Married bliss vignette #4,581
Me: (walking into room where Husband Mike's on the computer) "OK, my saddlebags an' I are heading out for a run."
Husband Mike: (eyeing said saddlebags) "Hey, are those like camel humps where they retain water for long periods of time?"
No, I didn't hit him.
* * *
Hey, so it's been ages since I last posted, and as you may have picked up in the vignette above, I've finally gotten back into runnin' and working out. (Have lost over 20 lbs. since the end of January, woohoo!) That means the bulk o' my free time has been spent doing aerobics, strength training, and runnin' (hope to do a 5k fun run in July), and less so with writing and fiddlin' around online.
Also, thanks to my pal,
Jasmine, when I
am on the 'puter, I've kinda' sorta' gotten addicted to playing
Bejeweled Blitz. (Curse you, Jasmine!
::shakes fist in air::) :-P Aaaand, quite frankly, I'm lazy. I've got plenty of posting ideas bouncin' around in my noggin, I'm just too lazy to cobble them all together into coherent posts here. Will try to be better about this, but no promises. :-D
Labels: family, marriage, running
Sister Ass, Sister Body
"As Francis grew older, he regretted the harsh treatment he had given Brother Ass all through his life. Before his conversion he had pampered and spoiled his body, and afterwards he had ignored and taken Brother Ass for granted. They were partners, really, and should have supported one another on the Journey. ... Lately, 'Brother Ass' had become a distasteful name. Francis preferred 'Brother Body,' which was more reverent and indicated the respect that his body had won in his eyes.
"Furthermore, Francis no longer saw his body as something apart from him. He was his body; the spirit and the body were one. ... [He] looked at his own flesh and smiled at how compatible it seemed now. How patient and long-suffering his poor body had been. With an act of will he now made the body his. He called it by his own name, 'Francis'. He was one Francis, within and without." (Murray Bodo, OFM; Francis: The Journey and the Dream, p. 76)
I, too, am guilty of treating my body as 'Sister Ass'. I frequently think Dark And Grumbly Thoughts about its physical imperfections, limitations, and annoyances, especially since I've begun running again. But while out running today, I came a step closer to becoming one, within and without.
During today's run/walk, I'd planned on only upping the running/walking repetitions (1 minute walking, 1 minute running, repeat for 10 minutes total) from 10 minutes to 15. But I was feeling good and decided to see if I could stretch it out to 20 minutes ... and I did, easily. My feet, legs, and lungs all cooperated and actually went along with the crazy idea. "Oh, you wanna keep going? Well, OK, we can do that."
As I wound down with 10 minutes of straight walking, I was overcome with feelings of gratitude and amazement. My body, my annoying, totally non-perfect body, was working with me! It was adapting, responding to the demands I put on it, doing what it could with what it had to meet what was asked of it.
The elation from that realization was stronger and more powerful than what I felt when, years ago, I first managed to run for 30 minutes straight. Because for the first time in my life, I saw my body as Sister Body. As ... me. And I wept for the joy, the glory, the gift of it all.
Labels: reflections, running
Kickin' things up a notch
Well, I couldn't wait until tomorrow to start working in repetitions of walking and running, so I switched into that today (which was gonna be Day 7 of walking). It felt
great to really work them lungs and legs! Jes' so ya don't get the wrong impression: When I was running, it's not like I was going fast -- heck, grandpas with arthritic knees could run faster'n me (that held true for back when I was running regularly, too; I'm no fleet-footed Franciscan). No, I just plodded along.
Log for today:
- Activities: Brisk walking and running
- Time Walking: 25 minutes total
- Time Running: 5 minutes total
- Notes: Yeah, my feet hate me, but I made 'em move anyway. Actually, they hurt less when running, as opposed to walking. I swear, I have The Dumbest Feet Ever.
- Weather: Overcast, low 80s (F)
Since I've accomplished my short-term goal of alternating running/walking, I think I may stop logging it here; may have gotten the momentum goin' strong enough to not need the public accountability factor.
OK, next up: Franciscan Crown pictures, instructions, and links!
Labels: running
Running Prep: Day 6
After the lousy day I had yesterday, the last thing I wanted to do was go out and walk when I finally got home (late) from work. But, knowing I'm loggin' stuff here was the
only thing that got my arse moving. So, here's the log for yesterday, Day 6:
- Time: 35 minutes
- Activity: Brisk walking
- Notes: Yet again, the ankles/feet were balky, but a smidge better than before.
