**CLOSED** SKINNY CHICS & A ROOSTER TRIATHALON **CLOSED**

KnottyNCrotchety

So I am going to post the October Challenge information here for anyone that might have participated this month and want to join us for next month too!

******************OCTOBER CHALLENGE**********************************

THE SEVEN SUMMITS

In mountain climbing there is a small group of people that have summited the highest mountain on each continent. This is a huge challenge, usually requiring a few years, a lot of training and buckets of money. The group that has accomplished this incredible feat and lived to tell about it numbers less than 300 and only 34 of them are women. You can read more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Summits

The mountains are:

Mt. Kosciuszko (7,310 ft) in Australia (or there is another option in Carstensz Pyramid (16,024 ft) which is the tallest mountain in Oceania/Australasia).

Vinson Massif (16,050) in Antarctica.

Mt. Elbus (18,510 ft) in Europe.

Kilimanjaro (19,340 ft) in Africa.

Denali (you can call it Mt. McKinley if you want, but I am from Alaska and we call it Denali, The Great One) (20,320) in North America.

Aconcagua (22,841 ft) in South America.

Everest (29,035 ft) in Asia.

My idea for the challenge is this. We will have seven different activities. Each activity will contribute to our climbing a particular mountain. By the end of the month we will have hopefully climbed all seven summits together!

My hope is that this will help us all to continue with some of the great habits we have picked up the past couple of months with our challenges, such as running, biking and swimming (thanks Becky and Sara!), but we will also be adding in some new activities to help us to expand our options and workouts. These activities will not all be exercise based and belonging to a gym will not be required to accomplish them.

I would like this to be a group challenge, so that we are all working as one group, just to change it up from this month (although I will really miss the trash talk fun!). I also would like this month to be unlimited. If you want to set yourself a personal goal, then go ahead, but one thing I have noticed the past couple of months is that many of us have set a personal goal and then ended up going way past it (sometimes even doubling it). So how about if we don't limit ourselves this month, but just see how much we can do! I love when we all work together to get to the goal and my hope would be that we would all try to contribute to each of the mountains, injury and physical limitations would impede this some, but hopefully most of us will be able to try everything at least once.

I will share more details about the activities in a little bit, but since people have started to ask, I thought I would share the general concept now. I will also post some more details about each of the mountains we will be climbing this week, so you can get to know them.

I am really excited about this challenge and hope you are too! I have always been intrigued with the idea of The Seven Summits so its fun to think I will be able to say I did it too...with my friends!

So are YOU in?

KnottyNCrotchety

********OCTOBER CHALLENGE**********

Denali

While many know this mountain as Mt. McKinley, its Athabaskan name is Denali....the Great One. Its summit is listed as 20,335 feet, making it the tallest mountain in the United States and North America. It was created through the subduction of the Pacific plate under the North American plate, the same pressures that create the numerous earthquakes in Alaska.

Denali has two significant summits, the North Summit and the South Summit. Of the two, the South Summit is higher at 20, 335 ft. while the North Summit is at 19,470 ft. There are five large glaciers on the mountain. The "sister" mountain is Mt. Foraker that rises directly above base camp. Talkeetna is the closest town and is where most of the mountaineers fly into before leaving to climb Denali.

It was first recorded attempt of the mountain was in 1903, and the mountain was first summited on June 7th, 1913 by a man named Walter Harper, an Alaskan Native. Now, the mountain is climbed regularly, with just over half of attempts being successful. Over 100 people have lost their lives on Denali. The most popular route up the mountain is the West Buttress route that was pioneered by Bradford Washburn in 1951, so that is how we will make our attempt.

Denali is a coveted feather in a climber's hat not only because it is the highest mountain in North America but also because due to its location it has rather fearsome weather to contend with. The West Buttress route up the mountain is relatively easy and free of major obstacles and has sometimes been referred to in derogatory terms as the "Scenic Loop". While this is technically true, there are many sections where your full attention is required and there is little room for error. Base Camp is located at 7,200 ft. The other camps are located at 7,800 ft, 9,500 ft, 11,000 ft, 14,200 ft, and 17,200 ft.

