The Woods in Pursuit of Fitness
A particularly difficult part for the stroller.
Last year Jacey and I both put a focus on getting our bodies back in order. We were both using Lose It! to track our food and exercise and were constantly looking for physical activities and ways to save calories. I started off pretty good losing 15 lbs in a few months time. Jacey, went a completely different direction and started participating in some “boot camp” classes 4 times a week.
Since I can’t participate in the boot camp (it’s for women) and it would be nearly impossible for the two of us to workout together, I started slipping. I quit doing the elliptical, quit logging my food. I didn’t completely jump ship. I kept half an eye on my intake. Regardless, I’ve gone back up 5 lbs and I don’t like it.
After the lack of care during my vacation I resolved to pay attention to my health again and started logging my food and exercise again. Since Jacey is busy 3 evenings during the week working out I decided that I would grab Evan and his jogging stroller and do what I could.
We drove up to Burr Oak woods and started off at the very bottom of the Hickory Grove Trail. I figured starting out going uphill would be the smartest move should I get too tired. Gravity is something I count on!
The weather was perfect; mid-eighties with slight breeze in the cover of the adolescent forest. The trail was thick with daddy-long-legs and dragon flies (and a few mosquitos). Every so often the rustle of the flora would alert us to a gentle breeze that would take a little of the edge off.
Looking at the creek.
We had no major agenda or goal, just a rough time that we should get back to our house. Most of the trail was briskly walked, some slowly maneuvered and some in an all out sprint. Evan enjoyed the wheelies over the drainage humps pausing to watch the water tumble through the creeks. He pointed at the flowers saying their colors. He learned the words bridge and bench as we used the former and passed by the latter.
After 25 minutes of ascent we turned back. The descent was around 15 minutes (thanks gravity) so we turned our attention to the Bethany Falls trail on the other side of the park.
At this point the sun was starting to sag in the sky and was cutting dramatic pathways through the thick woods. The slight wind was now at our backs but the temperature had dropped a few degrees. Evan kept repeating “bridge” and “bench” in his little sing-song voice. When the color of the wild flowers popped up he’d pause his song and say “flower” then continue with his new words. The sound of babbling water in the creeks would, again, pause his new word song so he could say “water”. I would say, “yep, I hear the water too.” He’d smile and we would keep moving.
After an hour of walking and running while pushing my little guy around we headed home. Evan fell asleep during the 10 minute car trip, the excitement of the walk had worn him pretty thin. That’s thin metaphorically, I’m the one that needs it literally.