Embracing the suck II
Elk
Contributors to this thread:
Well fellers, by this time we should have our baseline fitness cemented in place, and now incrementally adding "next level" fitness in prep for the hunt.
This morning was pack training day, but I woke up to pea soup for and near-freezing drizzle. The forecast called for worsening weather so I debated whether to punt and build a fire in the woodstove, or...
Then I went in the bathroom and saw the sticky on the mirror that reads, "What would Paul (@ the Fort) and (Blacktail) Bob do?" I knew then what I had to do.
I strapped on the pack and climbed the mountain. Thanks, Paul and Bob for being my inspiration.
Sorry, I don't know how to to rotate a photo after it posts?
Anyway, it turned into this a little higher up.
The one thing I don't like about fog is that moose are out and about and sometimes appear at close range. A cow and calf were just ahead of me but I never saw them, thankfully.
Did a 3.5 mile loop with a hunting-weight pack, with 1000' elevation gain, and it felt good. Like a walk in the park. Except in freezing drizzle and fog and mud. It seems much easier to get motivated to hunt in this crap than to leave a cozy cabin when there's "always tomorrow".
But as Paul advised me a couple weeks ago, "Pay now or pay later".
For you guys wondering about CO weather, seems like the split jet stream is bringing fall early. We've had a couple good frosts here at 8500', snow on the higher peaks lately, and I'm sure there's fresh snow today if I could see up there. Highs down in town are in the 60's and 70's. More like late September than early August.
All of Al Gore's flying around in his private jet promoting his new "climate crisis" movie must be affecting the weather patterns.
Very motivating, Jaq. Thanks for posting. I find myself making more and more excuses when it comes to preseason training.
Been doing 40lb pack walks plus running more.
Just seeing this post makes me want to go do more. Thank you.
Put on 15 miles Saturday with 47lb (full camp) on my back. Went from 9700' to around 12,100' scouting. Started at 6:00am and got done at 8:30pm... Really feeling it today. The things we do for the mighty wapiti...
At least you have mountains you can climb and train on. My 3 mile run has exactly 2.5 feet of elevation change. At least it's a gradual change. LOL. Good job keeping with it!
Over the weekend I put 8+ miles on doing fast scouting and checking trail cams with a 20lb pack at elevations from 9000 - 10,500'
Lungs, Shoulders and legs are really getting in shape now
I was thinking this would be another Jordan thread. Way to embrace ! Hunt
Hmmmm....not sure how to take that Hunt......WTG Lou!!!
Being hiking with a 40# pack 4-5 mornings a week, running 1-2 miles 5 days a week. My mile time is still falling but it's at 6:35 now, I'd like to get below 6 and I still need to lose the last 5 of my 10 lbs. I will admit to not embracing the suck a few nights ago when the wind was blowing 25mph, I hate running in the wind.
Wish the jet stream would let some of that come to Montana. I've got cracks in the earth 15" deep. Under no circumstances would I take a Catalytic converter gas or modern "cleanout" diesel in my pastures.
My son hit my (bare) foot with a baseball at about 80 mph Thurs. Foot swollen like a balloon. Actually got an xray friday. Thankfully just soft tissue, but kind of put a damper on the weekend training. Finally feels ok today but still swollen. Will run 6+ miles tonight, and do a pack workout tomorrow (65 lbs repeating a 150 yard long steep hill..only one I have...lol) Up to 12 repeats, hope to get 14 tomorrow. Sure wish I could take long hikes in the mountains right now.
I am way behind the norm.
My work is my training. Here is my schedule the next 5 days. Tomorrow, hike 1+ miles to river with 50 pound pack. Pump up two boats by hand, [wilderness area, no electric pumps allowed.] assemble gear then row 1 mile upstream against current. Fight current and hopefully big fish rest of day. Following day. Put rest of gear together. Pump 5 gallons of water through filter. Hike 1+miles up. Meet guests, carry 50+pounds back down 1+ miles. Row all day, unpack gear, set camp, cook dinner, watch meteor shower if I can stay awake. Day 2-5. Repeat above without walk up out of canyon. Repeat every week all summer. This will kick my butt, but I'll be ready to hunt. Good luck to all, it won't be long now.
This has been a tough year for me to try and get into shape. Long days at work, a wife that works more than full time and mostly opposite of me and a 1 and 3 year old. I almost need to hire a babysitter just to get to the gym...
Thankfully I'm still on the young side.
I've been slacking. Not intensifying. Better get motivated.
I've done zero pack training which I'll pay for opening weekend when I set out with 50 lbs for a 5 mile haul to my target area. Lotsa running and riding recently though...mountain bike race this Saturday then trail half marathon Sunday. That'll wrap up runs and rides till October...time to get the sneak on.
Med City Marathon, Rochester, MN. 3:26:11
Med City Marathon, Rochester, MN. 3:26:11
Looks like I sprung a leak!
Looks like I sprung a leak!
Mines of Spain, Dubuque, IA
Mines of Spain, Dubuque, IA
Trained all winter for a Spring marathon....Boston 2018, here I come. Then my first triathlon, Olympic distance, in July. Always working on strength training as well at my kick boxing class. Great cardio and lifting circuits.
My most favorite #embracethesuck of the year was the Manitou Incline in Manitou Springs, CO. 1 mile and 2000 feet straight up! Then 3.5 miles of quad pounding switchbacks back down!
