Where Did Cindy-jo Go?

So, it’s been a short time since I started the pill. True to form my hormones are having to adjust and I’m noticing where my normal period would have started. I’m getting a little more than a bit sensitive and being generally annoying. In the real world where estrogen remains queen, my period usually comes every 21-24 days a month. Thanks to the little pill I pop every morning, suddenly it’s every 28. My body says yes, but my hormones say no. Needless to say this is an adjustment to the dismay of my boyfriend and close friends.

I went on the pill with the intention of removing any chance of having a period while on the trail. Last year, thank you Mother Nature, I got my period three times in two months while attempting to lay some mean miles. I felt like I was wearing a diaper. It was terrible. So, this year I thought I’d get smart. I got myself put on the pill with the intention of skipping the placebo week for the two months I will be out. Diaper gone!

The only issue I foresaw was getting my body used to this new schedule and hormone regime long before start date. The hope was my body would adjust by then and extracting the placebo from the routine would be phase two basically in a finely laid plan to thwart having to carry feminine hygiene products with me on trail. Hey, every ounce counts. And again there is the feeling like I’m wearing a diaper issue, but alas, I’m free. Minus a few freak outs.

Taking hormones is definitely not my first choice, since I have basically gone without my whole life. I find it comical I’m going on the pill at 45, but I seriously don’t have the time to deal with such nonsense on the trail, not while trying to beat a world record.

So, with the blessing of Planned Parenthood, my adventure in female hormone manipulation begins. God help us all.

 

So, I just realized this is the perfect time to try some Matrix Essential. I got it from a client who is developing the product line. He said to use it when I’m needing the boost, like when I want to keep working out, but my energy is waning, which is right now. Let’s see…

It says to take 1-3 capsules. It’s 10:25 right now. I just swallowed.  It says “Adaptogen Herbal Support for endurance and energy”. I’m giving it five minutes, then I’m heading back to the garage. I will climb six flights of stairs five times and see what my energy level is.

Experiment on!

10:50pm, and I finished the six flights, five times. Let’s just say I seriously had no desire to go do that right now. My left knee was speaking to me, I’m hot, I feel somewhat like I’m exhausted when I reach flight six, and it’s late and I’ve had a busy day already. I made it though. Weird thing, my mental state was equally as hazy when I was at the bench prior to climbing the stairs. I would say although I am tired still, I had enough energy to make that last effort count, plus now I’m mentally sharper than I was before. This could benefit me, not only with hitting my exercise a bit harder, but also keeping me more alert overall. Not sure if this was the supplement or not. Not sure if five minutes then go time was enough, but I don’t feel like death. Which is what I should be feeling like at this point so…

I think another couple tries will give me a better idea. Like maybe next time I will give it 15-20 minutes to digest before hitting it hard exercise wise. We shall see. Update later!

It was a busy day today and I’m quickly realizing how much of my precious time I give away. This is not saying I don’t want or need to invest my time where and when I  do, but heading in 20 directions at once never made anyone a master. I need to buckle down and create an environment where devotion to one goal is my focus.

This means curbing the jam sessions, the all night art projects, time goofing off online, wasting time on being, well, just busy.

I did make it out to walk around downtown tonight. I headed through a few small alleyways, taking pictures as I went. I ended up in the garage again, climbing the ramp. Now I find myself taking a break to write in this blog. I sit on a park bench in front of fountains and nightclubs. Tonight’s training wasn’t long enough. I’m feeling like a slacker; a slacker who still has more errands waiting at home to complete before she can go to bed and it’s already 10:15pm. Life seems to always get in the way of hiking.

Out and about in the Florida heat. It’s a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I packed the backpack up with the essentials, and decided I would walk around downtown and hit the garage and/or the bridge before Derek started heading my way. Like a dummy, I didn’t even think to pack some money for a coffee, and I hadn’t had the chance to drink any before leaving the house. A slight headache ensued, I got the ramp in and the bridge so all good.

9pm

My friend Greg is coming to the apartment. The plan is to throw the packs on and roam the streets, alleyways, bridges, garages, etc., of downtown Fort Myers. I have my work out clothes on. Loading the backpack with water. Waiting for dude, then we hit the road. Wait, almost forgot my headlamp and flashlight!

This morning I did not track my run. In fact, I did not want the distraction of the phone. It felt good not to be checking my Strava or worrying about my goal mileage. I just wanted to not have to worry about such things. It was just me and the pavement.

I’d do the same thing tonight, but I feel like it’s important I commit to analyzing my data in order to constantly improve. The phone is back in.