- Weather: Partly cloudy, low 80s (F)
An' I do promise a real post soon -- I'm gonna post a picture (if I can ever take a good one!) of a Franciscan Crown Rosary that I made, plus instructions how to pray it.
Labels: running
Running Prep: Day 5
... aaaand got my cranky legs outta' the door once more! Two more days of walking before I begin mixing in repetitions of running and walking! Da log for today:
- Time: 35 minutes
- Activity: Brisk walking
- Notes: Ankles were Stupid As Usual.
- Weather: Sunny, upper 70s (F)
Labels: running
Running Prep: Day 4
Just a quick log for today's walk ...
- Time: 45 minutes
- Activity: Brisk walking
- Notes: Ankles were a lil' cranky throughout, but I was able to maintain a good pace in spite o' them.
- Weather: Sunny, upper 70s (F)
Labels: running
Running Prep: Day 3
Even tho' it was drizzly, I got my arse out the door for another preparatory walk! The ankles are starting to play along and didn't give me too much trouble today, which meant I was able to pick up the pace.
- Time: 50 minutes
- Activity: Brisk walking
- Notes: Ankles behaved, for the most part! Which meant, of course, my calves finally had the chance to voice their displeasure over this whole movement stuff.
- Weather: Overcast, drizzly, mid-70s (F)
I know it's been mostly workout babble for the last couple o' entries, and I promise a real post in addition to this one later on today -- Husband Mike and I wandered around an area rose garden yesterday, so I've got some pictures and ruminations on that to share. :-)
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there, with a special shout out to St. Joseph ;-)
Labels: running
Running Prep: Day 2
w00t! This public accountability thing actually got my butt outta the door this morning for Day 2 of prepping to get back into running. Quick log:
- Time: 30 minutes
- Activity: Brisk walking
- Notes: Ankles were way cranky right from the get-go (to be expected), thanks to yesterday's walk. So, I took it easier today by only goin' for 1/2 hour. Should also get back into resistance training to firm up those losers.
- Weather: Sunny, mild, mid-80s (F)
Labels: running
On the road again
I'm mentioning this here in the hopes that doing so will keep me motivated to continue ... I'm getting back into running, goshdarnitall!
A few years ago, Husband Mike and I were exercising regularly and in shape, and we both felt and looked great. Then I was hit by a series of back-to-back, Really Horrid Nasty Colds, which completely knocked me off my stride. (Huh; guess ya can take that literally.) And as is common in marriages, as one spouse goes, so goeth the other -- no more positive peer pressure resulted in Husband Mike's decline in exercise, too.
Now here we are, a few years later, more than a few pounds heavier, outta shape, and fed up with it all. You know things are pathetic when your wedding bands are tight. :-(
"Enough!" said us. We're takin' back our health, and I'm getting back into running. So, earlier this afternoon, off I went to dig out my poor, forlorn running shoes, who'd been patiently waiting in exile under the dresser.
Happy runnin' shoes -- they got used today!
I laced 'em up and headed outside for a brisk walk, in preparation for eventually running again. As much as I yearned to Just Start Running, there's no way I can do that right off the bat (as Husband Mike continually reminded me while I was getting dressed). Gotta get my ankles (stupid, stupid weak ankles!) and legs reconditioned, and lungs back up to capacity first. :::frustrated grumble:::
Once I got moving, I instantly remembered why I enjoyed running so much -- the sights, sounds, smells, working up a sweat, the satisfaction of hitting checkpoints earlier than my usual times, praying the 'Hail Mary' to the rhythm of my footfalls ... why in heck did I let myself get out of this wunnerful habit?! What a goober I've been.
So, I'm gonna check in daily with my pre-running/early-running conditioning. I'm makin' myself accountable! No more thinking, "I really should get out there for a run" -- I will get out there for a run! To start with, here's today's log:
- Time: 45 minutes
- Activity: Brisk walking
- Notes: Ankles got cranky after 15 minutes (no surprise there); wasn't able to really push as hard as I'd have liked as a result.
- Weather: Sunny, mild, mid-80s (F)
I'll do this for 7 days, then begin a program of alternating walking/running. BTW, if you're looking for a handy online running log, I like the stuff at
Cool Running. My log there isn't public (hmmm ... pondering whether to make it so), but I'll share bits from it here as I go. :-)
Iffin' y'all could spare a wee prayer for endurance and persistence, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Labels: running
