Sensory Strides podcast

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"The biggest communication problem is we do not listen to understand. We listen to reply." ― Stephen R. Covey

Welcome to the Sensory Strides podcast. Observations of the world through activity, reading, listening, and everything else.

52 Hike Challenge – Join us! There are free challenges and lots of swag you can buy. https://www.52hikechallenge.com/?rfsn=3543491.754f73&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=3543491.754f73

#52hikechallenge2020

Geocaching www.geocaching.com

Had lots of car time this week. This allowed me to do some reading in paper form and catch up on some podcasts.

Although I read nearly every day, it is usually before bed and I read my e-book. I know – we aren't supposed to use electronics before bed. However, I love turning off all the lights, snuggling under the blankets, and reading. I can't do that when I have a paper book.

I am in a mastermind group and each month we each read a nonfiction book and then we discuss them at the end of the month. We've learned we get more out of the books this way because we can each read something that relates to our life at that moment and we get to hear about other books we haven't read and learn from them too.

This month I am reading People Fuel by John Townsend. When I picked the book up from the library – not evening having remember ordering it, I thought this was going to be about how best to fuel your body through food. When I started reading it, I realized immediately that this book has nothing to do with food. It is all about relationships and what gives us energy and what can drain us.

https://www.amazon.com/People-Fuel-Fill-Your-Leadership-ebook/dp/B07KDZZ7L9

I love John's writing style and he has kept me interested and given me tips that are easily integrated to my current conversation style.

What was even more interesting to me is at the same time I started reading People Fuel, I began reading Sensible Shoes by Sharon Garlough Brown. This is a nonfiction Christian book about four women that meet at a spiritual retreat and how they build a relationship and support each other. The descriptions from John's book and examples gave me a different viewpoint on this nonfiction book as I was seeing John's examples play out in the interactions of the characters in Sensible Shoes.

https://www.amazon.com/Sensible-Shoes-Story-Spiritual-Journey/dp/0830843051/ref=sr_1_2?crid=T5VYF144N2I4&keywords=sensible+shoes+by+sharon+garlough+brown&qid=1581789323&sprefix=sensible+shoes%2Caps%2C382&sr=8-2

Have you ever read two books that ended up complementing each other as you read them? I hadn't experienced this to the degree I did here. God's work.

Thanks for joining me. Be sure to check our show notes for links to inspiration items and … don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

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"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." Saint Augustine

Welcome to the Sensory Strides podcast. Observations of the world through activity, reading, listening, and everything else.

52 Hike Challenge – Join us! There are free challenges and lots of swag you can buy. https://www.52hikechallenge.com/?rfsn=3543491.754f73&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=3543491.754f73

#52hikechallenge2020

Geocaching www.geocaching.com

Just got back from a one-week cruise. I love cruising because it allows us to see new places we may not have visited before.

Our first stop was Puerto Rico. I've been there before but was at a resort way outside of San Juan. This time we had the time to wander through the cobblestone streets. The port is beautiful as you pull into the harbor with the multicolored buildings clinging to the hillsides.

Our next stop was St Thomas. We spent most of our time there at Megan's Beach. It was gorgeous, even with the random rain showers we experienced.

At the Dominican Republic we never even set foot on the mainland. We went whale watching as we were there during the month-long breeding season for humpback whales. There isn't a port for cruise ships, so we anchored offshore and the excursion boat picked us up from the ship to take us to view the whales.

Our final stop was Nassau in the Bahamas. We checked out the Queen's staircase – which happens to be an earth cache, then took a tour around the island, and finished the day with shopping.

The food on the ship was amazing – as to be expected. I often had an English muffin with orange marmalade, caramelized bananas, and a coffee with chocolate sauce and whipped cream for breakfast. Lunch was usually quesadillas and guacamole with the ice cream flavor of the day. Dinner was always amazing and so much food!