An actual itinerary from a 1996 expedition looked like this:
June 25: fly into base camp, weather closes in before entire team makes it into camp
June 26: rest of team flies into base camp
June 27: logistics day and crevasse rescue practice
June 28: Move to 7,800 ft camp
June 29: Move to 9,500 ft camp; storm moves in
June 30: Bad weather day
July 1: Move to 11,000 ft camp
July 2: Rest day
July 3: Ferry loads to 14,200 ft camp; return to 11,000 ft
July 4: Move to 14,200 ft camp in inclement weather
July 5: Rest day
July 6: Ferry loads to 16,000 ft; return to 14,200 ft
July 7: Move to 16,000 ft camp
July 8: Move to 17,200 ft camp
July 9: Bad weather day
July 10: Summit day; storm moves in as summit is reached
July 11: Descend to 14,200 ft camp in inclement weather, 70 knot winds
July 12: Move to 7,800 ft camp in bad weather, total whiteout
July 13: Bad weather day
July 14: Move to base camp, fly out, get drunk at Fairview Inn

Our activity that will take us to the South Summit of Denali at 20,335 ft will be.......BIKING! For every block that you bike you will take us up the mountain 1 foot. For the purposes of this challenge 1 block = 330 ft, so there are 16 blocks in a mile.

carhicks

I will have to pass on the October challenge as I do not have access to a bike for a few weeks at least. I hope to be able to watch your progress and cheer you all on though. Carla

KnottyNCrotchety

I will have to pass on the October challenge as I do not have access to a bike for a few weeks at least. I hope to be able to watch your progress and cheer you all on though. Carla

Don't let that stop you! There are 6 other mountains to contribute to and you can do some biking at the end if you like. We would really love to have you join us. Please reconsider.

KnottyNCrotchety

***************OCTOBER CHALLENGE*********************
Aconcagua-South America
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas at 22,841 ft (6,962 m). It is located in the Andes mountain range, in Argentina near the capital city of Mendoza and close to the border of Chile. Aconcagua is the highest peak in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. The origin of the name is contested; it is either from the Arauca Aconca-Hue, which refers to the Aconcagua River and means 'comes from the other side', the Quechua Ackon Cahuak, meaning 'Sentinel of Stone, or Quechua Anco Cahuac, 'White Sentinel'. The mountain was created by the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American plate during the geologically recent Andean orogeny; however, it is not a volcano.
The first attempt on Aconcagua by a European was made in 1883 by a party led by the German geologist and explorer Paul Güssfeldt. The first recorded ascent was on January 14, 1897 by Matthia Zurbriggen, on a British expedition led by Edward FitzGerald. The youngest person to reach the summit of Aconcagua was Matthew Moniz of Boulder, Colorado. He was 11 years old when he reached the summit on December 16, 2008. The oldest person to climb it was Scott Lewis who reached the summit on November 26, 2007 when he was 87 years old. There is no definitive proof that the ancient Incas actually climbed to the summit of the White Sentinel [Aconcagua], but there is considerable evidence that they did climb very high on the mountain. Signs of Inca ascents have been found on summits throughout the Andes
Similar to Denali, Aconcagua is technically an easy mountain in mountaineering terms, if approached from the north, via the normal route. Aconcagua is arguably the tallest non-technical mountain in the world, since the northern route does not absolutely require ropes, axes, and pins. We will be taking this route up the mountain. The route includes the following camps: Plaza de Mulas, 4,370m (14,340 ft): Base camp, claimed to be the second largest in the world (after Everest). There are several meal tents, showers and internet access. Camp Canadá, 5,050 metres (16,570 ft): A large ledge overlooking Plaza de Mulas. Camp Alaska, 5,200 metres (17,060 ft): Called 'change of slope' in Spanish, a small site as the slope from Plaza de Mulas to Nido de Cóndores lessens. Nido de Cóndores, 5,570 metres (18,270 ft): A large plateau with beautiful views. Camp Berlín, 5,940 metres (19,490 ft): The classic high camp, offering reasonable wind protection. Camp Colera, 5,980 metres (19,620 ft): A larger while slightly more exposed camp situated directly at the north ridge near Camp Berlín, with growing popularity. Attempts on the summit are usually made from either Camp Colera or Camp Berlin.
Possible itinerary
Day one- End of Vacas valley-Pampa laina (8,200 ft) From the road to camp 4-5 hours
Day two- Casa Piedra (9,200 ft) 5-7 hours
Day three- Plaza Argentina (13,200 ft) 5-7 hours
Day four- Rest
Day five- Carry a load to camp 1 (16,200 ft) 4-6 hours
Day six- Move up to camp 1 4-6 hours
Day seven- Rest
Day eight- Carry to camp 2 (19,200 ft) (high camp) 4-6 hours
Day nine- Rest
Day ten- Move up to camp 2 (19,200 ft) 4-6 hours
Day eleven- walk to 21,500 feet Independencia to understand the route 2-3 hours
Day twelve- get up early 3:00am and start for the summit with headlamps and crampons this is a long day allow 10-12 hours or longer for the round trip. 7-12 hours
Day thirteen- decend to base camp then arrange mules with the rangers for you gear and walk out to Casa Piedra to spend the night. 3-7 hours
Day fourteen-walk out to the highway at mouth of the Rio Vacas and get picked up.

