Something good

How about something wildly different! 

Here is an update on our classes at CrossFit. In the first photo the woman on the left is Bonnie. She started working out in 2015 ?? with a personal trainer [who later started our CrossFit gym]. Her concern since she is petite was to protect her bones from Osteoporosis. She is active in the church and the community. Bonnie is in her early 80's.

The middle gal travels as a Sheep Judge and photographer. She is in her 30's. I don't recall the woman on the rights name, but she is in the next generation. 

On Friday April 18th, it is bring a friend day to CrossFit. I've asked my grand daughter Ariel to join me and she said yes!

The photo below is a shot of our current Legends Class for our gym. As you can see, we are just ordinary folks over the age of 55+. Most of us much more than 55. Some of us are in our 7th decade but I'm not going to say who.

--I've got the baseball hat on---

We come from all walks of life. Most of us are 'retired' now. You wouldn't know it but some of us are battling some major health issues and we are each other's support.

We stick together like glue in the gym and laugh as we work out with a fantastic coach who tailors our workouts to our abilities and aching parts.

We move together, we moan together, we laugh together.

All of Mobility issues are addressed by our coach and we've seen improvement in everything we do. We don't have to kill ourselves trying to be Olympians, we can be ourselves.

Imagine coming into a workout where we have to run a quarter of a mile. The coach figures out what we can do. We walk fast for 100 meters, 200 meters, whatever it takes to do movement. Those who can 'run' [me] do. Those that can't walk. No one is looked down upon for their abilities and we only encourage each other with positive words and actions.

Some of us lift PVC pipes just to do the motion of lifting. Some of us use weights. Some who cannot walk well may choose to ride a stationery bike or row. No judgement. We encourage and support each other.

The coach leads us in this. She is an amazing person. Her name is Angie. What can I say about a wonderful lady who has encouraged me and made me feel loved and wanted in a gym situation for the past 4 years. If anyone is the epitome of positivity, it is her. 

I've had people ask me ... "but isn't it terribly expensive?" 

Actually no it isn't. It is less expensive for one month's fee than one visit to a Physical Therapist.  I know. I had two shoulder surgeries and one elbow surgery in 3 years. For nearly 3 years, I had to see PT in order to be able to move my shoulders and elbow again.

One does not have to 'be' in shape to join up with our gym. The coaches always work to your level, whatever that might be.

Whatever the world is doing out there at the moment. I have this positive outlet in my life and I am so grateful for it and the people I've made friends with.

Our motto:

I'll be there for you.

Afternoon off

There it was. An afternoon without phone calls or appointments.

I scooped Charlie up and we headed out the door for some free time. 

I took my little pocket camera. It is an Olympus Tough camera which is 'weather proof' and waterproof. 

We started at the south end of Hay Valley and worked north. The trails are not groomed trails but mostly a one track trail. That means that horses, mules, and people have to give way to each other when we meet.

I met two sets of horseback riders. I could hear first riders as they were talking while coming my way. I scooped up Charlie and stuck him under my arm and called out "Hiker with a dog!".  I kept talking to them until they and their horses could see me.

This is called Trail Etiquette, especially in a dense forest. I don't think some hikers understand that even though it just makes sense. The riders were seasoned people and locals. We chatted a bit. They really appreciated my call out. I used to ride these trails and we rarely ran across hikers which is still fairly true. 

The trail section I was on is 8 miles of hard hiking from one end to the other. However, to make a loop I needed to take a secondary trail out to the highway and go back to where I parked.

The following shots are those I took along the trail. Just shots I took along the way to remind me of what this trail looks like as it changes colors. I've hiked this in the spring and once in mid summer. I recommend fall or spring.

I want to do it in the winter also so I can appreciate the bluffs and 'caves' I was able to see.

Near the Bailout Trail and Washout Trail turnoffs from Hay Valley I came upon two women who were sitting on their horses with a map discussing which way they wanted to go.

The signs at this juncture are pretty confusing. IF you are not familiar with which direction the trails actually take, you could very well take the wrong turn.

This was the second time in a year that I've helped horse riders figure out where they need to go. 

There is an advantage to having navigated each and every one of the trails. Having a compass and a map are essential things to have.

I told them to take the south trail.

"You mean turn left, right?" 

In the deep woods you cannot always tell which direction you are headed. "Correct, turn left." 

