11/28: B set of 7day
11/29: run with A set of 7day
Friday's plan went well. I didn't have time to run, but managed to do the 7day exercises with a modicum of grace. It was, of course, Black Friday. I have spent years in retail, so I have never really gotten into the consumer side of Black Friday. Right now the job I have isn't effected by the chaos, and really, we were bored almost to tears Friday.
Saturday went exceedingly well. I think it is the first weekend where we worked inside and didn't have the stress of trying to get some big project done. The chimney is finished and fire is roaring routinely downstairs. The roof is on hold probably until spring, again thanks to Mother Nature. The forecasters are predicting several rounds of light storms, just enough to make it difficult to get the two or three days in a row needed. So we puttered and got some small tasks done and perhaps a nap on the couch with the dogs was had.
I did decide to attempt a run on the roads. I wanted to test how difficult it would be to run after a snowstorm. I know that at some point I will probably have to give up my runs due to the weather, but I had not planned on having to do it so early. It's not even officially winter yet!
The road passed the test. It involved a lot of focus on the ground and a lot of crossing the road to find the best footing. But I felt great that I got out there. I'm not shut down yet.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
11/27
Today's Plan: B set of 7day
Mother Nature decided to rearrange my plans today. After dumping 10" of wet snow on us as a Thanksgiving present. a bit of clean up was in order. After the husband cleaned off the roof, it was my turn to deal with the roof rake.
Mother Nature decided to rearrange my plans today. After dumping 10" of wet snow on us as a Thanksgiving present. a bit of clean up was in order. After the husband cleaned off the roof, it was my turn to deal with the roof rake.
In order to prevent the roof from falling in on Charby's hay, the cover-it needed to cleaned off. Now, before you ask, how hard could that have been? and think I just took the day off, you should know I am 5 foot tall on a good day. If I am tired and slumping I miss that mark. The roof rake is 20 feet long. and the building is 30 feet long. And I had to manuever the tail end of the rake around trees, snowbanks and a rock wall. On the easy side. The other side had more mundane issues like stacked pallets and wheelbarrows. I think I will correct that next spring.
Once the hay was safe, I decided to do some stretching yoga to release my neck and arms. I have always said how much I enjoy yoga. But today I realized more exactly what is that makes me feel so good afterwards.
One yoga teacher I had said " we don't do yoga in front of a mirror because you need to go within and realize, do I have the strength".* That is exactly it. There is a feeling of weightlessness in doing the positions correctly. My body feels beautiful and whether it looks that way or not is not important in that moment. No wonder I always wonderful after I perform yoga.
*Al Bingham, Yoga Zone, Ab Yoga for Beginners
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Thoughts on Thanksgiving
It is Thanksgiving, and I am thankful: I am thankful that I live in a country where I don't have to worry about my home being bombed while I am at work, I am thankful that I live in a country that is not being invaded by an army led a dictator, I am thankful that I live in a country that is not being ravaged by disease. I am thankful that I have a home, a job, and a family and husband who love me.
Sometimes I think that amid the diverse and acrimonious politics and social unrest we sometimes need to remember what we have. It's not that our country is perfect. But we do have some aspects that are better than other countries who have active war and disease issues that make every day you make it through a blessing. Our blessing is that we don't have those worries. We have many issues of our own and a multitude of diverse ideas on how to fix them. Perhaps if we thought about the rest of the world's problems, ours wouldn't seem so bad and maybe easier to fix.
Sometimes I think that amid the diverse and acrimonious politics and social unrest we sometimes need to remember what we have. It's not that our country is perfect. But we do have some aspects that are better than other countries who have active war and disease issues that make every day you make it through a blessing. Our blessing is that we don't have those worries. We have many issues of our own and a multitude of diverse ideas on how to fix them. Perhaps if we thought about the rest of the world's problems, ours wouldn't seem so bad and maybe easier to fix.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
11/26
Today's Plan: run and 2 circuits of B set of 7 Day
I really needed to run this morning as it has been two long days since my last outing. Halfway into my first mile I wanted to throw the plan away and just keep running, it felt so wonderful. The air was fresh, the sky was gray and I went up my first hill thinking about continuing my run and ditching the 7day. Then I realized how extraordinarily easy it was to get to the top and that I had not even thought about the hill as I climbed it.
It's not a terribly large hill, but it is early in the run. It can be a stumbling block when one is not warmed up. The hill is just over 300 yards long and about a 40% incline for the first 150, then a 25% incline for the last 150. The joke is that when one thinks they have topped it, the road continues to rise at 10% for yet another 100 or so yards. Just enough that your legs feel it but your eyes don't quite notice.
