I want to like hiking, I do!!!

One of the perks to living in the Adirondacks during the summer is that there are beautiful mountains that surround Keene Valley as it is known as the "Home of the High Peaks." The problem with this is that I have had real trouble getting into hiking. I want to like it. I really do. I just don't know if I do. Let me give you some background. I grew up hiking with my father and then in high school decided that I didn't like it and then after high school started again but after taking up triathlon, I wanted to like it but wasn't convinced. At one point in my memory I even dreamed of becoming a 46er like my dad. But, every time we planned a hike post college, I would say yes and then go to bed the night before dreading the morning. I would wake up in the morning hoping for it to be raining as that meant we were not going to go. I would be almost at the verge of tears as we were getting ready and at the trail head even though I tried to seem confident and cool. I am not a crier so this was significant to me. As we would climb the mountain I would hate every minute and my body hated it more. My feet would hurt and I would end up with blisters every hike. I can actually pinpoint when I decided that hiking may not be my thing but still went along for some of the hikes because I felt it was expected of me - it was on Giant Mountain. We had successfully gone up the mountain, a fairly difficult assent, and were on the way back down when I got to a very steep section of wet rock and fell down a significant portion of this rock. I ended up with pebbles embedded in my skin and "road rash". My mom had to help me to get the littlest rocks out as I couldn't see them. I have since tried to convince myself that since Joe and my dad love to hike, then I should as well. I even had my Vasques retired and got a new pair of Asolo boots. Three years ago my dad, Joe, and myself decided to go for a hike on Dix mountain. I cried up to the pond and finally told them that I was going back and I didn't want to do this. My dad convinced me that we should go a little further and I agreed but quickly figured out that I didn't want to do this. This was supposed to be a 13 to 15 mile hike and I "chickened out" fairly quickly. I made the decision that I didn't like hiking and that that was ok because it isn't like I am sedentary and don't do anything in the Adirondacks. I have swam in more lakes here than most, I have ridden my bike countless miles around the area, and I have had some of my best runs here. I have since kept trying to like it though as so many people really enjoy it and it seems like it should be a lot of fun. I went on two hikes last year, one up Blueberry Mountain with Joe and Mount Joe with my Mom, Dad, Joe, Lila, and Kaelah. Both of those were good but again I wasn't completely sold.

So, that brings me to today. It was a gorgeous day in Keene Valley - low 80's/high 70's with a breeze and not a lot of humidity. I had told Joe that I would go for a hike with him if I got to choose the mountain. I read through the high peaks guide book and picked Hurricane Mountain. I didn't remember ever being on it before, it was only 2.6 miles up, and it had a fire tower on top. It read as if it was going to be fairly easy. Joe has decided to approach my hiking in a very good way. (What a loving husband I have) We don't get up early for a hike anymore, we don't do the really big ones, we had a really good breakfast, we took our time before leaving for the hike, Joe packed the backpack and since he knows that some of my problems with hiking is that I dread carrying a backpack since it causes me so much pain and discomfort he doesn't make me carry one. I got ready and when I was ready to leave, we left. We started the hike and I started making lists in my head about what I like about hiking and what I don't. For 1 hour 31 minutes up the mountain, a lot of things came into my head.
Cons:
1. Labored breathing - I am an athlete but when I go out on a run, my breathing settles in and my perceived exertion doesn't feel like I am working so hard the entire time. Not with hiking. Because you are going up the entire time (or what seems like a long time) you never get into that rhythm and I feel like I am in the worst shape. This is the feeling that kills me as I work so hard to be in good shape and I am in the best shape of my life right now.
2. The lack of talking. I like to talk when I am going up the mountain but those who I generally hike with are not real talkers so I end up with lots of time to think!!! This is why I have a list of things that I like and don't like.
3. Feeling unstable. I can't stand the feeling that I can't guarantee that my footing is good the entire time and that scares me.
4. Hearing my knee make funny noises. As a person with anklosing spondylitis I have some joint issues but it is generally handled with exercise and I don't ever complain about it. Only when I am hiking and going up stairs does my knee make cracking noises and it reminds me (as Joe put it) that "You are broken."
5. The noises in the woods. I don't like the idea that I could get attacked in the woods without me seeing it coming (I know, this probably won't happen but there are a lot of random noises in the woods.)
6. The sweating. I am an athlete. I should not mind sweating but for some reason in the woods while you are hiking you sweat even more. Whether it be because there is little breeze or the humidity, I don't know but I was pouring sweat.
7. My mind. I usually can get out my frustrations on a good bike, swim, or run but in hiking all I think about is how much I am not enjoying it. I don't know why. I remember when I first started running and I was not in very good shape and I hated every minute of it but once I got in shape, it was the one thing that I really long to do. Maybe I just need to get into better hiking shape!!
8. Coming down the mountain. I am petrified of loosing my footing. See #3
9. My feet hurt - no matter what, I end up with blisters and sore feet.
10. The idea that if I hurt myself when I am out hiking I will be really pissed off that I did something stupid doing something that I can't say that I love and I can't compete in my next triathlon, marathon, running event which are truly things that I love doing.

