Kissin' Cousins

The week in review:

Sunday, September 13

Shootim

Sara looks pleasant enough, but it was Shootim's idea.

A genius move on my part.  Both times we've brought Shootim to the upper pen, he got super excited and raced around until he was in a lather.  This time I lunged him until he was all done playing in the indoor arena.  Then, when I took him to the upper pen, he was much calmer about the whole thing.  I actually got a good ride in.

Saturday, September 12

Hiking

Ooh, what a scary looking branch!

We hiked on the Eagle Harbor trail to Sand Bay and back, with an extra loop thrown in.  We started late in the day, but made it back before sundown.

Tuesday, September 15

WOD

The green.  Definitely my color.

"Death By Wallball"

1 the first minute, 2 the second and so on, until you can't finish in a minute.

With a 10# ball, I went up to 13 rounds.  The legs said, "I wouldn't advise a fourteenth round."  They were right.  My legs were in no shape to do workouts the next two days.

Friday, September 18

Shootim

Shootim loves this move.

Once Shootim settled down a bit, we worked in the round pen.  On the canter, his right lead was better than his left.  That goes for me as well.  Who knows, it could be all my fault. My position feels all out of whack.  As my right leg holds against his hindquarter, my left hip braces against the saddle. I'll have to work on it.

Saturday, September 19

Hiking

Victorious!

Today we hiked up Mt. Baldy by Eagle Harbor.  It's about 6 miles there and back.  My GPS said it took 3.5 hours, but it went a little wacky on the way back, so I'm not counting on it.  The picture of Kirsten is not quite at the summit, but we did make it there and back.

I Hate Golf, Nice Shot, I Love Golf

The first of the two rides.

Shootim

Last weekend I had a couple of rides on Shootim.  The first was in the square pen.   Susan was grilling chicken for an upcoming party at the barn (boy, was that good!) but as soon as Shootim got the smell of burning flesh, he got a little spooky at that end.  I suppose it didn't help that I told him that he was next.

That put me off my mood a bit.  Susan, however was more upbeat.  She said that she noticed Shootim staying in the ground longer on his jog.  That's great news, but I was on a downer and didn't pay attention.  I missed it. rats!

On Monday, we went riding again.  Since it had rained a lot the night before, this time we rode in the indoor arena.  Shootim was great this time, listening and really trying.  I did the walk and trot work, then had Kirsten up on him to show me his lope.  Even though it didn't go as well as we hoped, when I got on him, Shootim went to work and tried his best.  After cantering, I worked him at side-passing over a pole.  That really got him interested.  When we finished, Shootim was super-sensitive to cues, trying to guess at what might come next.  Much better!

Baby's New Shoes

North Face Fastpack Hedgehog GTX, ooh.

Tuesday

After a bit of a workout.

WOD "Lordy Lordy Look Who's 40"

• 400m run
• 40 wallballs
• 400m run
• 40' handstand walk
• 400m run
• 40 box jumps
• 400m run
• 40 GHD sit-ups
• 400m run
• 40 KB swings

I don't remember the time, probably about 15'. I turned everything into 15s, with 150m rows. 12# wall ball, 65# press sub, 20" box, abmat sit-ups, medium KB.

Saturday

Trying out the new shoes.

Hiking

3.3 miles at Nara trails.

We had a reception gig last night, so with cash burning a hole in my wallet, we headed to the store to get the shoes we tried out last week.  After deciding on whether or not to get Superfeet insoles (we decided against it for now,) we went out for a test hike.

I like the Nara trails.  Kirsten chose some single track that gave varying terrain; up, down, sideways, roots, though no rocks.  Nice fit, nice traction, nice shoes.  They followed my heels very well, so no blisters.  On sideways camber, my mid foot can slide sideways in the shoe a bit.  Perhaps that's what is missing compared to  the burlier hike model.  I stood in a stream and no water came in, so yay for the Goretex.  They seemed to cushion my feet well.  My feet were sore to begin with (especially my heels,) and though they did end up tired, I don't think the heels were any worse.  All in all, a good choice for my first hiking shoes.

Bare Bluff

Hiking

Bare Bluff, 3 miles.

I can't see the bottom.

This is a loop trail, though most hike the upper path there and back.  On advice gleaned from the internet, we did the loop counterclockwise this morning.  There is some scrambling over boulder fields and roots, but at least we did it on the way up.  Very fun and a little scary.  The view from the top was worth the climb and the way back was steady and easy.

view from the top.

Shootim

I rode this afternoon.  Shootim was quite mellow and willing.  I felt that we were starting to get into a rhythm of lifting the shoulder in the corners of the pen.  Susan and Kirsten thought that he was loping very well.  From on top I had a difficult time staying on the saddle, Shootim is that strong behind.  Afterwords, we drank a couple of beers and watched the farrier trim Shootim's feet.

Shootim fascinated by Bossy Man.

Yep, Start With The Shoes

Hello, It's been a long while.  When I haven't been busy doing stuff, I've been lazy.  Here's everything, organized by sport.

WOD

Every week I worked out at least once at CF906.  I've been getting to bed early, about 9:00 pm, so I can get up and to the gym at 6:00 the next morning.

