This morning I felt stronger and chose to do a test. I walked down and up the Brookline hill this morning for 2 trips.
The hard part is trying hard not to run down the hill. I've also started running up the hill for brief bursts with the goal of being able to run both up and down the hill by the end of September. Today; however, all that was put on hold until my ankle is 100% again.
Now keep in mind that I suspect had my achilles been 100%, stepping in a chuck hole would not have mattered as much as it did. But no matter, the stars aligned in a way to sideline me for a week and come back slowly, but come back I will.
I took Monday to support other folks working out and Wednesday I was a cheer leader for folks doing a tour of Harvard stadium. Today I couldn't sit still. I walked down the hill with an older gentleman from the neighborhood. He told me he walks up and down the hills in the area for 90 minutes every morning, no matter the weather. Now that's #weatherproof! I made it up the hill and felt pretty decent and stopped to assess where I was at. I felt I could handle one more tour and halfway up the second time, I realized I was done for the day. There was a bit of twinge and it was clear I needed to rest.
Coming home, I iced and rested. I feel good about moving my body today. We have Monday off for the holiday and Wednesday I'll have to get up early as I have to be at school for 8 am. I'm covering for the PE teacher, so I look forward to an amusing week of making kids sweat and run in circles again. A lovely way to start the school year. :)
In the mean time, enjoy Labor Day weekend. Remember, it's one of the very few holidays we have that doesn't celebrate a war, so try and do something peaceful to end the summer months. Perhaps a run or a walk around the neighborhood.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
I could never....
If I could ban a three word phrase from the English language, it would be, "I could never..." We limit ourselves so much with those three words:
I could never run...
I could never run a (insert a distance here)....
I could never do a triathlon....
I could never ride my bike (insert distance here)...
Instead we sit on the couch and proclaim what we can't do, lament our current state of being and long for something we wish we could be.
I am one of those folks. At the beginning of the summer I kept telling myself, "I could never...." In my case, it was I could never get up early, go to a boot camp training and find a way to reach my goals. But here it is, the end of August and I am able to do a half tour of Harvard Stadium in spite of the feelings of vertigo. I can handle a 16% grade hill and I can do push ups/sit ups to correspond a deck of cards. All things that I "could never do" last June.
But I want this to be positive, so I would change those three words to, "Someday I will...."
Someday I will run....
Someday I will run (insert a distance here)...
Someday I will do a triathlon....
Someday I will ride my bike (insert a distance here)....
I am now off the couch and moving. In spite of an injury earlier in the week - and as a side note here, if your dog digs a hole in a public, please fill it back in - I am still getting up and cheering on those who struggle to get to the workouts the way I do. (Never underestimate someone reminding you, "You got this," to help push you through when your mind wants to quit.)
If you walk away and just once say, "Someday I will," instead of "I could never," then you've taken a step forward and that's a good thing. :)
I could never run...
I could never run a (insert a distance here)....
I could never do a triathlon....
I could never ride my bike (insert distance here)...
Instead we sit on the couch and proclaim what we can't do, lament our current state of being and long for something we wish we could be.
I am one of those folks. At the beginning of the summer I kept telling myself, "I could never...." In my case, it was I could never get up early, go to a boot camp training and find a way to reach my goals. But here it is, the end of August and I am able to do a half tour of Harvard Stadium in spite of the feelings of vertigo. I can handle a 16% grade hill and I can do push ups/sit ups to correspond a deck of cards. All things that I "could never do" last June.
But I want this to be positive, so I would change those three words to, "Someday I will...."
Someday I will run....
Someday I will run (insert a distance here)...
Someday I will do a triathlon....
Someday I will ride my bike (insert a distance here)....
I am now off the couch and moving. In spite of an injury earlier in the week - and as a side note here, if your dog digs a hole in a public, please fill it back in - I am still getting up and cheering on those who struggle to get to the workouts the way I do. (Never underestimate someone reminding you, "You got this," to help push you through when your mind wants to quit.)
If you walk away and just once say, "Someday I will," instead of "I could never," then you've taken a step forward and that's a good thing. :)
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Rising Higher
My wings lift me up
whenever I have fallen
and I soar higher
#haiku
Today's music selection was Balkan Beat Box. There's something about those crazy rhythms, accordion as a house music instrument and rapping in Bulgarian that makes me smile and inspires me. Yeah, I'm weird, but it's all good.
Whenever I go out for any workout, I set 3 goals: minimum, expected and the "I totally rock at this" goals. I also got through a half tour of the stadium. Lately I've been pushing myself through 15 sections and usually around the 10th section I'm dying. Today it was around section 15 when the jelly legs kicked in. I suspect a piece of that has to do with the humidity and using my inhaler before getting started since my allergies are kicking up right now. I admit that the half tour was my expected goal, 15 was the minimum and 20+ was the rocking goal.
But what struck me this morning was Brogran, the fearless leader of the November Project, reminding folks it's time to turn the fitness industry on its head. While you respect that some people need those crossfit, PX90, gym memberships and running club dues, fitness is something that can be done for free and turning out with a growing group starts getting people moving.
It's true.
When I met Brogan at the Big Man race in June, I mentioned that I was thinking about signing up for a boot camp to get myself started. He suggested I come and give the stadium a try. It was free and I could do it. With the economy what it is and my job on hiatus until Labor Day (for all you folks who think teaching is a piece of cake, you try going without pay for 3 months and tell me how sweet it is... yeah I saved some of each paycheck to get through the summer, but still, would you really tolerate that in your job?), I figured free is good and if it didn't work out, well, I could always sign up for a boot camp.
I'm 7 weeks in here and bootcamp isn't even on the radar any more. I'm sad that I won't be part of the bigger group once Labor Day rolls around and I have to be home no later than 6:45/7 so I can shower up and get to school on time. I'll have to get to workouts early and finish when folks are starting on Wednesdays and Fridays. I won't be entirely alone as there are folks who get there early so they can do a full frogman tour (50 sections), so I look forward to that bit. I still have the rest of the month to go to enjoy a routine that has inspired me so far. Yesterday I found myself pulling out my cards and doing a deck of cards workout while watching TV as sitting seemed too little. I've been out walking, I'm riding my bike more and more. While I love McGreevey the Wonder Bug so much (what's not to love about a black on black 6 speed turbo bug that can go wicked fast and has butt warmers for the winter?), I've spent less time in him these past 7 weeks than I have in all the years I've owned him.
This has changed my life. It can change other people's lives as well. Even if you're not showing up at Harvard Stadium at the butt crack of dawn on a Wednesday morning. Imagine putting on shoes and walking out your front door. Imagine walking up and down the risers at the local high school football stadium or taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work. We shouldn't be relying on other people to tell us what we can and can't do, we need to rely on ourselves.... and if you need a group of folks to help you do that and you're in Boston, then come join us. It costs nothing but the feeling of "I should do something...."
