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REJUVENATE OUTSIDE
Exercise For Fitness | 2021 OUTSIDE REJUVENATE
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FITNESS HIKES IN OUR COASTAL STATE PARKS
Whether you are a resident, or visiting here on the Central Coast, this is the perfect location to Relax, Refresh, and Rejuvenate. Here are just some of the places where you can find a better life experience for you and your loved ones. So, take the time to relax and enjoy!
Photo courtesy of David Baselt
THE FOREST OF NISENE MARKS STATE PARK Thirty miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking or a leisurely stroll. Directions: State Park Drive exit from Hwy 1 North to Soquel Drive. Turn right. Go east one mile to Aptos Creek Road. Turn left (N) on Aptos Creek Road to park entrance. 831-763-7063 • www.thatsmypark.org
SEACLIFF STATE BEACH & RIO DEL MAR BEACH At the end of the fishing pier, the USS Palo Alto, a cement ship built during World War I, has been a popular attraction since 1929. Directions: State Park Drive exit from Hwy 1 South toward Monterey Bay to the park entrance. 201 State Park Drive Aptos. 831-685-6442 • www.thatsmypark.org
NEW BRIGHTON STATE BEACH This 93-acre park offers spectacular views of the Monterey Bay. Its family-friendly campground sits on bluffs high above the Pacific Ocean. Directions: New Brighton/Park Avenue exit off Hwy 1, turn right (S) at bottom of ramp, then left at first stop sign. Follow the road to park gate. 831-464-5620 or 831-685-6444 • www.thatsmypark.org
CAPITOLA BEACH Enjoy this popular and famous beach beside Capitola Village with its famous Esplanade lined with shops and restaurants. Capitola, CA 95010.
rejuvenate | r ’joov ,nāt | verb [with object] make (someone or something) look or feel younger, fresher, or more lively
Enjoy our great parks and be rejuvenated.
SANTA CRUZ MAIN BEACH & COWELL’S BEACH Play volleyball, learn to surf, or just work on your tan. Visit the world-famous Santa Cruz Boardwalk and Municipal Wharf with its fantastic dining and shops. Along Beach St. west from San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz.
SANTA CRUZ LIGHTHOUSE & PARK This historic lighthouse, originally dedicated in 1870 and rebuilt in 1967, is a front row seat on Monterey Bay and the local surfing culture. Lighthouse Point, West Cliff Drive Santa Cruz. 831-420-6289 • www.lighthousefriends.com WILDER RANCH STATE PARK Within its 7,000 acres, has 34 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails winding through coastal terraces and valleys. The grounds include Victorian homes, barns, shops, gardens, and a historic adobe. Directions: From Santa Cruz, go north on Hwy 1 two miles past Western Drive and turn left. 831-423-9703 or 831-426-0505 • www.thatsmypark.org
HENRY COWELL REDWOODS STATE PARK Its self-guided nature path has many large, old growth redwoods with the tallest standing 285 feet tall and 16 feet wide. The oldest trees are from1400 to 1800 years old. Directions: From Scotts Valley – Mt. Hermon road to Graham Hill Rd, turn right, then left onto Hwy 9. From Santa Cruz –Graham Hill road to Hwy 9, turn left. Park is .5 miles on the left. 831-335-0782 • www.thatsmypark.org WEST CLIFF DRIVE A scenic drive, walk or bicycle ride between the Santa Cruz Wharf and Natural Bridges State Park.
NATURAL BRIDGES STATE BEACH Winter refuge for Monarch Butterflies, great beach, sandy cove, tide pools, nature trail through the Butterfly Preserve, several hiking trails, and a bicycle trail around the park. Entrance at West Cliff Drive & Swanton Blvd. Santa Cruz. 831-423-4609 • www.thatsmypark.org
Exercise For Fitness | 2021 RIDE EVERESTING
DAN HUGHES COMPLETES EVERESTING RIDE ON HIGHWAY 236
On May 29th Santa Cruz County Cycling Club (SCCCC) member Dan Hughes, photo left, rode his bike 55 times up and down Highway 236 near Big Basin to successfully complete his Everesting attempt. He rode 202.5 miles in 19:58:48 overall time. He climbed 30,010 feet in elevation, a remarkable accomplishment.
