Day after cycling Christmas party and bike photo shoot!

We enjoyed a fun Christmas party with over 50 cyclists ( and one golfer) and their mates on Saturday evening, 12/4/10.  Food was plentiful, spirits were high and the grandkids had fun playing a few Christmas songs on their violin.  It was a fun evening!!  Sunday I did nothing until it was time for the ladies cycling photo shoot.  It will be the first and only time I have my picture taken with my formal dress laying on the floor and trying to hold my bike with my toe in my spiked heels(Barb's suggestion!!??:() )  Oh well, the challenge was to be creative with a pose for the calender!!!!
Physical activities thanksgiving week were limited.  I flew to Phoenix on my birthday, the 22nd and arrived at midnight, three hours late, missing my birthday dinner.  UGH!! We  hiked Pinnacle Peak in Phoenix on Thanksgiving and then worked with a trainer later in the week at the Tatum Counntry Club.  She was excellent and we have booked two sessions with her in January.
Last week I did spinning classes on Wednesday and  Friday morning with weight lifting after.  Today, 12/6/10 was the serious start with a trainer that Nikki and Michelle have used for almost a year and have had good results.  Barb & I have teamed up to train three times a week for the month of December.  When it is nice, and that is very subjective(20 degrees or above), we will ride outside.  The plan is to walk the 4.5 mile Shawnee Mission Park through the winter,  once a week to develop and keep a base.  I need to walk more, and with a back pack, carrying and increasing weight as times goes along.  The goal is to gradually add weight to the pack (no more than 10% a week) until I can carry a 25 pounds each time I hike, with ease.  That should happen about a month from our trek, August 4th. 

First snowshoe of season in Breckenridge!!

I just spent a week in Denver with Darci, babysitting while she went to an interview with an upstart home health care company started by Bronco's offensive lineman, Mark Harris.  We'll see what happens there!! On Thursday Barb called to tell me there had been a 12" snowfall in Breckenridge so I drove over and we had an amazing snowshoe morning traversing "little mountain" in pristine snow!! 
While in Denver I went to three very intense spinning classes at 24 Hour Fitness.  I also lifted weights and did lots of stretching. Then I spent a half day at REI researching equipment for Kilimanjaroo.  All of the employees who waited on me asked me what I was using the equipment for.  When I told them it was for a Kilimanjaroo climb next year they said "I guess you are working out fairly intensely"!!!  It made my heart skip a beat and question my current workout program. I promptly went to my computer and paid for and signed up for a training package at the Breckenridge Rec Center for next summer!!!  Whew, I have next summer partially taken care of.  The plan is to climb one organized fourteener a week in Breck in addition to other hikes and of course, Barb and I cycle nearly every other day. 
Today, we rode with about 20 others in the Clock Tower group to Constantino's enjoying a 37 degree start temperature.  Tomorrow and Monday will be spinning and lifting weights and Monday, on my birthday, I will be going to Phoenix to spend Thanksgiving with very dear friends, Bill and Leone.  I can't believe I forgot it was my birthday when I bought the airline ticket!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My last task before I head out to dinner is to send an invitation for my Christmas cycling open house on Saturday, December 4th.  My kids surprised me and decorated my columns in front of my house like candy canes.  What a festive look and it certainly sets the stage for our open house!!!!!  I have great children and grandchildren for which I am very thankful!!!

Chihuly Sculpture Garden & Sat.Bike ride to I Hop-40 miles, 11/6/2010

Got back from Chicago Friday evening.  It was great to be with Leone and her 89 year old mother, Maxine.  Maxine chose a visit to the Frederick Meijer sculpture gardens in Grand Rapids featuring amazing outdoor Chihuly sculptures. 
34 degrees was a  chilly start for the Saturday bike ride.  Triflex biking pants, booties, and a balaclava did the trick.  Today, Sunday, the sermon was on the importance of daily prayer.  "Prayer is to our souls like breathing is to our bodies".  Adam spoke of persistence in prayer and praying the same thing over and over as we don't know "when or if" the answer will come.  God's will is not always our will!!  I know intercessary prayer works!!  But I am always amazed at the spiritual energy that is released and how it plays a part in the healing process.  How do we get rid of pain and anxiety??  Adam reminds us to give thanks for the good things and the blessings in our life!! 
Tomorrow morning I lift weights on my own, row, stretch and swim at the gym.  Since we have another nice day, Barb and I are walking at the Arboretum. 

Driveing to Muskegon-using I-pad

I am using Leone's Ipad for the first time &
love it!!!!! How cool is this?? To be on the road & on the Internet on a device larger my I phone & smaller & lighter than my laptop. I will have to get an I pad!!!!!!! We should be in Muskegon in three hours. No exercise t day, but did yoga stretches this morning.

