Run/Walk Club at Work

My employer's annual Run/Walk Club starts next week, and I've signed up!

This training group has been going for a number of years, maybe 15? I joined when it started, but started doing my own training, followed by years of no training. So, I'm trying it again this year, but probably doing it independently, at least for a while. I hope it'll provide some extra motivation,

Walking Again

Surprised to see me? I'm back to say I'm walking again. Today's walk, a quarter of a mile, was my personal best for 2018! Seriously! I have a long way to go, but it's a start. It's a good way to start 2018. My first big stretch goal is to be able to walk a mile without stopping. Who wants to join me?

Benefits of Walking

During one of my recent visits to Duke Orthopaedics about my knee, I learned that I have a bit of list

of walking benefits on the Arthritis Foundation website, and it's a good list. I'm still a long way from being able to walk for 30 minutes at a time, but it's a goal.It's a nice day, weather wise, so I plan to get out for a walk later.

Mall Walking

From the Northgate Mall website

I ran across an article about mall walking that was several years old, and it made me wonder if there are mall walking groups in my area. I did an internet search and learned that Northgate Mall, a mall not far from my work, has a mall walkers club. I wonder if the group is active, and if so, when the majority of the walkers walk. Of course, it's nice that the mall is open and available for a number of hours daily, but it can be nice to have walking company (especially when going by the food court!), and not just fellow shoppers!

Would anyone be willing to join me for some mall walking before work?

IT Band Relief

My IT (iliotibial) band has been bothering me since last Tuesday, when I did more walking than usual. I've been searching online for some stretches to help relieve the discomfort. This YouTube video reminded me that it's best to treat the source(s), rather than just treating the symptom (tight IT band). My physical therapists have given me some good exercises, as well, to help strengthen my hamstrings, quads, and glutes.

More Pool Physical Therapy

I went back to pool physical therapy this morning, and had a good workout! I talked with my physical therapist about having 1-mile walks or run/walks as my next fitness goal, and she really liked the idea! She suggested I wait a while, though, since we still have some more physical therapy work to do. I'm still working on my weight too, through Weight Watchers.

Looking for 1-Mile Run/Walks

I've decided to start looking for 1-mile run/walks--that I can walk, at least at first! I'd love to walk a 5K again, partly because I miss road races in general. I enjoy the people, the camaraderie, the competition (even with myself, trying to beat my last time). Walking a mile is a good goal for me now, partly because it's still a stretch! I'm pretty excited, though, because I feel like it's an attainable goal. Onward!

Returning from Injury

I had pool physical therapy again today--it was my second visit. Why?

Well, I sprained my left foot back in November. Then, I hurt my left knee in January. Oy.

I'm happy to report that I'm on the mend, but still have a long way to go in terms of my physical fitness.  I'd hoped to be able to walk a 5K by November, but I think I might need to stretch that goal into 2018.

More Walking (I Hope!)

I'm finally in my last semester of library school, just two more months! Life's busy, and seems to be getting busier, but, as always, I don't like having that as an excuse for improving my health and fitness! So, I'm trying to be more conscious about getting more steps in, taking more walk breaks. I'm not in shape enough to do the October 18th 5K as I'd hoped, so I'm  keeping my eyes opens for 5Ks in central North Carolina in 2015. Any recommendations?

Meanwhile, I've watched a bit of this season's The Biggest Loser, a show with which I have a love/hate relationship. I keep looking for some nuggets of inspiration, whether in the gym or in the kitchen. I don't know what I think about this new batch of trainers, but it's different. I think Bob's "Comeback Canyon" is a nice addition to the show this season.

Hitting the Reset Button

After putting in a distance PR a couple of Sundays ago, I hit a week of the blahs, where I felt extra tired and rundown, but continued to slog through work and summer school, exhausted but feverless. So, day before yesterday, I got back into exercise with a very slow mile. I'm still a bit weary, but am feeling a little bit better. Summer school is still ever present, but only for two more weeks.




Meanwhile, I signed up for the Chocolate Party 5K in Cary in early September. It will definitely be a walk, but it's a (re)start, right?! After poking around the website, I decided it looks like a relaxed race, one where I don't need to worry about my time (thank goodness!).

Distance PR for 2014!

Crane Resting in Swift Creek

This morning, George and I walked with the Triangle Turtles and Hares group on the Swift Creek Greenway in Cary, and it was my longest distance of the year! It was a warm morning, but it felt really good to complete 2.67 miles in an hour. It was a slow pace today, but my training is a work in progress!

One of the highlights of the walk was spotting a crane in the creek. It's a prettier bird than this photo makes it out to be.

More Walking

I've been doing more walking lately, thanks to my newish Fitbit. It's quite motivating to try to increase my steps! (Some days and weeks are better than others, of course.) I've been able to work my distance up to a mile at times, so time will tell if I can keep working up to a 5K (3.1 miles).  I sure hope so! Life is busy, but I've gotta keep on walking!



Clipart from Clipartheaven.com 

Maybe a Comeback?

Well, I've done it, I've added another 5K to the "Races on My Radar" section. It's not until March of next year, and I haven't paid for it yet. Still, a new race is percolating in my head. I need some motivation. Maybe that's it. Stay tuned!