When we made it back to the 'Ru, I met an fella who was loading up some nice kayaks. I noted the kayaks, he noted Charlie and asked to pet him. The gent was in his 70's and was doin the Dam Challenge Race on Saturday. He was doing the kayak/canoe portion of the race.

I learned so much more about kayaking in such a short time. I also learned that the trail along the Pine River in Richland Center was more scenic than where we were at. 

What a vibrant 75 yr old. He hikes every Sunday with others, kayaks, and is an adventurer. Ever meet someone and immediately like that person?

What a wonderful afternoon. I not only got some great hiking in. I got to meet some really nice folks.

Charlie? He slept all the way home and cuddled up in the evening.

Keeping Track

I find it interesting that the more technologically advanced we get, the more fascinated with tracking things we get.

I had a friend who posted every single day how many 'steps' she took. She wore a fit bit gizmo on her wrist and that told her the information. 
Some of the folks at the gym have watches they wear that can give them heart rate, blood pressure, steps, oxygen, and track your movements.

I am enjoying the fact that I can track my hiking [when I remember to use the app]. But so many folks seem to be over the top with tracking info.

Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing? Is it really necessary?

I can see where it has benefits in many cases. Say you have a B/P issue, you can track it right? When I visited the doctor's office in December we discussed that very thing. She recommended that I track my B/P no more than twice a day. Too many readings don't really help she said, and they could actually make a person more anxious and increase the B/P. Interesting.

Another time I was sitting in the waiting room while hubby was doing a test. A nurse came out and called a name. She indicated to the patient that she was going to do a 12 lead ECG before his stress test. He absolutely came unglued and shoved his wrist at the nurse and told her not to waste her time. HE had a smart watch and it could tell her all she needed to know.

She rolled her eyes and tried to explain that her test was far more accurate than a watch on a wrist.

Okay. I see the point though. If you can monitor yourself for all of these vitals, it is pretty cool and perhaps a person can see if they are 'in trouble' or not, medically speaking.

When I did distance running, I did keep a little calendar notebook to track my training miles. So I do understand why we keep track.

I had a friend that was not well, she had a smart watch that she could answer calls on, monitor her steps, and all of those other things. She'd been advised to walk each day for a certain length of time. She figured out how to cheat the system by laying on her bed with her knees at the end of the bed. She then would swing her legs up and down and get her steps in. She fooled her smart watch.

I hike, I walk. I used to run distance when I was younger. I switched to bicycling distances, then I switched to riding an equine in distance challenges. Now? I like my two feet. 

For the past couple of years I did the trail challenge at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. For that Challenge I had to keep track of the trails I did. That introduced me to 'keeping track' in a new way.

I didn't just do the 60+ miles of trails, but I also made many many other trips and repeats of trails. 

So how far and how often do I move, walk, hike? Maybe it would be interesting to find out. 

I did track -- mostly -- my hikes since the start of January. It is pretty amazing how far a person can hike or walk within a relatively short amount of time.

For example this is the past week's example from MapMyWalk. Most of these walks were completed during hubby's nap times. It isn't totally accurate as I don't always think to take my phone with me or the phone doesn't have enough battery to take along...or it is raining or frigid.

However I think I get out and move more than what this indicates.

I'm fine with not counting chores, walking to the mailbox, or checking fence lines and all of the other things that are day to day stuff.

To me, the walks-hikes are not Workouts. They are times of seeking calmness and mind clearing pleasure.

This information is a good thing. But tracking your every movement? Is that really necessary?

Are we better off with devices like this?

Now that I am considered retired, the only time I keep track of Time is when I have an appointment to get to.

January stats:

Mobility and working out

 What can simple exercises do for you? 

My simple exercises at home don't need more than a chair, a wall, a floor, and sometimes even a couch. I can sit on the kitchen chair and do leg raises. If I want, it can be one leg at a time or both. I can use the chairs or go free standing to do squats. 

The hardest part of exercising is sticking to it. It sure is easier to just go for a nice long walk.

Right now I am doing chair sit ups, one legged balance exercises, and a variety of other exercises to keep up with my Mobility and balance. I'm having fun trying to do a work out at home. Other times I just say: Heck with it all and go for a hike.

I'm not at the gym this winter because of the weather and the colds, flu, and Covid that is traveling around our community. I can't bring home any illnesses to the other half. 

