Yoga

I did an intro yoga class a few years ago, and really liked the extra flexibility it gave me.

So when my employer offered free yoga classes once a week, I knew I had to sign up.

I start Tuesday.

In which the Seeker has foot issues

Back in February, I started couch to 5k again, for the fourth or fifth time. I was really looking forward to feeling powerful again, getting my cardiovascular endurance up, bringing back visible muscle definition to my naturally strong legs, and enjoying the emotional evenness I get from running.

I set out for my warm-up walk, breathing in the unseasonably warm air, moving my feet with purpose in my new New Balance minimalist shoes, black, with yellow soles and turquoise details. The app on my phone beeped and said "begin running now." I was off. I sucked in the air and made sure to strike mid foot. I heard another beep and began walking. By the third or fourth running interval, I was beginning to tire, but determined to do this for myself.

Then, I felt a sudden discomfort in the sole of my right foot. You know that sound a rubber band makes when you snap it? I sensed something similar in my arch.

Several colleagues of mine run marathons, so I figured they'd have advice. One suggested plantar fasciitis and recommended a visit to a podiatrist, along with a stop to the running. I'm underinsured, and a podiatrist visit, well, that did not seem doable. I did have to make a necessary appointment with my primary care doctor for an unrelated reason, and figured I'd ask her. She suggested some stretches that didn't seem to help and referred me to a podiatrist.

I finally made the appointment and went. I still don't know how much the visit is going to cost me. Foot Doctor said my high arches were starting to fall, which was causing friction between bones in a metatarsal joint. His office sold me some middle-grade insoles which will have to do until I get better insurance, either through a change in work or my upcoming marriage, whichever comes first.

So now my sunscreen should have finally sunk in, and my inhaler should take effect soon, and I'm off.

Thinking ahead to 2012 goals

In 2012, I would like to be able to:

1. Complete a 5k. I'm planning on doing one in March.
2. Do a pull-up.
3. Do a split.
4. Find a way to eat somewhat less haphazardly - plan more, go nuts less.
5. At the very least, every day go for a walk or ride the bike to nowhere.

I have a few challenges, though. I have to be at work too early to do anything in the morning, and I'm starting a second job 3x week that will give me 3 10-hour days. Feeding myself during the day and getting food-prep made easy those days is going to be super important. Otherwise, I know I'll stop at the store on the way home and shove a candy bar down my face.

So, I'd need to make sure that I can get a good breakfast (that can be eaten in about 10 minutes at 7:20 a.m.), split lunch into a meal for my lunch break (I usually get to sit down with my food around 11:45), have a healthy snack I can eat in the car from Job A to Job B (2:30ish), and a dinner that won't be too hard to put together when I get home so I can be eating by 7.

Also, this presents an interesting challenge in that I need to find the time to exercise.

Trying again

Yesterday I did the first day of Couch to 5K again. It was stupid hot out, but I still really liked getting out there.

Today, I tried Al Kavadlo's zero equipment workout and wussed out halfway through.

C25K

W1D1 done. Feet hurt. Lungs are remarkably ok. Inhaler seems to work.

New week, new resolve

Yesterday, I went with the man on a long walk around the city - we went about four miles.

Right now, I'm sitting on my chair waiting ten minutes so I can see if my new inhaler helps any with running. I'm pretty much planning on doing the first day of Couch to 5k and seeing what happens.

I've been sitting in uncomfortable chairs all day long, and now I am fidgety. Plus, it's beautiful outside!

I fell off the wagon

And my health is not happy about it.

I need to make some changes, and having a place to post about what I was up to helped.

So. Here are my goals:

1. Do some sort of resistance training twice a week.
2. Do some sort of aerobic exercise - enough to make me sweat - three times a week.
3. Give those moisture-wicking t-shirts I bought a real road test.

I have no excuse now - as now I have an inhaler which will make breathing during exercise a ton easier. I'm sick of waking up all stiff for no good reason - bring back the good pain!

