Got in! Phew. Last post was from September 2018, about my 5 year running anniversary. Whoa! I just celebrated my 9th year running anniversary. FOUR YEARS! How could so much time have gone by? Well, there was this little thing called a Pandemic, that kinda sidelined the entire world. It kinda sidelined me too! Up until then, I was pretty proud of myself that I had maintained fitness levels and weight loss, but as with probably everyone on the planet, everything changed, some things stayed the same but other things really kinda fell apart.
I’m not happy with where I am currently from a weight perspective. I’ve had some health issues which are extremely annoying and have first hand discovered when they can’t determine what it is but rule out what it isn’t, you have the very quaint little term of “Syndrome” Not an excuse, but definitely a contributor to stir up the pot trying not to bubble over. I am happy with some things .. actually a lot of things.. and know that it can be a downward spiral if the good is neglected by focusing too much on the bad... so I try to and for the most part do focus on the good. It, yup life is a total balancing act.
I’ve also been thinking about other things and events and people's interactions that have been positive or negative along the way, and for reasons I am beginning to understand, I put the pen down. Skimming back through all of this, it’s a gift, it's a time capsule of a journey that was amazing. And although the pen was put down, the journey continued and it does continue to evolve and change with each day, week, year.
The 4-year highlight reel: Not sure how many half marathons I’ve done, but I’ll get back to you. Continued my love of the Stadium with a 2 year hiatus... We did go to the dam stairs during that time. I did the Mount Washington Road Race. Hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve since tempered the running, but I think I want to bring it back. With Covid, I really came to love hiking. Outside was the safest place to be, and it was a way to get away from the craziness of the world. Not sure how many mountains I’ve done, but I’ll get back to you. I participated in 2 FOT48 (Flags on the 48 September 11 memorial) I went backpacking 3 times. Yup, I know that number. Two of the most amazing multi-night hiking trips I've ever done... The Presidential Traverse in 2021 and the Zeland-Bond Traverse in 2022. I'm up to 39 summits on the NH48. I became a leader with the Appalachian Mountain Club. I redlined all the trails on Wachusett. I took up winter hiking. I've been doing more art... I started a "Pandemic Art" group of just things that interested me and then did Inktober for the last 2 years and plan to again this year. I’ve been adding in more weights and boot camp activities. My legs are the strongest they have ever been. My balance is so steady it amazes me. Flexibility is pretty decent. Upper body still/always needs work. Some guy at the gym recently asked me if I had artificial hips, because ‘they have more mobility than they should’... Wait... what? I'm still a believer that running (although abusive on the body) is the best for calorie burn, so I'm still trying to find the balance for where I want to be.
The 4-year lowlight reel: I also been sidelined with multiple things. I now am proud to say I have age related eye-ball shrinkage (PVD) adding thousands of floaters in each eye that I have learned to live with although spinning around can still make me dizzy. I see a retina specialist every year. I broke a toe and it healed crooked and sometimes bothers me still. I have some kind of digestive issues requiring daily meds just to process everything I eat... Yeah, try having this “syndrome” when you’re doing a half marathon or a 3 day backpacking trip. Not something I share much, but something I have to deal with daily... and every day has moments of discomfort the good days just have less. I now have an inhaler, which I got after the Washington Road Race when I felt like I couldn’t breath. The Achilles never hesitates to let me know if I've done too much, and the golfers elbow interferes with push-ups *heavy sigh*. The back is a constant reminder that I need to go back and probably get some kind of bone replacement therapy for osteoporosis. I got Covid from someone who wasn’t thinking about precautions. My Father In Law passed away after breaking his back at 93. My cousin passed away from Esophageal Cancer at 63. My sister is currently being treated for breast cancer. Genetic testing showed that I have higher than average percentages for multiple types of cancer. Yeah, so there's all that too. Not at all seeking sympathy, just at an attempt to paint a more realistic picture of my life and where I am right here right now.
Philosophical, analytical and opinionated thoughts: I have collected multiple sets of friends... Some are looking forward to retirement so they can through-hike the 2000-plus mile Appalachian trail; others are on the coach planning what type of walker they want to get or how they will make their home handicap accessible for when they need it. The only way I find it possible to hang out with the latter group is if I do something physical first. Sure I’ll come over for Pizza and Beer, after I run or ride some miles.
At this point I'm at the belief that LIFE is totally an evolutionary process and the only time you lose is if you stop....Age alone should not stop anyone. So every day keep on doing, hiking, running, biking, finding what works from a physical and mental perspective and you're already ahead of so many that choose the excuse they are too old or too slow or don't have time or whatever. Our bodies were meant to MOVE; and if we are not moving in some way, we are doing ourselves a dis-service.
It's just an opinion. I do think I’ve become more opinionated. In the first 5 years of My Fitness Journey (when I was blogging), I was listening, discovering, following, doing and analyzing. I was amazed at all that became possible. These days, I have more thoughts about what I want to and should do, how often, when. I know what works for me. I have less patience for some things. And, thinking out loud by capturing this. I really do think that one of the main reasons I put down the pen is because I’m afraid that my opinions might offend someone. But, but, but, they are MY opinions, this is MY story. This is my gift to my future self or anyone else who might want to come along for the ride. So I really, really hope I don’t offend anyone, and if I do, I hope whatever is offensive is taken with a grain of salt that was on my mind at the moment I wrote it.