Oh what a day it was, up at 2:30am on Sat grabbed coffee and a muffin (Yea, no fasting today LoL)
Vans dropped us at Onyx Summit, they got group pix and a lil after 4am, 20 something of us were off in our assigned groups with a Hike Leader who would switch at 2nd station. Our Group leader hung back and he had a really bright headlamp, so he lit the way as mine was really dim.
Note to self for next year 😂
It was around 36 degrees and I had a bunch of layers on, which I shed at the Lunch stop, We kept plodding along the Guide had already walked the section of Pacific Crest Trail, so he knew where to go
And y'all know that I sang out there, whatever popped in weird brain, most hikers dug it LoL
Uneventful until around mile 25 when lumbar spasms kicked in and was probs the uneven terrain, check out the rock slide pic that we had to traverse, so glad to have the trekking poles or I woulda hit the dirt many times, or worse down the cliff
The dinner the night before, we were all supposed to say why we were doing it: I said that I've raised over 16k for ZERO and now was time to help the kiddos, Told about #stageivpca and people chatted me up then and at the post hike party. Made a bunch of new friends 💙
She knew that I was having issues and kept herself in view so that I knew where to go. I'm having a Scotch Mule. My body was contorted and leaning over to one side, I'll show you me finish pix when I get them. It's kinda like when I stubbed a toe on coral in Hawaii and still did HNL marathon the next day, that was 9 hrs, not 11 in Big Bear
Replenishing protein. Near the end of the album there are a couple of pix with a Lady who owns the Christmas Store in Big Bear. The 1st time there, years ago, I spoke of the PCa and I've been back several times and she always remembers me and asks how I'm doing💙
Always inspiring. Genuinely don’t know how you do it. You have 20 years and the diagnosis on me. Pretty sure I would’ve taken the fast route option to station 3.
I got out and and walked yesterday for the first time post operation. I didn’t go fast and I didn’t go far, but I figured if you could brave Big Bear, I should be able to handle a few blocks. The sunshine and movement were good for my spirits. Not sure I’ll be up for ZERO in June, but I’ll definitely be walking every day from here on.
Thanks for being a living breathing testimony to keep moving as much as you can for as long as you can. Best wishes to you my friend.
wow ….. sounds like you had a rough time ( maybe your body was trina tell you something ? ) , but ….amazingly….. you trudged thru it and finished anyway. Really impressive big guy ….. very inspirational. I second everything Mando sad above as well. You STILL da man ….
Mahalo Bruddah Kal, it was the Terrain that got my back outta wack. All the marathons that I've done have been on asphalt or a flat even path. The PCT trail was mostly flat, but there were areas there that we had to get over, or around and the twisting of the body and having to step up over rocks and such caused twisting on esp the L4 L5 area and that's where it's degenerated. youtu.be/b-VAxGJdJeQ
So, the last 3 miles were very slow, but just kept on, didn't have much choice as I had no idea where I was relative to the finish line.
yikes … that sounds like rock climbing and hiking omg. Wow … Too strenuous for a aPCa , seems like. Soon you’ll be free climbing the face of El Capitan and hiking the trail back down. Yayahahahaya. Challenging is good I guess , but nothing wrong with more care for the tired old bones and taking it easy too.
Y'all know how crazy and determined I am 😂, and wasn't anywhere close to falling down the slope. The poles prevented my from stumbling down the side of the cliff. If I felt myself falling forward, I would plant one pole down to stay upright🤙
Initially, had tachycardia to due the 8500 ft elevation and having to go uphill. Within a couple of miles breathin slowed😅
So, the bulk of the trail was well pounded flat, but what got my back upset was having to step up then down over the rocks. that put a ton of stress on my lumbar.😪
I never push myself too much, and took a full aspirin pre hike so that I wouldn't throw a blood clot.
well it sounds like a major effort for you, altitude and rocky stretches, physical constraints and all. But you being a serious athlete, we’re able to handle it well, thank goodness. Seems like you had a great time there buddy , got your money’s worth of “ outdoors “ that you went for, and then some.
