In The Mind of Kerstin

I’m wanting to do a side by side view of my progress pictures. Unfortunately my photo editing program has decided to quit working!

Can anyone help me do this or direct me to someplace to start? I don’t want to buy new software because mine is fairly new…i’m not all that computer-literate. But i did uninstall the software and reinstall it…same thing. It’s not responding. I looked online there are no updates so I’m not sure what’s wrong.

I have survived my second hike up the Manitou Incline.

What is the Incline?
In brief, the Incline as it exists now is the roadbed to the former Mount Manitou Scenic Incline Railway —a cable car that took people up the eastern face of Rocky Mountain to about 8,600′ before shutting down in 1990. The steepest section is at a grade of 68% with the average grade just over 40%.

The elevation gain is around 2100 feet and it’s just over a mile uphill   Talk about a cardio session! 

 This picture was taken about 1/2 way up.

From this picture we’re almost to the top.

I’m almost to the top!

As you can see, it’s not your average walk in the park! It took us both times in between an hour and an hour and a half. They say if you can climb it in 30 minutes or under you have major bragging rights. I’ve got awhile before I’ll get any of those bragging rights. But to me, I do have bragging rights because a lot of our friends think we’re nuts for doing it in the first place   

I’ve decided to start training for a 5k. On Monday of this week, Wendy sent me a flyer for a 5k that takes place the saturday before Thanksgiving and said we should do it. I debated a little over it. I’ve never been the running type. It seems that I always have a problem getting my breathing under control and i feel like i’m huffing and puffing.  I decided Tuesday that I would give it a shot.   This Saturday will mark 6 weeks out.

I had to really search hard on the web for a beginner 6 week training program. Most of the beginner programs I found were for 12 weeks. I was lucky and found a program that was exactly what i need. So yesterday was my first day of the training. It actually wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. My breathing seemed normal until about 1/2 way through but I tried to really focus on taking deep breaths.

*I walked 1 mile @ 4.0 mph (set the incline @ 1% for the whole time)

*Ran 2 minutes every 1/2 mile until I reached 3 1/2 miles @ 5.5 mph

*Walked the last 1/2 mile @ 4.0 mph

It took me right at 60 minutes to complete the 4 miles. Probably not good to some people, but I thought that was just fine for me. In high school gym class we had to complete one mile in 20 minutes. I use to walk until the last lap and run just to get it right under 20 minutes. So for me to complete 4 miles in 60 minutes seemed really good. This is going to be a fun adventure. I did find out that I need to get a better pair of running shoes since mine hurt my feet last night. So hopefully this weekend I can hit up Boulder Running Company! Lucky for me tonight doesn’t involve running. I will be walking 3-5 miles.

Wish me luck as I start this journey