Exercise Goals for 2008

We spend the lolly time talking -- evening walk with RP is often the time to talk with no Red Sox game on or dinner bubbling over. I haven't done it in a coupla days and am missing it so time to get back to the evening walk, probably tonight. Plenty of daytime walking and whatnot, just want to add the evening one in, too.

This weekend, if I have the time, I'm do some more closet shopping and ritual big clothing purging. My bigger bathroom just about fits. The small one is a few sizes beyond that so it'll take a while before I get to it.

er... bathrobe?

Did I mention I just passed the 200 mile mark?

Joe(i did. pass it, that is)Nation

Went for a long run today down the river. There were beautiful trees and forsythia in fantastic display. There was only one problem: the only water readily available was at the top of these stairs.


Here's another look.


Yes. I start up the hill from the George Washington Bridge, but today I added about 3.5 miles by first running North around Ft. Tryon Park, so by the time I got up the stairs I was pretty tuckered and only had to run all the way back. Cool.


It's so beautiful though you don't notice the distance.
Here's a little stretch by the Amtrak tracks. (They are just off to the right.)


I've decided that I have to break out the water bottle belt before attempting anything this long again. Total run was just over twelve miles. I chugged up the hill, finding first, a little baby shoe lying on the path, and a minute later, a woman coming down the hill pushing a baby carriage who was very glad to see me holding the shoe.

Joe(I have my first sunburn of the year.)Nation

Joe...you're an inspiration.



As far as my 1st marathon training goes....

Week 1 = 15.01 miles, 163 min
Week 2 = 17.22 miles, 194 min
Week 3 = 5.12 miles, 57 min (got sick)
Week 4 = 17.99 miles, 217 min
Week 5 = 21.27 miles, 220 min

Today was the end of week 5 and so far, the most proud of myself I've been yet. Today was the first week where I had to run 10 miles for the long run, before this run my farthest run ever was 7.5 miles. This is a milestone for me.

And I'm happy to say that as of week 4 all of my miles have been outdoors (including some pretty rainy days) and my two dogs are loving the exercise (although 1 still can't quite keep up).

I also bought a Garmin 305 last week, that has really helped with keeping an appropriate pace and I love the graphs and such that you can track on your computer.

Good stuff.

Congrats on the 10 miles, maporsche!
That's serious distance.

Oopsie. Yes, bathrobe. I have had no problems fitting into a bathroom.

Whew! That's a weight off my mind.

Here's my last five weeks:
4.0 (not sick. wussy. too cold.)
14.2
23.4
26.2
27.3

Going to try to maintain that 23-27 average the rest of the year with a few, a few, bigger weeks when I have the time to recover. For me, it's all about how I feel two days after a long run. Today, I feel great and will head out down the hill and around the park in about four hours. (gatorade strapped to my hips )

Way to go on hitting the ten mile, M. ! I bet the dogs were talking amongst themselves that night about how the can-opener person seems to have morphed into some kind of greyhound. (ruff)

My map thingie has crashed so I don't know where I am on the map except I'm guessing somewhere between the Connecticut border and Holyoke, Mass.

Joe(Why is Massachusetts like an egg?)Nation

Good job runner-people!

I hit some sort of plateau around my trip to Florida. Was feeling pretty good, a little too mission-accomplished, though not consciously. (Problem is it's not a project with an end, really. Gotta keep maintaining.) Gymmed yesterday finally, felt good.

Really want to do more walking/ running now that the weather is better. (I marvel at Joe and George but the "neither snow nor sleet" approach is not for me.) My knees are noticeably less complainy, and I'm frankly getting bored with just gymming, especially when it's so nice out. A combo seems like a good idea. (Run/walk 2-3 days a week, gym 2-3 days a week.)

Joe, what site(s) do you use to show where you're running to?

PS Did more closet shopping. One vest from -- ha! -- 2000 -- fits. Other stuff to follow once I chainsaw a few more inches off my hips.

2000? That's a vintage costume. Good for you.

By the by, while I honor and admire the Runners, the pursuit of fitness through fleetness of foot is alien to me.

It's fun!

Running is the most complete and effective means of exercise I've come across -- it does so many different things at once.

Gymmed on Monday and ran into Gym-mom there (even though she's Gym-mom because we go to the same gym -- our kids are also friends -- we rarely run into each other). We chatted and it came out that we both are interested in running more, and one thing led to another and we're going to meet at a local track tomorrow and do some laps!

I'm looking forward to it. We're in very similar places, fitness-wise -- former athletes who are annoyed that our bodies aren't as athletic as we'd like anymore. We're at a similar fitness level -- pretty good stamina but too much weight and a sense that we want to step things up a bit. We're also both willing to sweat and turn red and make fools of ourselves in the pursuit of fitness -- we've both noted that some of the people at our gym are a little bit more prim and sometimes look at us askance. We're JOCKS! (OK we used to be, but we still have the mentality!)

Looking forward to the adventures of Soz & Gym-Mom...

Week 16

24.5 miles

Scheduled cumulative mileage: 320
Actual cumulative mileage: 347

[Tripping merrily through Philly on the Virtual Jog to Georgia]


-- Hey, Joe --
RunningAHEAD was taking for-freakin-ever on my long route also.
So I started "part deux" from where I left off.

Here's one benefit to all this schlepping about.
I had blood work done and my cholesterol was high -- 218.
It's always high.
But the "good" cholesterol was, as the nurse practioner put it, "great": 68.

Good going, George!

And that's a lot of mileage...!

Good goin', George!

Eh, running. Too many ankle and knee issues, too many problems with shin splints. I do walk a lot faster these days, though.

Yesterday we did serious honkin' hills, about a full mile's worth. Tonight may or may not be more of the same, depends on time.

so - the exercise ball - does it make you sweat?

I was eyeing them last Thursday, there was a tie-dye one that was tempting.

A bit. Mainly I use it for planking.

hmmm

I like the concept, and I'm looking for something not too vertical for non-dance nights to mix in with some swimming.

Thanks jes.