Encourages me to get going too. Even working toward that end. Had some tire maintenance and battery replacement on the trike. No one will work on my type of trike ( too difficult) , but I have my own specialized battery and tire shop , special to handle etrikes. I performed a full annual maintenance on the power lift yesterday, ….. that’s ready to go, waiting for three more batteries to arrive by the weekend supposedly. Soon as the parts come in, the etrike will be ready for a whole season of use. Then off to the zoo and coast with the etrike. ( hopefully , ….. might be transportation issues with the etrike tho , dunno ) .
Your outdoors fun makes me want to get out and play ( in my own way ) too buddy. I’m on it yayahahahaya
It's been my experience that the Trail hikers and staff are so down to Earth and very friendly. Yes made a few friends, and a couple friended me on Facebook, so they can be up to date with whatever I'm gonna undergo 😁Gorgeous scenery out there
Forest Therapy
And Yay for motivating you to get outdoors for Sunshine Therapy
So Game On for a coastal trip for ocean shores and Cioppino 💙
LoL, Mahalo nui loa for that😀 I've mentioned before that I was really shy and quiet thru High School (didn't even go to Prom😂), but sorta blossomed in College and then once I started as a DDS 40 yrs ago I've become more and more engaging. That demeanor helps break the ice, and reduce anxiety for new pts or kiddos.
Now, post #stageivpca over 8 yrs ago I'm just not caring what others think LoL. Maybe it's the 8 yrs on Lupron
In the past, I'd never consider singing/dancing with staff while it was being taped, but now I DGAF (Don't Give an F) and thus those two vids at AIS .
Irreverence, a ready smile, and singing random songs is now a huge part of my personality and I dig it and I think others around me do also😍
We were in the San Bernadino mountains last week (QOL trip for a nephews wedding), and I thought of your plan to hike down those slopes in awe. I'm even more impressed after looking at the album.
Way to go, raising money, making friends, making the most of your life. Much respect
Mahalo nui loa Bruddah, had precooked the bacon and zapped in micro for a post hike salty snack. Above pic with those dudes, people have RVs parked along bike path around mile 17 on Super Bowl Sunday there's Beer and Bacon and also on the way back. Bacon tastes esp delish at mile 17 salt and fat YUM YUM
Mahalo nui loa Bruddah, yes prep up here worked out well. Lumbar is a whole 'nother story, will pack adhesive pain patches for back, assuming I do it next year 😁Signed up for HNL marathon in Dec when I head home. So glad to be back doing marathons albeit way slower than previously
By next year if you keep it up you won't have the back spasms. You did alot in a short time even with you excellent fitness level. Remember you just finished radiation in case you forgot. Give yourself a break :0).
Hi, I do some Yoga: cat/cow pose, cobra, bridge and downward dog in am workout There was a New Year's promotion and got a Free Conqueror 2023 challenge that I can name my distance
So, I'm doing 552.2 by 10/13/23
552.2 was PSA on 10/13/2014 and thus my #stageIVpca Journey began
I've stated before that if I had followed up the 4.7 PSA in 2010, then I prolly wouldn't be in this HU APC group and also would not have met so many wonderful people like here😊 and ZERO (Vanessa) 😁, Kaiser Onco and AIS Onco/Radiation Staffs
will import the miles done from my Map my Run app and Imma apply the Big Bear hike to it 😁 Also will apply it to the 66 needed for my 66th Bday later this Month 😜
It works out to 3.44 miles/day til 10/13/23, so barring an injury LoL, should be doable
Based on your pics I would not have guessed you to be 66. Is the 66 mile hike in what shot cause then that would be a wonder and a great backpacking trip. Unless you do it credit card style
Nice drop on the PSA may it drop 66 times in 66 months.
Oh, Mahalo for that Bruddah about not looking 66😁.
I'm sorry for the misunderstanding, but the bday 66 miles is cumulative over the month of May, not one long *ss hike. So, that's why I said that I was gonna apply the Big Bear 28 miles to my bday thingie
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