Our activity that will take us to the summit of Aconcagua will be….DANCING! This will include Zumba and aerobics. This will be our Celebration Summit and we will dance and have fun! Each minute that you dance will equal 1 foot up the mountain. However…if you dance WITH someone else it will count for double! So if you close the living room curtains and shake your groove thing alone in front of the couch, that is great. But if you boogie down in Zumba class at the gym….double points! If you dance with your child while you are making dinner….double points! If your hubby takes you out for dinner and a little dancing….double points! If you turn on the webcam and convince Bobbie to dance along to your favorite song….double points! I am hoping this mountain will remind us that burning calories can be FUN, but also to push us to share it with others in our lives.

Ziggie13

***************OCTOBER CHALLENGE*********************
Our activity that will take us to the summit of Aconcagua will be….DANCING! This will include Zumba and aerobics. This will be our Celebration Summit and we will dance and have fun! Each minute that you dance will equal 1 foot up the mountain. However…if you dance WITH someone else it will count for double! So if you close the living room curtains and shake your groove thing alone in front of the couch, that is great. But if you boogie down in Zumba class at the gym….double points! If you dance with your child while you are making dinner….double points! If your hubby takes you out for dinner and a little dancing….double points! If you turn on the webcam and convince Bobbie to dance along to your favorite song….double points! I am hoping this mountain will remind us that burning calories can be FUN, but also to push us to share it with others in our lives.

I love this. great thinking. Dancing is fun..this is one of my goals to be able to go out dancing all night with my husband and not have to take a break after every song..

Ziggie

lombrica

JUST AN ENCOURAGING REMINDER...

A challenge is meant to be just that... a challenge. Each of us that have taken on being a Challenge Leader have tried to find ways to push limits, to help us reach goals we didn't think we could, etc. I know that JJ has done a tremendous amount of work on the October Challenge and I can't wait to see it all revealed and to hear all the reactions once it is... but I also know that the design of the challenge IS going to be something that is going to push me personally.

JJ has already talked about biking and dancing... and we still have 5 summits left to hear about. JJ has posted that it's a group goal -- so anything you contribute will help our larger group! So, once again we are all just working together, no personal limits or minimums, just all of us working hand-in-hand to apparently climb to a summit and see quite a view! Imagine the view?!? I can see all of us... there we are - about 22 of us, hand-in-hand, arms raised in the air standing on the summit and watching the sun rise while we listen closely to see if we hear the earth sing as the sun pokes out... they say if you are quiet enough... but there we are - successful skinny chics and the rooster - celebrating, laughing and crying in joy!