11/2/2010-In Chicago today

Yesterday, we did our usual Tuesday ride; Barb & I left home at 7 am in the dark & met Gary and Bob.  We rode to PV, then to Belton for a great breakfast and home for around 40-45 miles.  It was 42 degrees when we left and a beautiful sunny 55 as we returned home.  Great Ride!! 

Today I am in Chicago and always enjoy staying in Leone's Victorian two flat.  We are headed to Muskegon, Michigan to visit Maxine, her elderly mother.  I have promised for several years I would come to visit.  I am bringing her several bags of my homemade granola which she really seems to love. 

On my way to cycling Halloween party!!

11/1/2010- To Chicago tomorrow!

It is so hard to write in this once a week.  Forget every day!!!  The  main purpose of this blog, suggested by Michelle, was to keep a diary of my experience getting ready for Kilimanjaro, and to monitor my level of physical activity.  Since returning from Denver on 10/24, we have managed to bike three times a week, averaging 130 miles a week.  I have resumed swimming and weight lifting 2-3 times a week  with an occasional class of yoga.  I would love to do yoga twice a week and feel wonderful when I do!!!!

 Because Nickson, our Kilimanjaro guide, was in Denver two weeks ago,   we were fortunate to have a five hour dinner/meeting with Nickson in Silverthorn on Monday, October  18th.  The rest of that week was spent with Darci and I laying her bathroom floor, covering old ceramic tile.  It now is
b e a u t i f u l!!!  But I never want to do another project on my knees!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On Thursday, 10/21 my van arrived with Michelle, Nikki, and Barb bringing the best of Barb and Marlene's garage sale shopping to prepare for Darci and Greg's "extreme home makeover".  The transformation in two days was utterly amazing!!  In the midst of organizing closets and decorating, we attended Nikki's Figure Competition in Denver.  She won third in her division and second in the open!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Way to go Nikki!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Back to KC on Michelle's birthday, Sunday, 10/24.  This last week was a gorgeous week for Autumn biking and enjoying nature.  I try to skip exercise on Sunday's, except for yoga after church.  Sunday evening I went to a biking chili halloween party dressed as a generic rock star.  I may(????) upload a picture.  Today, Monday, 11/1/2010, I lifted weights, rowed, stretched, skipped swimming and walked the trails at Sh Miss Park with Barb and Annie.  I could listen to Annie tell stories all day!!  She is very descriptive and so funny!! Tomorrow, after biking to PV and Grandview, I fly to Chicago.  I have promised Leone's mother, Maxine, for over a year that I would come to visit her in Muskegon, MI.  Tomorrow is the day.  Because she loves my granola, Kolton and I made my granola tonight and I have filled up my suitcase with three big bags.  My 10 year old grandson, Kolton asked if he could help me.  I reminded him he could not tell anyone about my "secret granola recipe"!!??  He replied:  "you can trust me, grandma"!!

Michelle suggested at 10 pm tonight, (my bedtime), that I buy my own domain.  Under her tutelage I went to godaddy.com and paid $11 to do just that.  Bob did a few things and now I can type my name, marlenedebruyn.com, and it will go to this blog, the name of which I could not remember before.  I am constantly amazed at these tools!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, Oct 12, 2010- A biking day!!

Because of the rain we delayed our start to Grandview until 8:20.  Barb, Bob and myself rode on wet streets but with the sun shining.  Round trip was about 30 miles.  It was good to see John Anderson.  Amazing that he is hobbling around on his crutches only 5 days after his hip break.  It brought back many memories of my hip break 14 months ago and the long road to recovery.  It feels good to "feel good" and I give thanks for every day that my body is healthy and pray that my spirit is joyful. 
I am reminded of last Sunday's sermon, by Adam Hamilton, which was about "Why I Believe in God"!  Believing in God is a conscious choice.  Praying is a conscious choice.  God does not give us certainly, he gives us mystery.  He calls us to do something that is not natural.  The bible is a testimony of what people believed about God and what God had done in their lives.  It is about their prayers and experiences over a period of 1600 years.  It is an amazing book and one I should spend more time in.

Frisco, grandkids on ram, 8/2010

what happened to the last three weeks??

No exercise for ten days from 9/17 to 9/27.  UGH!!!! I went to Denver to help Darci Move to Lowry.  Then on to Frisco to meet up with golf gals and stay at Annie's.  Because I caught a bad cold, I went to my condo in Breck so I would not give my cold to the gals.  We finally played golf in Silverthorne just before leaving.  I returned to Denver to help Darci unpack and came back to OP in time to bike with the Prairie Village group on Tuesday morning, 9/28.  It was so good to be exercising again.  Barb and I are riding on Tuesday's, Thursday and Saturday mornings.  Most of the rides are 40-50 miles at a pretty fast pace.  At the end of the summer, everybody is in great shape.  I am trying to walk once a week at Shawnee Mission to ease back into walking.  Still worried about plantar fascitis and it coming back.  Now, I just have occasional tenderness in my heel.  Last week we hiked the trail at Sh Mission Park and that felt much better on my foot than the black top surface.  I have been swimming once a week and I need to do that more.  It feels so good to swim, other than the sneezing from the chlorine when I get out of the pool.

