FitGeeks intro

[deirdremoon.livejournal.com]

Hey, y'all. :)

I don't know if I'll be posting much to this forum unless I figure out good metrics for tracking myself. I am not actually trying to lose weight right now (well, okay, 5 pounds would be nice, but that's hardly a diet regime). My focus is on strength and endurance, in an effort to get ready for another Half Dome hike in late August. I am definitely improving on knee strength, and want to work up to doing 8-mile workouts in the gym. Right now I can do 2 miles walking plus 6 miles on the bike, but eventually that needs to be 8 miles walking (a one-way trip to or from the Dome). Preferably on an incline. Preferably partially on a stair climber to simulate the Mist Trail.

I'm also doing upper-body weights, but mostly for body-balance and tone (and being able to help haul my ass up the cables, although I can do that now).

Not planning on entering any fitness bets at the moment, because the thought of not making it back down the mountain unaided is better than any fear of costuming as motivation. Last time, I made the round trip in 15.5 hours. I hope to beat that time this trip, although I would settle for a) completing it uninjured and b) not finishing in the pitch dark.

Not sure how to measure this, or provide interesting posts for the rest of you, but that's where I am, and I'm always lurking on the forum to cheer on the rest of you with your own goals.