I've been doing a crazy workout lately in an effort to knock off a few pounds (not all of it can be blamed on sympathy weight for my preggo wife), something I did a few years back with younger knees and a naturally higher metabolism. It begins with my riding my bicycle for two miles to the nearest high school stadium. There, I run around the track like a crazy person until I'm about to collapse. Then, it's a two-mile pedal home.
I do this to keep "track" (pun intendend) of how far I can run. Used to be able to run continuously (that's without stopping, by the way) for three miles or more. After I hit that mark, I began running on the streets for varied terrain and at least something to look at besides a decaying stadium. Somehow I got off track, possibly because my morning routine changed when I was the one taking the Cutlet to daycare. Now I've got few excuses, other than I have to exercise before the temperature hits 100 or I will melt.
I'm not a gym person, but this old track is just a notch or two above that. It's outdoors with fresh air, and the "up with people" dynamic is there because a dozen or so people typically get the same idea I have and use the free access to get back or stay in shape. I love the variety of the people – young, old, fat, skinny, wheezing (uh, that's me), black, white, brown, etc. etc. – and the ways they get themselves around the track:
• Some grab an accountability partner to get them to the track and make it more interesting once they are there. Often this is a spouse or chatty friend.
• Others use music. Though some have entered the 21st century with MP3 players, I've seen decades-old cassette Walkmans and a guy with a CD player literally strapped to his wrist.
• I've seen some people circling the track or climbing the stadium stairs with cell phones glued to their ears.
• There's one lady, who I'll call a regular because she's been there every time I have been lately, who rides her bike to the track and then circles the outside lane while reading a book.
Me? I get myself around the track the old-fashioned way: stubborn-ness (or, alternately, resolve). I might take my iPod to help break up the monotony, but then maybe I won't. It's nice to let my brain wander than be focused on the lyrics to whatever song is playing. Working so far. I'm back up to running a mile at a time now. We'll see if I become a winning loser in the coming months.
It must be the time of the year.
I used to run 3 miles every other day with complete consistency. That stopped about the time my daughter was born. Four years after that I still had not picked the habit back up. Then, my son was born. That was almost 2 years ago. Just this week, I started running again. Although, now I am lucky if I make it a mile without stopping. I started on Wednesday, ran again yesterday, and once again today. I ran a little further without stopping each day. One thing I have noticed when I have attempted to start back up in the past is that my knees just can't take it like they used to. That is another factor in my not being consistent for the past 6 years.
A couple of weeks ago, I was getting some blood work done for a new life insurance policy and the nurse told me about a supplement called Glucosomine (sp?) that is supposed to work wonders in keeping the joints lubricated. I bought some last weekend and started taking it right away. So far, no knee pain. It isn't cheap stuff, but if it can get me back to exercising somewhat regularly, I'll spend the dough.
I'm an ipod runner. I may have to give the quiet run a try. One thing about where I live out here in Decatur is I have plenty of fresh air and nice views in any direction I run. The closest track is a little too far away to try the biking thing, but if I get back in good enough shape, I might try it. I've thought about trying to do a short triathlon sometime down the road, anyway.
i will walk to the end of the earth and back in about thirty minutes. i can literally walk for hours and think nothing of it, but running. ah running. i will only do it under one circumstance, and it involves some crazy masked dude with a chainsaw chasing me. nope. not a runner.
I have an elliptical at home so that's my workout. And I watch the Food Network while working out which my husband finds hilarious!
Congrats on getting back in shape!
I COULD PINCH HIS CHEEKS OFF!
I do 4 miles on the mill five or six days a week. I love to look at mags or watch TV while doing it. I know that it will grow old and spinning my wheels on a treadmill is not how God intended for me to live, but it is what is working now. Congrats on getting active again!