Pros:
1. The view. We had the most amazing view from the top today. I could see Vermont and Lake Champlain. It was awesome!!!
2. Doing something that my dad and Joe enjoy. I love being with Joe and my family. I love hiking with my nieces. I want to do things that they want to do because sometimes they do things that I love to do.
3. The exercise. It is different and it is good exercise. Maybe it will help with my running hills.
4. Did I mention the view.
5. Getting muddy. It is fantastic to be able to get dirty sometimes. I love it.

Overall, today was a good day. Much harder than I expected but I didn't hate it and I didn't dread it so that is a good thing. The views were just spectacular. I enjoyed sitting near the fire tower and looking out to this amazing view of so many different mountains. I got muddy. I love it when I have to go in the river after working out in order to get clean. My legs didn't hurt today. This is a sign that I am in great shape but my breathing was still pretty bad. So, I was thinking that I may allow for more hiking this summer. Maybe even once a week but it has to be on my terms and I think that one of those terms is that I won't do anything that requires more than 2 hours to get up. Maybe I will be in better shape for the marathon this fall if I do more mountain climbing. Lets give it one more try. I do own these hiking boots that I haven't worn too many times.

Boilermaker 2008

This is the race that Joe and I look forward to every year. This race is probably one of the best I have ever been a part of. It has so much crowd support that it is impossible not to have a smile on your face the entire 9.3 miles. I love this race. Joe and I left Keene Valley on Saturday morning to go to packet pick-up and meet with Erich, Mimi, and Jimmy. The trip out was good. I slept most of the way. We passed the Hinkley Reservoir and I decided that next year I am bringing my bathing suit and wetsuit and swimming there on the way to Utica. Next year it will be the week before the Ironman so I will want to get in a swim that weekend too.

The packet pick-up and expo is always fun. There are lots of people, you get a pint glass, and get to look at all different races that come out to promote their race. I didn't find a really good shirt this year so my pint glass is the only thing I have to remember the race. We ran into old friends and chatted and had a great time just wandering around. Joe and I went to eat after that and then Erich, Mimi, and Jimmy came to the hotel to get the race lowdown as this would be their first Boilermaker attempt. After they left to go to their final resting place of the evening, Joe and I went out to have dinner and get ice cream. Joe hadn't been feeling well all week and was slightly optimistic that he would feel better in time to run the race. After dinner though, Joe did not feel well at all and his dreams of running the race this year were halted.

I woke up at 5:30 am on race day, got changed and ready and took off alone for the race. It was actually raining!!! I got really excited as I run really well in the rain. As I was waiting for the start though, the rain subsided and it got a little warmer out. It was by far the best race conditions in the past 5 years. I am also in arguably better shape than I had been for any of the other years. The race started and I waited for about 7 minutes until I got to cross the starting line but then the fun began. The international mile, the sign that said "My wife is already at the 5K finish drinking beer!", the Utica residents happy and loud, the road side bands playing fun music, the DJ's out with their vans playing music, the lama and goat at the Utica zoo, the leprechaun giving out luck as you finished the last .5 miles of the race, and the fantastic volunteers at the aid stations. Kelly's Popsicle Stand was handing out ice pops and because I was out there having a lot of fun this year, I had a banana Popsicle when I went past. This race is phenomenal. I even tried with great success these new Power-bar gummy things which were great. The ice stations were very helpful in keeping me cool. I ran it in a 1:40.24 which I think may be a PR. Last year was probably my best Boilermaker experience though as Joe and I both wore T-shirts that said "Just Married and this is our honeymoon." People liked to comment on those shirts and we left for Jamaica the next day. This year was a close second though although my Joey wasn't there waiting for me at the end as he has been every other year.

I spent the next 40 minutes after the race having a sno-cone, drinking half of a beer, getting my lunch and eating the potato chips, having a vitamin water, and looking for Erich, Mimi, and Jimmy. Found them all and talked for a while. The morning was a success and the beginning of my marathon training . Rock N Roll San Antonio here I come!!!

Next up: Signing up for 2009 Ironman Lake Placid on Monday, July 21. Mini tri later that evening, and then Race the Train in August.