Mt. Woodson summit, Poway, CA. See hiking activity details via RunKeeper.

The sports facility where I play just put up some cool poster boards with statistics on the fitness benefits of racquetball. For many years now, I’ve played twice a week for two hours and get in at least five games. Taking into account I weigh 175, now let’s do the math…

Calories burned in 30 minutes for a 160 lb. male:

Racquetball	382
Running (10 miles)	360
Swimming (fast freestyle)	349
Tennis	288
Weight Training	288
Bicycling	288
Aerobics (vigorous)	256

Fitness Facts

• Racquetball offers both aerobic and anaerobic benefits, with both sustained high-level heart rate activity and quick burst of energy required during play.
• Racquetball works nearly every muscle group, including sustained, repetitive use of large muscles that increase calorie burn and reduce fat percentage.
• The average number of calories burned during racquetball play ranges from 640/hour to 794/hour.
• Racquetball players work at a constant rate of 75 to 85% of their maximum heart rate for the duration of a typical game.
• An average game will take 20 minutes, during which a player will run a distance of approximately 3,650 feet – or over two miles in one hour!

(Source: www.usra.org)

Not convinced? Watch this!

And, like golf, you can play forever.  Check out local player, Burdette Hansen, at 80 beating someone half his age.

He’s totally sticking it to the youngster (probably in his 30s). Love it! The lesson for all Rball players is to stay healthy and strong enough to just get into the court at that age. The skill is treacherous and ageless, as Mr. Hansen clearly illustrates. What a great example for everyone. Now that’s inspiration!

Saw these off Coronado while kayaking into San Diego Bay. It’s a rare dark purple jelly fish called the black sea nettle (Chrysaora Achlyos).  This species can grow up to 3 feet across with 30-foot-long, stinging tentacles.

I was hiking a new trail up to Cowles Mountain today. I’ve been taking the main trail for a few weeks and decided to explore a different route. When I got to the summit, I just happened to notice that an airplane was sky-writing a heart shape over Lake Murray.  It was there one minute, and gone the next.  Just like love, fickle and fleeting, in which timing is everything. I hope for whomever arranged this special message for an equally special love, it lasts a good while longer.