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This seems like something I should know by now and I just never asked. Maybe I don't know because I started running on mostly flat land so elevation gain/loss was like 5m. What do you use elevation gain/loss for? People track it as a factor and I get the vague logic that a positive number is uphill (difficult) and a negative number is downhill (easy), but is there some use in quantifying or qualifying your elevation in your training?

Cutebug's Awesome Autumn Adventure! Challenge 1: Continue Hiking throughout the fall! Rain or Shine! (Probably lots of rain!) I am committing to hike at least once per week, as I have been doing over the summer. I will continue to monitor my elevation and distance, and get to Mordor. Challenge 2: Train myself to do a Back Bend from standing position! I can do a mean bridge but it's been over a decade since I've been able to get down there from standing position. There will be lots of balance and stretching exercises! I think strengthening my arms and legs will help with this. Challenge 3: MOAR push-ups! I'd like to increace the number of push-ups I can do in a set. My greatest achievement so far was 15, but that was a one-time thing. I'd like to be able to consistantly do 15 EVERY TIME. More, if possible. I'll probably also try to do a few sets. Personal Challenge: My super cool friend got me a machete for my birthday, which I am ridiculously excited about! I must do some bushwhacking! Must slash things! I'd like to do some more Geocashing (hopefully with someone who has a better data plan than me!) and maybe even some camping or something! Basically I'll use whatever excuse I can to use my new machete. Also, I got a super crazy bright flashlight so I should also make up an excuse to go somewhere dark. ADVENTURES! YAY!

Ultimate Goal: To be Fit and Skilled Enough to Survive the Apocalypse (whether it be Zombie or Panem or other) (last year at the Renaissance Festival) 6-Week Challenge Overall Goal: To Lose 10 Pounds Steps to get there: 1. Swim at least once per week. I have always loved swimming. I kid that I am half fish. I love to swim underwater and do twists and turns like a seal. Swimming does for me what yoga does for everyone else. When I swim, I am Zen. Plus, swimming uses muscles you didn't even remember you had! I am always tired and/or sore after a good swim. I haven't been doing it nearly enough, though. I decided to start this part of the Challenge last week because I was so excited about it. I went swimming 3 times last week And the reason I didn't write my Challenge Thread on Monday? I was out swimming again I am LOVING it. 2. Improve my diet. Stop snacking at work. Tell my coworkers to stop putting out "share" food right behind my desk. Ignore the candy at the front (I have been good about doughnuts but the little candies have sometimes temped me). Cut down on dairy (too much cheese lately). Have more lean meats such as turkey and fish. I have been having much too much red meat and bacon. I know Paleo = love of bacon, but it is a lot of calories and I need less calories to lose weight. Last summer when I lost 30lbs, I was mostly still eating turkey, chicken and fish. I'd also like to add more wild meats into my diet. And finally, bring less temptation into the house, and bring more packed lunch ingredients in. 3. Ascend at least 100 metres per week. This will be a mix of hiking & walking, stair climbing, and squats. I have calculated that stairs are approximately 3m/floor and I'm going to say that unweighted squats are 3m/10squats. One of my swimming spots in down a giant flight of stairs, so that will help with my weekly goal. I also always take the stairs at work (2nd floor) and at my parents condo (4th floor). So I do 30m for work per week. I go to visit my parents at lease once per week, so that's 9m. Just need 61 more every week! My butt's gonna be awesome! Here are a couple pictures of me Pre-Challenge: Last weekend at Rocky Point in Port Moody, BC - Kayaking to see baby seals! Last weekend at Van Dusen Gardens in Vancouver - rocking my new parasol.