Latest attempts

Tuesday: nothing
Wednesday: still nothing - crappy out!
Thursday: another attempt at running. Got farther in the first ten minutes, but still couldn't do the second.
Friday: nothing.
Saturday: Snow! So rode the exercise bike for half an hour.
Yesterday: Walked for 5.5 miles!

Limited success with the challenge

Saturday, I did some "free form" running somewhat resembling Week 4 Day 2 because I forgot to pack my stopwatch for Thanksgiving travel. It went ok, but it was colder, windier, and hillier than I'm used to, and I think I was still getting over my throat infestation.

Today, I attempted Week 4's challenge day - run 10 minutes, break for 2, run for 10 more.

Instead, this is what happened:
1. warm up walk for 5 minutes
2. Run for 10 minutes. I covered .84 mile. Go me!
3. Walk for 2 minutes. Gloat. Pant.
4. Run for four minutes, decide to walk for two.
5. Walk two minutes.
6. Try to run again - legs give out after a minute.
7. Walk the rest of the way home.

At first, I was kind of disappointed. But then, I started thinking.
- I can run for 10 minutes! I'm 85% towards my first distance goal (one mile).
- I petered out because I worked myself to capacity. I know that I could not have worked harder, so I will get the maximum benefit of my time.
- I am a lot stronger than when I started.

So I'll try again on Wednesday (or Thursday if it's crappy out)

Success! and illness. :(

Tuesday, I did the first day of Beginning Running Week 4. It went pretty well – and I miscalculated my times, so I actually ran for five minutes instead of four on the second set. I’m pretty excited that I can do that.

Now I’m traveling for Turkey Day and recovering from a sudden-onset bacterial throat plague, so it’ll be a challenge to get in the rest of Week 4.

I'm feeling a lot better today than yesterday, and hoping that tomorrow will be good for running.

Today's light exercise

2 mile walk with the man. Did not feel winded at all. Also did some doorway pushups.

Week 3 done!

I can run for four minutes at a time! The first two go-rounds weren't too bad, the third was a little harder, the fourth was excruciating, and the last was also pretty hard. The second-to-last seems to be the hardest every time, and I think it's because that part of my route is slightly uphill.

I'm pretty pleased with myself so far. I would like to be able to run a mile, and I can run about a third of one now.

Week 3 Day 2 down

The fifth running segment was HARD. But I did it!!! Tried out some new stretches afterward, too. Yay!

It's working!

My blood pressure at the doctor's today was 120/62. It's never been that low.

I can run for three minutes!!!

Sunday, I did the "Challenge" day at the end of Week 2: run for three minutes; walk for two, repeat five times.

Today, I did the first day of Week 3: run for 3 minutes; walk for one; repeat six times.

My legs are getting strong. Wool or synthetic socks seem to be helping with the blister problem. I'll be so happy when I can run a mile again (summer 2009, I could run for 25 minutes - covering about a mile and a half. That's the best I've ever gotten).

Yesterday, I goofed off on the chinup bar enough that my arms and back were a bit sore this morning.

Does this count?

I had to go up the stairs at work about six or seven times today because the remote door unlocker wasn't working.

Probably not a workout, though.

Week 2 Day 2 down

Got kind of awkward when I ran into a funeral, though.

It's an unseasonably warm November, which is nice for getting some outdoor exercise.

Nothing today

I can be such a bump on a log. Also, I want cake.

Week 2 of beginning running

Day 1 is done!

I found myself having a lot more trouble keeping up speed during the running portions today. There's a big difference between walking for 3 minutes in between runs and only walking for 2.

First week of the program, you run for 8 minutes total out of 20 (not including the warm up and cool down walks I always add). Second week of the program, you run for 12 minutes total out of 24.

I also need to get some more strength training or yoga in - and it would be good if I could ride the "bike to nowhere" on non-running, non-Sunday (break day) days. Maybe I can work my way through the original series of Star Trek while I pedal away...

Happy Saturday!

So I did the "challenge" day at the end of the first week of the beginning running program. I think it went ok, but now I have some icky blisters on my feet. This is frustrating, because I don't want to destroy my feet in the name of stonger legs, lungs, and heart.

Yes, I'm wearing proper shoes.