How old are you ?

[Chip]

What you do notice as you get older is that it takes longer to get back in shape if you slack off for a week or two (or more). So, you learn not to slack off ...

Attention Over 40'ers: Miracle Workout Routine Recently Discovered !!!


Yeah, well, not really a miracle, but something I feel like is actually making me stronger for hiking: I've been doing stairs and laps on the little in-door track at the Y. I had been riding the stationary bike, or doing the eliptical machine along with some weights, but I did not feel like my hiking strength was improving...just that I was getting better at the bike, eliptical and weights.

When I started the stair and lap routine I was walking up and down the stairs (maybe 15 flights) and then walking around the in-door track (maybe 1/2 mile) and then repeat for about 1 1/4 hrs, maybe 3 or 4 full reps. I am now running up an down the stairs (about 25 - 30 flights) and alternating walking, jogging and running the short track (still about 1/2 mile). Probably getting in 5 or 6 full reps now and feeling it afterwards.

Edited: Whatever exercise I do, I feel I have to really push my limits for some period of time during the workout - just to the brink of the "I'm going to vomit" feeling.

 

[Kevin Rooney]

...Whatever exercise you do, you have to really push your limits for some period of time during the workout - just to the brink of the "I'm going to vomit" feeling.

Hmmm ... I used to belong to the "School of No Pain No Gain", but am no longer a member. It sounds like your method of staying fit works for you, but for me I don't find pushing myself to the point of vomiting does much for me except make me miserable. And by stressing my body to that point repeatingly I risk injury. What works for me is hiking hard enough to maintain my upper heart rate (medication prevents mine from going much over 135), resting briefly and then repeating the cycle several times.

Again - don't wish to disparage your method in any way. Just wanted to point out that other approaches work for some of us.

 

[Darl58]

I just joined the 50 club...can I be on the cusp???

I grew up in Conway NH and did lots of hiking and outdoor activities when young. I took time off to raise the kids and career and was still semi active. Now that the kids are grown and out I have all the time I want (except work) to hike and enjoy all the sports and more new ones that I used to love.

It's funny how you move away from an area and then you drive up and spend lots of time when all you wanted before was to get out of the town....

I spent my big 50 in Peru hiking the Inka Trail for 4 days...it was marvelous!!

 

[Chip]

... I don't find pushing myself to the point of vomiting does much for me except make me miserable..

No, I slow down or stop before that point. Not like College !

... And by stressing my body to that point repeatingly I risk injury. ..

I'm more prone to injury if I haven't.

What works for me is hiking hard enough to maintain my upper heart rate (medication prevents mine from going much over 135), resting briefly and then repeating the cycle several times.

I was getting my heart rate up fine on the bike or eliptical, I just didn't feel like I was working the "hiking muscles".

This all depends on how much you hike, too. I'm lucky if I get a "real" hike in every 3 weeks. If you ride your bike to work and hike every weekend, you maintain that level regardless.

Edit: Hey ! We got a vote in the "80 and up !" category. Cool. Care to post ? or is it someone who just feels 100 years old ?

 

[RickB.]

62 and love being a Junior Member. Finished NH 4K's at age 24, NH 4K' winters (not as many then) at age 30 (1975) and haven't slowed down much since. Climbed the NH 4K's with son, Steve, who finished in 1986. Rock climbed extensively out west and in New England over the years, leading up to 5.11, and finished the Colorado 14K'ers at age 55 (retired then, too). Horrible skier but have skied/summited Hale (wood/lignostone, Doug), Garfield (minus last .1 mile), Moosilauke and, of course, Wildcat. Completed all the NH 4K's in each of the last four winters (not this year, though, sick of driving). Issues with age and the mountains for me have been more motivational than physical, so far.
But enough about me. Fellow hiker and friend, Gary, turns 69 next month and is still a very strong (as in Zealands/Bonds winter traverse day trip in 11 hours) hiker. Rather than worry about the years' effects, do what he does: hike and enjoy it, period.
Nice to read about everyone! Thanks.

 

[buddy]

Still getting better

I started my most consistant hiking trips with a choosen destination when I was in my 20's. Before then it was mostly aimless wandering around in the woods and in my life. In 1980 I hooked up with 3 friends who were doing winter trips every year and the tradition started for the 4 of us. One of us has gone every year for 28 years. The others have missed only one or two trips due to the births of children. Many of our early trips were seven day trips generally hiking in about five miles, setting a base camp, then day hiking and peak bagging from there. Some of our favorite destinations were Rocky branch trail, base camp along the way, then day hike to Boot spur, hoping for a good weather window to attempt the Washinton summit. Of seven attempts the weather gods only smiled once. When weather was marginal we whacked around and climbed Isolation. We've also done many trips into the Dix wilderness from 73 and have enjoyed the many options that area has to offer, my favorite being whacking up the N side of the Dix Hough ridge then continuing to Dix. Lately our trips are more like three or four nights and our hikes in are shorter but my enjoyment of the adventure increases every year. Now we do mostly bushwhack trips at lower elevations and would consider E Dix a good destination, as opposed to Mt Washington. We've also found destinations like the 2828' knob to the west of Liilypad pond to be very satisfying in a more mellow kind of way. I love the woods in the winter and fall and rarely backpack in the summer. In addition to backpacking trips, we as a foursome, have gone night hiking in western MA every sunday night for the same amount of time. There are many places I've been that I probably would'nt recognize in daylite. If you want to truly improve your orienteering skills, practice them at night. As a somewhat funny and sad side note, an individual, of a somewhat bigotted nature, could'nt understand why we would do such a thing and labeled us "****'s". At that point in time we created our night hiking club and named it the "**** Hiking Club". It was a pleasure informing the individual about what he helped create. I've been very fortunate to have the friends I have, and that all of our health has been good. As each year passes we enjoy an savor our trips more and more with the certain knowledge that this foursome will someday end and exist in memory only and then not at all. With respect and love to all who enjoy and treasure the mountains,wilderness and the free spirits within. Buddy aka Steven Zucchino 8/31/56

 

[Mark]

I'm waiting until March so I can vote in the 50+ category.