Here is Dan’s story in his own words. Greetings comrades! I’m 57 years old, and my life–changing journey into fitness began about six years ago when I quit my addiction to nicotine after 35 years of smoking. I also tweaked my diet and started to exercise, first by walking and then biking and running. I replaced all of my motorcycles with bicycles and I have upgraded all of my bikes, knowing bicycling is my passion. For the last two years I rode the double metric century of The Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge and last summer’s Death Ride, along with other century rides. Since I live on the Boulder Creek Golf Course, I lead SCCCC A rides on some Saturdays, and I enjoy enduro mountain biking that my son and a few friends got me into. Last year I won my age group in the Old Cabin Classic mountain bike race at Wilder Ranch. What is Everesting? All this brings
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me to Everesting, a climbing challenge thathas become extremely popular among pros and amateurs alike, since all of this year’s official events have been cancelled due to Covid-19. To qualify for Everesting fame, you must ascend 29,029 feet in one bike ride, on the same hill repeatedly to be accepted into their Hall of Fame. Some people may call me crazy and they’re probably a little right! Fortunately, since I live in the mountains, I love to climb as much as to descend. (I remember when I didn’t think I could sit on a bike saddle for 19 minutes, let alone 19 hours!) After reading all the information needed on the Everesting Website, I decided to try it. I set an estimated timeline and considered which hill would work best for the attempt. I wanted to be local for several reasons, such as logistics and support from friends and family. I did not want a road that was too steep so I could descend safely in the dark and when fatigued. I decided on Highway 236 between the Monastery and Little Basin Road. For practice, I completed a half Everesting on May 21 to test my stamina. That ride was 101 miles and I climbed just over 15,000 feet. I did it in about nine hours with breaks and felt no worse for the wear. So I scheduled the full Everesting for one week later, May 29. Next, I spread the word to friends, hoping for much needed support, which I definitely got. Planning to finish 30,000+ feet of climbing before dark meant a start between midnight and 1 a.m. As a result, I set my alarm for 11 p.m. and got a whopping half hour of sleep! I ate breakfast, loaded the car with supplies and my bike, then drove to the top of Little Basin Road. My family was worried about me riding in the dark, but I had two headlights, and the only thing I saw until after 4 a.m., beside a ton of stars, was one banana slug! I really enjoyed riding under the stars. As the daylight appeared, traffic picked up, mostly trucks, as it was also garbage pick up day. Friends started to arrive and staggered their support of me throughout the day. Club member Kathleen Bortolussi was a big help, pacing and motivating me after the halfway point. Greg Rouch came by to lend support along with Adam Berg. Also, Paul McDonald came out during his lunch break from work to take many nice pictures. Aside from everything I brought, my wife Christine brought me breakfast and lunch, which I ate mostly on the descents, After 55 climbs and descents, I finished the ride at about 8:30 p.m. with my friends Stan Hooper and Larry Narachi at my side. Stan was there for most of the ride and he also picked up trash for almost five hours along the sides of the route in the early morning. He had a cowbell he would jingle every time I passed. The second to last climb put me over 29,029, and the last climb put me over 200 miles, so I accomplished my first double century also. Having slept very well that night. I took one day off then went mountain biking on Sunday and running on Monday. Yep, I’m a little crazy! Special thanks to all who supported me in this endeavor! Finally, in acknowledgement of this achievement, I’d really like for this to be for something bigger. So, if you have the means, please make a donation to your favorite cause(s) as there are so many less fortunate than us and tragedies near us.
—Dan Hughes
PICKS UP SPEED IN SANTA CRUZ
COUNTY By Gina Gallino Cole
What’s the big deal?
We have been hearing so much about Slow Streets across the state, the country, the globe, and now, locally. But what’s the big deal? We often take our streets for granted. They are the framework for our cities and towns, delineating neighborhoods, connecting us to business districts and beaches, moving people and goods where they need to go. Although we don’t often think of them as such, streets make up a substantial portion of our public spaces.
Slow Streets also supports “Vision Zero,” a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries while increasing safe, healthy and equitable mobility for all. And here we are, nearly a year into the pandemic way of life and Slow Streets are still active in the City of Santa Cruz and in hundreds of towns and cities worldwide.
Indeed, folks are still spilling out into their neighborhood streets to maintain their distance.
Around the world, Slow Streets can be seen in a variety of formats. Berlin opened up 5 kilometers of urban bikeways to ease the impact on public transportation. Los Angeles developed Slow Streets across the city to slow traffic in residential areas and along commute routes, and is considering making these temporary changes permanent. Alameda, only a bit more populated than Santa Cruz, has rolled out a phased approach to neighborhood Slow Streets to great success. The city of Santa Cruz Public Works Department initiated a Slow Street program asking residents to nominate streets. Ten streets are participating: 1. Caledonia between Soquel and Broadway 2. Escalona between Bay and Highland 3. Darwin/Owen between Hanover and Hall 4. Getchell between Delaware and West Cliff 5. Modesto/Wanzer between Fair and Swanton 6. Oxford between Woodrow and Almar 7. Trevethan between Eastgate and Roxas 8. Melrose between Trevethan and Stanford 9. May between Coulson and Water 10. Jenne between Blackburn and Chestnut
Eight Slow Streets are being rolled out in the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County in February: 1. Moosehead Drive between Spreckles and Esplanade 2. Nova between 41st and Portola 3. 9th Ave between E. Cliff and Eaton 4. Paul Minnie between Soquel Ave and Rodriguez 5. Hilltop between Vista and Soquel San Jose Road 6. Esta Lane from Robertson to the end of the Esta 7. Adrienne Way between Court and Bain 8. Harper between El Dorado and Chanticlee Similar plans for Slow Streets are being considered in Watsonville.
