First Derivative for Jocks

[cjsmith]

Hiked about three and a half hours yesterday. My heart rate varies wildly according to the steepness of the trail. I knew it would vary a little, but I didn't think it would be all over the chart! When the trail felt to me like a "good climb", I was getting 145 or maybe 150. When it was steep, I'd get to 160 or greater and the heart rate monitor would flash at me to say hey, push the down button on the treadmill, you're out of the aerobic range. But when the trail was flat, my heart rate dropped very quickly. It would get below 120 in what seemed like moments. I learned within the first ten minutes of the hike that if I wanted to stay at or above my target 136bpm, I had better skip or jog all the flat parts and all the downhill parts. So that's what I did. Today I am a little sore from skipping. I don't usually skip much! :-)

I wonder what my heart rate would be when walking a level path. Clearly well below 120. I'll take a wild guess and say in the nineties.

Saw a cool waterfall. It was maybe four feet tall, but pretty. Dinner at Alice's Restaurant again. There are LOTS OF CATS living there! Cool! :-)

I am now convinced that aerobically, I'm perfectly fine for the Half Dome hike. It'll be the knees that get me -- that or blood sugar, or just starting too late in the day. My heart and lungs can do it.