While I did not follow my intermittent fasting plan while on vacation, I was excited because my last weigh in before we left, I had a new second number. For my first weigh in after we returned two weeks later since I only weigh in once or twice a week, I had only gained a half a pound. I call that a success when you consider how much we ate while we were gone.

Thanks for joining me. Be sure to check our show notes for links to inspiration items and … don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

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"If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes." - Andrew Carnegie

Welcome to the Sensory Strides podcast. Observations of the world through activity, reading, listening, and everything else.

52 Hike Challenge – Join us! There are free challenges and lots of swag you can buy. https://www.52hikechallenge.com/?rfsn=3543491.754f73&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=3543491.754f73

#52hikechallenge2020

Geocaching www.geocaching.com

https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2019/04/everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-about-favorite-points/

Thanks for joining me. Be sure to check our show notes for links to inspiration items and … don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

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Twitter @sensorystrides

Instagram @sherylmrobinson

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep." - Robert Frost

Welcome to the Sensory Strides podcast. Observations of the world through activity, reading, listening, and everything else.

Saturday was race day! The day started clear and cool. As the day went on, the sun came out. It was a great day to be on the trails. I felt God's love shining done.

Those trails were muddy though! There were places where when you stepped in the mud your foot just sunk, but most of the mud was the kind where you step, and your foot just slides sideways. That kind of mud really tests your balance. I was very glad I had been training with hiking poles and had them with me. I'm not sure how some of the others made it up the hills especially without poles. Those hills are steep enough without mud – with the mud it takes your whole body to climb. All the slip and sliding really added a whole new element. It hadn't been that muddy all summer while I had been training.

Talking about climbing – there was 8,871 feet of climb. Since we start and end at the same place, that means we had that much downhill too. However, there was one section where we dropped about 900 ft in just over a tenth of a mile. It was towards the later part of the race and my feet were not happy holding the rest of my body back at that point.

I was so appreciative to have an amazing crew following me. My daughter, husband, mom, and dad followed me all day long. They allowed me to drop my poles on the road segments and meant that I only had to carry my water bladder on the longer trail segments. Not having to worry about having that backpack the whole time allowed me to relax my shoulders and back, use my arms to gain some speed on the road sections, and just created a much more enjoyable experience. Plus, I didn't have to carry food or refill my water myself. Yeah team!

My A goal was 9 hours – the time the race director stated was the cutoff, my B goal was to finish. Before the race, the director said that because of the mud the cutoff time would be extended. In some ways I wish I hadn't known that so that I would have pushed myself harder.

When I was about 4 miles in, a racer came up behind me, super-fast. He was a marathon runner that had started a half hour after me. Soon enough the rest of the marathoners passed me. When I was about 8 miles in, he passed me again on his way back. THAT made me feel really slow! I didn't see any of the other runners on their way back in. However, about mile 18 another runner came up behind me. He was doing the 50k but had taken a wrong turn and added about 4 ½ miles to his course. At about mile 23, where there was a fuel station, I saw him sitting there. He decided not to finish. I encouraged him to continue, but he was out of his fuel and was going to take the SAG wagon back to the finish. My family ended up taking him back instead and had a really nice conversation with him.

The first 2/3rd's of the race I was just about perfect with the times – just behind the 6-hour mark. However, the mud in the last quarter of the race kicked my butt and the steep downhills sealed the deal. During the last two miles I just kept talking to myself to get myself through it. I climbed what I thought was the final hill (where I could see the finish line). However, there were three more down and up and more mud. By the last mile or so I decided to throw the time goals away and just focus on finishing. My toes were done. Every step that had the slightest downhill was so painful. My legs and the rest of my body felt fine, but you really need your toes for balance. My entire being was focused on the finish. The property we were on was beautiful. I was gingerly trekking along and realized the trail had just ended at a rock outcropping. It was gorgeous with a slight trickle waterfall, but I was very confused – had I missed a turn. I stopped and looked around and couldn't figure out how I missed the flags directing me along the trail. They were right there about two feet from me.