Last summer, a group of neighbors suggested that the
Pleasure Point neighborhood could benefit greatly from a Slow Streets program as a response to the noticeable overcrowding on East Cliff Drive, a very popular place for tourists and those seeking outdoor exercise. Bike Santa Cruz County and Santa Cruz County Public Works collaborated on an addition to Public Works’ traffic calming protocols to include Slow Streets. A Slow Streets nomination form was published on Bike Santa Cruz County’s website, where County residents can now apply to initiate a Slow Streets installation on their block. Applying residents will act as a point of contact for the County and supporting agencies. Local agency, BSCC, staff will continue to work closely with County Public Works, and their community members to provide a transparent public process for the Slow Streets pilot program. For more information visit http://www bikesantacruzcounty.org/slow-streets or email SlowStreets@ bikesantacruzcounty.org www.bikesantacruzcounty.org/slow-streets http://www.santacruzhealth.org/HSAHome/ HSADivisions/PublicHealth/CommunityHealthEducation/ CommunityTrafficSafetyCoalition/Projects/VisionZero.aspx https://visionzeronetwork.org/about/what-is-vision-zero/ Questions about City of Santa Cruz Slow Streets? Email slowstreets@bikesantacruzcoutny.com https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/government/city departments/public-works/slow-streets
Gina Gallino Cole is executive director of Bike Santa Cruz County.
Exercise For Fitness | 2021 10 TIPS FOR WOMEN TO STAY WELL
DURING ALL STAGES OF LIFE
Women are taught to eat right and exercise to maintain good health. And, that's certainly true, but they have the power to proactively take control of their feminine health during all stages of life from the first period through post-partum, during perimenopause and beyond.
Maria Sophocles, MD, OB/GYN, the Medical Director of Women's Healthcare of Princeton, offers these tips to help change your health for the better.
Tips to keep healthy include:
FRESHEN UP BY BALANCING PH Vaginal pH can be offset by menstruation, sex, and hormone fluctuations during menopause and pregnancy. An imbalance in pH can often lead to a dreaded UTI or other infection like bacterial vaginosis, causing uncomfortable itching, burning, and smell. A pH-balancing gel like RepHresh will normalize pH and eliminate odor. Many women mistake BV for yeast infections and are prescribed antibiotics, which can throw off the normal pH.
EAT RIGHT Drink one less soda a day and lose 15 pounds in a year, and replace the "white" foods with "brown" like brown rice and whole wheat bread. Take fast food out of your diet completely. It's full of sugar and trans fats that clog your cell walls and contains toxins that are bad for the heart and arteries. Most fast food also contains chemicals like MSG that should be avoided. CONSIDER A VAGINAL PROBIOTIC Millions of women suffer from recurrent vaginal infections. Sex and antibiotics can be the reason why. RepHresh Pro-B provides 2 strains of vaginal lactobacilli specifically designed to maintain vaginal health by keeping yeast and bacteria balanced every day.
OPTIMIZE VITAMIN D LEVELS Safe sun exposure is a powerful and inexpensive intervention that can have profound benefits on your health. Enjoy 10-15 minutes of exposure to natural sunlight daily for nutrition, mental health, and bone density. Supplement a balanced diet with essential nutrients to promote healthy teeth and bones, support the immune system, and benefit cardiovascular health.
FAST FIX TO ELIMINATE PAINFUL SEX Stress and decreased estrogen levels during menopause can cause uncomfortable dryness and irritation. Replens Vaginal Moisturizer provides relief from internal dryness for three days and Replens Silky Smooth is a preservativefree silicone lube that should be used just before sex to avoid abrasion and ease comfort.
EXERCISE Regular exercise decreases chances of developing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity. Try ending the day with a personal dance party, watch YouTube videos, or get a subscription to a virtual exercise class.
TRACK YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE Stress and other factors can affect the menstrual cycle, so it's important to stay on top of your cycle whether or not you're planning on getting pregnant. Make sure to have a pregnancy test like First Response Early Result on hand to
find out 6-days sooner than your missed period. If you are trying to conceive, make sure to use a lubricant that won't harm sperm, like Pre-Seed.
DECREASE STRESS Don't feel guilty taking time to clear your mind. Plan quiet times and activities like reading a book, starting a garden, or even meditating. Listening to relaxing music or taking a bath helps to slow down heart rate and breathing. The better you feel mentally can improve how you feel physically.
AFRAID TO LAUGH, SNEEZE OR COUGH AFTER HAVING A BABY? Pregnancy and birth can give pelvic floor muscles a serious beating. Even moms in their 20's often notice post-natal side effects that include accidental loss of urine when they laugh, sneeze, cough, exercise, or during sex. Consider an FDA cleared, at-home pelvic floor strengthening device to restore post-baby strength and reduce leakage like Attain.
PRIORITIZE SLEEP Sleep is like a reset button for the body and mind. Prioritize getting at least 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep and try to stay off technology at least an hour before bed to avoid blue light keeping you awake. If you have trouble sleeping, try taking a vitafusion Max Strength Melatonin gummy before bed.
There's no better time than now to change your health for the better. Eat right, prioritize fitness, take control of your vaginal health and remember, you are your biggest health advocate.
BPT