Who knows, maybe it will get under your skin and you'll find yourself doing something crazy like feeling good about your jeans looking like mom jeans because they're so big and baggy or that shirt you wish you got in an XL and now wishing you had the M instead because the L is just a bit too loose these days. Maybe you'll find that you really need that personal trainer to push you or that you enjoy the comfort of a gym, at least you'll appreciate those things a hair more. What have you got lose... but some weight and self doubt?
Friday morning we'll be at the corner of Summit and Beacon in Brookline at 6:30 in the morning for our 5 hill repeats. That is my expected goal of this week: walking up 5 times and running down 5 times. I can do it. Come see if you can do at least 1 or 2 trips up the hill yourself. If nothing else, the view from the top looks pretty sweet and let everyone else guess why you're smiling as you sip your coffee with a new gleam in your eye.
whenever I have fallen
and I soar higher
#haiku
Today's music selection was Balkan Beat Box. There's something about those crazy rhythms, accordion as a house music instrument and rapping in Bulgarian that makes me smile and inspires me. Yeah, I'm weird, but it's all good.
Whenever I go out for any workout, I set 3 goals: minimum, expected and the "I totally rock at this" goals. I also got through a half tour of the stadium. Lately I've been pushing myself through 15 sections and usually around the 10th section I'm dying. Today it was around section 15 when the jelly legs kicked in. I suspect a piece of that has to do with the humidity and using my inhaler before getting started since my allergies are kicking up right now. I admit that the half tour was my expected goal, 15 was the minimum and 20+ was the rocking goal.
But what struck me this morning was Brogran, the fearless leader of the November Project, reminding folks it's time to turn the fitness industry on its head. While you respect that some people need those crossfit, PX90, gym memberships and running club dues, fitness is something that can be done for free and turning out with a growing group starts getting people moving.
It's true.
When I met Brogan at the Big Man race in June, I mentioned that I was thinking about signing up for a boot camp to get myself started. He suggested I come and give the stadium a try. It was free and I could do it. With the economy what it is and my job on hiatus until Labor Day (for all you folks who think teaching is a piece of cake, you try going without pay for 3 months and tell me how sweet it is... yeah I saved some of each paycheck to get through the summer, but still, would you really tolerate that in your job?), I figured free is good and if it didn't work out, well, I could always sign up for a boot camp.
I'm 7 weeks in here and bootcamp isn't even on the radar any more. I'm sad that I won't be part of the bigger group once Labor Day rolls around and I have to be home no later than 6:45/7 so I can shower up and get to school on time. I'll have to get to workouts early and finish when folks are starting on Wednesdays and Fridays. I won't be entirely alone as there are folks who get there early so they can do a full frogman tour (50 sections), so I look forward to that bit. I still have the rest of the month to go to enjoy a routine that has inspired me so far. Yesterday I found myself pulling out my cards and doing a deck of cards workout while watching TV as sitting seemed too little. I've been out walking, I'm riding my bike more and more. While I love McGreevey the Wonder Bug so much (what's not to love about a black on black 6 speed turbo bug that can go wicked fast and has butt warmers for the winter?), I've spent less time in him these past 7 weeks than I have in all the years I've owned him.
This has changed my life. It can change other people's lives as well. Even if you're not showing up at Harvard Stadium at the butt crack of dawn on a Wednesday morning. Imagine putting on shoes and walking out your front door. Imagine walking up and down the risers at the local high school football stadium or taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work. We shouldn't be relying on other people to tell us what we can and can't do, we need to rely on ourselves.... and if you need a group of folks to help you do that and you're in Boston, then come join us. It costs nothing but the feeling of "I should do something...."
Who knows, maybe it will get under your skin and you'll find yourself doing something crazy like feeling good about your jeans looking like mom jeans because they're so big and baggy or that shirt you wish you got in an XL and now wishing you had the M instead because the L is just a bit too loose these days. Maybe you'll find that you really need that personal trainer to push you or that you enjoy the comfort of a gym, at least you'll appreciate those things a hair more. What have you got lose... but some weight and self doubt?
Friday morning we'll be at the corner of Summit and Beacon in Brookline at 6:30 in the morning for our 5 hill repeats. That is my expected goal of this week: walking up 5 times and running down 5 times. I can do it. Come see if you can do at least 1 or 2 trips up the hill yourself. If nothing else, the view from the top looks pretty sweet and let everyone else guess why you're smiling as you sip your coffee with a new gleam in your eye.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Destination
"The best navigator doesn't know where he's going until he gets there. Even then, he's still not sure...." - Jimmy Buffett
Today was a destination deck workout. That means the November Project meets at a destination to do a deck of cards workout (red = sit ups, black = push ups and the number on the face is the number of how many you do). I am far enough out from the meet up spot that I take the T in but I've started wondering to myself, how do I make it my destination? I suppose I could get off at Kenmore and jog in. Perhaps I could run to the T stop and take the commuter rail home. Then I asked myself if that had to be the destination, destination or just a layover during the day.
When I got home, I regrouped a little and then got on my bike to ride a half hour to Weight Watchers and a half hour home. In the end, I rode further than if I rode my bike to the T and home again as WW is over a mile past the T stop. So today looked like this:
6:30-6:50: destination deck (we had 19 cards left vs last week when we had 29 cards)
9-9:30: bike ride
11-11:30 bike ride
I still have to walk over to the post office. I think I'll walk up to the yarn store the next village over to scope out the new yarns I can't afford (seriously, bamboo yarn can cost as much as $49 for a skein... a SKEIN!) and then home again before tackling laundry and food shopping.
So what's my destination today? Was it Copley Square for the deck? Was it to WW or home? Is it to the yarn store or errands? Perhaps it's my bed tonight and the dreams beyond. Who knows, I just know I'm on my way there.
Today was a destination deck workout. That means the November Project meets at a destination to do a deck of cards workout (red = sit ups, black = push ups and the number on the face is the number of how many you do). I am far enough out from the meet up spot that I take the T in but I've started wondering to myself, how do I make it my destination? I suppose I could get off at Kenmore and jog in. Perhaps I could run to the T stop and take the commuter rail home. Then I asked myself if that had to be the destination, destination or just a layover during the day.
When I got home, I regrouped a little and then got on my bike to ride a half hour to Weight Watchers and a half hour home. In the end, I rode further than if I rode my bike to the T and home again as WW is over a mile past the T stop. So today looked like this:
6:30-6:50: destination deck (we had 19 cards left vs last week when we had 29 cards)
9-9:30: bike ride
11-11:30 bike ride
I still have to walk over to the post office. I think I'll walk up to the yarn store the next village over to scope out the new yarns I can't afford (seriously, bamboo yarn can cost as much as $49 for a skein... a SKEIN!) and then home again before tackling laundry and food shopping.
So what's my destination today? Was it Copley Square for the deck? Was it to WW or home? Is it to the yarn store or errands? Perhaps it's my bed tonight and the dreams beyond. Who knows, I just know I'm on my way there.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Game On!
Today is Nike's "Game On" day, a day where they challenge everyone to run, walk or move somehow. I also had a homework assignment this weekend from the November Project folks to write up my workout from this weekend.
