Category Archives: Exercise

learning to relax

March 28, 2014 6:50 AM , 2 Comments ,

I’m watching an angry green blob dance across my smartphone screen.  That green blob is a thunderstorm and currently it may be passing me or it may just be reaching me.  I can’t tell.  It’s 3:41 AM, I’m in my running gear, it’s raining and I’m beginning to think that I won’t get my run in today.  I get edgier and edgier as the clock moves towards 4 A.M.  I’ve had my day off this week and I really don’t want a two-day break from my work out.  I’m considering just going and chancing the rain and lightning anyways.

It wasn’t always so.  I used to be the opposite in fact.  I would use any excuse not to go out for a run.

“It’s 96 degrees out instead of 95.  too hot”

“I wore this yesterday, can’t wear it twice in a row”

“I’m 2 minutes too late.  Can’t go today”

The rain is coming down steadily on my roof.  I can’t tell if this green blob is moving towards or away from my house.  I look it up on the desktop.  Zooming in as much as possible.  Straining to see if this is going to cancel my run or not.  If it lets up soon I may still be able to go out.

I used to be so good at relaxing.  It was second nature to me.  Time off and time to my self were the most important parts of life and I marveled at the fact that some people had problems trying to relax and unwind.  My priorities were so much different when I was younger.  I once spent 18 hours straight playing an online game one time.  Something that I still take perverse pride in.  I only quit because the game owners brought the system down for maintenance.  Carefree days back then.  Not so much anymore.

3:52.  The rain has decidedly slowed but will it pick up again?  The radar says it probably won’t.  A rumble of thunder in the distance.  Maybe I should wait a bit.  If I do a speed run I may still be able to afford a quick rinse in the shower to get the worst of the brine and mud off me before work.

When I began walking and then running I had to break my sedentary habits that I had cultivated for decades and commit myself to this type of life.  In doing so the new paradigm of working to exhaustion took root over many long and hard months.  Forcing myself to crave exercise took awhile but I got it done.

At the same time I had to recognize that my body needed time to repair itself and to sort itself out each week.  So I took one day of rest and away from exercise each week.  Two days a week, specially two days in a row had become unacceptable.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not a someone that lives with a barbell attached to my hand and that does reps while talking on the phone or who lives in the gym.  In fact I could probably stand more exercise in my life.  But I do have some minimums that I have to keep up in my life and I don’t want to slide below my minimum level.

The rain has slowed enough.  Got to go…

Posted in: activities, exercise, life in general

keeping the habit

October 21, 2013 8:10 PM , Leave a Comment ,

One thing I was determined to do on this last vacation is to keep my exercise and diet routines going.  For the most part I was successful.

Central Park was a great aid to me in this respect while I was in the city.  The park made a tempting target to visit every day and I have to believe that the locals could run a different path in the park every day and never get bored with repetition.

Another thing I noticed is that the nature of the city encourages walking.  You may have access to subways, cabs, buses, and whatnot, but you still have to do a fair bit of walking in the city.

Back to my vacation, I was able to do a lot of hiking during the Mohonk and Sagamore portions of my vacation.  I was in fact able to top 26 miles in one days accumulated walking and running.  Quite the feat for someone who not more than 3 years ago was averaging less than a mile a day.

One thing that I wasn’t so good at was maintaining the diet.  Willpower is something I need to work on and now that I’m back in my regular life it’s time to step back into the harness and get back to my routine.

But overall I am very pleased at my health habits during this vacation.  I could have just sat around all day long but even with a nasty running accident on the second day I kept at it and didn’t slack off one bit.

For my next vacation, wherever that may be, I intend to be more disciplined and integrate even more outdoor activities.

Posted in: exercise, running, vacations

doldrums

September 17, 2013 8:02 PM , Leave a Comment ,

Everybody gets that out of energy funk once in a while.

I don’t mean that “I’m tired” feeling that you get after a long workout or a hard day at work but a general lazy feeling that lasts for days. You have no urge to do your regular work, exercise, or take up your hobbies.  You’re just listless.  You have to justify your daily routine to yourself and half the time you really can’t.

It started last Sunday morning.  I used the excuse of coming home late to skip my run, and then Monday I woke up two minutes late.  Now again this morning.  Didn’t even try to excuse it, just turned over in bed.

I’ve experienced it before and the only thing that works is to get out there and will myself out of it.  These doldrums have come in the past and usually this was the remedy.  Of course I will try again but it seems to be harder and harder as I age to do this anymore.

Maybe it’s a part of my natural cycle?  Last week I did have a couple of high energy days after all.  Maybe it’s food related?  Some vitamin or mineral lacking in my diet?

Whatever the cause I have to break out of it.  Too many things going on in my life for me to let these doldrums continue.

 

Posted in: exercise, health