exercise daily for 150 days

You know you’re a fitness nerd-nut-whathaveyou when you decide to do an easy 2 mile run “just for fun.”

Okay so I skipped Curves this morning – but only thanks to my LOVELY cat who decided to meow incessantly at 5:22 am. Arrrrrrgggghhh! Sadly, cats do not come with snooze buttons. Annoyed, I sent my other cat after the meowing one (benefits of having two furkids) and opted to sleep through the time I was supposed to work out. I think I used that time to dream of cupcakes.

With the temperature at 77 degrees and climbing, I’m SO glad it wasn’t a long run. It took me 18 minutes to complete, which comes up to 9:01 MM – WOAH what??? An easy run for me is at 9:01 MM? That’s crazy! (For me, anyway) It wasn’t that long ago when I was killing myself just to get to 9:01 MM.

Another oddity was running without my iPod, so I had no sense of time whatsoever (I don’t use it for the music, but for timing and marking purposes instead). It was really nice though to hear everything that was going on (birds chirping! cars vrooming! hammers hammering! listening to a woman spill out her private business on her cell phone!) and easier for me to focus on breathing and form. When I start running for distance and get the Garmin HRM, I can imagine myself running without my iPod. Just me, myself and the world… (And the occasional squirrel) Bliss. :):)

To the advice of my new Runner’s World Complete Book of Running, I ran on asphalt instead of sidewalk today. While I’m sure my knees thanked me profusely for it, I was even more pleased at how then far away from dogs it helped me to be. And no more worrying about dirtying my beautiful Asics with dog poo! Now, why didn’t I think of this before? Thanks Runner’s World!

Ok, I’m panicking.

I will be on a cruise from Dec. 19 – Jan 1 (yay!) but my OHR training schedule runs into my vacation (gasp boo HISS!). What on earth am I going to do about the program?

The boat claims to have a “running track,” but what it really is is a widely stretched balcony on the third level of the ship with HARDWOOD floors. (Notice I put “running track” in quotes) And really, how many times do I need to circle the boat in order to put in 60 minutes? It’ll be like a swaying merry-go-round!!!

(Although I planned on using the treadmill for hill work, I stubbornly refuse to use it for OHR. Call me treadmill snob, but it just isn’t the same as pounding the pavement/dirt.)

Aside from that letdown, I’m otherwise very excited to use their “state of the art” fitness center (again, notice the quotes!). Free weights, elliptical, yoga classes – I am THERE!

In other very exciting news (at least for me), I am feeling freaking fantastic thanks to another run this a.m. My energy level’s made a comeback, I am slightly less obsessed with junk food and I have the motivation to do things like empty the bathroom trash again. It’s like getting back together with an old flame, minus the part where you remember why you broke up in the first place.

Walking Into Reality

In celebration of cool, fall weather, I opted to go back to my “fitness” roots and go for an hour walk around my neighborhood. With all the worries of economics and the health of a family member, it just felt like I needed to reconnect with myself through Mother Nature.

I forgot why I started walking for the purpose of walking (versus warm up/cool down) in the first place. It’s the perfect exercise for Active Recovery! I was stretching and gently using muscles in a different way. I walked part of my running route, but since there was no hurry, my eyes caught details I’ve missed, like how my neighbors put up their holiday decorations, housing developments making great strides, gardeners blowing leaves off of their clients’ lawns and a bird that grabbed WAY more nuts than its little beak could comfortably grasp. All the wahile, the sun shone through the clear blue sky and landed on my skin like a warm hug from an old friend. (Note: Vitamin D!)

During my walk, I thought about how physically difficult walking half an hour used to be. That was probably why I cherished the long walks HB and I used to do together on some weekends: aside from sharing with him my misery of physical exertion and loathe towards physical activity, it was time that we spent together AWAY from all forms of distractions aka “electronics.” Walking used to mean something different to me, how did I end up here?

In reflection, I realized that my will to lose weight and live healthy was so great that I surged after it alone with the strength of warrior. Reward strategies work for a lot of people, but it was something that I never needed because 1) I really have everything I need, so materials mean nothing to me, and 2) I found picture of my changing body much more motivating. While the results were great, the process, however, left some things in the dust that actually made me a better and loving person when I fatter.

1. Do more athletic activities WITH HB
2. Discover other interests – I hear there’s a world out there that doesn’t involve fitness!
3. Improve my appearance – I focused on my body so much that I forgot about my hair, make up and clothes… I need to dig around for vanity!
4. Get in touch with my creative side – Umm I stole this from the lovely vex. She has all sorts of goodies on her list that I might * ahem * “borrow”

Ok enough of this wah-wah, let’s talk about much more exciting topics: fitness equipment! (heart beating madly)

RIP: Nike Shox

Coinciding with the close of 4 months of daily workouts is retiring my Nike Shox. I should be sad, in all honestly, I was never too crazy about them. I think I was more excited about the bargain price I got on it and how it’s my first pair of REAL running shoes. Shoes: Thanks for protecting my feet, I hope you enjoy your new life as a track, playground or even a tennis court!


Look at that wear!

New Running Shoes!

I know I said I wasn’t a reward-kind-of gal in a previous paragraph, but I guess if you could consider this my 4 month anniversary to myself: a new pair of running shoes! I realized after my last pair that I hated Nikes. I stumbled upon Asics by accident and loved them; they have a bigger toe box and I feel and my little trial run in the store made me feel invincible (the power of pairing proper shoes to one’s gait!). Tomorrow will be Day 1!

My new babies

New Walking/Biking/Whathaveyou Sneakers

I actually bought these last month. These are the pair of sneakers that I tried on at the store that made me into an Asics girl. They’re actually 1.5 size bigger than my usual size, but they felt right for what I need, so I got them. I got them for cross training, but didn’t realize that I brought home running shoes – oops! Add to the fact that they’re a higher level sneaker than my new running shoes (meaning: more expensive), but I have strange feet, so whatever.

Having a Ball!

Ok one more pic of something I’m VERY excited about:

My new ball – not the cat, although she is the cuddliest little creature and best bed warmer in the world. I am SO excited to give my routine an extra twist with this new beautiful piece of equipment, like crunches!