. But it still got a C because there weren't any snakes.

Next time I go, I’ll just pack a lunch, turn up the radio, and drive to see them. A fun town to drive through is south of Cedar Crest; a pretty little foothills town up Highway 337 called Escobosa. I’m glad I’m feeling the exploring bug again...

Ode to the Rattlesnake

This weekend I explored Old Town in Albuquerque. Lots of shops selling turquoise and silver around a town green. No, no dreamcatchers. Must have been sold out. On the town green was a gazebo where performers dressed up in Mexican attire and danced, sang, or played instruments. I ate lunch in a small Mexican restaurant behind an old church. Very charming and fun. Among all these attractions, however, I found one hot spot that was somehow not sold out: the Rattlesnake Museum.


I had been planning on tricking my father into a visit to the museum ever since I found out about its existence, but I just couldn’t wait that long. My father is not what you would call a friend of reptiles. One very vivid childhood memory consists of an unnamed oldest sister putting a garter snake in a shoebox and giving it to my dad. Let’s just say some snakes can fly:) I learned more about rattlesnakes than anyone would ever want to know. Except for my sister Mary. For some crazy reason the girl used to work in a REPTILE SHOW. And she even knew the reptiles' names. There are red rattlesnakes. There are black ones. There are rattlesnakes with horns over their eyes. Yes, they all have rattles. Yes, they only had live snakes at this museum. And yes, just as I thought I was doing very well being calm while surrounded by snakes, I almost had a heart attack when my phone vibrated in my purse and I thought it was a rattlesnake. So, Father dearest, I would brave this museum for you any time. But of course I took some pictures. You are more than welcome!

New Mexican Style...

I took German for four years in high school. I even dreamt in German one night and couldn't remember English for about half an hour in the morning. Frau Buller and I will always be friends. But this is really not taking me very far in the Southwest. I pronounce "pollo" like the sport polo. When I was in San Diego, a concierge almost spit Coke out her nose when I pronounced it "La Jolla" instead of "La Hoya." These are not good traits when moving to New Mexico. But I think I've gotten better. I've at least progressed to pronouncing it "Heymez Mountains" for the "Jemez Mountains."

I am of course loving New Mexico. On Sunday I will have been here for two weeks, but it feels like I've been here longer. I am so antsy to take advantage of everything! I am right by the foothills, and it looks a lot like Salt Lake. I so miss my friends and family, but there's not much I can do about it right now. I've been able to go on an adventure or two while adjusting to work, but been pretty exhausted trying to unpack and just figure out where the bathroom is at work. Nonetheless, I am drawing from some resources to try something new every week.

Two weeks ago was Bandelier National Monument by Los Alamos, NM. I learned two very important things here: I don't like Bed and Breakfasts where the couple lives there, and I don't like hiking by myself. Boring. A cute old couple lived at the Bed and Breakfast, but I felt like I was visiting at my grandparents' house and couldn't do normal things I would do at a hotel like sleep in and watch a movie with lots of treats spread out on my bed. Plus, the grandpa (not really one, but it felt like one) told me my biological clock was probably ticking. Do not ever say that to someone traveling by themselves, fyi. Or say that to anyone, ever. It's weird.

Bandelier was amazing--lots of archeological finds, where Indians used to live. You had to climb up really tall ladders to get to the places where they would live. Sounds much more intense than it really was, especially since I think I maybe saw a lady in high heels. I am finished with taking ranger recommendations. Last year a ranger in Southern Utah with crazy eyes told us a hike was "crazy hard" and we would be stuck in tons of water. Bone dry, and very easy. A ranger here told me a hike was her favorite because of all the archeological finds and it was so different from the rest of the hikes. Fast forward to me deciding to turn it into a trail run because it was boring and just like what I had hiked an hour before. Still fun, but still...

Standby for last weekend's and this weekend's adventures...

Tuesday and Wednesday Play Time...

I realize this is probably the most boring blog in the world, but it will have to do for a while. I am dragging today, but hopefully will feel refreshed later today! I think I will, either from Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi.

