Exercise update: I ditched the triathlon specific training plan a week or two ago to make sure I didn't view the triathlon on the 23rd as an ending event. Since then I've been training more by feel, meaning that I listen to my body and do more of what I want, along with the understanding that I need to make sure it includes running, biking, and swimming. That way I train right through the tri and spring toward the Urbanathlon....theoretically.
Today was a good example of that new approach. I know I'm a little light on swimming, but I didn't feel like waiting until lap time at the pool, so I chose running over biking. How did I do that? Well, I know my instinct is to choose the bike every time because that's what I enjoy, but I also know that running is the "best" kind of fit in my mind and I'm building endurance in that area.
Anyway, I went out and ran a fairly slow and comfortable 4.5 miles. I'm having a little pain in my right foot, like right at the base of my toes, but I seem to be able to work around it. My running involves a 3 minute warm up walk with lunges and I took a couple one minute walk breaks during the run as well. Even with that, I appear to be training at less than 10:00 miles, which means I'm getting stronger. I do have some aspirations of getting back in the 7 minute mile range (like when I was 30), but that is a whole other year-long project. I'm pleased for now. Long slow distance builds strength and some speed comes naturally. When I shift my focus to running and strength for the Urbanathlon, I expect some good growth as well.
Nutrition update: Nothing too weird to report today. I ate pretty well overall with my only slip being some Cherry Pepsi that I didn't need. I did that instead of an Excedrin for caffeine, but that seemed pretty flimsy even as I was doing it. I am noticing a decrease in my appetite lately. I hope that's a good thing. For example, after I blogged last night, I decided to indulge in some ice cream and made a fairly large bowl. I ate about half of it and realized I'd met my ice cream needs (physically and emotionally), so I threw it away. Tonight I made a massive portion of tortellini for dinner and only ate about 2/3rd's. I hope that's progress and not some unnamed disease that steals your appetite.
I'm flirting with the idea of weighing in daily (but only posting it weekly) as a greater tool for accountability each day. My fear is that I'll ride an unnecessary emotional roller coaster if the number swings tenths of a pound in the wrong direction....I'll think about it some more, but I'm leaning towards trying it for a while. When I weigh myself weekly on Tuesday, it's too easy on the prior Wednesday to pig out and promise myself I'll make up for it.
Random Musings: Today I'm wondering about how we lose track of old friends. I spent the better part of my 20's maintaining friendships with a group of people I grew up with and now we never see each other. The miracle of Facebook connects us a little, but it's weird to think that just over a decade ago, these were primary figures in my life and now I'm not sure what we are to each other. Maybe it's marriage, kids, careers or something else that gets in the way, but on certain days I feel kind of bad about it. Today must be one of those days. I'm pretty sure that my best friend outside my family currently is my 68 year old former boss...seems a little weird.
They say you can't make old friends, certainly true.
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