I could just hang out and nap most of winter away.

But I need feed for the critters. Those 75 lb. bags take some technique to heft up and into a feed barrel. Thankfully, I've been taught a great way to do it without harming myself [thank you coaches!]

Last Friday, I moved washing machine and dryer to clean under and around them. I also took apart the vent and gave it a good once over. Hubby asked if I needed help and I did ask him to hand me a few things after I'd climbed over the washer and was in behind the dryer.

I didn't want to pull everything totally out, but made enough room so I could get in behind the washer without disconnecting the water.
I took a milk crate and tied twine to it. I used the milk crate to get up and over the dryer. Then I pulled the crate over with the twine when I was done and used it to get back out. Clever me! Rich's comment?

"I married a monkey."

Maybe this is unusual for a person of my vintage and maybe not.

The month of January is almost over and I am trying to see what I have as far as hiking and walking for distance. Right now I am using the free app which adds everything up for me. I don't count steps, they are deceiving. Ok. Let me qualify that statement. Steps are great and necessary to help us keep track of moving which is essential to keeping our abilities to MOVE.

My steps include inclines of 150 to 300 feet. If I hike for a mile or less, it can be in very steep terrain, so each step could be much harder than a person walking on a sidewalk or on a flat easy surface. 

Does that make sense?

So far in January? What are the miles I've actually accounted for?

25 miles on the Map My Walk app -- and I didn't account for walking to the mailbox through the woods or the times I went out and checked fences. I'll see what January 31st brings.

I'm hoping to actually GET off the farm this weekend and go to Duck Egg or perhaps KVR and tromp around for some different scenery.

The Fog is still here. I'm beginning to think that Stephen King made up this weather for this week.

How is it going with you?

Goal Review with Coach Josh

I've really had a hard time staying motivated for going to the gym lately. I need those workouts to keep my mobility and strength in good form.

There have been a few mornings that I haven't felt so great and others where I just decided I had too much going on. I feel guilty sometimes leaving Rich home to watch out the window and nap. I feel guilty on planning a short trip to see my son. 

Josh asked me pointedly "How does Rich feel about it?"

My answer enlightened me. "Unconcerned. He tells me to have fun."

What are my goals for this summer? 
Me: Do the KVR Trail Challenge again be the first to do it back to back. Take time to visit my son. Another goal was to camp out one night at KVR.

A goal next year was to hire someone to keep and eye Rich while I take a 4 day backpack/hiking luxury vacation in Arizona or perhaps the Pacific Northwest. Another goal was to do more photography for the local track team [I enjoyed IT that much!]

How does that have anything to do with being at the gym? 
Well, in my mind it has a lot to do with it.

Without  consistent workouts, I can lose the ability to do so many things I do around the farm. 
Like shoveling manure, pounding fence posts, or doing the easy things we don't even worry about. Like picking something up off the floor without the fear of falling.
Getting up from sitting on the ground without help.
Standing up from a chair without having to use the table for assistance.

Balance. 

Mobility.
Bone Strengthening.
Cardio.
The social aspect is incredible also. Working out with others makes for a great social gathering.
We sweat and laugh together.

So for the summer, I hope to be going to the gym for classes mostly at 6am. I'm up so early anyway. Why not beat the heat and go and get my day started.

That still leaves time for exploring KVR and gardening, caregiving, cattle rustling, mule riding, . ..

Coach Josh asked if I'd be at the Murph which is a CrossFit challenge done each Memorial Day as a fund raiser. You can read about it here: About the Murph 

The Murph

A word about the Murph. It can be scaled back so everyone can do some form of it. Our gym has this each Memorial Day along with a cookout in which the gym members and their families show up and bring a dish to pass. 

Josh asked if I was coming and I told him about my out of town company. He challenged me to make my action figures do a Murph. I laughed at that silly suggestion. ...

Well. Okay!

 Lil' Bear decided he'd have one for all of his friends just like one at the gym.

These guys chose to run 
through the gardens!

Air Squats on 
the porch.

Group push ups.

Post Murph pot luck dinner
with family and friends.

I plan on doing this next year with the modifications of course. 

After all, my action figures didn't seem to have a problem with it!

The money raised also goes to a great cause.

Could I, should I, I did.

I always liked to run... 

In the 1960's.

In college 1976. Photos by my father.

My mom and dad came to surprise me in a meet at Southern Illinois University at a college conference track meet.