12am

We walked all over downtown tonight. It wasn’t very vigorous exercise, but it was still nice to get out. Apparently, part of my urban hiking experience this evening needed to include a stop at Downtown House of Pizza. To my dismay, the pizza wasn’t quite as greasy as it usually is. What? Health food pizza? What? Anyhow, I enjoyed every bite to spite the caloric shortage.

We completed just around 5 miles, with several stops and detours, but we got out there. Another successful urban hike!

 

 

I always feel like no matter what I am doing to prepare, I could be doing more. This is pretty much my normal state of mind, but truth is, I might be on to something. Lately, my training hasn’t been what I need it to be, and my enthusiasm for the whole she-bang had been waning. I could give a million excuses as to why, but maybe I’m just a bit overwhelmed. There is always so much to do. It feels like it never ends. Plus, I’m not getting enough sleep as I try to adjust my night owl schedule to an early riser routine. My water intake is low, and I’m finding myself just going through the motions.

Oh, but how much change does a day bring? Last night I had an extraordinary  conversation with my boyfriend and it made me speak out loud all the reasons I want to hike the Appalachian Trail and try for the self supported world record. It made me think about how lucky I am to be here physically, capable, able to take on such a challenge, mentally ready to try and do and be. I have amazing people supporting me, who believe I can do it. It’s bigger than I am.

So, thank you Derek for making me speak words that changed my paradigm immediately. Putting the obvious right back in front of my face. Thanks to all my friends who encourage me. Thanks to my customers and supporters. Thanks to my sponsors. I have a new enthusiasm today I did not have yesterday.

I got up this morning and I ran. I ran hard and I ran for longer than I have in weeks. I kept my head up and noticed when my shoulder muscles would tighten up, and try to consciously relax them. I cleared my mind and just headed forward. I felt how my gate reacted to certain weight exchanges between steps. I noticed. I reacted. I was in sync with my body. It was amazing.

After The run, I went to the dock and meditated. It wasn’t a long session, but enough. My eyes closed, I focused on the lack of light, and the wind against my face. I repeated a strange mantra that kept creeping past the nothing…

I stare out onto the red horizon,

and all I hear is the wind.

It’s so easy to make excuses, but what can I say? I got up late again. In my defense, I was out until pretty late last night urban hiking at night also. So, getting up late was somewhat necessary. I worked all day again and got out way too late to make it to Krav Maga in time. Then I had to stop at my friend’s house to take out his garbage and throw away old bananas, check the mail, etc.. By the time I got home, ate something and got back out to go hiking, it was again, pretty late.

I only did three miles tonight. It took about an hour and then I packed it in. I still have to go home and prep a canvas for Art Walk tomorrow, but I know what will happen. I’m going to get home, lay on my bed and pass out. How the hell I’m going to fit in walking in the morning, laundry and prepping a canvas? I have zero idea, but it needs to be done. Ugh. Overachieving blows sometimes.

I’m definitely tired tonight and a little overwhelmed by some life circumstances. There are things happening in my life that are pushing me in a direction that would fuel my hiking and minimalism lifestyle, yet I’m fighting it because of fear, I think. I need to let go and let opportunity have its way with me. It’s just hard to walk away from comfort and what’s familiar and proven.

Why does change hurt so much, it’s constant scratching at the back door to your mind? Even change that could potentially give you the freedom to pursue goals and dreams feels odd and awkward when first initiated. Why can’t I just point my finger, know I need to buck up, and just do what is going to get me to the next level???? Why must I fight myself? Why am I making this so much harder than it needs to be?

I still have yet to even begin my GoFundMe page. That needs to become more of a priority. Plus, I finally have a bunch of information on my chosen companies to approach for sponsorship and I’m dragging ass.

Get it together Cindy-jo. Only six months left.

It’s February, the 1st, to be exact. This is the month where things have to get more serious. So, I am putting in more miles every day. I’m committed. Even if it means I have to walk all night, and tonight I did. Tonight I got in a little urban hiking in  downtown Fort Myers.

It was a perfect out. The weather was a touch on the chilly side, and being it’s a Wednesday, there weren’t a ton of people in the streets. No rain, no clouds, no nothing. So, I booked it all over. My Strava account shows my map in thick lines and constantly circling patterns. I threw in some hitting the stairs in the garages when I was walking by also. I mean, why not, right? I generally just walked at a decent pace for an hour and a half trying to get five miles in for the night. I was reluctantly successful.

The only things about walking around downtown late at night are the fear of being messed with by drunk idiots as I’m walking by, and the bums in the alley ways and in the stairwells. Tonight a guy was sleeping in the Bay Street garage. He didn’t do anything to weird me out, but be present. So, I can’t say anything, except that it’s a bit intimidating knowing this bum could be the one psychotic who decides to wig out and try to take me out. Possible, not probable, but my antennas were up, if you get me. There are quiet corners to the downtown area. Nooks and crannies, thin alleyways and dark underbrush. Judging from the amount of homeless that wander in and out of Starbucks all day long, I just think there are a much bigger number living on the streets of Ft. Myers than one would think.