I continued up and down the hills on the lovely trail wondering where the finish line was. Finally, I came down a hill and could see the mowed trail on the other side of the creek headed back to the finish line. I continued walking along the bank of the creek when the trail completely stopped. I froze. This creek was about ten feet across and two and a half feet deep. I didn't see anyway around it. Was I going to come this far and not make it to the end? My feet hurt so bad I couldn't even consider taking my shoes off because there was no way I would get them back on. I had been there about thirty seconds, trying to figure out what to do and if I was really supposed to wade across the creek when a young girl came down the trail on the other side. I asked her if I was really supposed to cross the creek here. She happily and with lots of energy said yep!

I sat down on a log and slowly pulled off my shoes and socks. I then hobbled over to the edge of the creek and realized there wasn't any way I could cross the creek with my shoes in my hands and holding on to my hiking poles. I knew I needed the poles to get across the creek because there was no way I could balance that well on my sore feet. I looked at the girl and asked her if she would mind carrying my shoes across the creek for me. She gladly plunged right into the water and came over and got my shoes for me. I got across the creek and realized I really wasn't going to get my shoes back on and asked her if she would mind carrying them for me. At this point, I knew the finish was less than a quarter mile away. She happily said sure and ran ahead announcing to everyone – that is my family, the race director, and a few of the other people that had put on the race – that a runner was coming.

I continued down the mowed path until I was about 500 feet from the finish. At that point, I dropped the poles and ran the rest of the way to the finish. In bare feet with my pants rolled up to my knees.

I had done it. 9 hours and 55 minutes, but I finished and except for the blisters on my feet, felt really good, not sore at all.

Two days later as I record this, I have gone for a four-mile walk, probably the last nice day we will have this year. Everything feels good except for my baby toe on my right foot.

Thanks for joining me. Be sure to check our show notes for links to inspiration items and … don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

50k Race website: https://www.cheyennecreekcamp.net/

Park where race is held: http://kickapoovalley.wi.gov/Home

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"A walk in nature walks the soul back home." - Andy Rooney

Final long run (well kind of) before tapering. 22 miles on the trails. Instead of using the same trails I've been on all summer, I decided to hit some of the trails at the park which I haven't been on before. Last weekend my family went to the park to find some geocaches we hadn't found yet. It was a good activity to keep the younger group busy and allow the older group to get out in nature and do an activity we enjoy – while getting some additional caches.

While at Kickapoo Valley Reserve http://kvr.state.wi.us/Home I found out that there is an annual challenge which encourages people to hike all the trails and canoe the river through the park. After looking at the list of the trails and how they had broken them into segments for the challenge, I realized I had already done over half of them this summer. Knowing I had 22 miles this week I was able to finish another third of them. I have just a few shorter segments to finish the hiking portion. Then – I'll just have to figure out how to get in a day of canoeing or kayaking on the river to finish the challenge. I'm not worried about the river but figuring out when to fit it in given how late we are in the season is going to be the challenge. http://kickapoovalley.wi.gov/Documents/Recreation/KVR%20Trail%20Challenge%20Form.pdf

I had a whole new experience this week on the trails. I am so glad that I found this challenge. I found some new trails that were completely different than the trails I have been training on. Many of the trails were nice wide, grass paths. One of them had a boardwalk along a marsh. I didn't even know that KVR had a boardwalk anywhere. Most of the trails at the reserve are single track and narrow.

I have a few segments yet to finish. I plan on including them for my 12-mile trail workout this week. Yep, taper time and I still must do nearly a half marathon. It sure doesn't feel like a taper.

