Back to Back

[tinaballina]

Yesterday I hiked skyline with Dan, Mark, Doreen, Stacy, Mike and Jamie...it was a GREAT hike and perfect day. It was Mark's first time going all the way to the tram and he did awesome, Cynthia has trained him well, just as Doreen has trained me on the mountain. We did it in 6:55 (including stops, lol).
Today I decided to go up again with a friend of mine, Adam. He had gone up in December but had to turn around at 8,000 feet due to the snow/ice. He wanted to conquer it once and for all so i opted to do a back to back.
Yes, i did skyline two days in a row...WOW...do i feel this one. I finally was able to meet Cynthia as well, whom i must thank. She doesn't know it but she actually encouraged me as she introduced herself as we passed each other on the trail, thank you Cynthia. We did it in 6:35 (including stops again).
I wasn't sure i would be able to do it but i sure as hell wasn't coming down the mountain, it is just too rough on the body.
I can't say i will be doing the back to back anytime soon but it brings me pleasure knowing i can. Just a personal conquer i thought i would share.

ps....i am going to bed, exhausted!

[FIGHT ON]

Wow. That's awesome. Congratulations!

[Mountaingoat]

Holy mole, you ought to be proud of yourself. Congratulations!!

Berne

[Cy Kaicener]

Wow A 16,600 ft elevation gain weekend in 23 miles. - Awesome. People will be talking about a female Rick Kent who is another one of the Elite.
Scott Swaney did two c2c's in a week end in a trip that he led for the outdoorsclub.org. Amazing.

[KathyW]

Good job Tina - thanks for sharing.

[cynthia23]

Congratulations, Tina! A real achievement! It was good to meet you, too; a pleasant break.

As I told you on the trail, I've heard that doing back-to-back endurance challenges is a good training technique and is supposed to break through plateaus (sp) in fitness. I remember reading about a female mountain biking champion who said she used this "two-days-in-a-row" method. (i.e. grueling distance work-out on Saturday followed by grueling distance work-out on Sunday.) i would think it is somewhat analagous to bodybuilder's technique of overloading the muscles with a heavier weight, although in this case what you are forcing the body to adapt to is higher 'loads' of endurance output. Of course, this is a technique only to be used when you are already quite fit (which you obviously are.) and in good health. You have to carefully monitor your body and know just how far to push. I'm sure Zip and others would have much more to contribute on this technique ....

Again, congratulations on doing this, I know it took loads of willpower to drag yourself up there the next day!

[FIGHT ON]

Ricki Kent