My encouragement is just this... everyone give every challenge a go! Push your limits, find new ways to participate and to challenge yourself. I made a committment that I would attempt and give my best to EVERY challenge we do. The milage one for the Appalacian Trail... wasn't really my cup of tea because it wasn't my "regular" routine, it didn't really fit into what I was doing... but I decided I would attempt at least one mile per day. What I discovered at the end of it was a whole new way of exercing and working out and I not only got my 30 miles... but I went above my goal by 400%!! Pretty amazing what I can do when I let myself!

Seven Summits... doesn't that sound intriguing? Seven Summits... I am pretty sure that there will be at least one or two things that each of us are already comfortable with and fits our routines... and, I am pretty sure that JJ has developed some thoughts/concepts that are going to push us beyond our comfort zones to shake up our routines! I, for one, am soooo excited about this! I have some major releases that are owed to me by those Trimming/Toning Gods... so I think that Seven Summits sounds like lots of super releases to me!!

Thanks JJ... for all you have done to put this challenge together! I can't wait...

Icewolf_The

Carla you can't bow out, Becky wouldn't let me bow out, and I have a god damn boot on my foot.. So SHENNANIGANS!!! Yer in it, there I said it. *thppppt*

Okay I'm taking my booted butt to the other thread now Jane and I will eat consolation Air-Cheetos till you all arrive

meerkat70

Something I have to thank this challenge for...

About six weeks ago, my partner and I took a walk round a local dam, with our dogs. It's a pretty flat walk, but it's long (for me anyway, at this weight!) - 8 miles. When we walked it six weeks ago, it took nearly 3 hours. Yesterday, we did it in (quite a bit less than!) 2 and a half. I'm *so much* fitter. And I think this challenge has done a lot to help produce that. So thank you all for the encouragement, and for putting the idea to try this triathlon business into my head.

andilynn82

I just wanted to let my team know that unfortunately medical issues have taken me out the last week or so, and I'm not sure my biking is going to get finished On Sunday the 18th, I was feeling good about it...I had about 70 miles to go, and 12 days to do it...no problem. Less than 6 miles a day, and I intended to do 10 miles per day on the weekend. But that evening, I started having some abdominal pain. I went to the doctor Tuesday afternoon and he said to take it easy and see how I felt in another day or so but by that evening I was in the ER because it was just about unbearable. All they did was rule out anything major (it's not appendicitis, not my gall bladder, not a kidney stone, etc) and sent me home. I called my doctor again the next day, he said to take it easy until the pain goes away. It's not nearly as bad now but I still have some pain on a daily basis. Pretty sure it's ovarian cysts, and that most likely one burst causing the worst of the pain last week. I'm hoping to be back on the bike this week, but I don't think I'll be able to do 70 miles in 3-4 days I'm really, really sorry Lynn and Greg!

I didn't know there was another thread, I guess I'm not one of the "cool kids".

StaciO

Good morning my little triatheletes! I am feeling really good today in spite of a 0 loss this week. I think I added too much chocolate to my zen this weekend. Oops. But, after reviewing my food diary I see where I need to change. Gee, I sound kind of like a broken record. I think I said this last week when I was irritated that I only lost .3 I think some of us have talked about a mental block when reaching certain milestones previously here on the threads. I am kind of at one myself. I always said when I get to where I have less than 50 to lose then there are no more excuses for me not to just finish this thing. My hubby was asking me about it last night as he knew I was getting close to that mark. I hadn't really thought about it in a while but check out my damn ticker. So, I am going for a 2 pound loss this week. I have gone back to writing on my wrist and it says 185 as my goal for my next weigh in. I really don't think my exercise is an issue but I have got to get my eating right. My problem is in not being consistant. Some days I eat really healthy and others not so much. This week my goal is to log every single bite, lick and taste that goes into my mouth and end each day within 50 calories of my target of 1200.

JJ- dancing, zumba and aerobics yay! I can dance and zumba. October is going to be fun.

Ziggie- I belong to curves. I like it. I joined because it cost less than my previous gym memebership and it was more convenient as far as location. I do this thing there called Curves smart which is a little card that goes into each machine and tracks my workout and sets a new goal for me to increase my workout each time. I like it. With that being said if it weren't for the friends that I have made there I would probably start to get bored and usually when I get bored I quit and move on to something else. That may still ahppen but it has been since Feb 1st of this year for me so far.