This photo was sometime in 1980 after a 5 or 10k run. I am holding my son Eddie. I was smiling, I'd done what is called a PR or personal record and just was so tickled. My ex husband Larry took this shot.

 

In 1986 I tried a half marathon. I mean how hard could it be after doing 6.2 and 3.1 mile runs...right?

It was brutal. It was hot, I was tired, and I hated the last 4 miles. But I came across the finish line strong and then sat in the grass and vowed never to run that distance again unless it was a life or death matter.

I stopped running by the time I reached about 30. I was tired of always training and trying to get a trophy or better my time. It wasn't fun anymore.

I turned to distance bicycling and then to distance equine riding.

Sunday morning brought me back full circle to another 5k. It was the new Syttende Mai Event in Westby and a few of the gym members along with other friends decided to go ahead and do the fun run/walk 5k.

It was fun. It was challenging. 

I had no expectations and enjoyed myself. I ran with a young girl who is the daughter of a friend of mine for a while and encouraged her when she had a side stitch. 

The best part? Was just doing it.

I didn't even really care where I placed or what the end time was. 

Many people don't like jogging/running/ or as I was doing ~ pacing myself. But I had time to look deep into myself and see what I was still made of. 

My footfalls were nearly silent. 

I was 'meditation' in motion.

If that makes sense.

There was nothing on my mind but cadence and breathing and how it came together so nicely.

Maybe I'll do it again. 

No photos, no one there was taking pictures of me which was fine. In fact, I didn't have my cell phone with me nor do I have a fitbit or a watch. It was just me and the distance. But I did get a t shirt!

One day in the Future

My son and I talk on Sundays. My oldest son, that is. This has become a ritual since March of last year. I think we started it the weekend of the 'lockdown'. He is able to work from home and has been practicing masking and social distancing. 

I can't fathom how difficult it must be for him as he is a very social creature. Yet he perseveres with caution. He has gone to limited workouts at his CrossFit gym and has a small 'bubble' of friends that he does things with. 

He is a constant source of common sense for me. He also likes to give me grief and joke with me. 

He pulls no punches. This year he asked what did I intend to do in the future when Rich was no longer here? Would it make sense to hang onto the farm and all that it entails as I creep towards 'older' age? Did I really want to maintain pastures, gardens, and plow out the driveway? Depend on the help of others?

What would happen when I couldn't drive anymore? Of course I laughed and said that I expected him to tell me when he thought that I'd reached that point. 

"Okay mom, I'm coming for the keys." He responded. 

Harrumph. 
But he had a point. No taxis are in this rural area. I couldn't be asking neighbors to take me shopping now could I? I know it was a huge pain to take half a day to drive my mother in law around and pull out her walker and act as her spotter when she got tipping one way or the other. Grocery shopping with her had to be done, but she insisted on doing it herself. It took over an hour just to get 15 items. Afterwards, she wanted to 'do' lunch. Eventually we'd make it back to her apartment and she'd collapse in her easy chair and direct me on putting her things away.

Next she'd ask me to do dishes and make her bed. Please don't think I am cruel, but I was chomping at the bit. Rich was my full time care partner. He needed me too. He'd just had recovered from cancer treatment, a stroke, and Pulmonary Emboli. 

I fell into the caregiving category because MIL's family were too busy, too far away, or whatever else they had for reasons.

Ed said to me. "Don't think I'll be driving out there once a week to check up on you mom." He then proposed a future.

Eventually sell the place and move back to his home town. Use the farm proceeds to purchase a condo near the lakefront. I actually liked that idea. There are bus routes and bike/walking trails all over. Uber is available for rides. If I couldn't drive [my father went blind with macular degeneration] I could still get around. Since I am familiar with the area, I know there are miles and miles of beautiful trails to explore. 

Not the forest though. It is not the forest. There is the big question. Give up my forest rambling? Hours by the creek? 
And yet, I could be free to travel if I wished provided I had no farm to hold me down. I could drive places and camp. Something that has always been on my list.

My son pointed out that at least I'd be in the same town as he was. And yes he could check on me easier. 

I'm grateful for Ed and his logical mind. Yes, I'd make the change, eventually. I love this house and it is nearly maintenance free. 

I also know that I am adaptable. I've lived in Skokie, Illinois. I've lived in Kenosha County. I've lived in apartments and crappy houses. I've lived all over and seemed to always adapt quickly.

