Today's Plan: run
No idea how far or where I was going today. Those are the fun days. At the end of the driveway I just picked a direction: left. I want to increase my distance weekly. So the 2m run I usually do when I run left didn't seem far enough. So I went just a bit further, made it 2.65 miles today. Gotta love it when you run far enough to run into a rain storm and back out! I am always so impressed when I go out on ugly days, because I am often a fair weather exerciser. Weather had been my excuse for years. It's good to know I am making progress on that front. Also getting much better at being a morning person. Now if I could only stop procrastinating.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
10/6
Today's Plan: weights and yoga
One more note about balance: used to be that when I ran I would get pains on the inner shoulder blade muscles. That has not been a problem since I started the weights. I do a lot of back exercises, at the suggestion of my massage therapist. We use our arms going forward so much that we don't strengthen our back enough. I added a rep to my lifting today. I think I have been doing the same thing for for too long and needed to step it up. I find that with my running too. My times get slower since I don't push. Question is: do I care? Running is a joy, and while I definitely want to do more races and I am a rather competitive person, I want it to stay a joy. I figure this is a good time to work on distance and next spring I will worry about speed. Sounds like a plan :)
One more note about balance: used to be that when I ran I would get pains on the inner shoulder blade muscles. That has not been a problem since I started the weights. I do a lot of back exercises, at the suggestion of my massage therapist. We use our arms going forward so much that we don't strengthen our back enough. I added a rep to my lifting today. I think I have been doing the same thing for for too long and needed to step it up. I find that with my running too. My times get slower since I don't push. Question is: do I care? Running is a joy, and while I definitely want to do more races and I am a rather competitive person, I want it to stay a joy. I figure this is a good time to work on distance and next spring I will worry about speed. Sounds like a plan :)
Monday, October 6, 2014
10/5
Today's Plan: long run
You know those days you keep telling yourself if you just get to a certain spot, you can turn around? I made a lot of promises to myself today. First when I almost got blown backwards by a gust of wind, I promised that I would just run to the top of the mountain to take some photos. Then I realized that because of the layout of the mountain I needed to go down a bit further...and further...and then I was at the bottom. I didn't want to climb the mountain, so I convinced myself it was easier to continue in the 5m loop than to go back up. (I was in mile 1.5 of the 5. I really didn't want to go up the mountain)
I want to point out that it was gusty and rainy, the weatherman who promised that the storm was going out overnight to give us a nice morning was wrong. I am going back to the look out the window method. There was one particular hill I was worried about in running the loop this way. I remember my mom trying to teach me to do hill stops on this hill with our standard Escort. It did not work all that well.
I had to keep pep talking myself all the way to that hill. I made it up and I swear the sun came out. The weatherman was just a bit behind, I guess. My 4th and 5th mile were actually the fastest of the loop. I felt like I could keep going forever--until I hit my driveway and my legs stopped suddenly.
After doing a bit of housework, I went out to ride Charby. The gusts of wind made her a bit flighty. Horses can hear far better than us, so hearing noises from far away carried by the wind and not having any idea of the causes can be startling to them. We had a bit of a tussle over whether we should canter or not (she voted yes, I voted no), but in general we had a good ride. It's such a pleasure to work with her. She has such a personality that I don't people who don't ride realize. Horses are unique individuals and it can so much fun just to hang with them.
You know those days you keep telling yourself if you just get to a certain spot, you can turn around? I made a lot of promises to myself today. First when I almost got blown backwards by a gust of wind, I promised that I would just run to the top of the mountain to take some photos. Then I realized that because of the layout of the mountain I needed to go down a bit further...and further...and then I was at the bottom. I didn't want to climb the mountain, so I convinced myself it was easier to continue in the 5m loop than to go back up. (I was in mile 1.5 of the 5. I really didn't want to go up the mountain)
I want to point out that it was gusty and rainy, the weatherman who promised that the storm was going out overnight to give us a nice morning was wrong. I am going back to the look out the window method. There was one particular hill I was worried about in running the loop this way. I remember my mom trying to teach me to do hill stops on this hill with our standard Escort. It did not work all that well.
