Hiking - A workout with a view!

Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail (you can see the sea covered with fog on the horizon)

Last January, when I decided this was going to be the year that I really got serious about working out, I joined a hiking group.  I went to www.meetup.com and found a hiking group in my area.  There are tons of hiking groups around here. It's the thing to do in California! I went to my first hike shortly after the new year and met another couple that runs their own hiking group and I've now been hiking with them almost every Saturday morning. 

I chose to move over to their group because they do long hikes...usually 8-13 miles at a faster pace than the other group!  It was really hard for me at first but after a couple months I could keep up with the more experienced hikers and it felt really good!  I went every Saturday morning and never missed one until about June! 

Due to scheduling conflicts, I haven't been hiking for the past 3 weeks but I was finally able to go last Saturday. Wow.....It was almost like starting all over again!  I did well until about the 8th mile...we still had 2 more miles to go at that point and it was mostly all up hill!  The thing with hiking...you don't have a choice, you have to keep going...we were out in the middle of nowhere!  I just wanted someone to carry me out of there at that point! haha! I made it though but am I ever sore!  I learned my lesson...I  need to keep up on my hiking! It is a great workout!

I've found that it's better to work out with a group or at least another person because if you are like me, you just don't push yourself on your own!