Coming up this weekend is one of my favorite events, the Mines of Spain half marathon trail race thru the driftless area of NE Iowa. 13.1 miles of hills, rocks, tree roots, and mud in the prettiest part of Iowa.
Hope to be in half as good of shape as Paul at the Fort when I hit 77. Thanks for the inspiration, Paul!
Im embracing sucking down this beer ;)
Going Up!
Going Up!
No turning back now.
No turning back now.
Success!
Success!
Manitou Incline....I remember reading about it here several years ago. Glad my son-in-law invited me to give it a go. What a beast of a climb!
Nick, great job with he marathon! If nothing else you'll be able to run a bull down!
You guys might want to do some snowshoe training too. Snowed above us over 10K last night. The county had the snow plows out.
Nick, great job with he marathon! If nothing else you'll be able to run a bull down!
You guys might want to do some snowshoe training too. Snowed above us over 10K last night. The county had the snow plows out.
If I tried that, the suck would be me trying to suck air ! My breathing would sound like a peanut thrasher.........
Lou ... I had the same idea this morning, i.e. a weighted hike. I put 40# on my pack and off I went.
On the way to Ultimate Fitness, I had a little problem. See, I had my dogs with me, and, in the dark, they cornered a skunk. I didn't know, because for some odd reason, I don't smell skunk (or other "skunky" smells) and so when I got home and let the dogs in to wake up Mom, we all got a big wake up!
(If there's one smell I'm glad I don't sense, it's skunk. No one seems to like it much!)
I haven't done squat. I have an easy area I'm hunting but I will still pay for it. I did load and unload 512 bales of alfalfa mix this weekend. Might help with lifting quarters into the truck :^)
6 AM. Temps and dew point both in the 70's. 3-4 miles in the local hills with 40# pack. Emphasis on 'suck'! Rewards, priceless!
Fred Bear wrote in his books that he scheduled Alaska hunts for 40 days so he'd get in shape while there. Most of his big time hunts were in his 50's and 60's.
Motivated me 3.32 Mile loop No mountains just Missouri Hills and a Pack at hunting weight! Thanks for Push!
Made it to the gym... one legged bar bell squats, walking weighted lunges, standing calf raises. 20 hard minutes of running random inclines and speeds.
Had a nightmare last night while sleeping... I didn't get an elk again in Wyoming this year! Ha ha ha!
I still do my daily "suckfest" with a lead brick in my pack. As much as I sweat, the level of suck does not match the suck when I get in the High Country. But, at least it sucks much less than if I hadn't trained all Year.
Then you get a bull down...therein lies the pinnacle of suck!
Best of Luck, Jeff
I did 4.5 Miles today with only 10 pounds in my pack... I will start adding weight and hills this week. :/ Suck It Up Buttercup!!!!
Thanks for the kick in the @ss Lou. I was ready to skip my workout. I made it to the gym for 20 minutes of weight work (in between work appts) I then mowed lawn w/60 +lb pack.
I suspect more pack work tonight since work has me getting home late. (Remember that work thing Lou???? LOL!)
Z, I forgot what a "real" job is like! My wife mows our lawn on a riding mower (otherwise it would never get mowed...) but maybe I can strap a pack on her and it will count for my workout today?
eklmtngear, that is funny.
I take it that The Suck is the new catch phrase?
Every day is Saturday for Lou and Paul!
You suck Lou. So you made me feel guilty that I've had an alarm set for 5 am the last 3 weeks to get my fat arse outta bed and go walk/run for an hour.......but I've never done it. Keep rolling over and staying in bed.
This morning....same dealio. But I was feeling really bad about it after your post and everyone piling on about what they are doing to step it up.
So at Lunch I changed and walked over to the Middle School track next door. Nice new rubberized surface easy on an old man's feet and joints. I ran 2 laps and my lower legs went into full rebellion.....knotted up and pissed off. I walked it off for 8 more laps then ran another 3 and walked off 2 more......4.6 miles of which 1 1/4 was running.
It's a start......you bastage! ;>)
I felt guilty. So, i came home and knocked 3.59 miles out with a 43 pound pack. fit bit said 47 stairs but the map says there is 750 feet of elevation change? Anyways, it took me 63 minutes. Felt good to go lighter. I gotta work tomorrow evening but, Thursday, I'll do it again. Much easier on the knees at this weight. Thanks for getting me motivated again Lou.
Nick, you 'da man!
Embracing the suck, and working the hip flexor muscles with a 60 lb bag of sand by hiking over the dunes to Lake Michigan.
When I got out of the Army in 1994, I made a promise to myself that I WILL NEVER RUN AGAIN!!!
Proud to say I haven't broke that promise. I'm always doing something to keep fit though. Embrace the suck has been a common term since I joined the Military.
After bugging my oldest son for a while, I convinced him to start coming to Kick Boxing class with me 3-4 times a week. 40 minutes of continuous movement sure does get the heart pounding.
How did I finally convince him you might ask? I sat him down, made a deal to buy his Wyoming elk and mule deer points as long as he does his best in school (won't be a problem, he was getting High School credit while he was in the 7th grade) and I will continue to buy his preference points till HE decides to cash them in (18-80 years old, I don't care. It's a great investment for the both of us), BUT the mountains never rest, so he needs to be prepared. It brings me joy when he now pushes me to get up and go.