All and all, it was a pretty good workout. I met my goal. No wear and tear.

I arrived at Siesta Key Beach around 4:30/5pm, I think. Either way, it was prime drum circle hour. Yet when I walked out onto the sand, they weren’t out there. I figured maybe it had been cancelled due to the impending weather. So, I continued with my pack on toward the water. The sand was kicking up all around me with the huge gusts of wind, but still I planted my butt in the sand and took a few snapshots of the water and sun. I ate some chocolate and people watched for maybe a half hour. Then I picked myself up and started back toward the parking lot.

About half way toward the park and parking lot I could vaguely hear, off in the distance, the sound of what seemed like drums. So, I took a B-line and followed the sound. Eventually, I found them. Maybe a hundred people, die hard and tourists lucky enough to stumble on the scene, tempting the weather, and drumming on.

Its always a great scene. There are hippies and drum circle geeks, gypsys, and kids hulahooping, beach goers and teenagers, tourists and elderly folk, people dancing and swaying back and forth to the drums. The crowd is always friendly and smiling.

The only thing that definitely is annoying are the ultra christians and their megaphones screaming the whole time in the background. If they are trying to convert, they aren’t exactly going about it the right way. Somehow the crowd just assimilates them and they blend in with the noise. Well, I suppose that depends on how far you are from them in the circle.

I found a nice spot behind some drummers where I could still catch what was happening in the circle as far as dancers and firetwirlers and the like. There is always this older woman who likes to dress herself all up for the event in total gypsy garb and dance around with multiple hoolahoops and/or a sword balanced on her head. She passed out flowers from a basket around the circle this week. Very 1970 free love.

All and all I stayed put about two hours, then got back into the truck and took off for home. Around mile marker 167 I hear “Bam!”, and think to myself I ran over something. Three miles later my tire just disintegrates. Luckily I was in a construction zone and wasn’t going fast. Plus, I was already in the far right lane. I’m also a pretty good at quick response, so I never worried about loosing control or overcompensating. All good, just slowed down fast and parked it.

Unfortunately, it’s pretty creepy as a woman, or for anyone, to pull over on a busy highway and change a tire. Luckily for me, Taylor Becker, who I camped with the night before and lives in my complex, was about 20 miles behind me on the highway. She stopped and we changed the tire together. Between the two of us, it rolled pretty quick. We got the spare on and both headed to the nearest gas station, at exit 170.

We had our war wounds, Taylor sliced her finger and I jammed the pole to the jack into my leg pretty hard at one point, but we survived. At the gas station, Taylor washed her hands and I found some coins to get the air pressure machine going. Tire pressure good. And off we go toward home. I think Taylor went back on the highway, I took Tamiami Trail, hoping for some slower speeds just in case this spare was a bit more questionable than anticipated.

Anyway, Siesta Key was awesome, as usual. Totally, worth  the trip from the park to the beach, and even though I had a tire blow. No worries. Won’t hold me down! Taylor would call that Girl Power. Ha!

Even though the wind was picking up, the sky seemed overall sunny when I finally chose to get back on the trail today. I executed a relatively light second hike for the day at 5.5 miles. Considering my radar was telling me thunder and lightening were supposed to be upon me already, the hike remained relatively uneventful throughout.

Super cool to see the wind whipping through the Spanish Moss and Live Oak. I got a few pictures which I sent to my nieces in Phoenix. Much of the trail I took today was tore up from wild hog. They left huge holes in the ground and it was difficult at times to get around them and continue to follow the trail.

I left from the same trailhead I said goodbye to the kids at and followed Ranch House Road east into the preserve. Ranch House is basically a dirt road and runs relatively straight until after its first intersection with All Weather Road. I took that south from there and over to Powerline Road, then up past Bee Island again and back to Ranch House and west to the trailhead. Pretty much just one big circle.

There were no flying bugs, lots of wind, and on again off again sunshine. All that made for a really pleasant hike. I believe making my way through all the chewed up terrain left me with at least on blister on my right foot, but I cut this hike short. So, I’m sure later when I investigate my injury, it will be minimal.

I came back in at a pretty good time. It was starting to get a bit more on the dreary side out, winds picked up and it seemed like at any moment the weather could potentially turn a bit more ugly.

In I went. Back to the truck. Pit stop at the restroom on the way out of the park and on to find some real food and then head to Siesta Key for drum circle.