Taking It Easy Friday

pockets!

I got a confirmation email this morning about the "Salamander Stroll" scheduled for tomorrow morning. It was reassuring to read an admonishment regarding proper footwear and clothing, long sleeves, long pants, insect repellent and sunscreen, water and a packable lunch with a carry-in/carry-out policy. 

Years ago, I was on a Scout hike where a parent showed up wearing bejeweled, thin-soled sandals more appropriate for the poolside than a trail trek. I don't know what she was thinking. (That family didn't last long in Scouts even though we tried very hard to encourage their participation.) If anyone shows up tomorrow wearing leggings, I'll probably smirk to myself because even though BSA Scouts now sells leggings for female members, I doubt if they're recommended for camping or hiking. But I have seen the Amazon review post of a large woman falling and rolling down a rocky hill and remarking that the leggings were still intact. And then she claimed to have purchased more because they were indestructible. 

I didn't notice any soreness from Wednesday's workout until I reached overhead during Dead Bugs in the Aerobics Room. Those triceps feeling a teensy bit tight. Cardio was fine although the gym seemed a bit warmer than usual. What I didn't expect was my fingers to be sore and tired, and that reduced my rep count down by 3 on the pull-ups. I got less steps on the Stair Master too, but that's arbitrary since all I do is set the timer and the level (speed). The machine itself speeds up or slows down all on its own so the step count will be different. It says my HR is way up there at 169, although not as crazy as the elliptical reading 209. Of course, the FitBit says "Calm the fuck down, your peak HR was only 144 today." That makes more sense. 

I wore new gym pants today, the pants that cost me as much in hemming as it was to buy them (I bought them at a steep discount). I like them because they're soft, drape nicely, have wide legs like palazzo pants, and most importantly, they have pockets! However, I will not be wearing them to go hiking, especially since I'll need to douse myself in DEET or picaridin because it's baby tick (nymph) season and Lyme disease is endemic to the area. Synthetics should not be doused in bug repellent chemicals if you want them to last. 

good lighting

I've become quite enamored of a newly discovered TV program called Your Friends & Neighbors with Jon Hamm. I hadn't actually watched Mad Men when it was popular and have only started the first season, but I know who Hamm is, mostly from his role as Gabriel in Good Omens with David Tennant and Michael Sheen. That was an excellent show and I'm excited to watch Season 3 although it's been abbreviated to a single 90-minute episode. Yeah, I probably watch waaaay too much TV... 

10 April 2026 1:27-3:19

Sunny Friday Before a Hike

Basics w sciatica & allergy

Precor elliptical #1 (2:05)

Program 3

Time: 30 + 5 (5412)

Distance: 2.78

Cal: 306

Precor HR: 150, 209-92

Fitbit: 44-144

HGPU 16 (Tired fingers!)

Matrix StairMaster (R) (2:18-2:31)

Manual timer 11 + 2:12

Speed 5 (49-45) / 2 (36) / 1 (29)

Steps 586

Floors 36

Cal: 88

Hr 169 (!)

12 Piriformis/Hip flex (2:43)

12 Hamstring stretches

DeadBugs 20 x 5 (sciatica)

12 Piriformis stretches

Child’s Pose

Cat/Cow stretch 12

Child’s Pose

Fire Hydrants 30 x 2

Bird Dog Planks 60s x 2

Arm rotations 20 (foot tingling)

Push-Ups 25 (legs shoulder width)

Air Squats 25

Neck Stretch / eye yoga