Keeping fit...

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#31 Post by **Styles Bitchley** » Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:02 pm

Visiting Stewardess wrote:My most interesting hike must have been my trek up to Mount Everest Base Camp in 2005. Took us 12 days to trek up and 3 down!

Hard core! I'm thoroughly impressed. Base camp is on my list. No interest in actually doing an ascent though. You go as part of an organised group, or on your own?

Visiting Stewardess · Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:18 pm

I went with a friend from Canada and it was an organised trip with a British company who use the Himalayan Society as a partner in Nepal. It was all politically and environmentally sound. There are so many issues in Nepal you want to avoid... (protection payments to the Maoists, racism towards their own people) so an organised group is your safest bet.
The company I went with didn't use guest houses that didn't allow Nepalis in their houses (yes! There are plenty where the porters have to sleep outdoors, whereas the western tourists are inside!) and that didn't heat with wood (there isn't much wood up there so it needs protecting). Good company and the porters were well paid.

I don't want to do advertising here, but if you are seriously interested, I can give you the company's name.

Here are a few photographs of the trip. The first link is mainly Kathmandu and the second link are pictures from the trek. This is just a small selection, I took approx. 450 pictures (non-digital, I produced transparencies) in total.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14270705@N ... 535585610/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14270705@N ... 538121947/

Jake · #33 Post by **Jake** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 1:45 am

Styles Bitchley wrote: You following the rugby world cup?

I sure am, unfortunately being in the US "following" the RWC essentially means checking the scores online! Surprisingly NBC Sports did replay two matches from pool play (USA/Ireland & Cananda/NZ) which was nice to see. I am happy to see the USA did OK this time around - we won one of our pool matches (against Russia) and kept the Ireland & Italy matches close enough to feel respectable. The blowout against Australia was expected. I would love to be able to watch the semifinals this weekend as the New Zealand/Australia match will probably determine the cup winner. I can buy a pay-per-view of the final for $50, but I am not sure I am hardcore enough to pay for it or lose a nights sleep (starts at 3 am here).

If we could only get a better organized national effort and get the youngsters here in the US interested in the sport we could probably be a force in the future, but that will probably never happen. Virtually nobody here knows anything about the sport and the first thing people think of when they hear the word rugby is a type of shirt! I dont think I have ever even heard Rugby ever mentioned on ESPN (24-7 sports network) here in the US. Too sad, such a great sport.

Factoid of the day: Mark Bingham, who was one of the heroes on 911 and stormed the cockpit abord flight 93, was a rugby player. I hope he got to whip on some terrorist ass on the way down, thanks Mark.

Danno · #34 Post by **Danno** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 9:40 am

It still does my head in that you Americans play rugby.

I'm not sure we deserved to beat South Africa, but the Wallabies are doing very well. Up against the All-Blacks. It's going to be tough.

We haven't beaten the Kiwis since 1986...

Jake · #35 Post by **Jake** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 11:07 am

Dan wrote:It still does my head in that you Americans play rugby.

I'm not sure we deserved to beat South Africa, but the Wallabies are doing very well. Up against the All-Blacks. It's going to be tough.

We haven't beaten the Kiwis since 1986...

The All-Blacks are looking strong and are putting up some big numbers. Of the two matches I have been able to see one was NZ vs Canada and the kiwis didnt look like they had any soft spots and cruised to a 79-15 win.

I actually went to the 1999 RWC and spent two weeks in Ireland watching pool play and got to see the USA score the only Try Australia allowed in the whole tournament! I returned to the UK a couple weeks later for work (conveniently scheduled plant visits) and watched the semifinal matches in London and the final in Cardiff Wales before returning from my grueling work trip LOL! I have my finals ticket and program framed in my office. I had intended to plan a trip to Australia for the 2003 RWC but a job change made it impossible. Did you go to any of the matches, or since you can see rugby anytime maybe it is not as big a deal for you? Being an American and knowing very few people over here who know anything about the game it was quite a treat to watch the matches in person and be in that atmosphere.

Danno · #36 Post by **Danno** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:25 am

Watching the Wallabies play the All-Blacks right now.
Kiwis have started strong. Whoever wins this will win the cup.
I don't think France stands a chance.

Visiting Stewardess · Sun Oct 16, 2011 12:41 pm

*Watching* rugby isn't really *keeping fit* though!

unless you work out on your cross trainer while watching.

#38 Post by **Styles Bitchley** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:31 am

Dan wrote:Watching the Wallabies play the All-Blacks right now.
Kiwis have started strong. Whoever wins this will win the cup.
I don't think France stands a chance.

Sorry about the way things turned out Dan (and the other Aussies here). I have to confess that I'm a bit more of an All Blacks fan than Wallabies. I was in NZ in 1999 when the All Blacks lost to France and I can tell you that the collective sigh was heart-wrenching. I know it's easy to hate them for their prowess, but they have a history of choking at the RWC.

