15-27

Mile 78.  A late night 2.06 mile walk up and down La Verkin's Main Street in 39:09 minutes. Because the Tortoise just has to keep going, no matter what.  Too dark for a good picture, but fortunately, Lou was blessed to listen to perhaps one of the classic President Hinckley talks of all time, which is saying something, because he had a lot of classics.  Just ask Mike Wallace or Larry King. 

For more on tonight's walk, including exactly what makes Tortoise think this particular talk is so classic, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!


Average tortoise rating was 5.9 on the 1.03 mile (somewhat) uphill segment of this walk, based on 16 feet climbed. 301 calories were burned. 

Tortoise's walking map provider, www.mapmyfitness.com, has changed formats recently and the maps haven't transferred to this blog as well since.  Instead of embedding the map, let's try this link and see if that works better for you to see where Lou walked today:

http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/622232738

Here are the overall stats so far for 2015:

78.17 miles walked, which is 7.80% of my 2015 goal. On this day in 2014, Tortoise had walked 79.34 year-to-date miles.  

23:17:41 hours walked, which is 7.44% of my 2015 goal (which is to walk 1 hour a day on the 313 days other than Sunday in the year)

3,089 total feet climbed, compared with 3,710 feet on this day in 2014.

11,692 calories burned

7.35% of the year has passed

Lou has walked 31 consecutive non-Sundays since his last missed day on December 22, and overall has walked on 321 of the 336 non-Sundays since the beginning of 2014, a 95.54% consistency rating.

The purpose of the percentages is to have a higher percentage of distance and time walked than of the year. This tells Tortoise that he is on track. Yes, this is more numbers than you are likely interested in, all Tortoise can say is he's really good at setting high goals and having them slip away because he doesn't do them every, every day.  (If you doubt this, compare Tortoise's 2013 walking record with 2014)

And now for today's walking thought, initially presented in April 1995 when Gordon Bitner Hinckley was sustained as Prophet, Seer, Revelator, and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, following 15 years as a counselor to three previous presidents, and 22 additional years as a general authority.  

"Now, my brethren and sisters, the time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a season to be strong. It is a time to move forward without hesitation, knowing well the meaning, the breadth, and the importance of our mission. It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more Christlike.

"We have nothing to fear. God is at the helm. He will overrule for the good of this work. He will shower down blessings upon those who walk in obedience to His commandments. Such has been His promise. Of His ability to keep that promise none of us can doubt.

"The little stone which was cut out of the mountain without hands as seen in Daniel’s vision is rolling forth to fill the whole earth (see Dan. 2:44–45). No force under the heavens can stop it if we will walk in righteousness and be faithful and true. The Almighty Himself is at our head. Our Savior, who is our Redeemer, the Great Jehovah, the mighty Messiah, has promised: “I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up” (D&C 84:88)."

He did indeed begin standing even a little taller than before, and inspired others of us to do so as well.  

To watch, listen to, or read this message in full, please visit https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1995/04/this-is-the-work-of-the-master?lang=eng #ShareGoodness

The tortoise is smiling!