Gotta run for now. They are c alling me to get my flu shot.

RENAEJAE

Ok - so now that I am half way through Monday I feel somewhat redeemed for my weekend of eating sins. I didn't overdue in a gross way, but I ate when I felt like it instead of when I was hungry. And the sodium in last nights Empanada Extravaganza surely settled in my fingers and toes. I'm drinking water like a dehydrated camel today. I should feel normal again in about 8 more hours.

I'm going to stick around here just to see who says no to the challenge next - LOL Becky is kicking *kitten* and taking names. JJ - I say you just sign us all up! I'm liking the exercise ideas you've shared so far.

Ziggie13

Ziggie- I belong to curves. I like it. I joined because it cost less than my previous gym memebership and it was more convenient as far as location. I do this thing there called Curves smart which is a little card that goes into each machine and tracks my workout and sets a new goal for me to increase my workout each time. I like it. With that being said if it weren't for the friends that I have made there I would probably start to get bored and usually when I get bored I quit and move on to something else. That may still ahppen but it has been since Feb 1st of this year for me so far.

Thanks Staci,

I go tonight and I will let you know, how it went and if I join. I have a week free pass. I do like the idea of the Curves smart card. I heard that the workout around the circle gives you a 500 calorie burn in 30 min, is it correct? How do you log curves in as exercise on MFP?

Got to get back to work, by for now

Zena / ziggie

KnottyNCrotchety

******************OCTOBER CHALLENGE****************************

Mt. Elbrus – Europe

Mount Elbrus is an inactive volcano located in the western Caucasus mountain range in Russia, near the border of Georgia. Mt. Elbrus's peak is the highest in the Caucasus, in Russia. While there are differing authorities on how the Caucasus are distributed between Europe and Asia, many sources agree that Elbrus is also the highest mountain in all of Europe. Mt. Elbrus' west summit stands at 18,510 ft (5,642 metres ); the east summit is slightly lower at 18,442 ft (5,621 metres).

The name is a metathesis of Alborz. The name Alborz is derived from that of Harā Bərəzaitī, a legendary mountain in Persian mythology. Elbrus sits on a moving tectonic area, and has been linked to a fault and has a "deep" supply of magma that resides underneath it. The ancients knew the mountain as Strobilus, Latin for 'pine cone', a direct loan from the ancient Greek strobilos, meaning 'a twisted object' – a long established botanical term that describes the shape of the volcano's summit. Myth held that here Zeus had chained Prometheus, the Titan who had stolen fire from the gods and given it to ancient man – likely a reference to historic volcanic activity.

The lower of the two summits was first ascended on 10 July 1829 by Khillar Khachirov, a Karachay guide for an Imperial Russian army scientific expedition led by General Emmanuel, and the higher in 1874 by an English expedition led by F. Crauford Grove and including Frederick Gardner, Horace Walker, and Swiss climber Peter Knubel. From 1959 through 1976, a cable car system was built in stages that can take visitors as high as 12,500 ft (3,800 metres).

There is a wide variety of routes up the mountain, but the normal route, which is free of crevasses, continues more or less straight up the slope from the end of the cable car system. During the summer, it is not uncommon for 100 people to be attempting the summit via this route each day. The Normal Route is the easiest, safest and fastest on account of the cable car and chairlift system which operates from about 9am till 3pm. Briefly put, this route starts at either the Barrels Hut at 3900 meters (12,795 feet) or Azau Valley at 2350 meters (7,700 feet), climbs up to the Diesel Hut at 4157 meters (13,638 feet), climbs up past the Pashtuhova Rocks at 4670 meters (15,321 feet), up to the Saddle between the peaks at 5,416 meters (17,769 feet), and to the West summit at 5642.7 meters (18,513 feet). The route is pretty straight forward in good weather and is usually marked with wands. There are no real crevasses provided you don't wander off the standard route. The climb can still be a trial in bad weather, so go well prepared. Total elevation gain from the Barrels hut is 1743 meters (5718 feet), and the climb usually takes 6-9 hours up. Descent usually takes 3-6 hours. By number of deaths, Elbrus is one of the World's deadliest mountains.