This summer I have started listening to audio books while hiking. I am enjoying listening to a book better than multiple hours of podcasts. I still love my podcasts, but while out on the trails, listening to a book is more complementary to the environment than self help or business podcasts. However, when I am doing my road workouts on the bike trail along the highway, those podcasts feel more appropriate than an audio book. I've been using Libby which is the app libraries use for eBooks and audio books. I've been using it for eBooks to read through the kindle app for a couple of years and I am absolutely loving using it for audio now. https://meet.libbyapp.com/

Thanks for joining me this week. Be sure to check our show notes for links to inspiration items and … don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

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"What makes your heart sing?" Carmine Gallo

I recently read the book Talk Like Ted.

One of my passions is working with high school Girl Scouts. The highest award a high school Girl Scout can earn is the Gold Award. I am honored to be on our Girl Scout Council's Gold Award Committee and assist Girl Scouts through the process. The first two chapters reinforced much of what I tell others about choosing a good Gold Award project.

The book is a guide for those making presentations. It describes why the TED Talk format works so well. The book is structured so those that aren't giving a TED Talk can still find valuable tips. I picked up the book as I have applied to give a TEDx talk next spring and have been thinking about the presentation. After reading the book I have more confidence and am eager to create a presentation.

The first chapter talks about passion. We often talk about identifying your passion when working to choose a Gold Award project. The book takes this a step further. I love the question the book presents "What makes your heart sing?" (page 55). This is about more than passion. I think of this as "What gets you fired up?". This is what gets your heart racing. A subject that when it is brought up in conversation you just cannot keep quiet. The subject that if your best friend, a stranger, and you were in a conversation and the stranger brought it up, your best friend would just roll her eyes, knowing what is coming. The train has left the station and there are no brakes.

The second chapter talks about storytelling. As I read this chapter, I thought about the interviews related to the Gold Award process. Often as we go through the Gold Award process, we answer questions as written or follow a checklist. If instead we used each question as an opportunity to tell a story, project connections would be clearer. The 'why' of a project would come across more easily. Instead of checking requirements off a list, a fuller explanation would be available.

By sharing the story, the project becomes more personal. Not only to the review committee, but to others as you ask them to support your project. The donor, your project advisor, your volunteers. All of them will better understand your goals when you share your story.

There are a lot of other interesting pieces regarding presentation in the book. One I found most interesting was regarding how fast you should speak. As someone who speaks fast and listens to podcasts at 1.9 speed, the material presented caused me to pay more attention to my speaking speed. I learned a lot about listening too.

The presentation tips are valuable for all. I know it drives me crazy when a presenter reads every word on the slide. Why do we need a presenter? I could have read the slides myself. Using the slides to enhance the presentation is a tip many people could learn.

https://www.amazon.com/Talk-Like-TED-Public-Speaking-Secrets/dp/1250061539/ref=asc_df_1250061539/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=266023323049&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4175388889410257643&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019296&hvtargid=pla-489309437727&psc=1

Thanks for joining me this week. Be sure to check our show notes for links to inspiration items and … don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

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"You are an Ironman!" Mike Reilly

I started reading Mike Reilly's book Finding My Voice. I was in the car and I think I was crying by the third paragraph. The stories Mike shares in the book are so emotional. I think they really inspire me since I want to hear Mike call me an Iron Man someday.

One of my friends raced Lake Placid Iron Man this summer. She posted pictures on Facebook with her signed copy of Mike's book.

I had heard about the book earlier this year, but it wasn't in our library yet. I had forgotten about it until I saw Jenny's picture. I looked online and not only did no libraries in our regional system have it, no libraries in the entire state had it. Well, I knew I had to fix that. I emailed the librarian (also a good friend) and asked if she would order the book. She did and now not only do I get to read it, but hopefully it will inspire others in the area.