I knew I tend to get out of breath on the hill, so I drew in a large breath into my lungs at the bottom. That is the last conscious thought I had about running the hill until I noticed that I was at the top.
So I went back and did the B set of the 7 day. Because, obviously, it's making the difference.
I really needed to run this morning as it has been two long days since my last outing. Halfway into my first mile I wanted to throw the plan away and just keep running, it felt so wonderful. The air was fresh, the sky was gray and I went up my first hill thinking about continuing my run and ditching the 7day. Then I realized how extraordinarily easy it was to get to the top and that I had not even thought about the hill as I climbed it.
It's not a terribly large hill, but it is early in the run. It can be a stumbling block when one is not warmed up. The hill is just over 300 yards long and about a 40% incline for the first 150, then a 25% incline for the last 150. The joke is that when one thinks they have topped it, the road continues to rise at 10% for yet another 100 or so yards. Just enough that your legs feel it but your eyes don't quite notice.
I knew I tend to get out of breath on the hill, so I drew in a large breath into my lungs at the bottom. That is the last conscious thought I had about running the hill until I noticed that I was at the top.
So I went back and did the B set of the 7 day. Because, obviously, it's making the difference.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
11/25
Today's Plan: 2 circuits of A set of 7 day
That gets more confusing every time I write it. I have to say, 2 circuits made me sweat. It is time to clean my yoga mat. But I did complete the second set more quickly than the first. I am definitely getting better at the moves. I am getting sharper and have more concentration on doing them properly instead of just getting through them. I noticed that the first move of each set is the hardest. It's nice to get them out of the way and move on through the easier exercises. Of course, then you come around again and have to do them over. I didn't go for my run this morning, a lack of time and I wanted to ensure that I had time to do the 2 full circuits.
I went off to work empowered, happy and with a slightly aching abdomen......
That gets more confusing every time I write it. I have to say, 2 circuits made me sweat. It is time to clean my yoga mat. But I did complete the second set more quickly than the first. I am definitely getting better at the moves. I am getting sharper and have more concentration on doing them properly instead of just getting through them. I noticed that the first move of each set is the hardest. It's nice to get them out of the way and move on through the easier exercises. Of course, then you come around again and have to do them over. I didn't go for my run this morning, a lack of time and I wanted to ensure that I had time to do the 2 full circuits.
I went off to work empowered, happy and with a slightly aching abdomen......
11/24
Today's Plan: yoga
I decided to take a break from the 7 day plan and do yoga. The 7 day plan is has been working me over and the yoga felt GREAT! Obviously my muscles needed the stretch. I did it after work too, which meant all the stress from my day melted away. But back on the plan tomorrow!
I decided to take a break from the 7 day plan and do yoga. The 7 day plan is has been working me over and the yoga felt GREAT! Obviously my muscles needed the stretch. I did it after work too, which meant all the stress from my day melted away. But back on the plan tomorrow!
Monday, November 24, 2014
11/22 &11/23
11/22: off
11/23: run with B set of 7day
My original intent on Saturday was not to take it off. But as I put it off, and off, and off throughout the day, somehow I just didn't get out there as I was supposed to. Some days rest is simply a better option. And it guarantees that one works extra hard the next day.
As I did. It was my first run since my fall and I was paying strict attention to where my feet were falling. But as Mother Nature is rather capricious, the road was no longer frozen. We are back in the 40s and even some 50s. My run went fine, but nothing extraordinary. I didn't go as far as I wanted since I had a deadline: meeting a friend for brunch and shopping. I certainly didn't want to be late for that. I was late heading down the drive for the run simply because we were putting the final touches on the chimney. Even had some woodsmoke trailing from the house last night.
11/23: run with B set of 7day
My original intent on Saturday was not to take it off. But as I put it off, and off, and off throughout the day, somehow I just didn't get out there as I was supposed to. Some days rest is simply a better option. And it guarantees that one works extra hard the next day.
As I did. It was my first run since my fall and I was paying strict attention to where my feet were falling. But as Mother Nature is rather capricious, the road was no longer frozen. We are back in the 40s and even some 50s. My run went fine, but nothing extraordinary. I didn't go as far as I wanted since I had a deadline: meeting a friend for brunch and shopping. I certainly didn't want to be late for that. I was late heading down the drive for the run simply because we were putting the final touches on the chimney. Even had some woodsmoke trailing from the house last night.
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