More Water Aerobics

I did another water aerobics class at Fitness Connection this evening. I'm weary, and I still have some homework to finish up. This is a "good tired" feeling, though, and I'll sleep well once the homework's sent in by email. I feel like my fitness is improving, though my left knee still bothers me some. My weight loss has been stalled for a while, but I think it's getting back on track.

When will I be ready for another 5K? Not sure yet. We'll see!

Water Walking

Pool at Fitness Connection

I had another nice session at the pool today, walked 25 laps. 36 laps is a mile, so I still have a long way to go to hit the one-mile mark. I'll get there, though. Gotta keep moving!

One Milestone Down, Many More to Go

I just finished walking my first continuous mile in AGES, and I'm pretty darn excited about it! I'm  a little tired, but nothing bad, and I'm not in pain, the main thing! Yay! I may be able to get ready for that 5K in June after all!




Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

Morning Workout and DietBet

I made it back to the gym this morning, and one of the front desk people came around to the front of the desk and gave me a big hug! If I had that kind of welcome every time, I'd be at the gym a lot more often! :-)

I did 30 minutes on the recumbent bike and then did a few weight machines and dumbbells. It's not much, but I'm sore this afternoon! Help!

I do hope to keep going back to the gym a couple of mornings during the workweek. I went to the saltwater pool in Raleigh on Tuesday night, straight for work, and didn't get home until 9:00! Too long a day, especially since I ignored homework, housework, AND my significant other to get that pool workout in.  I'm looking for some balance here.

Meanwhile, I've recently discovered the website DietBet, and have signed up for not one, but two weight loss "games!" I started one, and named it Mission Slimpossible. Then I joined another one, which runs concurrently, called From Fat to Fit Challenge. Both start next Monday, February 11, and run for four weeks, ending Sunday, March 10. The challenge is to lose 4% of your starting weight in 4 weeks! Everyone who hits the 4% goal will split the pot of money evenly with the others who reached the 4% loss mark. (I put $10 into the pot for Mission Slimpossible, and $20 into the pot for From Fat to Fit Challenge, via PayPal.) I'm a little nervous (4% is a lot to shoot for in 4 weeks), but I'm pretty excited about it too. Money sure can be a motivating factor! In a way, I feel like I've paid the registration fee for a road race, and now I have to train. I hope that this will help me get ready to return to the running scene. I do miss the road races.



Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

Water Walking in the Pool

I had a good time water walking in the pool today. I stretched myself to walk 18 laps, which is half a mile. Afterward, I did some physical therapy exercises for the water, then sat in the hot tub for a while. I'm plenty tired today, but am happy that I was able to push myself a little and don't feel injured.

 

Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

Back in the Pool

I finally got back in the pool last evening, after overdoing it and injuring myself in a water aerobics class last weekend!

The water aerobics class had been a combination of hard work and fun. The instructor was very nice, introducing herself and asking my name before the class. During the class, we concentrated on cardio, a great workout, really. In the pool, I felt like I could keep up pretty well, and "keep up" or not, I was still part of the group of 20-25 participants. After the 60 minutes was up, most of us got in a big circle, and the instructor tossed 3-4 big, colorful beachballs into the air. We spent the next 30 minutes batting the beachballs around, trying to see how long we could keep them airborne. Lots of laughter, some splashing, a good bit of stretching to reach for the ball, an all-around good addition to the class, I thought.

Well, as we were finishing up, I noticed that the area on the inside of my left kneecap was hurting. I got into the hot tub for a while, but it still hurt! Ice and ibuprofen at home, still quite tender. *sigh* For the past week, it's hurt to walk down the stairs, get out of the driver's side of the car, etc.

So I went back to physical therapy Thursday morning, and when I explained the new injury, I got the hairy eyeball! Just for a second, but I recognized it. "Too much too soon," they said. but of course I figured that out already! *sigh* They encouraged me to continue exercising in the pool, but on my own for now, and doing the exercises they recommend.

I decided to go back to the pool last night, though I got to the gym 6, with only an hour before closing. I decided it was enough time to get an okay workout in and still sit in the hot tub afterward. I really like this pool, which is shallow enough to walk all the way across with my feet on the ground and my chin above the surface. Also, the pool and the hot tub are saltwater, certainly easier on the skin and eyes than pools with a higher concentration of chlorine.

So, I ended up walking 5 laps in the pool, including two laps backwards. Then I did several exercises (leg kicks forward, backward, to the side) holding onto the wall. All in all, a decent workout for me, starting back at Zero.

I wasn't alone either! I chatted a little with one lady (about my size) in the pool who was doing laps too. When she joined me in the hot tub, I learned her name was Grace. Several other people joined us, including a lady named Jacquie, who was about the size of my right arm, whose goal was to eat enough green food that her poop became a constant shade of green. That's when I decided it was time to go! :-) I had to make a quick change, since the gym closed in 10 minutes!

I hope to make it back to that pool today, so I'm going to get started on my homework now. That pool is part of my gym's network, but it's about 30 minutes from my home, too challenging to get to most weekday nights. There's a pool closer to home, but it's not as pleasant (and no indoor hot tub!). Still, I may use it some anyway during the week.

Week Wrap-up

Looking at my exercise log for the past week, I just realized that I had three 30+-minute cardio sessions, as well as some shorter walk breaks and such, in the exercise week ending today. I'm calling this a good exercise week, for sure! School starts this coming week, so I'm hoping I can keep the routine up. It'll be a little trickier, but worth it.