Tuesday workout:
Morning: Get up at 5:15 to sit on the freeway because a hamburger driver fell asleep at the wheel. Missed the workout and went to work early instead:(

Evening workout
TABATA something else:
8 rounds of each exercise; 20 seconds all out and 10 seconds rest:
Pull-ups
Push-ups
Sit-ups
Squats
Rowing

Total score: 406. Yay!

50 push-ups

Evening workout #2:
5 rounds of:
Bike 5 min
Squats 1 min
Lunges 1 min per leg
Calf raises 1 min

Evening workout #3:
Yoga for 75 min

Apparently I have been channeling yoga too much with my pushups--I keep going forward instead of straight down. I was told this makes them a lot harder. I hope so!

Wednesday am:

The only reason I got up today is because I would feel really lazy if I slept in. I felt like I've been hit by a truck and my arms are too tired to put on eyeliner. Sad.

For time (32:40):
25 push press (65#)
50 24" box jumps (I am lucky I did not fall flat on my face!)
25 push jerk (65#)
50 pushups
50 burpees

I threw in 50 situps and 48 pull-ups just for fun.

Time to get jazzed about my evening workout! Not there yet... :)

Monday's Fun

So I decided to go to Barnes and Noble this morning for a little bit of inspiration. I found a magazine of bodybuilding, which is the GROSSEST thing known to mankind. This magazine was seriously like a train wreck--I couldn't look away at the grotesqueness inside. Tell me what thoughts spring to mind when you see this picture! I'll share a few of mine:

1. Where does he buy clothes?
2. What color is his real skin?
3. How fast would I run if I saw him in an alley, or in a grocery store?
4. Where is the nearest bakery so I can ensure I NEVER look like this?

Now, my little accountability for today's workout!!
Morning:

7x3 heavy front squats (75 lbs) (ok; heavy for me)
50 24" box jumps
5o situps
50 pushups
25 pullups

Evening:
8 mile run
50 pushups

I also threw a 2 hour snowshoe in the afternoon, but that's not really a workout--pure fun. Up the side of Millcreek, then down Pipeline trail. Good stuff!

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday workouts

Jacko, I tried eating lots of cookies. I had to taste test all of them to see what would work best. Not shocking that oatmeal raisin doesn't do anything. I don't even know why this is a cookie. Disgusting. I had to eat an extra chocolate chip just to get that horrible taste out of my mouth. Such a burden I bear, taste testing cookies for all mankind.

Thursday workout
Ran 2 miles

Friday workout
Lift arms, pushups
5000 m row
100 double unders (two times jump rope before hitting the ground)
5000 m row

Saturday workout
Rowing competition: I won the 1000m, and second place in the 2000m! I would have won the 2000m, but it was right after the last one and I was smoked!
1 mile run
50 Pushups

Sunday workout
Skiing!

Must do better next week. At least by eating more cookies.

New Beginnings....

Super restless is my middle name. I am feeling really in limbo and need some new goals. I feel like I've not been doing things purposefully lately, with a clear intent. I think setting some goals will help me focus. So while I chew on my new goals, I am going to start posting my daily workouts so I have some accountability. I realize none of you want to read them; but it will help me look back and keep track. If anyone has some fun goals in mind to give my training some focus, let me know!

Morning workout:

CrossFit

• 3 rounds for time:
• 1 clean and jerk (all with 35#)
• 5 overhead squats
• 10 cleans
• 15 pull-ups (assisted)
• Take total time, then do max ring dips and subtract. 8:12 minus 5

Core work

• 2:00 plank
• 30 situps
• 1:00 plank
• 30 situps
• :30 plank
• 30 situps

Night time Workout

• Run 3.3 miles easy (with Safari!)
• Treadmill/pace work:
• Run 5:00 warmup, then repeat 4x:
• 1/2 mile goal pace
• Walk 1:00
• 1/4 mile goal pace
• Walk 2:00

Bike/Leg strength

• Repeat 4x:
• Bike 5:00
• Calf 1:00
• Squats 1:00
• Walking lungs 2:00

Core work

• Flutter kicks: 100 in between each set
• Pushups: sets of 20, up to 200
• Situps: sets of 50, up to 250