I have to be realistic. There will be a day when I can't handle all of this on my own no matter how much I work out and stay healthy. 

Rich and I talked to Ed about this and Rich thinks it is a great idea. He doesn't want to see me alone in the world without family nearby. 

I saw first hand with my MIL, the true shortcomings of help in the rural area. No transport or limited transport. Helping Hands was always stretched thin. It was a struggle to get her extra help even with the county involved. 

I've been through this with my FIL, my MIL, and Rich. Without a person willing to do everything the elderly in our area are lost.

One of my neighbors gives up time each week to go to an elder's house to help them. Good people are out there. 

One day in the future I'll be shutting the porch door behind me permanently. That only makes every day here in the NOW more important.

Dang it All to ...

Well dang it all to heck and back.

I'm not going to really whine about this too much. Hmmm. Maybe I will. It seems that osteoarthritis has crept into my life. Well at least into my hands.
I of course figured that it wouldn't happen to me.

Stupid me. I sort of knew it would. My Grandmother Pearl had twisted gnarly hands and she barely whispered a word about it. I'd see her gardening, crocheting, sewing, and doing all those normal things with her beat up hands. At the time I admired those well worn hands and said something to her about it.
In all her infinite wisdom that I never learned...she replied, "Oh I don't think you want these hands. Some days they don't do so well."
She said this as she was artfully cleaning a fish with quick skilled movements.

My mom began to suffer the same fate as did her sisters. Arthritis crept up on their hands deforming them and sometimes twisting the joints.

Over the past year or so, my hands began to ache a lot. Certain movements hurt. Grasping things was painful. My left thumb continued to hurt making grasping door knobs a real chore. In fact when we remodeled, I had handles put on the door that I could just push down on.

Opening a jar can be tricky. Using an old fashioned can opener can be a trying feat. Over the winter my hands became worse. I developed Herberden's Nodes on the ends of my fingers. As those nodes develop, the pain is quite intense. I recall my father showing me the tips of his fingers and telling me that once the bump was formed, it stopped hurting, so it wasn't so terribly bad.
Oh, he was not kidding!

So this summer those wonderful little nodes pretty much quit hurting and I was able to get along except for the thumb issue. Sometimes at night, I'd fall asleep with a cold pack wrapped around the left hand. It numbed things enough so I could sleep.
Peeling apples for apple crisp last month made the pain nearly unbearable. So I decided to see how I could process apples without causing myself a lot of pain. Easier to make jelly, juice, and apple sauce than to peel apples.
Plus I got a food mill which helped tremendously.

Brushing the mules out for riding was even a bit difficult, but I decided worth the pain.

I sort of knew what may be going on with the hands. Goodness knows I've seen it in my grandmother, my mom, and my dad. However my fingers are not being deformed much.

So when my doctor and I looked over the hand X-ray results, I was sort of surprised. There it was osteoarthritis in both hands. No fingers were left unscathed.
The left thumb showed degenerative joint 'disease'. Oh. Ick.
Mostly it means that the hands will slowly get a bit worse as I get older.

Now dammit, how did I get older? In my mind I am about 30! I look in the mirror and see that older person looking back at me. She disappears when I take my glasses off. She looks much younger after I take a shower and peer at her in a fogged up mirror.

My doctor recommended that I see Occupational Therapy for exercises to strengthen my left hand and to see how they could suggest non drug like therapies to lessen the aches and pains. I am all for that. Our local clinic has an excellent PT/OT department and they have helped me quite a bit in the past.

How am I going to 'deal' with this? Well, now that I have a name and a cause for the pain, I will not quit doing things or baby my hands. The pain is not indicative of something that will harm me.
It is simply wear and tear. I need to work out how to do some things smarter and need to be aware of the "Use it or Lose it" theory. If I stop doing things with my hands, or I stop being active ... I will be in more pain and more health problems will arise.
If the body stops moving, it will destroy itself.

My doctor said that if the thumb issue got too bad she would send me to a hand specialist to explore injections [eeks!] and perhaps surgery [eek gads! NO!]. She said she had a patient who went through the surgical procedure and the recovery and PT time took about 6 months. No thank you!

This is not earth shattering but it will include some minor changes for me.

Yes, I think my father was correct. Aging is not for sissies.