Well boys, I did a couple. My sister and I went out to walk a couple of miles yesterday. We both needed it and it's something both of us would have had no time for if we didn't do it together. It was hot and sweaty and it felt good when I sat down in my parents' air conditioned living room for a glass of water before I headed home.
This morning was the tough one for me. I used to get up on a Sunday morning and go for a run as a habit. I fell out of the habit a while ago and it's been a struggle to get out the door since. I admit I was discouraged. No matter how hard or often I went out to run, it always seemed like running continuously was just out of my reach. When I got home last night, I told myself I had to run this morning. There were no ifs, ands, ors or buts about it. So before going to bed, I put my running gear in the bathroom so there'd be no excuse.
At 5:00 Odin cat work me up. Yes it was a "If you can see this, you're awake enough to feed me" moment. It always is that time of day and he gave my nose a little nip to make sure I knew he knew that I wasn't still in the land of nod.
I rolled over and drifted off for about 15 minutes while he head butted and squeaked and otherwise tried to get me to feed him when I finally gave up hope of sleeping.
Victory #1: I didn't give in to the thought, "I'll just go down and take care of kitties and then get dressed. Instead I made myself get dressed and go downstairs. I watched the morning news, reminded cats they don't get fed until after 6 (like they listen anyway) and dug out my running shoes, earbuds and case.
Victory #2: I was on the road at 6 am. My initial thought this morning was running 2.6 - 1/10th of what the men would be running in London. Instead I pushed myself. I know if I can run 3 miles continuously, I can train for a half marathon. Today wouldn't just be homework, it would be an assessment. (I'm in the teaching trade we no longer call them tests ;) ) How far could I run continuously? Was I ready for some real training after 6 weeks of working out?
Victory #3: I set the Nike+ settings on my phone for 5k, started running and didn't stop until I passed the 4.6k mark. That's right, just inside that 1/4 mile circle back to the house, my hips finally caught up with my mind and shut me down to a "walk it off" pace. Too bad, I was on my way to a negative split until that point too. But the point is, I ran 3 continuous miles without walking.
For some people, running 3 continuous miles is nothing. It's a light workout. For people like me it's that just one victory to get me on my way. Not only that, my final pace - even with the walking - was 12:25. When I got home to sync my run, the badge popped up to tell me I earned the Nike Global Game On badge for running today. Perhaps I'll take a trip into Niketown later see if they have a special shirt or something... I feel like I need to celebrate this mental victory.
So now, with the sounds of the mens' marathon in London in the next room to encourage me, I'm laying out a training plan for the Tufts 10k in October. I'll pick a half for some time beyond that. So yeah, I did my homework and passed my assessment. Life is good.
Well boys, I did a couple. My sister and I went out to walk a couple of miles yesterday. We both needed it and it's something both of us would have had no time for if we didn't do it together. It was hot and sweaty and it felt good when I sat down in my parents' air conditioned living room for a glass of water before I headed home.
This morning was the tough one for me. I used to get up on a Sunday morning and go for a run as a habit. I fell out of the habit a while ago and it's been a struggle to get out the door since. I admit I was discouraged. No matter how hard or often I went out to run, it always seemed like running continuously was just out of my reach. When I got home last night, I told myself I had to run this morning. There were no ifs, ands, ors or buts about it. So before going to bed, I put my running gear in the bathroom so there'd be no excuse.
I rolled over and drifted off for about 15 minutes while he head butted and squeaked and otherwise tried to get me to feed him when I finally gave up hope of sleeping.
Victory #1: I didn't give in to the thought, "I'll just go down and take care of kitties and then get dressed. Instead I made myself get dressed and go downstairs. I watched the morning news, reminded cats they don't get fed until after 6 (like they listen anyway) and dug out my running shoes, earbuds and case.
Victory #2: I was on the road at 6 am. My initial thought this morning was running 2.6 - 1/10th of what the men would be running in London. Instead I pushed myself. I know if I can run 3 miles continuously, I can train for a half marathon. Today wouldn't just be homework, it would be an assessment. (I'm in the teaching trade we no longer call them tests ;) ) How far could I run continuously? Was I ready for some real training after 6 weeks of working out?
Victory #3: I set the Nike+ settings on my phone for 5k, started running and didn't stop until I passed the 4.6k mark. That's right, just inside that 1/4 mile circle back to the house, my hips finally caught up with my mind and shut me down to a "walk it off" pace. Too bad, I was on my way to a negative split until that point too. But the point is, I ran 3 continuous miles without walking.
For some people, running 3 continuous miles is nothing. It's a light workout. For people like me it's that just one victory to get me on my way. Not only that, my final pace - even with the walking - was 12:25. When I got home to sync my run, the badge popped up to tell me I earned the Nike Global Game On badge for running today. Perhaps I'll take a trip into Niketown later see if they have a special shirt or something... I feel like I need to celebrate this mental victory.
So now, with the sounds of the mens' marathon in London in the next room to encourage me, I'm laying out a training plan for the Tufts 10k in October. I'll pick a half for some time beyond that. So yeah, I did my homework and passed my assessment. Life is good.
Wednesday, August 08, 2012
We raise our banners high....
"Out of the dark the fragile come
into the bright of the day...
we rise and stake our claim
we raise our banners high and sing in union...
we live free and die free
we stand as one and take on all
on the road to victory."
Today's music was the Ramshackle Army, a Celtic punk band out of Australia that opened one of the St. Pat's shows at the House of Blues for the Dropkick Murphys. Their song "Uprising Young Citizen" seemed appropriate today as we were asked to bring shirts to be tagged "November Project." It's a shirt I'll wear with pride because this is one I've truly earned.
The numbers of this group have grown exponentially since I started doing this. Looking back over the last six weeks (has it only been six weeks?), there were about 40 people and today there were probably close to a couple of hundred! How amazing is that? We truly are a ramshackle army throwing off the conventional gyms and workouts to challenge ourselves on our own terms. It doesn't matter if you're an overweight middle aged woman walking the stairs or a fit athlete that is doing "the Frog man" (50 sections in under 30 minutes). We are there and we are high-fiving, cheering and encouraging each other to keep going.
Today I covered 15 sections in under 35 minutes a PR for me. (^_^) There were only a few "I think I want to die" moments and I realized how hard I was pushing myself when I understood why people puke when pushing themselves to the limit and beyond. My water wasn't sitting well as I kept pushing instead of stopping. I only paused a couple of times on the trips up and only sat at the top once.
One high point today, as I worked my way up a section about 25 minutes in, someone stood at the top and "reeled" me in to keep me going. "We all need a little help sometimes," she said with a smile. Another woman and I kept reminding each other "20 minutes to go, we got this..." "only 10 more minutes, keep going...." "you can get one more section, there's just under 5 minutes to go...." At the finish, when we were picking up our shirts and getting ready for the group photo, people were all greeting each other in a similar manner: You looked good out there, how many did you get in today?
It is easy to work out when you have support. It's also easier to push yourself when you see others doing so as well. Let's get real, too often our minds quit on us long before our bodies do. Whether it's the mental fight with the bed magnet in the morning, walking instead of pushing yourself a bit more when you run, that last set of reps that get the better of you... you name it. We hold ourselves accountable more easily when we know we're accountable in public.
