Category: hiking

Lazy day 2: return to Forest Park Nature Center

i’ll make it a goal to do this once a week after classes end.

Today: I used spring break to do the outer loop plus the spur out and back. Ok, conditions were PERFECT and I took the outer loop at a very steady, easy, unhurried pace. 14:12 at Deer Run, 40:07 at Bee Tree and 49:xx at Wilderness. No trouble at all: 58:17 which is my fastest outer loop time in close to a decade..and it was easy! Then spur 1 in 24:09 (the out part which features 2 uphills) and that was a challenge. But then I fell for it: near the summit I took the “easy, soft” way (trail is darker and easier) and ended up having to double back. So, my diversion took 36:18; realistically this added about 15 minutes of time. So I’ll call my “usual 6” a 6.5 and lesson learned. 1:58:44 . Yeah, I swore a bit on that last..in fact, it was starting to get tough on that first out spur, near the end of the one way spur.

I had thought: “wow..this is just like my McNaughton days” but, in reality, it was nothing like them. That first 3 miles fooled me into thinking I was in better shape than I really was.

And this had NOTHING in common with the initial 83 minute limp-and-pain fest from 3 years ago. Pain was basically non-existent.

In that first outer loop segment…the power up the hills was there; it was “just like old times.” Well, sort of. Weighing 20 lbs less helps. Having a stronger core helps. All of the extra PT warm up (did some toe taps) helped. And not being in pain REALLY helped.

Ok, some reality: back in 2003, my outer loop walking PR was 47 minutes; typical was 52-55. Up until 10 years ago, this would have been “on the slow side” time for me. Still…it was a good walk.

2023 Summer trip part 1.

Before leaving: easy 5 miles.

We stopped at the Route 66 Rest Stop between Springfield and Joplin. It has a Route 66 theme. Then we found a good Indian restaurant at the Big Apple travel plaza, exit 13 off of I-44, near Joplin.

Food was good, portions were HUGE.

In Oklahoma: did 2 miles outside, walking back and forth along a 0.3 mile long access road near the hotels.

Then in Austin, dinner with Olivia and B.

This morning: found out that 83 F, 74 percent humidity, is much worse than 83F, 59 percent.

I just up and quit when I got to the hotel. Then I thought: ok, get the 5 and so went back out and back, slowly.

As far as the original walk, I turned the wrong way on St. Elmo. No problem; there were small walking trails.

In Texas: I found a pull up bar at rest stop between Dallas and Waco. Did the worst set of pull ups, ever, though the angle made it look worse than it was.

10 “reps” total. (3 and 7); this is what happens when I don’t warm up my shoulders

Double header, singe loop

This is a friendship post.

AM: Forest Park Nature Center walk with Pat. Yes, Pat is a good walker but she is 9 years older than I and is less experienced on trails. Still, she handled the hills of the outer loop easily and we took it in 1:23, the time it took me back in the “mean days” of 2021.

Later, I went to a Chiefs double header with Lynn. The games: exciting: in game 1, the Chiefs fell behind 4-0 but rallied to tie it at 4 going in the 7’th. But alas, they could not drive it in (great catch on a line drive down the first base line) to prevent the win. They then gave up 2 runs in the 8’th, got them back in the bottom of the 8’th, but then gave up 1 in the 9’th to lose 7-6.

In the night cap, the Chiefs struck first and then lead 3-1 going into the top of the 7’th. The Kernels (a very good team) loaded the bases with 1 out and scored (fielder’s choice), but the Chiefs got a strike out to win the game.

The game featured a nifty triple play by the Kernels. Runners on 1’st and second and a hard line drive was hit to right: excellent catch, then throw to first for out 2, then to second for out 3. Both runners were already at the next base upon the hit (reasonable given the line drive..at hit 99 percent of the time).

Weekend catch up

Workouts:

Saturday 10 June: Too late of a start; decided to limit myself to 4 miles at FPNC:

I started too late and there were others there. Still, though I was slightly slow at my check points (14:10, 21:57, 40:17), I got the outer loop in 59:54, even though I took a slight tumble at the bottom of Wilderness. I then added Bee Tree (harder than I remembered it)

I don’t think that I am faster; I am just better at finding places to put my feet.