Nikki won the Kansas State Figure competition in Topeka a week ago and then won the most votes to be featured in the Kansas Fitness Magazine in the Nov/Dec issue.  In two weeks Nikki, Michelle, Barb and I head to Denver to watch her compete in the Denver competition.  And we will help Darci finish with storage items and accessories in her Lowry home.  Last Saturday night Gary & Ronita Schultz, Barb and I hosted a cycling party at Gary's home.  A fun night!! Tomorrow is Tuesday, October 12, a biking day to Belton!!!!

A hike above the Eisenhower Tunnel, July 2009

Thursday, Sept. 16th, day four or Kili preparation, & preparing to go to Denver/Breckenridge!

Day two, tuesday, 9/14 was to be a biking day to Grandview with the "PV show and go" group and we were rained out.  Just as well as I had a long list of things to do to get ready for a "ladies golf outing" in Frisco and to stop in Denver on the way and help my daughter Darci paint and prepare a new rental for her family to move in to in 10 days. 

Day three, Wednesday, 9/14 was a walk around Shawnee Mission Park in the rain.  Tried new light hiking tennis shoes and the foot feels "just fair".  Then a dash to various stores to locate fun area rugs for Darci's new home in Denver.  I am overwhelmed looking at rugs and wondering how I coordinate paint colors in 48 hours.  Of course I think of Ingrid, a good friend and an amazing interior designer.  A quick phone call to Ingrid and I feel reassured.  24 hours later we have picked out two area rugs, and she has delivered coordinating color chips for three rooms, bought striking side panels for living room windows with decorative rods, and picked out fabric to recover cushions.  All materials were at bargain prices.  She is AMAZING!!

Day four, Thursday, 9/15, Barb and I meet the North biking group at Embassy Suites and joined them on a very hilly 35 mile route to Edgerton.  The ride was into the wind going out at a pretty fast pace.  An even faster pace on the way home with a delicious tail wind.  It was a tough ride but a fun ride.  Since I am leaving tomorrow to go to Denver, my workouts for the next ten days will sadly, be very iffy.  Some of those days will be on a ladder painting.  Maybe, when I get to Breckenridge there will be some short hikes mixed in with a bit of golf.

Day one of Kilimanjaro preparation was Monday September 13th.

While in Breckenridge this summer, a hiking friend, Diana Dettmering, asked if I wanted to join a group of her friends to hike Kilimanjaro in September of 2010.  Several of these ladies would use the event to celebrate 70 year birthdays.  My response was "No, I don't live in Breckenridge like the rest of you and I would not have the benefit of acclimitization"! However, the seed had been planted and in the weeks that followed I began to imagine the possibility.  As I began to research Kilimanjaro and weigh the pros and cons, it because clear that I had excitement and fear.  It was exciting to dream about the journey of getting in shape, sharing a dream with other like minded women, and the fear of not reaching the summit after a year of planning.  It was also the fear of a "sometimes nagging foot" and would "plantar fascitis rear it's ugly head"!!!!!!!!!!!!

So it is with these and many other thoughts that I begin doing something to prepare for this year long journey of "getting into shape to climb Kilimanjaro.  My plan is not fully organized but I have been a physical education instructor and done a few triathlons over the years and know the basics of getting into shape. 

I, too, will turn 70 in November of 2010 and it scares the "you know what" out of me to even say it out loud.  Months ago as I was pondering this "unmentionable decade" I thought it would lessen the impact of turning 70 if I planned several "fun and adventure filled" events.  Did I mention that I love adventure!!!!!!!!!!!  And I love, love, surprises.  So, I am surprised that I was invited on this "Kili" journey and I am even more surprised that I want to do it as I suffer from various forms of altitude sickness when I travel to Breckenridge.  Yes, it is with apprehension, exhilaration, and great anticipation that I think of various ways to get in shape and begin my journey with perhaps a dozen other women, many of which I do not know.

Swimming 10 laps at 6 am, lifting a few arm weights and doing 30 + 20 crunches on an incline board was my start on Monday, September 13th.  40 crunches on the incline board is the norm for me when I go to the gym regularly.  (I had not been there since June 30th.)  I then met Barb M. at Shawnee Mission Park for one walking lap of 4.5 miles around the lake followed by one lap on the bike.  That may seem like a lot for day one but Barb  and I had done lots of biking and hiking while in Breckenridge during July and August.  It was a good beginning!!!!!