 

[Pete_Hickey]

... but for me I don't find pushing myself to the point of vomiting does much for me except make me miserable. ...

Right. Usually, my food tastes much better going down than going up. That's my main reason. With one exception, I will not push myself until I throw up.

The exception is commuting by bicycle when there is 6-10 inches of wet slushy snow. Cars going by throw this stuff up at me. From time to time, it gets in the mouth, and if the timing is not right, I'll swallow a large mouthful. Thus usually results in my throwing up on my shoes.... which isn't too bad, because as the next car passes and splashes me, it cleans my shoes.

-Pete... pushing middle age, but still throwing up on his shoes.

PS. The next time you're out walking in the winter on a wet slushy day, look at a slush puddle in the road, which is a mix of salt, sand, oil, dog piss, and things even worse. Tell yourself, "Pete Hickey drinks this stuff from time to time." Then, when you hike with me, and see me drinking from a stream, without a filter, understand where I'm coming from.

 

[king tut]

I am 28 for a little while longer. While my cardio has increased in the last few years, my waist line has as well. I blame God for this. I am getting near the best shape that I have been in during my lifetime. With age comes wisdom, bad knees, and a receding hairline. I wish to be dumb, skinny, and have good knees again. I am going to go say some Hail Mary's and drink some Rogaine.

 

[trailbiscuit]

I wish to be dumb, skinny, and have good knees again. I am going to go say some Hail Mary's and drink some Rogaine.

Rogaine is good for your knees? Next, you're going to tell me that Viagra will help at altitude.

P.S. Since this thread started I turned 33. If that keeps happening, I'm going to petition the moderators to close this thread.

 

[Jason Berard]

37 as of today.....

 

[Grumpy]

I am 28 for a little while longer. ... With age comes wisdom, bad knees, and a receding hairline. I wish to be dumb, skinny, and have good knees again. I am going to go say some Hail Mary's and drink some Rogaine.

I always find it amusing when some young twenty-something whipper-snapper starts bemoaning the advancing of his/her age and onset of his/her aging.

G.
(Who has not been a twenty-something whipper-snapper for more than 40 years.)

Edit:

Oops!

That should read: (Who has not been a twenty-something whipper-snapper for more than 30 years.)

Maybe it's time to discuss (or tell some jokes about) aging and cognitive abilities ...

G.

 

[marty]

37 as of today.....

Happy birthday Jason

Regards,
Marty (50 something)

 

[Chabela]

Happy birthday Jason! I am not looking forward to be that old , but hopefully, I will get there!

I am 31, and would happily go back to 20, just to enjoy life longer!

 

[Paradox]

I just entered a new decade . How do I change my answer?

 

[Chip]

I just entered a new decade . How do I change my answer?

Congratulations. We'd have to start a new poll but you're not statistically relevant.

 

[Brien]

I'll be 45 this summer. I'm a casual hiker. I enjoy it but only get to hike about a half dozen times a year(maybe). I have two kids - 5 and 2. I brought my 5 year old on a short mile and a half hike last year and she enjoyed it and asked just yesterday when we were going to climmb that mountain again. I told her, very soon.

I can't wait to share longer walks in the woods and mountain tops with my kids. If i'm blessed enough, maybe someday they can show me paths I haven't seen and offer me a hand to get up certain parts of trails. That would be very nice.

 

[Tom Rankin]

I just entered a new decade . How do I change my answer?

Happy Birthday!

But what does your sig mean?

Google renders it:

Joy, beautiful gods sparks,
Daughter of Elysium,
feuertrunken we enter,
Heavenly, your sanctuary!
Your magic tie again
the fashion was strictly divided:
all people are brothers,
where your snafter wing weilt

 

[Paradox]

Happy Birthday!
But what does your sig mean?
:

It is the "Ode to Joy". Lyrics to th 4th Movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. It was a beautiful spring day a few weeks ago and I found myself singing it to myself. The actual lyrics mean nothing to me either . But the music is one of my all time favorites.

 

[Grumpy]

Wikipedia tells us:

The words are the first verse to “An Die Freude,” (1785) by Friedrich Schiller. Schller's poetry has been set to music and is performed as what we commonly is called “Ode To Joy” in the fourth and final movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (four solo voices, chorus and orchestra).

Translation:

An Die Freude
(To Joy)

Freude, schoener Goetterfunken,
(Joy, beautiful spark of Gods,)

Tochter aus Elysium,
(Daughter of Elysium,)

Wir betreten feuertrunken,
(We enter, fire-imbibed,)

Himmlische, dein Heiligtum.
(Heavenly, thy sanctuary.)

Deine Zauber binden wieder
(Thy magic powers re-unite)

Was der Mode Schwert geteilt
(What custom's sword has divided)

Bettler werden Fuerstenbrueder
(Beggars become Princes' brothers)

Wo dein sanfter Fluegel weilt,
(Where thy gentle wing abides)

Happy birthday, Paradox!

G.