TA Loeffler's Adventures that Move

Today’s training session, number 18, was a tough one. It was the first of (I suspect) many that will combine sand-bag get-ups with step-ups. In this instance, it was also “for time” which I suspect is a practical guarantee that I will see this nefariously tasking combination again. It’s hard to take any rest breaks when a section is “for time” as one of the goals is to complete the tasks in as little time as possible…turns out I was flat out for 45 minutes…and dropping sweat like I was a tropical storm.

This was a “work capacity” focused session-one intended to increase the amount of work that I am capable of doing. It’s working 🙂 The mental aspects of all of this toil are being very constructive and useful right now. I’m really wanting to work on mental strength (and this program is handy and efficient because it’s doing both physical and mental in one go).

As though of you who have followed a few of my climbs will know, I often love climbing in the dark. There is something strangely comforting about only being able to see only what my headlamp lights in front of me. Somehow, hills seem less steep in the dark. Signal Hill, with tire in tow, seemed less sheer tonight as I did my first ever tire pull in the dark. Bed was way too comfy this morning so I knew I needed to either pull tonight in the dark or leave my lovely cocoon early tomorrow.

My usual tire pull buddy, Natelle, is on the road this week so I was pleased to recruit Marian and the “Pupsicle” to go on the pull with me tonight. It’s helpful having a set of eyes looking up for the giant iron steeds that roar up and down “The Hill” as I tend to keep a pretty solid gaze on the white line on the left hand side of the road. Glad I got this week’s pull in since I’m off tomorrow to Corner Brook for a speaking engagement with the National Student Leadership Conference. I did another adapted strength training session this morning to give my right front paw another day of rest and I think it is a wee bit better for it tonight.

My website hit 25,000 views tonight and that’s an exciting milestone. I appreciate having all of you along on these adventures of mine, near and far.

How does that John Denver song go…”Some days are diamonds, some days are stone.” Today initially felt like a stone day. Tired. Sore. Worried and scared about what seems quickly to becoming an acute tennis elbow. IT band threatening to act out as well. It was a great three week run but now I think the honeymoon is over and my 46 year old body has made itself known. I almost took the day off training but 4:00 pm rolled around and I’d just finished up a project. I thought, “I’ll just go down and do a bit and I’ll stay away from any lifts that hurt the elbow.”

As it turned out, I could do most of it and my left side can always use a little catch up work…hopefully a few more days of rest and the right elbow will forgive me for all the canoeing, lifting, coffee pot pouring, door knob opening I’ve asked it to do of late and heal up. I hear tennis elbow can easily turn chronic so I know I have to be smart…even though that’s tough because I don’t want to lose the gains I’ve made…but I guess I also have to be able to hold an ice axe in 64 days…so it’s onto icing, ibu, compression and rest for the right arm…anyone else know of nice things to do for a tennis elbow?

The workout, in the end, was good to do. It helped elevate my energy and move the day more towards diamond. I spoke at St. Francis Elementary School and tonight I opened the Thank you note from the two Grade Four classes…it further moved the continuum from stone to diamond.

To TA:
Totally awesome is what you are
Here’s a little something to help you as you travel far
And if on your journey, you should ever tire
Remember, you are someone we really admire!
We have enjoyed all you have said and done
You made exploring sound really fun
One big lesson we have learned from you
Is try our best in all that we do!

One of the things most I love about exploring a new area is wondering (and wandering) what is just around the next corner. I am insatiably curious and always thinking about the next bend and what might be beyond it. As I completed my third week of training this weekend, I realized that part of the reason I am enjoying this new training program so much is that I don’t know what is around the corner. For a change, I didn’t design this training program so I don’t know what’s coming. I follow it day by day, five days a week and each workout has new exercises or new combinations of exercises…it’s constantly changing.

As I turn the page to a new day of the program, I constantly wondering how tough the workout will be? How will my body react? Will I see progress? Will I remember all the new parts? How long will it take me? Will the gym have all the gear I need? Can I maintain a high level of work? etc… I love the novelty. I like “The Beginner’s Mind” aspect of it. I like not knowing what’s just around the corner.

Marian and I took a training hike today from the Goulds to Petty Harbour. It was a piece of East Coast Trail that neither of us had done before and the 20 or so km provided lots of good hills to climb and hours on my feet. Dave Hahn, the head guide for my Vinson climb, said to make sure to get some “real world” training in (not just gym time) so it was delightful to be out on such a divine fall day. The sun was shining and the 70 km gusting head wind for the last five km was a good challenge and we spent much of the day getting to hike around a series of heads (corners) and it was a treat to cover a new piece of trail. With only 66 days to departure, it seems as though Mount Vinson is just around the corner as well.

