thin

today i'm in santa fe with my mom. it's the first time we've taken a trip together in i-don't-know-how-many-years without my boys in tow. (at least five, i'd guess.) my very small plane landed yesterday in 50 mph winds at nearly the same minute hers did. (well, they must not have been at the very same minute, seeing as there wasn't a fiery crash on the runway.) but at any rate, we met in baggage claim and our bags arrived within minutes of each others. damn near perfect timing.

i've never been to new mexico and despite the raging wind and dust storm in albuquerque and the snow flurries (yes, snow) here in santa fe, i'm overwhelmed with the beauty of the place. last night i had to remind myself i was still in the states because i felt like such a foreigner. every time i hear english, i'm surprised a little.

so this morning i got up with the intention of doing some exercise while mom had to attend a meeting. forced to workout sans equipment, i started with some basic cardio moves like jumping rope, jumping jacks, etc, to get my heart pumping. but then - what's going on? i. can't. breathe.

suddenly this place of beauty and wonder has transported me back in time years ago to when i was a much different fitness level. and then i remember that a friend at work said, 'the air is thin there.. give yourself a couple of days to get adjusted.'

thin air. less oxygen per breath. hmm. i quickly do some mental gymnastics and decide that if i have to breathe harder to support my workout, then my heart rate will be higher, and perhaps i can even burn more calories than at home!

(there goes my thin obsession again.. making me behave a little crazy...)

i wonder though as people acclimate to the thinner air if they simply breathe deeper, taking in more air so as to oxygenate their blood effectively? or do their lungs become more efficient in other ways? i'm not sure.. and i'm not going to do the research to figure it out because i would like to believe the former.

i'd like to believe that when people are surrounded by all the beauty this area affords them and the thin mountain air, that nature forces them to slow down and enjoy it. i certainly plan to.

d: slow, deep breaths of new mexico
b: workout complete..lungs adjusting
g: exploring with my mom..and breathing..deep.