Winter doesn't seem to want to end, so I have been slow to find a way to exercise for two reasons - 1. to loose the 10 lbs. from Elliott's birth and 2. to get in shape. I signed the girls up for tennis lessons this entire month. It dawned on me that while they were in lessons, it would be the perfect time to exercise. I strapped Elliott in the stroller and away we went. It worked out great for a couple days. Then, I realized I'd prefer some alone time. I started getting up before everyone else to go without pushing a stroller.
My walking has soon turned into a great workout. I don't have a pedometer, so I drove my routes in the car. I'm going 2.6 miles and have worked up running over half of the distance and sometimes more. I'm not willing to run up hills yet, so that is my walking time. It has been very refreshing for me.
In the past I haven't been a runner; asthma usually interfered with any joy of the event. I remember the dreaded mile run P.E. days especially in Elementary school and Junior High. It seemed to kill me, I wasn't fast and I didn't enjoy the challenge. When I went to physical therapy for my right foot in between my mission, I asked the therapist, "When will I be done with therapy?" He replied, "When you can run a mile without pain." Following which I thought, "I've never been able to run a mile in my life, so this could take a while." With six hours of intense therapy 5x a week, I got there. I remember running in Texas so I wouldn't loose that momentum, but soon new companions would not agree to exercise and I lost the skill I'd taken so long to build. If I've done it once, I can do it again, thus, I started running.
The first day I ran in my workout, I went until my asthma kicked in at which time I decided I'd better slow the pace so I could make it home alive (I still had 1.5 miles ahead of me.) But, since then, I've kept the two mingled and seem to be increasing my time running - before long, I'll have to increase my distance too. I found I prefer running downhill rather than on straight terrain.
I realized music makes all the difference in the world. I started taking my Nano with me, but the random mix of music was hard to run to. Thursday I determined while running, I needed to make a running file of music - songs with great beats that would keep me going. Friday, minus the very cold air that stung my lungs, I was able to run much better. I went further - from our house up 300 North to 400 East, North to 4400 North and West to the road that goes to Sky View High School and then looped home.
It's great running on a country road in between farm land except for when they cut it. I will have to choose a different route then. I try to vary my routes anyway, but each time I run a little more and walk a little less.
When Andrew is in town, I run daily. I like tip toeing out of the house while it's quiet - no one talking to me or asking for anything. The morning is quiet except for fellow exercisers I pass along the way. I return home hot and invigorated. It is a great way to start the day! Now if we can get out of the mid forties in the morning, it will be perfect.
No comments:
Post a Comment