I will really miss this group come the start of the school year. Most people have an extra hour to get their butts into work than I do. I have to be in the building by 8, which means leaving the house by 7:40 and with a shower ahead of that, I have to be home by 7. This gives me two choices: finish my work out by 6:40 or find a way to connect virtually. Instead of Harvard Stadium, perhaps the football stadium at the local high school and the killer hill across from the high school that climbs over 100 feet in .23 miles similar to the Brookline hill we run on Fridays. Deck of cards work out? I have a living room floor and a deck of cards.... I can continue this and will have to mentally flash on the summer days where people smiled, high fived and called out encouragement.
So I will raise the banner of this ramshackle army high and with pride and really enjoy pushing myself the next four weeks.
into the bright of the day...
we rise and stake our claim
we raise our banners high and sing in union...
we live free and die free
we stand as one and take on all
on the road to victory."
Today's music was the Ramshackle Army, a Celtic punk band out of Australia that opened one of the St. Pat's shows at the House of Blues for the Dropkick Murphys. Their song "Uprising Young Citizen" seemed appropriate today as we were asked to bring shirts to be tagged "November Project." It's a shirt I'll wear with pride because this is one I've truly earned.
The numbers of this group have grown exponentially since I started doing this. Looking back over the last six weeks (has it only been six weeks?), there were about 40 people and today there were probably close to a couple of hundred! How amazing is that? We truly are a ramshackle army throwing off the conventional gyms and workouts to challenge ourselves on our own terms. It doesn't matter if you're an overweight middle aged woman walking the stairs or a fit athlete that is doing "the Frog man" (50 sections in under 30 minutes). We are there and we are high-fiving, cheering and encouraging each other to keep going.
Today I covered 15 sections in under 35 minutes a PR for me. (^_^) There were only a few "I think I want to die" moments and I realized how hard I was pushing myself when I understood why people puke when pushing themselves to the limit and beyond. My water wasn't sitting well as I kept pushing instead of stopping. I only paused a couple of times on the trips up and only sat at the top once.
One high point today, as I worked my way up a section about 25 minutes in, someone stood at the top and "reeled" me in to keep me going. "We all need a little help sometimes," she said with a smile. Another woman and I kept reminding each other "20 minutes to go, we got this..." "only 10 more minutes, keep going...." "you can get one more section, there's just under 5 minutes to go...." At the finish, when we were picking up our shirts and getting ready for the group photo, people were all greeting each other in a similar manner: You looked good out there, how many did you get in today?
It is easy to work out when you have support. It's also easier to push yourself when you see others doing so as well. Let's get real, too often our minds quit on us long before our bodies do. Whether it's the mental fight with the bed magnet in the morning, walking instead of pushing yourself a bit more when you run, that last set of reps that get the better of you... you name it. We hold ourselves accountable more easily when we know we're accountable in public.
I will really miss this group come the start of the school year. Most people have an extra hour to get their butts into work than I do. I have to be in the building by 8, which means leaving the house by 7:40 and with a shower ahead of that, I have to be home by 7. This gives me two choices: finish my work out by 6:40 or find a way to connect virtually. Instead of Harvard Stadium, perhaps the football stadium at the local high school and the killer hill across from the high school that climbs over 100 feet in .23 miles similar to the Brookline hill we run on Fridays. Deck of cards work out? I have a living room floor and a deck of cards.... I can continue this and will have to mentally flash on the summer days where people smiled, high fived and called out encouragement.
So I will raise the banner of this ramshackle army high and with pride and really enjoy pushing myself the next four weeks.
Monday, August 06, 2012
Deck of Cards and Hubway
This was a first for many things today for me. First I had to get to Boston and I can't take my bike on the T, so I spent a bit of time thinking things through. First I realized that if I got off at Copley, I could grab a Hubway rental bike and ride over to the Esplanade and park there and grab another one back to the T.
Having never done a deck of cards work out, I wasn't sure what to expect there either. They kept it easy for us in that it was red cards were sit ups and black cards were push ups (or was it the other way around?) Our group made it half way through the deck in the 20 minutes. Some of us took turns holding members' feet so they could do the sit ups and some of us switched off to push ups on our knees to be able to do the full amount with good form.
The guys announced that part of the work out was how we got there. It was a chance to run some miles or whatever it was we needed to do to add to that 20 minute core workout. With that in mind, I decided to ride the Hubway bike all the way up Comm Ave from Arlington Street to Kenmore Square.
Here's the thing, the City of Boston has marked bike lanes (a new experiences for me), but it's on the left hand side of Comm Ave until you get to Charles Gate East where the Back Bay turns into the Fenway neighborhood. Then the lane goes across all the traffic to the right hand side where cars are turning onto/coming off of Storrow Drive. Fortunately, at 7 in the morning, traffic was light but I could see this being a nightmare during commuter hours.
I followed the bike lane around the outskirts of Kenmore and decided to go as far as the Landmark Center by the Fenway T stop. Along the way I passed various other folks from the November Project heading out. They had gone for a run towards home or the T and passed by in a couple of different spots along the route. My early morning ride felt good and I parked the bike easily at Landmark Center and grabbed the T back to my car and home.
It was a good workout this morning, a couple of easy bike rides, a solid core workout and a lot of new experiences to get me going for the day and for the week. I'm already checking commuter rail and bus schedules to see if I can take my bike into town for the morning and then find a pleasant ride home before school starts up and my mornings are booked with getting out the door to work. Until then, I'll take full advantage of my 3 a week August workouts.
Friday, August 03, 2012
Get off my back!
Hawthorne had to wait
while I ran 4 hill repeats
in Brookline today
#haiku
Today was 4 hill repeats, a new PR for me. It didn't feel bad and, to be honest, I probably could have pushed myself to 5 but this damn Hawthorne paper is weighing heavily on me. If you haven't worked hard for a grade in a class that should be in your wheelhouse but isn't, then it's hard to explain why the last few weeks have been all Hemingway and Hawthorne. I am a writer, but critical writing feels so forced and tedious. I just don't understand why it doesn't flow from my finger tips to the keyboard the way a piece of fiction or poetry does. A 1,000 word column, no sweat. A 1,000 word critical analysis of the role of gender in Hemingway... not so much.
On Monday, when I press the send button, I will feel free from Blithedale and the Utopian experiments of the mid-late 1800's New England and I have four glorious weeks of my style of writing before I go back to herding small children.
Unfortunately, Nathaniel Hawthorne stands between me and that sense of joy right now. So up and down the hills, when I wasn't chatting with locals about what we were doing and why, I was trying not to run with dear old Nathaniel. He was too sad and his whining about people not getting his vision of Utopia only slowed me down as it sat uncomfortably on my shoulders.