There is a story for everyone in here. Family stories, stories of survival, fighting back from medical issues, military, everything. I highly recommend everyone ready the book. I guarantee you will have a new appreciation for Iron Man after doing so. Who knows, perhaps you'll decide you want Mike to call you an Iron Man too.

https://www.amazon.com/MIKE-REILLY-Finding-Voice-Endurance/dp/1733747850/ref=asc_df_1733747850/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=353263677590&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11749654833387843159&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019296&hvtargid=pla-677715789588&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=69532441125&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=353263677590&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11749654833387843159&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019296&hvtargid=pla-677715789588

Thanks for joining me this week. Be sure to check our show notes for links to inspiration items and … don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

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"Just put one foot in front of the other." Austin Peck

Welcome to the Sensory Strides podcast. Observations of the world through activity, reading, listening, and everything else.

How do you get 18 miles in? I had an 18-mile workout to do. I can easily get in 14 to 15 without thinking about where I'm going to go. We have a really nice bike path that goes between two towns that's about 5 miles long and it is about a mile and a half from our house. However that only got me 2/3 of my miles. On the way back I took a detour around the old highway road, which is fairly residential now. Then I took another detour out of town and headed out to see the new dog park our city put in the summer before heading back into the opposite tide of town from where I live. I then came back into town and walked through the industrial park heading back to the bike trail from where I'd work on my last mile and a half. The thing that kept me going while I was out was knowing what I was going to have for supper when I got home before I left my husband promised me his French toast he makes the best French toast puts vanilla in it sweetens it oh it's just so yummy and breakfast for supper is always a treat anyway

The next day I had a 14-mile trail workout. I decided to hit the part of the trail that will be on the 50k route next month which I hadn't completed yet. I had seen a post from the park that they had just finished cleaning up the trail so I knew it would be good to go.

One worry I have on some of the trails at the park is the Wild Parsnip. Some of the trails are just horse paths, so they aren't very wide, and the wild parsnip can grow very close to the trail.

I'm still not sure if I am glad to have done the trail or not. I like to know what I am getting into, but this trail was STEEP. Even going down it was difficult since it is so steep. I am really glad I decided to purchase trail poles. Not only did it help on the steep slopes, but there are quite a few places on this portion of the trail with water and they helped balance as I tip toed across the creeks on whatever rocks I could find.

Less than a month to go. That means it's almost taper time! I'll be so glad when I am not out on my feet for hours at a time anymore.

I've already decided I need to switch it up for next year. No more long distances. We are going to have to find something else to work towards.

Thanks for joining me this week. Be sure to check our show notes for links to inspiration items and … don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

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"Pain is your motivation to learn healthy alignment, better technique, and more efficient movement patterns." Kino MacGregor

Welcome to the Sensory Strides podcast. Observations of the world through activity, reading, listening, and everything else.

So, I've gotten an injury. Luckily, although painful, the injury won't keep me off my feet. I still don't quite understand how the injury occurred. A couple of weeks ago my husband and I went away for a couple of days for our anniversary. As listeners of the podcast may know, I am an avid reader. So, while we were in the car I read. When we got home my shoulder was bothering me, but I didn't really think about it. I put the TENS machine on the shoulder to try and loosen it up. After a couple of days, it was better. However, then we went on a couple hour drive for an event we were attending. Again, I read in the car. The next day I couldn't even move my shoulder. On the way home, while reading, I felt it tightening up and kept changing positions, but apparently not enough. Yep – believe it or not – I hurt my shoulder reading! Ugh!

I am wondering if this related back to the swimming issue I had a year ago January which I went to physical therapy for and thought was resolved. I will be doing my PT exercises again during this training cycle. At least it isn't keeping me from getting out on my feet.

We have had so much rain in the area lately although it has been spotty. There have been times when one spot will get a couple of inches and another spot just a few miles away will not have any rain. It is so strange. It has also made it difficult to get out on the trails. Between not knowing if it is going to storm and the trails being very wet from the rain, it limits trail activity. Luckily the training plan only requires one trail workout a week. It's usually a long one – at least 3 hours and usually longer for me, so fitting in it to the schedule and watching the weather is an ongoing project each week.

Thanks for joining me this week. Be sure to check our show notes for links to inspiration items and … don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

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