I believe my right gluteus maximus is in spasm. I did some stretching before getting out of bed, but that has not resolved the issue. And it reminds me that I have only done the exercises Paul the Intern gave me once, maybe twice.
So, when I get another cup of coffee down, I'm going to roll out the yoga mat and see what I can do.
Tonight, my workout partner, Brendan, and I hit the park. We worked the machines that are there - a "squat" thing, a rowing machine, and the air walker. The air walker simulates running without impact. I was on the air walker 7 1/2 minutes until my feet started hurting me so much. I think I'm working muscles that I'm not used to working - that or they are cramping up. Maybe both. We walked around the jogging path 1 1/2 times. We were on our way for the second lap and Brendan sort of fizzled on me. I don't think he had enough fluids today. And - and this is the biggie - we ran twice during our 1 1/2 laps. Once for about 90 seconds and again for about a minute. So, I have officially ran for the first time in my half-marathon training.
When Brendan fizzled on the second lap, we talked about what a half-marathon would be like: hard work, a long run, really no opportunity to stop and rest, you need to eat healthy in preparation, you have to drink a lot of healthy fluids... I suggested that a half-marathon might be too much and maybe we should do another 5K. Brendan thinks we should shoot for a 10K. I told him that even a 10K would require training and we'll have to prepare for it. Preparation. That's what we need.
So, what if Brendan and ran the Thanksgiving 10 miler (and 5K?) in November and I run the half-marathon in January? Can I still plan on the half on November 1? I don't know if I can get it together.
And I keep eating crap. I wonder if I can add a food log widget, gadget or thing-a-ma-jig on this blog. Maybe if I find my camera, I could take a photo log of the food I eat and upload it into this blog.
Tonight's exercise adventure - walking to the park, the machines, walking around the jogging path, walking home - all added up to 26 minutes of physical activity.
So, I have my big ball from the yellow house. I looked in my entertainment center and see that I also have the big ball dvds. No excuses. Oh, yes, the ball is flat. Amy's ball is pumped - I'm taking my ball to her house on Thursday for a filling.
Tonight's plan is to walk the park and do those abuse machines, again. I forgot to blog Monday evening - or maybe I was just too tired. We walked the three blocks to the park, Neenah made me get on a metal contraption that resembled an eliptical trainer. It really took more left-right-left coordination that I think I possess, but I stayed on it for about 10 minutes. Then we did a machine that uses your body weight as resistance to do squats. Then we rowed. We ended up going around the park three times. It was very humid and we were sweaty like Rocky and Apollo Creed. Gross, just gross.
Okay...so today's countdown counter indicates I have 141 days until the Daytona Half-Marathon on November 1. When I put the dates into excel, I have 138 days to complete the half-marathon training program that T-Risha gave to me. That means I'm only 3 days behind on training - there is still hope!
...Later...
I am so confused. When I had excel come up with weekly dates starting now, it tells me I won't complete training until March 15, 2010. That is three and a half months after race day. Back to hopelessness.
I had a red pepper that I cut up and cooked. I saved the seeds and let them dry out for about a week. Last weekend, I spread them around in the top of a hanging planter I have on my front porch. Today, there are probably thirty tiny shoots that have come up through the soil (that I composted!). I look forward to seeing what they produce. There are so many, they won't be able to stay in that one little hanging pot for long.
I also carried harvested water to my watermelon plants out back. I'm so eager to see that they do!
However, I am terribly behind on my half-marathon training. I've got to get my act together if I'm actually going to do this. And I want to do this.
So, after the lunges Monday night, I'm pretty much walking like something really bad has happened to me. Lunges hurt. Why does anybody do them, and after you've done some and experienced the pain, how does anyone will themself to do more?
Last night, I got the garden rake out and planted some watermelon seeds in the backyard. I used a bucket and carried harvested rain to water the seeds. Several trips about 30 yards carrying a heavy bucket of water. No wonder there are no pictures of fat pioneers - it's hard work. I guess I'll invest in the hose bib assembly and get a rain barrel set up to use a hose. Less toting. Rain chances next few days are slim, good thing I've got half a barrel of water ready and waiting.
I read that I can sow radishes in with my watermelon seeds, this will keep cucumber beetles away.
I can't believe I have neglected my blog for so long. Hmm... maybe that's because I've been a slug who barely moved or got out of bed for a week.
I re-read a journal from last July. Back then, I indicated that after finishing school and getting some free time, I might read for pleasure or run a marathon. Run a marathon? I do not remember writing that! I kind of confirmed for me that I have to get out of bed and get moving.
This morning, it was dark and I didn't really want to hit the streets, so I stair-stepped on my front stoop for about 16 minutes. Leading with one leg about 8 minutes each - it about killed me. Not really, but it sucked. I don't know what I would do without my ipod and all the podcasts I listen too.
And today at work, we got notification that one of our members died after a short illness. She was morbidly obese. That may not have been her cause of death, but it was definitely a contributor.
This evening, when I got home from work, it was drizzling rain. I went for a walk. I got a few blocks away from the house and then we had a terrible rain storm. I went to a church that had a roof I could sit under. The church was closed, and I sat on the concrete and listened to podcasts on my ipod and played solitaire. When the rain slowed down – after about an hour – I walked home. I was soaking wet. My hair was just as wet as if I had just come out of the shower. The weird thing, I enjoyed every minute of it. And it was the first time I've walked that I didn't get all hot and sweaty. Yeah, rain and windchill! I probably only walked about 12 minutes, but I got out. I wasn't sitting on the sofa watching TV and eating the raw cookie dough that is currently calling to me. Ann...Ann...
So, time keeps on slipping into the future and I have not hit the pavement in days. T-Ricia wants me to move the date up from the Deleon Springs Half in January 2010 to the Daytona Half on November 1. It's do-able. If I just do it. I can do it.
I confess, I didn't specifically walk or run this weekend. Friday evening was spent in Ormond at a rain-soaked soccer field. When the lightening and downpours were over, the kids played soccer. Ball doesn't act quite like it should when it hits the ground and lands in two inches of water. Saturday, Brendan had a baseball game - this is where my physical activity came into play! The other team did not show up, so Coach suggested that we split the parents and kids up on to teams and play. I was just going to sit quietly, until Brendan came to the fence and said, "Mommy, you are going to play, right?" Proudly, I can say the one time the ball was hit to me, I caught the pop-fly. I hit the ball all three times I was up to bat - twice they were caught in the air and I was out. However, on that third at-bat, I hit the ball and eventually got to run around all the way around the diamond to score a run for our team. It was fun. I miss playing. Sprinting from base to base in my flip-flops left plenty of room for improvement and conditioning.
Sunday, I was just a slug. Can't really describe my behavior in any other way. The house looks like a bomb went off, I'm not sure where my clean laundry is, Savannah and Sara made a pasta extravaganza that I loaded up on, and later Savannah talked me in to letting her make a cake. I liked it all.
And I was up too late last night reading for my conflict resolution class that starts today. I'm already tired and I haven't even started my day. Coffee, please!
Speaking of coffee - I try to start each morning with my coffee and with my bible. Today, my reading included 2 Timothy 1:7 - For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
This is telling me not to be afraid, God has equipped me - and He has. He has given me the thoughts and ability to train for this half-marathon. He has given me the spirit of self-discipline - it's written right there and God does not lie. I just have to step out and act in those abilities of power, love and self-discipline.
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