Instead I chose to put him down and fall back into Reverend Peyton's "Mama's Fried Potatoes" and Flatfoot 56's "Hoity Toity" to recapture the joy of running. So back to ride the shores of sanity off the coast of vanity of Utopian societies in New England, grateful for that 50 minute escape I had this morning.
while I ran 4 hill repeats
in Brookline today
#haiku
Today was 4 hill repeats, a new PR for me. It didn't feel bad and, to be honest, I probably could have pushed myself to 5 but this damn Hawthorne paper is weighing heavily on me. If you haven't worked hard for a grade in a class that should be in your wheelhouse but isn't, then it's hard to explain why the last few weeks have been all Hemingway and Hawthorne. I am a writer, but critical writing feels so forced and tedious. I just don't understand why it doesn't flow from my finger tips to the keyboard the way a piece of fiction or poetry does. A 1,000 word column, no sweat. A 1,000 word critical analysis of the role of gender in Hemingway... not so much.
On Monday, when I press the send button, I will feel free from Blithedale and the Utopian experiments of the mid-late 1800's New England and I have four glorious weeks of my style of writing before I go back to herding small children.
Unfortunately, Nathaniel Hawthorne stands between me and that sense of joy right now. So up and down the hills, when I wasn't chatting with locals about what we were doing and why, I was trying not to run with dear old Nathaniel. He was too sad and his whining about people not getting his vision of Utopia only slowed me down as it sat uncomfortably on my shoulders.
Instead I chose to put him down and fall back into Reverend Peyton's "Mama's Fried Potatoes" and Flatfoot 56's "Hoity Toity" to recapture the joy of running. So back to ride the shores of sanity off the coast of vanity of Utopian societies in New England, grateful for that 50 minute escape I had this morning.
Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Eleven Easy Steps and Chet Stedman
Using music as a motivational playlist for your life is nothing new. When I drive into Harvard or out to Brookline, I keep my iPod on shuffle to see what tone I need to set for myself. Today's inspiration came from Trout Fishing in America.
Umm.... Trout Fishing in America? That odd book by Richard Brautigan that inspired hippies everywhere back in the day? Nope, the band from Texas that do acid folk and kids music that adults can listen to without wanting to stab their eyes out with a fork. (Screw Raffi and the Wiggles, my kids grew up listening to Trout and They Might Be Giants... before they started doing kids' music along with good old rock and roll.) Trout keep getting nominated for grammy awards and lose to Elmo. When they lost to They Might Be Giants, it was all cool because that's kind of like Judy Dench losing the Oscar to Meryl Streep, it was a call that was more of coin flip than because someone was better than the other.
But I digress. Trout set the tone today with their song "Eleven Easy Steps" and the declaration, "I know imagination is the only thing that can stop me."
If you have never done a stadium step run when you have a touch of acrophobia which leads to a sense of vertigo, then you know that your fears are in your imagination. That image of your broken body after it's rolled down 30+ concrete steps to lie broken at the bottom of the wall is your imagination. It is that "can't do" instead of your "have to." (For those of you unfamiliar with the "have to" speech, rent a copy of "Rookie of the Year" and it's that fabulous moment where even Gary Bussey realizes how incoherent he really sounds.)
Banishing the image from my imagination, I started up the stairs today with a new goal for August: how far can I get in 35 minutes? This is important because come September, I have to be at school at 8 am, showered and ready to herd cats... I mean elementary students. Thirty five minutes gives me a good work out and enough time to get home, shower and head into school ready to face the day.
Taking a deep breath, I let my good imagination kick in. The one that saw me in a pair of jeans a size smaller before the school year starts. The one that saw me getting stronger, faster and ready to rock. Up the stairs, down the stairs and do it again. Less breaks for shorter times, section by section I pushed and climbed and clambered down.
In the end I managed to cover 16 sections in 35 minutes, a new PR for myself. Not bad given my hip flexors were flipping me off the whole time. Had I let myself go to where I finished last week, it would have been in less time than I finished last week... either way, it works. I went to the "have to" and my imagination didn't stop me.
Umm.... Trout Fishing in America? That odd book by Richard Brautigan that inspired hippies everywhere back in the day? Nope, the band from Texas that do acid folk and kids music that adults can listen to without wanting to stab their eyes out with a fork. (Screw Raffi and the Wiggles, my kids grew up listening to Trout and They Might Be Giants... before they started doing kids' music along with good old rock and roll.) Trout keep getting nominated for grammy awards and lose to Elmo. When they lost to They Might Be Giants, it was all cool because that's kind of like Judy Dench losing the Oscar to Meryl Streep, it was a call that was more of coin flip than because someone was better than the other.
But I digress. Trout set the tone today with their song "Eleven Easy Steps" and the declaration, "I know imagination is the only thing that can stop me."
If you have never done a stadium step run when you have a touch of acrophobia which leads to a sense of vertigo, then you know that your fears are in your imagination. That image of your broken body after it's rolled down 30+ concrete steps to lie broken at the bottom of the wall is your imagination. It is that "can't do" instead of your "have to." (For those of you unfamiliar with the "have to" speech, rent a copy of "Rookie of the Year" and it's that fabulous moment where even Gary Bussey realizes how incoherent he really sounds.)
Banishing the image from my imagination, I started up the stairs today with a new goal for August: how far can I get in 35 minutes? This is important because come September, I have to be at school at 8 am, showered and ready to herd cats... I mean elementary students. Thirty five minutes gives me a good work out and enough time to get home, shower and head into school ready to face the day.
Taking a deep breath, I let my good imagination kick in. The one that saw me in a pair of jeans a size smaller before the school year starts. The one that saw me getting stronger, faster and ready to rock. Up the stairs, down the stairs and do it again. Less breaks for shorter times, section by section I pushed and climbed and clambered down.
In the end I managed to cover 16 sections in 35 minutes, a new PR for myself. Not bad given my hip flexors were flipping me off the whole time. Had I let myself go to where I finished last week, it would have been in less time than I finished last week... either way, it works. I went to the "have to" and my imagination didn't stop me.
Friday, July 27, 2012
My own pace
When Pikagirls run
They always go their own pace
and run their own race
#haiku #amrunning
Today we ran hill repeats and this week the goal was to beat last week's time. My ambitious goal was to run a 4th hill repeat - unfortunately the flesh was willing but the spirit was weak as I still have "The Blithedale Romance" running through my head and the looming 12 page (minimum) cultural criticism in reference to Utopian communes and how that helps the reader understand the book.
Yeah... that's what I do to earn my teaching certification so I can continue to warp little minds at the elementary school.
As a result I had to fall back on beating last week's time which, according to my Nike+, I did by 30 seconds so take that Nathaniel Hawthorne!
Add this to beating my time for 11 sections on Wednesday by a minute and this week was a success. My August goals will be to push myself to go a little faster and a little further. Come Wednesday morning I'll be at Harvard Stadium ready to start pushing to a full tour by the end of the month and 5 hill repeats in Brookline. Once I can do a full tour and 5 repeats, I'll be able to start pushing my pace.
For now, I'll throw myself into Hawthorne the way I threw myself at the hill this morning and the stadium the other day and plan to run another day.