I had to keep pep talking myself all the way to that hill. I made it up and I swear the sun came out. The weatherman was just a bit behind, I guess. My 4th and 5th mile were actually the fastest of the loop. I felt like I could keep going forever--until I hit my driveway and my legs stopped suddenly.
After doing a bit of housework, I went out to ride Charby. The gusts of wind made her a bit flighty. Horses can hear far better than us, so hearing noises from far away carried by the wind and not having any idea of the causes can be startling to them. We had a bit of a tussle over whether we should canter or not (she voted yes, I voted no), but in general we had a good ride. It's such a pleasure to work with her. She has such a personality that I don't people who don't ride realize. Horses are unique individuals and it can so much fun just to hang with them.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
10/4
Today's Plan: weights and yoga
My father would be so proud, I actually watched the weather and planned around it. He said it was because he was a farmer, but personally I think he was just addicted to the weather. Dad watched it on the news morning, noon, and night. As soon as the weather man was announced, the refrain "weather!" would echo through the house so we would all know we better be quiet so he could hear. And if anyone else wanted to know it, they better get in there! It became a family joke.
Once the Internet was connected, he had the weather emailed to him from the local channel 6 three times a day. He still watched the news for it. Then LL Bean came out with the weather stations that were wireless so a piece outside told the computer inside what it was doing outside. He used all three methods. When we cleaned out his office, he had notebooks full of previous years weather trends that effected the farming. Still, I think it was more for him than the farm. He was always disappointed that I was more fond of the "look out the window" way of knowing the weather. But today I knew it was going to be a rainy gray day, and planned accordingly. Weights in the morning and yoga in the afternoon.
I do feel the need to say that I am not going to the gym to do the weight lifting nor do I have any machines. I started doing weights for my upper body. I knew between riding and running my legs were just fine. I figured I'd better work on the other half too. The magazine I am reviewing had an entertaining article about runner's bodies. The author, Rachel Toor, said she had a boyfriend who once told her she had the body of a T.Rex: big honking legs, tiny good for nothing upper body. She realized he was right when she tried to show 2 10-yr olds how to do a proper cartwheel and her arms were not strong enough.
Yoga does help with arm strength, planks and table poses certainly use my own body weight against me. But a strong core is important in both running and riding. Keeping your shoulders back and relaxed as you swing your arms rhythmically for the length of your run means having a strong back and arms. Plus, I just like to be balanced. And one never knows when one might have to do a cartwheel!
Article quoted from 9/14 issue of Running Times
My father would be so proud, I actually watched the weather and planned around it. He said it was because he was a farmer, but personally I think he was just addicted to the weather. Dad watched it on the news morning, noon, and night. As soon as the weather man was announced, the refrain "weather!" would echo through the house so we would all know we better be quiet so he could hear. And if anyone else wanted to know it, they better get in there! It became a family joke.
Once the Internet was connected, he had the weather emailed to him from the local channel 6 three times a day. He still watched the news for it. Then LL Bean came out with the weather stations that were wireless so a piece outside told the computer inside what it was doing outside. He used all three methods. When we cleaned out his office, he had notebooks full of previous years weather trends that effected the farming. Still, I think it was more for him than the farm. He was always disappointed that I was more fond of the "look out the window" way of knowing the weather. But today I knew it was going to be a rainy gray day, and planned accordingly. Weights in the morning and yoga in the afternoon.
I do feel the need to say that I am not going to the gym to do the weight lifting nor do I have any machines. I started doing weights for my upper body. I knew between riding and running my legs were just fine. I figured I'd better work on the other half too. The magazine I am reviewing had an entertaining article about runner's bodies. The author, Rachel Toor, said she had a boyfriend who once told her she had the body of a T.Rex: big honking legs, tiny good for nothing upper body. She realized he was right when she tried to show 2 10-yr olds how to do a proper cartwheel and her arms were not strong enough.
Yoga does help with arm strength, planks and table poses certainly use my own body weight against me. But a strong core is important in both running and riding. Keeping your shoulders back and relaxed as you swing your arms rhythmically for the length of your run means having a strong back and arms. Plus, I just like to be balanced. And one never knows when one might have to do a cartwheel!