#39 Post by **Styles Bitchley** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:32 am

Visiting Stewardess wrote:*Watching* rugby isn't really *keeping fit* though! unless you work out on your cross trainer while watching.

...and you're right. Sorry for the digression.

Seaver41 · #40 Post by **Seaver41** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:29 pm

do 12 oz curls count? Football season tends to make fitness a BATTLE............My beloved J-E-T-S drive me to drink..........a lot........literally. Other than that the beer league softball thingy I do to maintain minimum requirement for 'fitness'.

My brother in law does the triathalons..........and suffice to say I now see the toll it is taking. The training regimen you must go on gets in the way of everyday life and the athlete can become increasingly moody with the battle to find time to do enough training. We recently (May?) went to Disney to watch him compete in a half one. With the ewffect it has on everything around him, I'm not sure I see the purpose. He has one coming up in November and he is stressing about not enough time to train.......to the point it is taking over. At some point you have to step back and say WTF. I imagine the large entry fee is playing heavily on the dynamic. I think he would back away if not for the money already spent

Visiting Stewardess · Mon Oct 17, 2011 10:09 pm

Yeah, I see the problem... I don't really want training to ruin my social life (although social life has, during training season) shifted to socialising with other people training. That makes the not drinking (or drinking only very little) alcohol a lot easier.

Triathlons are in another league. You need more material (wetsuit, bike) in addition to the running gear and that is costly. That is the main reason I don't really want to go into triathlon. Not that I don't think I wouldn't be able to do it physically, but I have to work to earn money and I don't want my whole life to be governed by sport.

I guess I just stick with marathons. That's well enough. I am turning 40 next year and for that I will treat myself to a special marathon. Maybe Boston or Chicago.

Danno · #42 Post by **Danno** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 1:03 am

Marathons are epic, Visiting Stewardess. It should be more than enough.

How often and how far do you run during the week RE training?

I saw in the news this morning that a 100 year old Canadian just ran one: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/s ... on321.html

#43 Post by **Styles Bitchley** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:43 am

Dan wrote:I saw in the news this morning that a 100 year old Canadian just ran one: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/s ... on321.html

Yeah, I saw that in the Canadian news. I think he just came to Toronto for the marathon though. I think he lives in the UK. I love his nick name: The Turbaned Tornado." Ironically, a 27 year old collapsed and died during the same race.

I was just "friended" by someone on facebook who I haven't been in touch with in 20 years or so. I'm amazed that her entire life seems to be defined by doing triathlons...at least that's how it seems on facebook. Only talking about the last race, the upcoming race, the training, the new bike, etc. I guess it's good to have something your passionate about, but I have way too many interests for such focus.

Besides, for the most part my athletic interests are purely motivated by vanity. Whatever keeps the beer belly at bay!

AmandaByNight · #44 Post by **AmandaByNight** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 1:57 pm

Styles Bitchley wrote:
Dan wrote:I saw in the news this morning that a 100 year old Canadian just ran one: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/s ... on321.html
Yeah, I saw that in the Canadian news. I think he just came to Toronto for the marathon though. I think he lives in the UK. I love his nick name: The Turbaned Tornado." Ironically, a 27 year old collapsed and died during the same race.

I was just "friended" by someone on facebook who I haven't been in touch with in 20 years or so. I'm amazed that her entire life seems to be defined by doing triathlons...at least that's how it seems on facebook. Only talking about the last race, the upcoming race, the training, the new bike, etc. I guess it's good to have something your passionate about, but I have way too many interests for such focus.

Besides, for the most part my athletic interests are purely motivated by vanity. Whatever keeps the beer belly at bay!

lol! My facebook updates are filled with my workouts. It keeps me motivated because I am proud of myself for doing it! Sometimes exercise is a chore so I need a little push, which is that I feel bad if I don't have an update!

I also am crazy about my grades, since I am a returning student. So my FB page probably looks pretty lame, with workouts and homework! Too much "work" in there!

Seaver41 · #45 Post by **Seaver41** » Tue Oct 18, 2011 4:13 pm

Visiting Stewardess wrote:Yeah, I see the problem... I don't really want training to ruin my social life (although social life has, during training season) shifted to socialising with other people training. That makes the not drinking (or drinking only very little) alcohol a lot easier.

Triathlons are in another league. You need more material (wetsuit, bike) in addition to the running gear and that is costly. That is the main reason I don't really want to go into triathlon. Not that I don't think I wouldn't be able to do it physically, but I have to work to earn money and I don't want my whole life to be governed by sport.

I guess I just stick with marathons. That's well enough. I am turning 40 next year and for that I will treat myself to a special marathon. Maybe Boston or Chicago.

OR.......try the annual Disney marathon weekend. There is a 5k, 1/2, and full marathon different days. You get the 'Goofy' medal for finishing all 3 and the course(s) go thru one of the Disney parks.............