Today: PT, weights, then a 4 mile walk before the Chiefs game: 2.05 out and back (Moss) 28:05 then I added a 1.3 and another mini-loop.

The course correction got it at 4.3; I don’t think it was that much; probably 4.15 or thereabouts. The first 2 miles appear to be correct. Still…remember, that is the old 50 mile pace so ..there is that.

Now about the weights:

pull ups: 15 on the 10 seconds, 10 then 5 singles for chins. Then 7 pull ups, 5 chin ups, 5 pull ups, 5 chin ups. Good enough.

3 sets of 30 slant push ups, 20 flat push ups.

Downstairs: 8, 8, 8 x 134 Swiss Bar bench, 10 shrugs (52 lb handes) 3 sets, 4, 5, 5 x 105 high incline, 3 sets of curls (1 dumbbell).

Chiefs Baseball

Last night: slugfest; Chiefs dominated 10-2 (Beloit got a run in the top of the 9’th). Tracy enjoyed the action too as did 4000+ other fans. This (“Faith and Family night” ) was the best crowd of the season.

The game was not close.

Today: the Chiefs won again, though an early home run gave Beloit a 2-0 lead. And it was chilly.

This is how it went for the Sky Carp: bases loaded, 1 out, ground ball: they make a good play at the plate, but an attempt at a double play at first goes sour and the ball went all the way down the right field line, allowing 3 runners to score.

I was bundled up for this one.

Day off

I did spend some time on my project and I finally saw why one of my “bright” ideas was complete nonsense. At least I can now write up what I have, which, I think, is what I was trying to avoid.

So, about the workout: I did wake up early! And I did start deadlifts early too:

10 x 134, 10 x 190, 10 x 225 low, 10 x 260 4 inch, 4 x 300 8 inch. All were within my abilities.

Then I drove to Forest Park Nature Center and, at about 9 am, started the outer loop. 1:02 (on the button) for the outer loop; I didn’t walk “with urgency” but I stayed deliberate, Then I added the hill on Deer Run, Cardinal, Bee Tree Loop, valley loop and then back with just a bit extra to ensure that I got 5 miles.

Though the mileage was speculative, it more or less matched what the maps have. There was some traffic on the trails but it wasn’t too bad.

Fizzle and Frazzle

Well, last night’s game (seen with Tracy): the box score tells the story:

It started very well and in the 9’th: the 3’rd Chiefs reliever (who was good in the previous innings) loaded the bases with 2 walks and a single. Then came the next reliever who got a strike out..then gave up a single to tie the game. Then came strike out no. 2. Then..broken bat hit into right field..ok, that is one run..but the fielder misplays the ball and it gets by him. That allows all 3 base runners to score.

And that was basically the game.

Tracy and I had a nice sunset. B still does not like baseball.

Oh, the workout today:

PT, deadlifts downstairs: 10 x 134, 10 x 190, 10 x 225 low

10 x 255 4 inch, then 4 x 300 8 inch. These felt, well, good.

Then to the Forest Park Nature Center for an “outer loop” plus: 59:50 (49:57 at Wilderness, 40:27 at Possum Path. Total was 4.38 (due to parking lot); extra was Cardinal to Bee Tree..up that big hill again.

The milestones, such as they are: most miles in a month since, well, I don’t know when. I’d say: maybe 2019? Maybe earlier? I am at 139 miles for May with more days to come.

Where these 30-36 mile weeks will lead to: not sure. I can see upping one walk to 10 and another walk to 20 which would be an addition of 20 miles..but that is in the distant future, if it comes at all.

Wishing for a time machine

But there is no time machine.

Workouts:

Monday: PT, pull ups, push ups, 5 mile walk, weights

Note: 80 F when I finished.

Pull ups: 10 crunch singles, 5 chin singles, 5 chin singles, 10 pull up singles, 5 pull, 5 chins, 5 mixed, 5 mixed.