They always go their own pace
and run their own race
#haiku #amrunning
Today we ran hill repeats and this week the goal was to beat last week's time. My ambitious goal was to run a 4th hill repeat - unfortunately the flesh was willing but the spirit was weak as I still have "The Blithedale Romance" running through my head and the looming 12 page (minimum) cultural criticism in reference to Utopian communes and how that helps the reader understand the book.
Yeah... that's what I do to earn my teaching certification so I can continue to warp little minds at the elementary school.
As a result I had to fall back on beating last week's time which, according to my Nike+, I did by 30 seconds so take that Nathaniel Hawthorne!
Add this to beating my time for 11 sections on Wednesday by a minute and this week was a success. My August goals will be to push myself to go a little faster and a little further. Come Wednesday morning I'll be at Harvard Stadium ready to start pushing to a full tour by the end of the month and 5 hill repeats in Brookline. Once I can do a full tour and 5 repeats, I'll be able to start pushing my pace.
For now, I'll throw myself into Hawthorne the way I threw myself at the hill this morning and the stadium the other day and plan to run another day.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Halfway Point - 18 sections done, 18 section to go
 |
| View from the top after 17 sections |
The prayers worked... well, time worked and by the time the next work out rolled around I was ready to try again. I made it up and down 5 sections and the next day I could sit without thinking about it and without ibuprofen. Last week I made it through 11 sections and today, the goal was 15 sections.
When I got there, Brogan challenged me. He asked my goal and then said, "Not to pressure you but we talk about half tours and full tours, shoot for a half tour."
Ummmm...right. Fifteen maybe, but 18 sections?
I got to 11 and took a deep breath. I knew I could push past this point and kept going. Stopping at the top of each section, for a minute or so to assess and evaluate where I was: 15 sections and my goal. Then slowly I ascended a 16th section, paused and came down before looking at the 17th section. I started up and the steps again: left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot. I got to the top and smiled. I did it, I was going to meet the 1/2 tour challenge when I went the rest of the way around and climbed to the top of section one.
As always, my fellow November Project members kept me going when my mind wanted to quit. Between high 5's as I dragged myself up the stairs and the shouts of encouragement.
I made it all the way to the top of section one and yelled, "SHIT YEAH THAT MAKES 18!!!" and the response was cheers and applause from the folks who had finished before me.
For those who think that workouts are for losing weight or maybe about strengthening the body, but it's more than that. It's about changing a perspective.
The feeling of invigoration after making a half tour was really amazing. On the way home, I needed to pick up some half and half for my morning coffee and some OJ. As I stood in the supermarket aisle, I noticed the yogurt and thought, "I haven't made a smoothie in a while and I think I still have some frozen berries in the fridge....."
Next thing I know, a container of Greek yogurt was in the basket and it wasn't long before I home and whipping up an old favorite: a cup of OJ, a container of yogurt and a cup of frozen berries.
Not that long ago a workout in the morning would have been justification to hit the drive through for an egg and cheese sandwich and count it as healthy. It's not that it's not healthy, it's just not the healthiest choice (particularly when you add some bacon... because an eggamuffin without bacon is just boring) or subbing that bland English Muffin for a tasty biscuit. Maybe it would be the justification for a donut (hey I just did half a tour of Harvard Stadium, I can have a donut) or some other crazy thing. It was easy to pass the drive through today, something that wasn't so easy my first time through when I stopped to get coffee and that oreo donut looked pretty good.
My work may not always show at the scale, but it certainly is showing in being able to push a bit harder along with little changes that will add up to a healthier life style overall.
Friday, July 20, 2012
uphill, downhill, lather, rinse, repeat
A haiku for the day:
What would be our sign?
Crazy runners in the road!
(we make this look good)
The hill we do repeats on Friday mornings rises 317 feet over the course of about 1/3 of a mile. It's a steep grade and making it up the hill can be tough.
This week the goal was 3 hill repeats and it looked doubtful at first. I went to the Warped Tour yesterday and wore flip-flops most of the day. My left instep hates me and my calves aren't happy. I wasn't sure if I'd make it this morning but pushed myself out the door.
I got to the hill and told myself: "I'll walk up the hill and run down it and see what happens." At the bottom of the hill after the first round, I thought, "I can match last week's 2 up & backs." One step at a time: right foot, left foot; I made it to the top and ran down. I wasn't sure if I had a 3rd in me, but I told myself that I could make it to a set of traffic cones half way up. Then it was making it to the summit, which was in sight.... which was in sight.... which was - hey, why does the summit keep moving? Oh wait, there it is!
I averaged around a 15 minute mile, finishing the 3 repeats in around 36 minutes.
My instep felt much better with the support of my shoes. Looking at my 5 workouts with November Project so far:
wk 1: stairs 3 full sections, a bunch of half sections in 27 minutes
wk 2: stairs 5 full sections in 25 minutes; 2 hill repeats in 25:33
wk 3: stairs 11 full sections in 29 minutes; 3 hill repeats in 37 minutes
What will week 4 bring? It's hard to say, but I do feel my legs getting stronger and my breathing getting easier.
But the real highlight for me today was the older man who lives in the neighborhood struggling in his walk up the hill. I passed him at one point and on my way down, we made eye contact. I gave him a thumbs up and he gave me a big smile. That and poetry are always a good way to start the day.
What would be our sign?
Crazy runners in the road!
(we make this look good)
The hill we do repeats on Friday mornings rises 317 feet over the course of about 1/3 of a mile. It's a steep grade and making it up the hill can be tough.
This week the goal was 3 hill repeats and it looked doubtful at first. I went to the Warped Tour yesterday and wore flip-flops most of the day. My left instep hates me and my calves aren't happy. I wasn't sure if I'd make it this morning but pushed myself out the door.
I got to the hill and told myself: "I'll walk up the hill and run down it and see what happens." At the bottom of the hill after the first round, I thought, "I can match last week's 2 up & backs." One step at a time: right foot, left foot; I made it to the top and ran down. I wasn't sure if I had a 3rd in me, but I told myself that I could make it to a set of traffic cones half way up. Then it was making it to the summit, which was in sight.... which was in sight.... which was - hey, why does the summit keep moving? Oh wait, there it is!
I averaged around a 15 minute mile, finishing the 3 repeats in around 36 minutes.
My instep felt much better with the support of my shoes. Looking at my 5 workouts with November Project so far:
wk 1: stairs 3 full sections, a bunch of half sections in 27 minutes
wk 2: stairs 5 full sections in 25 minutes; 2 hill repeats in 25:33
wk 3: stairs 11 full sections in 29 minutes; 3 hill repeats in 37 minutes
What will week 4 bring? It's hard to say, but I do feel my legs getting stronger and my breathing getting easier.
But the real highlight for me today was the older man who lives in the neighborhood struggling in his walk up the hill. I passed him at one point and on my way down, we made eye contact. I gave him a thumbs up and he gave me a big smile. That and poetry are always a good way to start the day.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Don't be a quitter
Today I pushed myself on the stairs at Harvard. Two weeks ago I made it up 3 full flights, last week it was 5 and today the goal was 7-10. I managed to make it up 11 flights. My level of soreness also has shifted. After that first day, I hurt for 3 days and could barely move. Last week my legs were all wobbly for a while, but the soreness wasn't there. Today just feels good.But I didn't do it alone.
