Uping the ante..

Since the Santa Barbara work took a lot out of me, I spent the weekend after mostly relaxing, catching up on laundry, and catching up on some paperwork. I rode for a few hours, so I got SOME movement in for the weekend. :)

The following week, it was difficult to get out. I spent most of Monday cooking after work. I made golabki, a Polish dish of cabbage leaves stuffed with rice, ground meat, and dill, topped with a tomato gravy sauce. Typically this dish is made with ground pork, but since my housemate Ron recently got an elk hunting in Colorado, I made it with ground elk. I may just be the first person to use elk meat in golabki! They turned out quite excellent. I made a huge potful, using a large cabbage head, 8 cups of rice, and about 3 pounds of ground elk. All was polished off by the end of the week!!

Tuesday was another "off" day, but Wednesday I had a very intense work out. I had an hour-long riding lesson, followed by a trail ride. Like most horses, the horse I ride doesn't particularly like arena work, so the lesson took a lot out of me. By the end, my leg muscles were screaming, I was coated in sweat, and my heart was pounding. Who says the horse does all the work with horseback riding??

Unfortunately, I didn't stretch or warm-up before-hand, and I think I pulled a muscle in my leg. When I got off the horse after the trail ride, I nearly collapsed from the pain in my right leg. I diligently iced and carefully hobbled around for the next two days, and fortunately, by Friday evening, I was better. I went on a short half-hour ride on Friday (this time stretching before-hand!) and then top rope climbing for two hours at the gym with some friends. I mostly belayed, but I did get chance to do a 5.9, a 5.10a, and a 5.11a (which had mostly 5.9 moves, so don't really think it was rated correctly). I was very careful with not over-extending my hurt leg, despite it feeling better.

During the weekend I spent time with the fam in the Bay Area, comparatively getting in some weight-lifting, jogging, and hiking in from the experience.

Monday I went riding again, focusing more on position for myself and heart rate up for the horse by doing a hilly trail. In December, I plan to take part in my first endurance ride, which will consist of 25 miles. There will be two major things to improve on before the ride: my position and balance, and the horse's fitness. Fortunately, every time I ride, I typically get a full body work-out for myself, from preparing the horse, being a pro-active rider, and cleaning the horse and tack after.

I also plan to incorporate some more exercises at home designed for building core muscles, as well as calf strength, which will collectively increase by riding and climbing strength.

I probably won't be able to ride or climb until Friday, as I have evening meetings all during the middle of the week.

In addition, there is a 10K mud run I may partake in this weekend. I am hesitant only because it is rather expensive, and I'm trying to save as much possible for this fundraiser. I've decided if spots are still available the day-of, I'll participate. If not, I'll act as photographer for the group of friends that will be running it.