Our activity that will take us to the top of Mt. Elbrus' west summit is…….Exercises! This will include push-ups, sit-ups, lunges, jumping jacks, squats, and/or climbing stairs with 1 exercise equaling 1 foot up the mountain. Since this is our Exploration Summit, it is my hope that you will use this opportunity to explore new and quick ways to add a little exercise to your daily routine. Do a few wall push-ups while you are waiting for the toaster in the morning. Sneak in a few sit-ups during the commercials breaks when you are watching tv at night. Take the stairs instead of the elevator when you head to work. Squeeze in a few jumping jacks while you wait for the shower to warm up. You can of course do your 100 push-up challenge all at once when you first get up in the morning, but I would like to think you will also try to fit in a few other exercises in the course of your day.

StaciO

Zig- You can burn that many calories. I have come close to that but not quite that many. I think it depends alot on how much you weigh and how much effort you put into it. My calories burned can vary by up to 100 depending on if I am "feeling it" on any given day. It is in the MFP database under Curves. I wear my HRM and usually MFP is a little low compared to it.

carhicks

Well this challenge is looking interesting. I can help us get up some of the summits even on vacation. I love the exercise idea. Will that include things with weights or would that be something different?? If you do not have access to weights, I have used cans of soup etc. Let me know. Carla :bigsmile:

carhicks

I just wanted to let my team know that unfortunately medical issues have taken me out the last week or so, and I'm not sure my biking is going to get finished On Sunday the 18th, I was feeling good about it...I had about 70 miles to go, and 12 days to do it...no problem. Less than 6 miles a day, and I intended to do 10 miles per day on the weekend. But that evening, I started having some abdominal pain. I went to the doctor Tuesday afternoon and he said to take it easy and see how I felt in another day or so but by that evening I was in the ER because it was just about unbearable. All they did was rule out anything major (it's not appendicitis, not my gall bladder, not a kidney stone, etc) and sent me home. I called my doctor again the next day, he said to take it easy until the pain goes away. It's not nearly as bad now but I still have some pain on a daily basis. Pretty sure it's ovarian cysts, and that most likely one burst causing the worst of the pain last week. I'm hoping to be back on the bike this week, but I don't think I'll be able to do 70 miles in 3-4 days I'm really, really sorry Lynn and Greg!

You do what you can and take care of yourself Andielynn. We do not want to hurt anyone with these challenges. I hope you or the doctor figure out what is wrong with you and that you feel better soon. Carla

I didn't know there was another thread, I guess I'm not one of the "cool kids".

KnottyNCrotchety

Well this challenge is looking interesting. I can help us get up some of the summits even on vacation. I love the exercise idea. Will that include things with weights or would that be something different?? If you do not have access to weights, I have used cans of soup etc. Let me know. Carla :bigsmile:

That is what I was saying Carla! Glad you have decided to join us! :bigsmile:

This summit is just for exercises that use only your own body weight. Anything called a push-ups counts, girly push-ups, military push-ups, wall push-ups, one armed push-ups. Same with sit-ups, lunges, squats, jumping jacks etc. Each one you do = 1 ft up the mountain. Also, every time you take the stairs, each stair = 1 ft.

k2quiere

I'm totally down with this summit...I mean, the others have been cool, but I'm really feeling this one! OK, what's next???

KnottyNCrotchety

I'm totally down with this summit...I mean, the others have been cool, but I'm really feeling this one! OK, what's next???

So you would rather do push-ups than bike, hmmmmmm? Good to know!

Here is the next mountain....

KnottyNCrotchety

**********************OCTOBER CHALLENGE********************************

Mt. Kosciuszko-Australia

Mount Kosciuszko is a mountain located in the Snowy Mountains in Kosciuszko National Park on the border between Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. With a height of 2,228 metres (7,310 ft) above sea level, it is the highest mountain in Australia (not including its external territories). There are two options for The Seven Summits for this continent. We will be doing Mt. Kosciuszko which is the highest mountain on the Australian continent and was the highest summit for Australia on the original list created by Bass, not Carstenz Pyramid (Puncak Jaya) the highest mountain in Oceania and on the same continental plane as Australia, which was chosen as the highest mountain by Messner. Some climbers do both of these mountains, so that no one can dispute they finished the challenge.

