Running is fun.. The other options? Seem lacking....

This not running has been a severe downer for me.  As you can tell from the lack of recent posts - I have not been doing much in the exercise/work out department.   I can honestly say that I do not know how Red kept her sanity with no running.  I also have this bizarre ingrained feeling - that if I cannot run 3 miles consistently (as my short run, not my long run) that I am not a runner.   The ultimate irony of this - is I do not hold anyone else to this standard.  I have friends that are out running 1 mile, and all I have for them is praise and assurance that as soon as they tie on those shoes and head out the door - they are a runner.  Yet for some reason I don't apply that to myself.

Since I enjoy running - I can (when I am physically able to do so without pain) get myself to get out and run.  I may not want to get out of bed, I may not feel like getting up off of the couch - but once I get outside putting one foot in front of the other, I enjoy it.  I mean I REALLY enjoy it.  I have tried starting (And will do it) Insanity a couple of times.  I have gone bike riding. I have lifted weights using the "total gym."  Any of these are fun as a variety work out for me.  To do something different one day.  But I cannot get excited about standing in front of my TV for 45 minutes, 6 days a week.  I don't mind riding a bike outside, and have even found that short run - followed by a bike ride can feel good (emotionally and physically.)  While I am happy to run in the rain, cycling doesn't work out so well and this limits me when we have had the amount of rain we have had in the last couple of weeks.  I had debated riding a bicycle to work to help get exercise, but the rain has prevented that one too.

Productive Weekend! 3 Mile Run (WOO HOO!)

So, I have to say - as far as running and exercising is concerned - it was a productive weekend!

[caption id="attachment_1608" align="alignright" width="300"] Doesn't really fit today's posting. I just liked it![/caption]

I had decided I was going to try 3 miles this weekend - and headed out Friday evening to See how it felt.  It was odd.  Around the two-mile mark, I noticed I was limping - but my foot didn't hurt.  It was tight, but not painful (well, beyond the standard every day pain from Plantar Faciitis.)  Into the second mile, probably 2.5 miles or so - it was definitely moving into sore.  I iced and stretched when I got home, and figured I wouldn't run the next day or so.  But man did it feel good to run 3 miles. That's my distance that - for me - is "running."  If I can't do three miles (minimum) regularly, I don't feel that I am actually runner.

Speed and Agility Work

[caption id="attachment_1591" align="alignright" width="300"] My Daughter getting her awards from the Troop-Leader (Her mother!)[/caption]

Change of plans!  My daughter's final girl scout meeting of the year was last night.  This is the one where we have pizza, play games - and most importantly to the girls - they get their awards!

There were A LOT of awards!!!!  For my son's final cub scout meeting they got their ranks.  For girl scouts they got the whole kit and caboodle.  A pin for completing a year,  a whole bag of cookie incentives, badges,  a certificate and more!  Needless to say, the girls were very excited.  Follow it up with Pizza, girl scout cookies and Hawaiian Punch?  It was like a slice of heaven!

Now, I'm sure you are wondering how this is related to running, especially the Speed and Agility Work mentioned in the title. Well, while the girls were eating pizza, the boys wanted to go into the gym (scouts is held at a school.)  Well, before long freeze tag started up - and I seemed to usually be it.  Sprinting after kids, changing directions, etc for 30-40 minutes DEFINITELY counts as Speed and Agility Work!   I was WOOPED!  Fortunately I was wearing sneakers with my inserts in them, but that did not prevent me from icing my foot when I got home.  I also took one of my naproxin - which I had been weaning myself off of.

While I was rolling my little ice bottle on the floor - it made me realize how much less pain my foot has really been in.  I can run.  I can wear my VFFs (though I wear an elastic arch support around my foot), I can sprint and dodge on a hard gym floor.  I can walk all over philly, I can drink beer. (ok, that last one isn't related to running. But it IS tasty!)  It's interesting how we can get used to something like constant pain, which can make it harder to really see if it is getting better or not when it happens in little increments!

I'm going to keep up what I am doing - because it works.. I MIGHT even try a 3 mile run this weekend.  Though I have to admit I have concerns that this may be "too much too soon"

Insomina prevents early morning workouts...

So last night was one of those nights where I could hear every noise in the house, every thought in my head and everything that occurred last night.  Those nights are NOT conducive to an early morning workout!  But that's OK, because I really wanted to do a longer bike ride.  Those are easier to do at night when I have more time!

Tomorrow, I will let you know how far I made it!

Apparently the noise an alarm clock makes, makes a difference

[caption id="attachment_1582" align="alignright" width="300"] An Alarm Clock. An invention of Satan if there ever was one.[/caption]

You, my dear readers, have undoubtedly seen me write about how I would like to get up and work out in the morning.   In addition I am sure you remember my posting about how much I enjoy my sleep - and consequently I do not get up.  I had purposely picked the most obnoxious alarm that my phone has - as it is impossible to ignore.  Made sense to me as the first step to working out in the morning is to hear the alarm.  This is followed by hitting snooze until my wife's alarm goes off, then I turn my alarm off and just listen to hers every 8 minutes.  I do enjoy my snoozing peacefully (in 8 minute segments.) This process continues until I have limited my morning to exactly enough time to get up, get dressed and go to work.

After my lovely wife mentioned

Running and Biking Oh My!

Couple of days to catch up on.. But since I haven't posted about them it must not have happened right?



I decided that it was finally time to face my fear, strap on my running shoes and head out the door.  I won't lie - I have been scared over trying it for a couple of reasons.  I have been worried that I would run, and find that I developed excruciating pain in  - which occured around mile marker 2 on that 3 miler I did about a month ago.  I  also was dreading going out running - enjoying it -  and then being in agony the next day.  A definite sign (if it occured) that running anytime soon was going to be a pipe-dream.

Back at it! Did you miss me?

[caption id="attachment_1568" align="alignright" width="300"] Thanks for all the help Joe![/caption]

So, I have been quite quiet as of late!    The good news is that it isn't due to any unforseen disaster with my Mother in law's heart surgery.  She is doing AWESOME!  They kicked her out of the hospital earlier than planned, as she was doing so well!  She was glad to be home early - that is for sure!  My brother-in-law Joe stayed up there with her to help take care of her.  We headed up every night with food and to visit.

Friday we brought Joe down to the Philadelphia Airport so he could fly home to Texas after being away from his wife and kids for so long. His coming up certainly made life easier on my wife and I (thanks Joe!)