15-344

Mile 1,043.  Tortoise visited George Washington Academy this evening to watch his granddaughter and her fellow students perform in their Christmas choral concert.  On his way there, Lou parked his car and climbed the hill on Foremaster Drive between Riverside and the hospital in both directions.  He enjoyed the extra heart pumping of that enough to go back and do it again after the concert.  The delightful scene shown above was seen along the way.  

Today's walking thought is by Neill Marriott ...

Cheerio!

An extra colorful depiction of tonight's hill climbing

Today's walk was 4.26 miles and had a 3.5 tortoise rating earned by climbing 622 feet in the 2.13 mile uphill portion.  Average elevation was 2710. This walk burned 632 calories in 1:17:20 hours.

Here are the overall stats so far for 2015:

1,043.15 miles walked which is 104.11% of Lou's 2015 goal.  On this day in 2014, Tortoise had walked 972.17 miles.  

320:58:18 hours walked which is 102.55% of the 2015 goal (which is to walk 1 hour a day on the 313 days other than Sunday in the year).  

57,534 total feet climbed, compared with 47,590 feet on this day in 2014.

156,764 calories burned.

94.25% of the year has passed.

Lou has walked 183 consecutive non-Sundays since his 8 missed days May 2-11, Overall he has walked on 286 of the 295 non-Sundays in 2015, a 96.95% consistency rating.  This compares with 282 days walked in the same period in 2014 (a 95.59% consistency rating).

The purpose of the percentages is to have a higher percentage of both distance and of 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 walking record up until 2013 with 2014 or 2015 ... for him, it is what it takes to be consistent.  He hopes you find what works for you).

And now for today's walking thought ...

"I agree with Sister Harriet Uchtdorf, who wrote, 'You ... are vibrant and enthusiastic beacons in an ever-darkening world as you show, through the way you live your lives, that the gospel is a joyful message.'

"President Thomas S. Monson pointed out, 'If you want to give a light to others, you have to glow yourself.' How can we keep that light of truth glowing within us?  Sometimes I feel like a dim lightbulb.  How do we grow brighter?

"The scriptures teach, 'That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light.'  We must continue in God, as the scripture says.  We must go to the source of light -- to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the scriptures.  We can also go to the temple, knowing that all things within its walls point to Christ and His great atoning sacrifice.

"Think of the effect temples have on their surroundings.  They beautify inner cities; they shine from prominent hills.  Why do they beautify and shine?  Because, as the scriptures say, 'Truth shineth,' and temples contain truth and eternal purpose; so do you."

-- Neill F. Marriott, "Sharing Your Light", October 2014 LDS General Conference

The tortoise is smiling!