Weekly: exercise in my target heart rate zone (HRtarget) 4x (Happiness Manifesto Declaration #1)

With the winter doldrums just about over here, it’s time to recommit to exercising. I don’t have much of a plan yet, but I am going out for a run this morning and then, at some point this weekend, I’ll get the bike out and get it ready for using it to commute to work. (It’s 20 miles round-trip.)

I just completed the longest run I’ve done since before I was pregnant with my first, over 5 years ago. I only meant to run about 3 1/2 miles, but I was lost in thought and before I knew it I had passed my usual turnaround spot and had run a little over two miles from my home. So I think I just ran about 5 miles.

I’ll be in fine form for the Race for the Cure which is a little over 3 miles. It’s in about 3 weeks (on my birthday).

Finally—I exercised 4 times this week! 3 runs and 1 session with an exercise video.

Usually, when I run, I feel like a work horse—powerful, steady, a little on the slow side, but with some potential to gallop should I feel the urge. Now and then I hit the “zone” and I feel like a graceful fleet-footed gazelle.

Today I was a lumbering ungainly bear. With every step I felt as if I was heaving a massive frame over the pavement. Even with my favorites on the ipod, running just didn’t feel natural this morning. So I cut it a little short and walked a few extra blocks. Ugh.

I’m chalking this up to not having had any coffee yet today.

a mid-week run. Plopped the baby in the jogger and ran for about 20 minutes after dinner. It felt great, although I can feel a huge difference between my usual morning runs and a run at the end of the day.

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I came home a bit early this afternoon, made dinner, and fed the family before evening had really set in. With the gorgeous weather we had today, I was still feeling a little energized…perfect time for a run, I thought. I headed out with my ipod and started a brisk 3 block walk, then upped the pace a little to a jog. After a few blocks of this, I’m usually ready to speed up even more, but today I suddenly felt zapped of energy. I decided to cut some distance off of my usual route.

A few minutes after this decision “Satellite” by TV On the Radio came on, a song which always helps me find my perfect pace. I realized I’d been running for awhile feeling just fine, then two more songs with a similar tempo came on. Halfway through the third song I adjusted my route to add a few more blocks and felt like could run forever at this pace.

My normal routine is to walk the last two blocks to my house, but I was so “in the zone,” that I didn’t even notice I was still running as I sprinted up my front porch. Needless to say, I feel great!

Went on two great runs this weekend. What a joy to be out as spring is jogging right along as well. I need to figure out how to get out for more than just two runs a week. Maybe now that it’s lighter later, I can put the baby girl in the jogger and go for an evening run.

Thanks to the miniscule amount of snow we had this morning, I got to go into work late, so I was able to fit in a DVD workout. My son (4) was exercising right along with me and cracking me up. He provided a running commentary about which moves he was good at and how exercise is important for superheroes like himself. Nothing like a little cardio and laughter to start the day!

I scheduled the morning with my husband last night so we could both fit in exercise. After not running for several months, I wasn’t sure how this one would go, but it went great! I had fantasies of training for a 1/2 marathon (I ran one and a full marathon about 6 years ago), but I know I don’t have the time to commit to something like that at the moment. Still, it was fun. I highly recommend Gnarls Barkley’s “Go Go Gadget Gospel” as a workout tune. It fit my pace perfectly and the lyrics were inspiring me to feel great about working out again.

for inviting me here Aatmiya! As today is a holiday for me I was able to get in a workout with Denise Austin this morning. (I find her somewhat annoying. I’ll happily take any recommendations. Preferably someone who doesn’t say “Now you’re burning butter!” ad nauseum.) The kids provided a little extra resistance training—I had to hold the baby while doing lunges because she kept making a run for the stairs (Note to self: get more baby gates) and my son thought it was fun rolling around on the floor while I was grapevining and power marching. I had to put a stop to his obstacle course, but I still put in a good workout.