It was named by the Polish explorer Count Paul Edmund Strzelecki in 1840, in honour of the Polish national hero and hero of the American Revolutionary War General Tadeusz Kościuszko, because of its perceived resemblance to the Kościuszko Mound in Krakow. Mount Kosciuszko is not particularly difficult to climb. There is a road to Charlotte Pass, from which it's an 8-kilometre (5 mi) walk up a path to the summit. Anybody with a modest level of fitness should be able to walk it. As many as 100,000 people climb it every year. Until 1976 it was possible to drive through Rawson Pass to within a few metres of the summit. The walking track to Mount Kosciuszko from Charlotte Pass is in fact that road, which was closed to public motor vehicle access due to environmental concerns. This track is also used by cyclists as far as Rawson Pass, where they must leave their bicycles and continue onto the summit on foot.

Our activity that will take us to the summit of Mt. Kosciuszko will be…..WATER!! For every glass of water you drink we will move 1 foot up the mountain. However, on Thirsty Thursdays we will get 2 feet for every glass we drink! A glass of water is 8oz. and will include herbal and green tea and flavored water but not juice, soda, black tea or coffee. This is our Nurture Summit and we will be nurturing our bodies by hydrating them. The standard rule of thumb is that you should be drinking half your body weight in ounces of water every day. It is my hope that in the course of a month we will all develop the habit of drinking enough water every day. Please be smart about this and do not try to down 12 glasses of water in one sitting. Your body is not able to process that much water at once and you can become ill.

k2quiere

I'm totally down with this summit...I mean, the others have been cool, but I'm really feeling this one! OK, what's next???

So you would rather do push-ups than bike, hmmmmmm? Good to know!

Here is the next mountain....

Crunches, jumping jacks, something that doesn't require me sitting on my bum for an hour at a time...I just need a month off from the crazy bike, although I know it's not going to happen.

Ziggie13

Well, I'm not going to joining Curves. I don't like the hours and they wont take credit cards and we have to pay by auto withdrawl from my checking account. Not going to happen. And if you go on a two week vacation you have to let them know you wont be there...WHAT is that?

on to my elliptical workout and maybe a new place to workout. If not back to the Wii games.

Zena

lombrica

So excited about this challenge... that's right ReNae... I am kicking *kitten* and taking names! I know how much work was put into this one and we need every single person to get us to the summit on every mountain!!

I agree Bobbie... I think that the exercise one is one I am most excited about... well, the dancing one is gonna be fun too!

What I love the most about this challenge is the VARIETY!! How many of us are stuck in a rut?!? We do what we are comfortable with, what our "exercise routine" has been... That's right, I read those comments... But guess what?!? If we continue to do what we always did, we will always get what we've already got... I.e. we would all still be pounds and pounds and POUNDS heavier and most likely sitting on our a$$es much more. So, I am excited to change up my routine! I am excited to start doing something new, differnt and... most of all... FUN!! We actually have a summit that is specifically geared to having fun! How great is that?!?

LOVE IT JJ!! LLLLLLOOOOVVVVEEEE IT!

BUT -- the month ain't over... so all of you better get those a$$es moving and FINISH YOUR TRIATHALONS!! :noway:

KnottyNCrotchety

I am so glad people are excited about this challenge. :bigsmile:

But back to the triathalong....I am excited to see how much we lost as a group this month Becky! Everyone took their measurements and weighed at the beginning right? So when can we start gathering that information and see how we did?

KnottyNCrotchety

Well, I'm not going to joining Curves. I don't like the hours and they wont take credit cards and we have to pay by auto withdrawl from my checking account. Not going to happen. And if you go on a two week vacation you have to let them know you wont be there...WHAT is that?

on to my elliptical workout and maybe a new place to workout. If not back to the Wii games.

