Back to the Pavement . . . Kinda

I've been waiting for the heat to let up before heading back out to the pavement with my nice Saucony running shoes and my exercise clothes. But I forgot that in FL the heat really doesn't even begin to let up until late October. What to do?! Well, I think I've found the answer. I don't have room for a treadmill in my house (nor the money to buy one.) But my dear hubby got a Wii for his birthday this past summer and it finally came home two days ago. I set it up with that awesome balance board and Wii Fit program and I get to daily work on my balance and get the update on how much weight I've lost or gained . . . quite the humbling experience. But this morning at 6 AM I pulled on my tennis shoes and ran around a whole island with other runners cheering me on. The temperature was perfect . . . being that the night A/C was still on in addition to the fan above my head. The other runners were quite friendly and waved even when they passed me. My trainer kept encouraging me to keep it up. I crossed a bridge and saw a beautiful waterfall. I ran through a quaint town with absolutely no traffic or pollution. And when I crossed the finish line, people applauded me and jumped up and down! What a high! You'd never guess you could get a workout running in place in your living room, but I was sweating and panting by the end . . . and yes, I worked out for a full 30 minutes and at least half of that was at a running pace. My muscles are a bit sore tonight. I guess that's a good thing too.

We've incorporated Wii Fit into our homeschool day. The girls each have to complete 30 minutes on the days they don't have cheerleading. Bill and I are committed to the same. I played around with the ski jump and the soccer heading as well as step aerobics and yoga. It's good stuff. And best of all I don't have to go to the gym and face all of those skinny people. I can save that fuel and honestly look at myself (they adjust the Mii to be heavy when we're heavy . . . kind, huh?!) and set achievable goals in my own home.

Wednesday I'm leaving for Oklahoma for a few days. I'm going to learn about the gift of storytelling and how to use it in sermons, etc. I'm really psyched. But I won't be able to take the Wii with me. I hear there are some good running trails in the neighborhood where I'll be so I'll pack my shoes and plan to enjoy some nicer fall-ish weather.

So I guess the title of my post shouldn't be "back to the pavement" but back to the tile floor. Hmm . . .

This is the news from Arbuckle Creek, where the heat in fall is almost as bad as the heat of summer; where the 89 year old neighbor killed a 4 1/2 foot rattlesnake in his yard with a garden hoe while the snake was choking on a squirrel!), and where the kids don't even bother to go outside so afeared they are at the wildlife!

Running, Day 1

I did it! My neighbor met me at 6:30 AM this morning, both of us trying to beat the heat and get through with the run before the kids woke up. She made me stretch for a long time and I had muscles that obviously hadn't been used in quite some time asking me what the heck I was doing using them again. Then we power walked/jogged/and in the end sprinted before the cool down and the stretch again. I ended up being outside for a good hour, but only about half of that time was I cardio-ing. Right now I'm still feeling that sensation of peacefulness, but I can already feel a few muscles talking to me. I sure hope I'll be able to get up and do it again tomorrow. While I didn't "love" it, I didn't mind it all that much either. See, she taught me to breathe and to focus on my breathing, much like labor. I figured, "hey, I've been in hard labor for longer than a half hour, I can do this." And I did. It helps that I actually had some really good labor experiences in the past and that I birthed naturally. That experience (besides making me a mother) taught me that I can handle much more than I ever thought was possible. I guess running is the same way. It's like an empowering thing. I can ask, "How much more can I do?" And then I can surprise myself by actually accomplishing it. So I focused on short goals and on my breath. I tried to slow my breathing when it was getting harder (reminding myself of those amazing Buddhist monks who meditate so deeply that they actually slow their heart rate . . . if only my prayers were so intense!) When the mailbox one house away seemed too large a goal, I focused on the branch two steps ahead of me. And it sure did help to have a friend along with me. She was quite encouraging, but wouldn't let me quit either. So I'll be up at 6:30 AM tomorrow too. (she's giving me Sunday off as they are going house hunting -- I'm not looking forward to her moving!) Feeling good. K.T.

Failure! Failure! Failure!

I didn't run today. I got up early enough, but long story short couldn't leave my daughter by herself which would have happened had I run. In fact, I didn't do anything right today. I ran around like a maniac on my first day back to work, grabbed fast food along the way (while my daughter reminded me how bad it was for me), ate some ice cream and even had some cake with my wine this evening. I'm not giving up despite my failing grade, however. My neighbor has told me we're running on Friday morning whether I like it or not. She's decided I'm not going to like her for at least 2 weeks (and the more she talks about it the more I believe her.) To get ready for Friday, she's told me to drink lots of water tomorrow and load up on carbs for dinner -- the multi-grain-type. I'm getting scared. What if I collapse? What if I lose my friend because I just can't run?! (this coming from the person who was always in last place during those "wonderful" Presidential fitness expeditions). Please, leave me with some encouraging words. I'm going to need it.