Up early on a Saturday morning and already have my workout in-wahoo. I have a date with three Signal Hills later but for now, I’ll enjoy being done with another strength training session. I’m already seeing dividends of the work I’m putting in with an internal spark of strength being kindled within. I’m walking a bit taller, feeling a bit more confident, getting a wee bit of strut in my step…sometimes the program has 5 rounds and sometimes 6 rounds in a set. I was thinking this morning that somehow six seems so much more than five. Like with five, the third set of exercises is the hump…but with six, after three, I’m still facing three more…and somehow that last one seems daunting.

In reality, it’s just one more but interesting to observe the mental process around it all…I much prefer five-it easier mentally I guess. Reminds me of making carries on a mountain. After the first carry, the second one seems so daunting since I know what coming-(i.e. how tough it is or how steep it was) and I dread going back up a second and/or three times. I usually fine that the second one is actually easier since I know what’s coming and can check features off in my mind as I pass them. The first go has often increased acclimatization or fitness as well. So as much as I’d prefer five, six is better training…for both my body and my mind.

Started my second week of training today and could tell I’d had a few days of rest. I saw a small increase in work capacity today and I enjoy feeling stronger already. I’ve been visiting Johnson State College in Johnson, Vermont today and worked out in their fitness centre. I’m presenting tonight to the Johnson campus community on "Leading with your Life: Lessons from High Places." I’ve enjoyed teaching a class here this morning and having many conversations with colleagues I usually only get to see at conferences. The countdown has dropped below eighty days and that fills me with both excitement and nervous energy. So much to do before Nov. 29 when I begin my travels south to Puenta Arenas, Chile.

I’m pleased to have trained while on the road and that gives me evidence that I am getting back into my training groove. The true test will come tomorrow when I spend much of the day traveling home. I’ll use the idea that I might have to tell you all I missed a workout as motivation to make sure I get workout number seven in despite a day of automobiles and planes.

Canoeing the Lamiolle River was grand fun and a great opporunity to reflect more on my Labrador canoe experiences. It was a sweet, calm river (at present-not last week during Hurricane Irene) and I, once again, revelled in the sense of journey along the water. Thanks to Karen W for a great canoe trip and to Karen U for organizing my visit to Johnson State College.

I’m four days into the new training plan and I can hardly walk. In a good way. Left sitting for any length of time, the lactic acid re-exerts it’s painful magic and I can barely make my legs work. I am jettisoned back in memory land to the Jasper Volleyball camp I used to attend. It was for elite players in the province and they always tested us on day one to see if we’d done our pre-camp fitness routines (we hadn’t). The first few days of camp we had to climb down the stairs backwards and had no interest in moving unless they made us. The overwhelming sensory experience of 85 girls all crowded in the viewing area of a curling rink all spreading A535 on their aching muscles is not easily forgotten.

Yes, I played competitive volleyball (most people think of me and hockey). All through school. All five foot two and three quarters of me. I was a setter, of course. My speciality was diving digs. The backcourt specialist position as invented for me–too bad it was invented after I graduated form high school. I can go down stairs facing forward right now but just barely. I don’t dare sit too long for fear of total seizure of my legs.

When we increase our activity level or training rapidly, we are often subjected to D.O.M.S…Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. It usually peaks around the 48 hour mark. So the lactic acid produced by Tuesday’s workout when I pulled the tire and did calve raises until I nearly cried should have reached it’s peak yesterday. But added to that was Wednesday’s sand bag get ups which should reach “peak soreness” today and then Thursday’s dead lifts and squat jumps will continue to pain until tomorrow and I suspect today’s 500 step ups won’t help the situation and will keep me sore through the weekend. In a good way.

I’m actually thrilled to be training this hard. It’s been about a year and a half since I’ve had the discipline and determination to be doing such tough workouts. Each one lasts over an hour and they build over subsequent days and weeks. I’ll likely be the strongest I’ve ever been when I finish the program and head to the ice. As long as I can stay healthy and free from training injuries…and that is one of my major training goals…and I’d do that by listening to my body, taking small tweaks seriously, not pushing bluntly and stupidly forward to finish a workout, eating and hydrating well all the while pushing hard and developing the mental strength the workouts are designed to elicit…one 17 inch step up at a time. It’s really hard work, in a good way.