I've been dabbling at these workouts; very scaled down, less reps, less sets.  When my body said 'enough,' I packed it in.  Nothing was on the clock.  I also did meters double poling on the new ski erg.  I'm up to 450 meters.

WODs:
8/12/15
"DT"
5 rounds

• 12 deadlifts
• 9 hang power cleans
• 6 push jerks

8/19/15
EMOM for 20'

• 2 power clean/push press

then

3 rounds

• 25 yard overhead walking lunge
• 10 seated box jumps
• 12 glute ham raises (I was only doing hip extensions.  I just looked this up.)

8/26/15
"Death By Clean"
I did power cleans at 75# up to 6 rounds.

then

3 rounds

• 15 hip extensions
• 10 sumo deadliest high pulls ( I subbed ring rows.)
• 50 yard sled pull

only 10 hip extensions, I did 2 rounds.

8/27/15
AMRAP 15'

• 2 rope climbs (I did one per round.)
• 10 knees to elbows (I did 5)
• 400m row

I did 3 rounds +6 reps

Shootim

So, I've been riding about once a week.  Kirsten's been riding my horse during the week as well.

Mountain Biking

We've gone out once a week mountain biking as well.  Since the last post we've been to:

Swedetown

Maasto Hiihto/Churning Rapids

MTU Trails

Hiking

We've also been hiking a bit each week.
After the purchase of a hiking shirt, Kirsten seems to be all clothed for hiking.

Nice shirt, huh?

My wardrobe is sadly lacking in hiking specific clothes.  It wasn't a problem until we started hiking in the Rockies and got interested in the sport.  I can cobble together something from gym, bike and ski clothes.  I can't find the right shoes, though.  I think that shall be my first hiking gear purchase.  Until then, I hope my sneakers will have enough cushion to keep my heels from hurting again.  I worry about plantar fascitis.  It's been bugging me since last summer.

8/9/15
Nara Trails, 3.2 miles.
The grass was wet.  Kirsten was right, we should have hiked on the dirt single track.

8/22/15
Copper Harbor:
Horseshoe Harbor 1.2 miles.
Estivant Pines 2.0 miles.

After a late start, we drove up to Copper Harbor for a couple of hikes.  We had one more to do, but were getting tired and hungry, so headed for home.

Here we are at Horseshoe Harbor.

Baby's first cairn.  I've always wanted to do that.

Holding those big trees apart.

How I Spent My Summer Vacation

The best picture of the whole vacation, I think.  On the way to Emerald Lake.

Come to the house, I've got lots more. ;)

It has been a while.  I'll have to summarize a lot to catch up.

Kirsten, Mom and I attended a Piano Technician's Guild convention in Denver.  Afterwords, we spent a few days in Estes Park and explored a little in the Rocky Mountain National Park.

July 18

WOD

AMRAP 5'

• Man Makers

We all worked out at the hotel fitness center.  Kirsten and Mom did a different workout.

Rocky Mountain National Park

July 20

Hiking

Bear Lake

.6 miles

9,575' altitude

It was a very short hike.  Free shuttle service from Estes Park brought us right to the trailhead.  We took lots of time on all of these hikes for pictures.  What a gorgeous place!

July 21

Hiking

Bear Lake (again)

.6 miles

9,575' altitude

This hike was so easy, we talked Mom into coming with us the second time.  Originally, we had planned a longer hike, but this was a great chance for Mom to get out and see something spectacular. What was an easy hike for us, though, was a peak effort for Mom.  She did fine.

July 22

Hiking

Emerald Lake, Alberta Falls

5.5 miles

10,080' max altitude

I was looking at a circuit route for this, but Kirsten wisely suggested we do this as a two out-and -back hikes in a row.  Very wise, in case it turned out to be too tough for us.  As an added bonus, it gave us a potty stop in the middle of our hike.  All from the Bear Lake trailhead.

Back Home

July 26, 30

'Back in the saddle agin'

Shootim

Shootim continues to improve under saddle.  Kirsten has been riding him as well.  He likes to work out.  After, he likes to eat.

July 31

Out at Swedetown.

Mountain Biking

Swedetown.  Fun.

August 5

The new ski-erg is going to be great!

WOD

EMOM 20'

• Power Clean
• Front Squat
• Shoulder To Overhead

All at 70%

Then 3 rounds

• 10 Glute Ham Raises
• 10 Seated Box Jumps
• 25 yards walking lunges w/plate overhead.

I did a smidgen of everything with light weight, since I've been away from CF for so long.

I even did 250 meters on the new ski-erg at CF906

Aug 7

Mountain Biking

MTU Trails - Outer Limits

More fun.  I did the whole climb up Twilight Zone without having to stop.  

If She Can, You Can

Mom working on her ring push-ups.  She's 83.

Mountain biking.

More playing on my day off.

No Data for you today, my GPS was undergoing maintenance while we biked.  Swedetown was nice, Jeff was with us.  We did Applesauce, Southside, Lakeview, Bridges, Cable Connector, a bit of Two Hoots and the Back Country trail.

The happy trio.