February 2007

SNOWSHOE ADVENTURE - #2

Join STRADA Saturday, March 3rd for our second trip of the year up to Mount Hood for a day of play in the snow.


The Trip:

This trip we will be heading out from the Mirror Lake Sno-Park and ascending to the ridgeline of Tom, Dick and Harry Mountain for some spectacular views. This route is slightly more difficult than our last trip, with a bit more climbing and a number of switchbacks, but not too strenuous. The route is approximately 5 miles, and should take us 3-4 hours.

We provide the transportation, guide, lesson and snacks for a day of fun. You provide the desire and energy to explore the great outdoors.

Bring appropriate winter clothing for hiking, snowshoes*, lunch, water, camera, binoculars, etc.

SET SOME GOALS

A New Year always rings some thoughts in our heads of new resolutions or goals. But do you really set them, or do you just say them? And are they attainable?

A common goal we hear from people is that they "want to tone up" or just "get healthier." So, how do you measure that? To be quite honest, it's hard! It's also too general. Without a specific goal and a plan, these journeys end before they even get started.

You decide your goal is "to lose 20 lbs in 2 months," and you head off to the gym. You've decided to work out 4 times a week. The first week is great. You're feeling good about your goal and are on your way. By the end of the second week, the crowds at the gym are starting to get to you, but you wait your turn for the machine and do your workout. In the third week, you get a bit of a cold, so decide to lay low for a couple days. Good. You should. By mid week of the 4th week, you're 'life' schedule has changed a little, so you're lucky if you get 2 days of workouts in this week. Because of 'something else' the fifth week's a wash, so you're going to start fresh next week. So now it's May, and you don't even know where the gym is...sound familiar?

Now, if you decide "I want to climb Mt. Defiance in June, but I can only hike 3 miles now," we've got something to build on. You have something you can track and you can measure improvements. You can plan your training program backwards from your goal and set smaller goals which you can attain along the way. You'll be better able to adjust your training, nutrition, and rest when life disrupts your plan, but you will still get there because you have set something concrete and attainable. And guess what? During this process you will tone up and get healthier while having fun and attaining your goal.

Whatever it is you want to reach for, fitness or otherwise, ask yourself some questions:

• What do I want to accomplish?


• Is this goal realistic and attainable?


• How do I reach it?


• When do I want to reach it?


• What's my reward to myself when I do reach it?

STRADA DISCOVERIES....

Are you looking for something new to try this year? Need some ideas? Well, here is what some of our STRADA family has come up with so far.

Logan and Eric Sullender have taken on cross country skiing every weekend in January.

Annie Groeninger and Cooie Bates conquered their first Double Diamond ski run last week and head off to Whistler BC this week to test more of their new fitness and skills.

Aleta Fouks and Nathan Newell went to the islands of Hawaii to give Aleta the surfing test - and she swam out over the breakers and got up for the ride back in!

Mary Beach, Christy Marchant, Carole Long, Colleen Dorough, Joe and Lacy Garland, Kristen Kirkland, Mayne Mihacsi and Peggy Simpson all took on snowshoeing for the first time with us on our Snowshoeing Adventure last month.

Mary Ross and Mike Resnick head to Tanzania next week for 3 weeks of cycling to celebrate a milestone.

These are just a few of the things that the folks here are doing. They set some goals and achieved them. Great job everyone! Have you tried something new? Let us know - we can share your ideas and accomplishments with others and maybe you can inspire all of us to go for it.
Let us know!