Article quoted from 9/14 issue of Running Times
Friday, October 3, 2014
10/3
Today's Plan: ride
"the best laid plans of mice and men".....When I went out to get Charby this morning, the first thing I saw was a dump truck rumbling down the road. Followed by a pickup. My horse isn't scared of vehicles, but a dump truck up close might do the trick. Plus there is always the concern that a vehicle won't go slow enough and kick up rocks. A sharp ping on her butt might get someone a new hood ornament. I wanted to ride on the road because the dew is so heavy early in the mornings. Wet grass is slick grass, especially when you have four feet going around corners and hills. Unfortunately, my ring is not particularly flat, or even.
Some days I am not flexible with my planning. If it turns out that I can't follow through on my plan when I attempt it, I will say I'll do something later but it rarely happens. Today I fed the horse, turned around and went back to the house. And put on my sneakers and went for a nice 2 mile run. Spent the day feeling pretty good about myself too!
"the best laid plans of mice and men".....When I went out to get Charby this morning, the first thing I saw was a dump truck rumbling down the road. Followed by a pickup. My horse isn't scared of vehicles, but a dump truck up close might do the trick. Plus there is always the concern that a vehicle won't go slow enough and kick up rocks. A sharp ping on her butt might get someone a new hood ornament. I wanted to ride on the road because the dew is so heavy early in the mornings. Wet grass is slick grass, especially when you have four feet going around corners and hills. Unfortunately, my ring is not particularly flat, or even.
Some days I am not flexible with my planning. If it turns out that I can't follow through on my plan when I attempt it, I will say I'll do something later but it rarely happens. Today I fed the horse, turned around and went back to the house. And put on my sneakers and went for a nice 2 mile run. Spent the day feeling pretty good about myself too!
Thursday, October 2, 2014
10/2
Today's Plan: run
Still on the wagon. Even when I walked out and got a face full of misty rain. Today was a good run, I had no idea how far I was going and ended up slightly over 3 miles. And quite a bit of hill work too.
Tonight I got the joy of getting my hair cut. Now, it really needed it so it was a joy just to chop some off. But I love going to see my stylist. Not only can she manage my hair, but she is perhaps one of the most athletic people I know. Cross-fit. Running. Tough Mudders. Weight lifting. She does all of that. So we always get a great talk. I know, everyone thinks you talk about "girly stuff" at the salon.
Still on the wagon. Even when I walked out and got a face full of misty rain. Today was a good run, I had no idea how far I was going and ended up slightly over 3 miles. And quite a bit of hill work too.
Tonight I got the joy of getting my hair cut. Now, it really needed it so it was a joy just to chop some off. But I love going to see my stylist. Not only can she manage my hair, but she is perhaps one of the most athletic people I know. Cross-fit. Running. Tough Mudders. Weight lifting. She does all of that. So we always get a great talk. I know, everyone thinks you talk about "girly stuff" at the salon.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
9/30
Today's Plan: run
Back on the wagon again! Forced myself to start exercising again in the morning. It is amazing how well my day starts when I do that. I feel accomplished and that is a good way to go off to work. Then, when I am wiped out and faced with housework after coming home, I can relax knowing that I already went for my run. Another good feeling. It's like a two for one.
The weather was a boon too. After sweating all weekend, it was not hard to go out into the gray morning. We are losing 2 minutes at sunset every night now. How depressing. Soon I won't be able to run at night even if I wanted to. But that's ok, now that I am back on the wagon!
Back on the wagon again! Forced myself to start exercising again in the morning. It is amazing how well my day starts when I do that. I feel accomplished and that is a good way to go off to work. Then, when I am wiped out and faced with housework after coming home, I can relax knowing that I already went for my run. Another good feeling. It's like a two for one.
The weather was a boon too. After sweating all weekend, it was not hard to go out into the gray morning. We are losing 2 minutes at sunset every night now. How depressing. Soon I won't be able to run at night even if I wanted to. But that's ok, now that I am back on the wagon!
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