Walking in my own footprints … sort of

FeetForBrains

February 17

Yep, it's been a good long while since I updated the blog. Lots of goings on. We're now located in Vermont. We've been flooded twice. And I'm once again gainfully employed. These facts are just some features of the otherwise rock-studded moonscape that is my life.

There's also this stone. I'm currently about 30 pounds overweight. Apparently, this happens when international travel, age, and a rediscovered love of breaded foods conspire against a person. I just haven't had the time or energy to engage in regular exercise and my diet has been rubbish.

In order to prevent additional poundage and the impending damage to my soul that will invariably occur during the next hiking/biking season I've embarked on a new journey. I've recently purchased a KS Fit Walkingpad A.

It lacks all the features you'd expect to find on a high-end treadmill save one. It is in fact a treadmill and it can keep up with my usual pace. Most people don't know this about me, but I walk fast-ish. My average is somewhere just shy of 4 mph and that's on trail even with a pack.

These days I'm a little slower, but all the same, I've just completed my first week with the device and so far it's working out splendidly. Better yet, if I desire to hike in the Cascades, all I need to do is bring up one of my immersive walking videos and I'm back there hiking up the side of some mountain or other.

That's been fun and, at least for myself, I realize a lot of the value I invested in those hikes. I'm not plodding along trying to escape my head while some dumb podcast pings off my Teflon brain. Rather, I'm back there among the cedars and stones making good time and staying ahead of the mosquitoes.

So, if you're the drinking sort -- and you know I am by my distended gut -- raise one and thank the gods who bring us kismet.