Here's the cool thing about this group, we help each other. I was struggling a bit up part of the way through when someone high-dived me and said, "You can do it!" With a renewed smiled, I pushed on. As I sat at the bottom after 10, I figured I was done. Someone sat down next to me and we chatted as she took a break. She told me I had one more in me. She convinced me that I had one more in me and I figured, "Why not try?"
I pushed myself slowly up, one step at a time, until I reached the top. There I was, facing the end zone and the word CRIMSON in big white letters. I had done it. Eleven flights, 100 yards, 330 or so steps. Today I fell back on one of my music standards to drive me on. Flatfoot 56 is a Celtic punk band from Chicago. I love the steady rhythm and they have one of the best pipers out there. (I love Spicy McHaggis from the Dropkicks, but Flatfoot's piper is better.) The other thing about Flatfoot is they have inspirational lyrics. Being a Christian band, sometimes the message can get a bit heavy handed but then you hear something like, "Be a man, don't be a quitter," when you're thinking you can't move another step and suddenly you feel the right foot step up, then the left until I was standing at the top.
Next week the goal is 15 sections. Friday I'm pushing for 3 hill repeats.that will make 5 workouts with November Project this month. I hope to get back to yoga soon and swimming next week when my schedule lightens up a bit. In the meantime, I'll use the insanity of these work outs to keep myself sane.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Out of my control
Sometimes I figure I need to let other things control a run. Today I took that challenge.
First I set my Nike+ to 30 minutes instead of a distance. That way it was as far as I could run in that time span. Next I set my music for shuffle and started off.
The music was everything from Bach's Brandenburg concertos to ZZ Top to Beck to whatever. It was an odd eclectic mix as I ran 2.5 miles in the humid morning. Sometimes it's good to let go like that and just see what happens.
First I set my Nike+ to 30 minutes instead of a distance. That way it was as far as I could run in that time span. Next I set my music for shuffle and started off.
The music was everything from Bach's Brandenburg concertos to ZZ Top to Beck to whatever. It was an odd eclectic mix as I ran 2.5 miles in the humid morning. Sometimes it's good to let go like that and just see what happens.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Let your colors burst
'Cause baby you're a firework
come on and show them what you're worth
make 'em go "Oh oh oh"
as you shoot across the sky-sky-sky
There are days when music can really inspire a run. Today was one of those days where the music and the run all synced up nicely and one of the songs that did it was Katy Perry's song "Firework."
We all have days when self-esteem is at a low and the "I can't do this" starts to kick in. Recently, as I struggle to finish up classes (and everything else on my plate), I sometimes find myself overwhelmed. I will sit for a period of time playing puzzle games: solitaire, tetris, word puzzles, mancala... you name it; as I sort through the checklists in my mind. Those are the days when I need a run more than ever but finding the motivation to get dressed and get out there. I am that plastic bag drifting in the wind on those days - which seem to be more frequent as some of the the assignments feel more and more pointless.
Recently I've used the motivation of the November Project to keep myself in motion. Last week and this week I showed up to run the stairs at Harvard Stadium. Today I made it to Summ.it Road in Brookline to do hill repeats. It's a steep, steep hill and my goal was to get one good up and down in.
Then Katy Perry broke through. Like all songs, there is that one line that jumps out in those moments, in this time it was "you just gotta ignite the light and let it shine."
That little line was enough to make me ring the pole at the bottom and shoot back up to the top. Running 30 seconds, walking 60, running 30, walking 60... until I got to the top and then run back down again. Two up and backs. Boom, boom, boom.
Next Friday the goal will be 3 up and backs. Today was a reminder to myself that I can do this and I'm stronger than I sometimes feel. Between now and Wednesday I'll get another run in because I'm strong enough to keep this going.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
It gets easier
I went back to run Harvard Stadium this morning. This time I made it 5 full sections and 10 half sections. Instead of stiffening up like last week, my legs felt a hair wobbly for a few minutes and then they felt fine. I went swimming at lunch time and felt strong.
I'm planning on the Friday morning hill repeats with November Project. I'm going back to Harvard next Wednesday and I'm setting a goal of 7-10 full sections and continuing on with half sections from there. I'm also continuing on with yoga. After all, the reasons I run? I'm strong and amazing... And pretty bad ass.
I'm planning on the Friday morning hill repeats with November Project. I'm going back to Harvard next Wednesday and I'm setting a goal of 7-10 full sections and continuing on with half sections from there. I'm also continuing on with yoga. After all, the reasons I run? I'm strong and amazing... And pretty bad ass.
Friday, July 06, 2012
We should all look this good
Yesterday the soreness from Tuesday had let up quite a bit so I went swimming. I was excited that the senior center water aerobics ladies are back. These women are funny, social women with a wonderful sense of snarkiness that never fails to make me smile. There are also a couple of senior gentlemen that come with the group and they do laps while the women pretend to do some aerobics with the life guards.
One of the men is an older Asian man with a fascinating background. Every time he's there, the women squeal and hug him. They are always asking why he wasn't at dinner.... does he want to join them for dinner.... the bus is going, do you want to join us.... This guy gets more action than a lot of college kids at a party school!
While chatting with him and one of the women doing laps, I discovered he will be 100 in a month or so! You could have knocked me over with a feather, he is so active and doesn't look that old. He only learned to swim a few years back and he is lean and fit.
This morning on the news was a report that, according to a Canadian study, lack of exercise is more dangerous to our health than smoking or other well known risk factors. I think about the seniors at the pool and how young all of them feel - in spite of quadruple bypasses, strokes and other things that come with aging. There is a lesson here and may we all look, and feel, this good when we're their age.
One of the men is an older Asian man with a fascinating background. Every time he's there, the women squeal and hug him. They are always asking why he wasn't at dinner.... does he want to join them for dinner.... the bus is going, do you want to join us.... This guy gets more action than a lot of college kids at a party school!
While chatting with him and one of the women doing laps, I discovered he will be 100 in a month or so! You could have knocked me over with a feather, he is so active and doesn't look that old. He only learned to swim a few years back and he is lean and fit.
This morning on the news was a report that, according to a Canadian study, lack of exercise is more dangerous to our health than smoking or other well known risk factors. I think about the seniors at the pool and how young all of them feel - in spite of quadruple bypasses, strokes and other things that come with aging. There is a lesson here and may we all look, and feel, this good when we're their age.
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
Vertigo or The Real Stair Master
These are the stairs around Harvard Stadium, 37 sections of them. It seemed like a good idea joining The November Project when I woke up this morning, now I'm glad I joined them but I am totally questioning why I thought I could do this.For 35 minutes we ran up the "big" stairs (the wide platforms for seating) and walked down the "small" stairs (the stairs you normally use to go up and down to your seats), section by section. It doesn't sound like much - running up and down stairs - but there's a reason this is what athletes do to condition. It's hard work.