Zena

Zena, I have an idea for you. I have been shopping around for a gym the last couple of months. I sign up for a free week membership (almost all of them offer at least a couple of days for free, many will give you a week), try it out and then move on to the next one. I will eventually run out of gyms to sign up for trial memberships at, but by then I will know which one I like best. Also, watch on Groupon, Living Social, etc. as they often have either gym memberships or fitness classes offered for a deep discount for a month or so. Just in the past couple of weeks there have been pilates, crossfit, bootcamp, burlesque, and yoga classes offered as well as three different gyms offering 1 month memberships for less than $20.

I am finding that I get easily bored and changing things up keeps me interested. At some point I am sure I will enjoy the camraderie of a gym that "knows" me, but until then, this is really cheap and kinda fun. (I might be a cheapskate that looks at saving money as a challenge, but don't tell anyone ok?)

KnottyNCrotchety

*******************************OCTOBER CHALLENGE********************

Vinson Massif –Antarctica

Vinson Massif is the highest mountain in Antarctica, lying in the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, which stand above the Ronne Ice Shelf near the base of the Antarctic Peninsula. The massif is located about 750 mi (1,200 kilometres) from the South Pole and is about 13 mi(21 km) long and 8.1 mi (13 km) wide. At 16,066 feet (4,897 m) the highest point is Mount Vinson, which was named in 2006 after Carl Vinson, long-time member of the U.S. Congress from the state of Georgia and a key supporter of funding for Antarctic research.Vinson Massif was first seen in 1958 and first climbed in 1966.

During the summer season, November through January, there are 24 hours of sunlight. While the average temperature during these months is −30 °C (−20 °F), the intense sun will melt snow on dark objects.

The first group to reach the summit was on December 18th, 1966 and was part of the American Antarctic Mountaineering Expedition 1966/67. The expedition was sponsored by the American Alpine Club and the National Geographic Society, and supported in the field by the U.S. Navy and the National Science Foundation Office of Antarctic Programs. Ten scientists and mountaineers participated in AAME 1966/67. All members of the team reached the summit the rest on December 19th and 20th. An expedition in 2001 was the first to climb via the Eastern route, and also took GPS measurements of the height of the peak. Over 2000 people have currently climbed Vinson Massif, due in great part to its inclusion on the Seven Summits list.

Our activity that will take us to the summit of Vinson Massif will be….Running, Walking and Swimming! For running and walking we will be using the unit of measurement of 1 mailbox length. In my neighborhood, there are 2 mailboxes per block and I already said 1 block was 330 ft (100m) , so the distance from one mailbox to the next will be equal to 165 feet (50m) and there are 32 of them in a mile. (Thats right, I just totally made up a unit of measure. See Oliver Smoot for why I can do this.) I like this because when I first started running, that was how I measured myself.....just make it to the next mailbox baby! So 1 mailbox = 1 ft up the mountain. For swimming, we will be measuring with lengths of the pool. 25yd pools are most common in the US for home pools, so I am going to use those pool lengths as our measure. 1 length = 1 foot up the mountain. If you are swimming in a bigger Olympic sized pool, then 1 length = 2ft up the mountain. If you are Staci and swimming in the ocean for a triathalon, then 1 mile of swimming = 64 ft up the mountain. We have been walking/running/swimming through all of the challenges, and since this is our Endurance Summit, lets keep on with these great, easy and cheap forms exercise that have formed the base of most of our exercise programs!

cherubcrnp

I found you!!!!!!! Ok, now to go back and read everything

Pam aka Cherubcrnp

StaciO

JJ- Since I am here with you in the Pacific NW I don't think there will be anymore swimming in the ocean until next summer. LOL But I will seee what I can do about getting some time in at the pool next month. I'm definitely game for some more running and walking too.

RENAEJAE

Only 3 days left before the October Challenge begins! I'll have to make a point of getting on here over the weekend so I'll know how to keep track of things.

Sitting here self talking - telling myself that I will NOT eat standing up at the island tonight. I will eat lite and healthy - maybe a chix ceasar salad - ya, that sounds good.