Push ups: 30 slant, 6 sets of 10 flat, 30 slant.

Then the walk.

Bench: 10 x 134 Swiss. Miss 165, but pin pressed 134, then 5 reps, then 7 reps

shrug: 3 sets of 10 with 52 handles

high incline: 3 sets of 7 with 94

curls: 2 with dumbbells, 1 with curl bar (light)

Today: PT (some extra chest taps),

FPNC 7 miler from the tower: 7:24, 26:54, 1:09:07, 27:32, 7:59. Was not feeling it like I did 2 weeks ago, but it was 80 F and there was a little ache during the first part of the outer loop. 2:18 total: better than I did in 2019.

Overall, the back stood up to it well.

Baseball The Chiefs hosted the Great Lakes Loons and both teams started first round draft picks on the mound (Loons are a Dodgers affiliate).

And while they were on the mound: zero runs. It was 0-0 after 7. The Loons got 1 in the 8’th and 1 in the top of the ninth. But then the Chiefs rallied.

Their star got a hit to lead off the 9’th.

Then a HBP moved got us runners on 1’st and 2’nd, then a hit to right field drove in the speedy star and moved runners to 2n’d and 3’rd. It was now 2-1.

Then a deep fly to felt scored the runner from 3’rd, and there was only 1 out with a runner at 3’rd. So an intentional walk put us with runners at 1’st and 3’rd, and the Chiefs finished the job with a perfect squeeze bunt.

The Peoria Chiefs are a lot of fun to watch.

Forest Park Nature Center Tour

PT, then back to the FPNC for another “sort of” 6 miles; my collection of trails leading to the outer loop has been measured from 3.1 to 3.5 miles and the out and back spur: about 1.25 each way, so I’ll call it 6; perhaps it was shorter.

Pain: not quite 100 percent pain free: I’d say 95 percent pain free. Not remarkable at all.

My Garmin has counted this between 6.5 (too long) and 5.2 (too short); I just record it as 6 miles.

Time: 1:50:55, which is slower than I did last week. My “spur” times were 25:55 (kept the watch running during the 3 photo stops) and 22:34; realistically it was about 46 minutes of moving time. Outer loop was 1:03:30, which is in line with last October, though this time, I was very, very relaxed. It was an easy effort.

Now the tour:

  • This is the start of the outer loop.
  • Here, one turns off to the right to go on Lower Deer Run, an easy single track section
  • Ok, now it gets real. See those steps? This is the Wakerobin hill; it is a steep (but short) climb.
  • Top of Wakerobin: easy single track.
  • This is where the decent from Wakerobin hill begins
  • Some deer ran across the trail and are out there, somewhere.
  • It is hard to see, but this is the second uphill that you have to climb to leave Wakerobin
  • Down from the hill along Possum Path: this is the start of sort of groomed trail called the Valley Trail.
  • Now you exit the Valley Trail for the steep up and down of Wilderness. This section now takes me about 10-12 minutes: up/down
  • Exiting Wilderness: see the deer on the right?
  • There it is.
  • Now across the street to the Pimiteoui spur: this is up, down, up.
  • At the top of the Pimiteoui
  • Now down the first hill.
  • Off to the left is the finish of the second Pimiteoui uphill. You turn around there.

Super Catch up

Sunday: sort of a lame 3 mile walk after a very so-so deadlift sesssion:

10 x 134, 10 x 184, 10 x 261 (4 inch); lame, 4 x 280 8 inch (bailed), 10 x 260 8 inch.

Monday: PT, (as usual), push ups were 30-30-30-20, pull ups were sets of 5 singles/5 reps.

Bench: 10 x 134, 4 x 160, 4 x 160, 3 x 160 (fail), 1 in 145, 5 x 145
curls 3 sets of 10, Swiss bar high incline 3 sets of 10 x 94

Walk: 2 miles plus 1 mile commuter.

Today: great day; PT, 4 miles with Lynnor, 1.6 with Olivia.

Day for the ages