Yoga & Strength Training 6/29/2022

My plan is to do yoga on M/W/Fs. I have a variety of yoga sequences stored in my hot pink Filofax. I like this better than yoga videos because I can go at my own pace and make my own modifications.

Today I did a Core for Balance sequence. Victories:

Deeper Camel Pose. I feel Camel the most in my thighs. Normally, I can only do a tiny back bend. Today I went back pretty far, until I got scared that I would fall backwards. Almost Dancer Pose. I used the strap around my ankle to pull it behind me. I could only hold the pose for a few seconds at a time, but better than I have before. Side Plank. I do a modified side plank where my base leg knee is on the ground and I kick out my leg like a kickstand. When I reached up to hold the pose, my backed pop and it felt glorious.

Running stats 6/28/2022

Lousy run. I just got back from spending a few days in Chicago for my birthday. We walked all over the city, but we also ate a lot of pizza, hot dogs, and pastries.

Upon return, I got a post-travel migraine and spent the next full day in bed. So fitness has not been top of mind. But I have been feeling antsy and knew I wanted to hit the streets as soon as I recovered. I was feeling ballsy and programmed an 8 minute interval with a 3 min recovery run. It was too ballsy. I reminded myself to keep a slow pace. I wasn’t in a hurry. I didn’t need to rush. But I burned out. By the time the second interval was halfway through, I was walking. When the third interval started, I skipped it and walked the rest of the way in. It’s my abs. When I run with W., he complains about his legs. My legs are strong. My abs are weak. I know I need to do more strength training. I don’t enjoy gyms. I’ve gone. I’m still paying $10 a mo at Planet Fitness just in case I need it. I also have resistance bands in my studio. I should use those. I don’t hate those. I can’t blame the weather — it’s a little cloudy and breezy. I can’t blame chaffing clothes; I wore my softest leggings. I can’t blame distracting noises; I had downloaded The Lincoln Lawyer.

I will try the 8 minutes again on Thursday and in the meantime look into the resistance bands.

Running stats 6/14/2022

My running partner — in that we encourage each other, not that we run together — texted me this morning to say it was already going to be too hot to run at her scheduled time of 11 am. I reminded her that it was summer and we had to hit it earlier than almost noon. Yet at 11 am I was walking out the door to run. I read a quote on my Pinterest feed this morning that said “30% is better than 0% - we don’t give ourselves enough credit for trying.” It reminded me about how my mother used to tell me when people wanted to haggle with us at the flea market, “some money is better than no money.” I’d spent my morning submitting query letters to agents and writing a polite email asking for an extension. I was feeling vulnerable. I knew running was the answer. I love running because of the feeling after the run is over. The joke is that I’m so relieved to not have to run anymore, but that’s not it. I don’t have to run. I’m not a teenager being punished for being late to practice. I am a grown ass woman who could possibly afford the monthly payments on a Peloton. I actually love the feeling of accomplishment, power, achievement, and smugness when I have finished running outdoors in the summer. I feel like a badass. It’s also a combo of caffeine leaving the body, dehydration, and raging endorphins. It was hot, but the clouds rolled over the sun enough to make it bearable. My Audible book provided the first mystery twist. The sunglasses that started slipping early in the run either found a place to stick on my face or I stopped caring.