Then there was a problem I didn't anticipate: vertigo from the top of the bowl when you're going down. I got to the top of that first section and turned around and it was like a zoom lens was going back and forth as I looked at the bottom, looked at where I was and looked at the bottom again. Gingerly I stepped back down one step at a time and tried the second section only to have it happen again. By the 3rd section, I knew this was going to be all of the "official" workout I'd be able to do. I then proceeded to only walk up the small stairs, grabbing handrails when possible, turn around and shield my eyes so I could only see my feet as I walked back down.
After 5 sections I knew this was all I would be able to do today. I then started walking up about 1/3 of the way and back down again until my legs were like jelly. I walked about a third of the way around the bowl to keep doing the 1/3's, maybe pushing it to the top of the entry tunnels if I felt braver. I finished the bowl in 27 minutes by doing it that way and felt a bit like a wuss.
When all was said and done, I began talking to folks and learned I was not alone. The down piece bothers a lot of people when they first start out and eventually you get used to it. I'll see how I do next Wednesday morning.
Things I learned: this is wicked hard. I learned I have vertigo. I learned my legs hate me now. I learned my limit and pushed it a bit beyond which truly makes me somewhat bad assed.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Swimming with the fishes
On my 3rd day of a yoga/swim combo work, I asked my husband if he wanted to join me when I went to the pool. He's not a big pool guy, he prefers the local public lake. I figured it was better to have him come with me and go to the lake if it meant getting him out of the house for a bit.
So to the lake it was.
I don't like lakes. If I'm going to swim in a natural body of water, I'm an east-coast ocean girl. Yet I found myself sitting on the new docks at the lake. Gone was the splintery wood from the past, now replaced with smooth recycled plastic timbers. Also gone was the raft and oddly configured swim space. Everything was now laid out geometrically. Unfortunately what remained were the screaming, splashing kids that I avoid when I go for the "adult swim time" at the local pool. Even though they are contained behind a floating line, their voices are not and hearing an excited child utter, "Mommy I went poo!" is not my ideal swim experience.
But sitting on the end of the dock, where the kids aren't allowed, with my husband was nice. Our toes dragging in the chilly water as the sun warmed our backs, I was reminded of when we were first together and would often steal these kinds of moments while the kids safely played and swam in that contained area.
However, I was there to swim too. I like swimming with my husband. He used to be a diver and he a fluid motion when he swims, that efficient stroke and kick that divers develop to propel themselves and conserve energy at the same time. I jumped in and swam to the far line of the delineated swimming area and called out, "What time is it?" I wanted to time how long I was in for but my ironman watch is now taking in water, so I can only wear it as a watch or running until I have it fixed or replace it.
"I'm not going in," he called back, "I'm going to take a nap over on the grass."
Fabulous. I gave up cycling and my comfortable swim zone for him and now he was going to sleep instead of swim. It came out as, "What time is it? I need to time how long I'm swimming."
"Quarter after..."
I then began the long swim, alone. He watched for a while before he headed off to rest in the shade.
Reaching the far end of the delineated area, I felt something nip my foot. Startled I kicked and splashed for a moment and then remembered why I dislike the lake: they stock it with fish who are sometimes aggressive with swimmers. After 20 minutes of swimming (and fish fighting), I swam in to my chest height (still in the "adult" area) and did my resistance exercises. While I held onto the edge of the dock for balance as I did my leg lifts and such, I noticed a fish under the dock. It was just hanging there, suspended in the water watching me. Soon it was joined by a couple of more fish buddies, all of them watching me watching them.
It was a bit surreal.
I finished my exercises and did my achilles work before climbing out and heading in to rouse my husband.
Three full days of workouts and I feel stronger, but today I think I'll head to the pool on my own where I can see the floor of the pool, the clock on the wall and don't have to contend with fish or children.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Insanity Workouts
Today I had a good workout. It was crazy but it was good and I feel strong.
It started with a 90 minute Flow Foundation yoga class. I was sweating like a sinner in church during a heatwave. I could see sweat dripping off my nose and feel it running down my back. It was hard to find my center when I was mentally taking notes like: wear a tank top under my shirt in the future... noting where to place blocks and wondering if I looked as dorky and awkward as I felt compared to the experienced folks in the class.
Then I rode my bike from the yoga studio to the pool. I locked my stuff up and went for a 30 minute run. The first 7 or 8 minutes were fine and then my legs got my brain's attention. I think the conversation went something like this:
Legs: "Hey, jerkweed."
Brain: "Are you talking to me?"
Legs: "Damn tootin' sweetheart. What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Brain: "I think I'm running. Why?"
Legs: "After 90 freakin' minutes of yoga?"
Brain: "Is that a problem?"
Legs: "It doesn't take Obviousman to know that we're feeling a bit tired here."
Brain: {thinking}
Brain: "Did you want me to slow things down?"
Legs: "Um... YEAH."
Brain: "For how long?"
Legs: {caught off guard} "Um... a couple of minutes?"
Brain: "Cool. All you had to do was ask."
After a couple of minutes, I picked up the pace and about 7 minutes later, my legs requested another slow down. I made it through 30 minutes and spent almost 1/2 a minute struggling with the new Nike+ interface (human design my left big toe). Done with that, I was standing outside the pool and ready to just relax.
I like water workouts, they're essentially weightless. Ten lazy laps, some hip strengthening exercises in the water (where the resistance is futile or felt) and a few minutes of floating, I dried myself off and pedaled home.
Who needs a bootcamp when you have insanity?
It started with a 90 minute Flow Foundation yoga class. I was sweating like a sinner in church during a heatwave. I could see sweat dripping off my nose and feel it running down my back. It was hard to find my center when I was mentally taking notes like: wear a tank top under my shirt in the future... noting where to place blocks and wondering if I looked as dorky and awkward as I felt compared to the experienced folks in the class.
Then I rode my bike from the yoga studio to the pool. I locked my stuff up and went for a 30 minute run. The first 7 or 8 minutes were fine and then my legs got my brain's attention. I think the conversation went something like this:
Legs: "Hey, jerkweed."
Brain: "Are you talking to me?"
Legs: "Damn tootin' sweetheart. What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Brain: "I think I'm running. Why?"
Legs: "After 90 freakin' minutes of yoga?"
Brain: "Is that a problem?"
Legs: "It doesn't take Obviousman to know that we're feeling a bit tired here."
Brain: {thinking}
Brain: "Did you want me to slow things down?"
Legs: "Um... YEAH."
Brain: "For how long?"
Legs: {caught off guard} "Um... a couple of minutes?"
Brain: "Cool. All you had to do was ask."
After a couple of minutes, I picked up the pace and about 7 minutes later, my legs requested another slow down. I made it through 30 minutes and spent almost 1/2 a minute struggling with the new Nike+ interface (human design my left big toe). Done with that, I was standing outside the pool and ready to just relax.
I like water workouts, they're essentially weightless. Ten lazy laps, some hip strengthening exercises in the water (where the resistance is futile or felt) and a few minutes of floating, I dried myself off and pedaled home.
Who needs a bootcamp when you have insanity?
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