965.9 Miles

(1.9 treadmill)

I learned an important lesson today. I decided to put both of my workouts together and went directly from the weights to the treadmill. Not such a great idea. The treadmill felt like torture. I didn't realize how much refreshment that hour or two in between really was. Now I know. Tomorrow? Treadmill first, then weights after lunch.

Also, I'm going to amp up the miles starting tomorrow. Even if that means more walking. I will reach 1,000 before the end of the year.

964 Miles

(2 outdoors)

Today was just too nice of a day to be inside so I headed outdoors. I think I actually went a little more than 2 miles, but that's what the Google Pedometer tells me.

Things have been a little odd lately in terms of my schedule, but I think I've got it back to where I need it to be. For now, I'm going to bed so I can get a great start on the 'morrow.

(December 5, 2012ce - edit to fix the miles in the title... I'm not going backward!)

962 Miles

(2.1 treadmill)

Today was a pushing kind of day. I was on the treadmill before lunch, did weights before Brianna got home, then another short session with Brianna in the early evening. I might hurt tomorrow, but it will be worth it all. I also now have a write-on/wipe-off calender on the fridge (found at the thrift store and in great shape) so I can start keeping track of my water. I think that it's even more important during the winter to make sure I stay hydrated.

959.9 Miles

(10.2 bike)

I'll admit that I've not been listening to the book lately. I know that the traveling on the river doesn't take up a lot in the story, and I don't like to only listen for a couple minutes at a time. Soon, though, I will have to make a decision about which path to take. Will I stay with Frodo or will I go on with Strider?

Wednesday was a weights day again. I should be more specific since it's not just weight-training, but that's what I call the day. What it involves is various exercises that work the muscles of my body and I use 8-pound weights. Cardio isn't really a factor even though I do tend to get winded sometimes.

On these days I set my timer (an app on the iPad, but I can't remember what it's called right now) to intervals of 1 minute with a 10 second "break", repeated 12 times. During the 1 minute I will do an exercise for 30 seconds, then switch sides for the remaining 30 seconds. For example, if I am doing lunges, I'm doing the right leg for the full 30 seconds, then the left. The 10-second break gives me enough time to get into position for the next exercise. When an exercise works both sides at the same time (squats, for example) I will do them for the full minute. There are 12 different exercises that I do during these intervals so the session lasts 14 minutes. At this point I will take a short water break then start all over again. After that, I will do stretches and a few Sun Salutations.

So, when I say it's a "weights day" you now know what I mean.

Today's ride involved reading on my iPad. I've tried to knit while I'm pedaling, but when you're trying to maintain a speed of 20mph, your gauge just gets wonky.

949.7 Miles

(11.6 bike)

Monday was a weights kind of day, even though I'd split some wood over the weekend. It really wasn't a lot of wood, though. Mostly my hands hurt from the impact of the maul to the wood.

Today was a bike day. Because I was also still dealing with some emotional junk, too. Perhaps the running would have done some good, but I just felt drained and empty, so the bike seemed the better choice. Sometimes I really don't like this time of the year.

938.1 Miles

(2.2 treadmill)

Today was one of those days when I just knew that getting on the treadmill was a great thing. Although I would have preferred running outside, I know that the treadmill is still a good thing. I can let my mind wander to other things, to other ideas, to other places, all with the knowledge that I'm not going to trip over a branch.

The few times I have run outdoors thought (not counting the 5ks I have been in) I made sure I was always aware of the things going on around me. I ran at Osborne park only once and the feeling of being out in nature was a heady experience. I'm looking forward to doing something like that again.

My calves were sore again today, but not quite as sore as they were last time, which made me smile. I like the fact that I'm not out of breath as quickly as I used to be. One day I will be posting about how I ran the entire 30 minutes.

935.9 Miles

(2.1 treadmill)

I read too far in the book and now need to get my miles back to where I am in the story. It won't take long.

Today I ran for 6.5 minutes before needing to walk and then it was because my calves were really burning, not because I was out of breath. So I walked for a little more than a minute then began running again. My total running time today was 18 minutes (out of 30). I know that might not seem like a lot to some, but it's a great accomplishment for me. And I feel really good about it. I look forward to tomorrow's activities.

933.8 Miles

(10.4 bike)

We have left the beautiful land of Lothlorien and are now traveling on the river in boats light enough to carry. Our hearts are a bit heavy with the parting from the forest, even though we must continue onward.

I'm back into the routine of trading off days of bike & treadmill. April reminded me that the bike will help strengthen my heart so that the running is easier. I read one of the books on the iPad as I pedaled and didn't pay attention to my speed or anything else like that. When the 30 minute timer went off I was pleasantly surprised to see how far I'd gone.

923.4 Miles

(1.8 treadmill)

Today wasn't a "pushing" kind of day. I decided that I needed a longer run time and I knew that meant going a little slower. After my warm up I kept the treadmill at only 4mph since I can walk that fast and jog that slow without too much trouble. So, I jogged for as long as I could, then walked for no more than 1 minute at a time. I am going to stick with this routine for just a bit until the jogging time is significantly longer than the walking. Then I'm going to ramp up the speed.

921.6 Miles

(3.1 treadmill)

Lothlorien. We stay here for several days for a well-needed rest. Frodo and Sam look into the Mirror of Galdriel and felt sorrow for the visions they both saw. Gimli and Legolas seemed to be getting along so much better than before. Celeborn provided boats for us to travel along a bit faster and we were given other supplies for the next leg of our journey.

I have reached Lothlorien! And gone just a little more. I felt a great sense of accomplishment when I passes that point and the energy that filled me gave me the boost I needed to complete more than 3 miles!

After the first program setting ended, I turned the treadmill back on and kept going. I had to take two pictures, though, since the treadmill will reset each time you hit start (I learned that the hard way a few months back).

And now, onward to Rauros Falls!

918.5 Miles

(2.1 treadmill)

Only 1.5 miles to reach the gates of Caras Galadan!

Yesterday my muscles were crying at me. They were begging me to stop moving so much, to sit down and relax, to leave them alone. But I didn't listen. Instead I did the workout with the weights then got on the bike for 30 minutes. Only, I forgot to take a picture of the miles. Why? Because as I reached the 30 minute mark I realized that I was supposed to be on a call with Kam. I think she understands why I forgot about it.

So, I'm not counting yesterday's miles, even though they were probably 8 or 9. Yes, that would have gotten me to Rivendell, but that's okay. For today, I got on the treadmill.

I'll be using the weights later today, but for now I have to work on some yarn and other goodies for the shop. :-)

916.4 Miles

(2.0 treadmill)

We have reached the north side of Caras Galadan. So very close!

It's been far too long since I've posted on here. Part of that was a dumb rebellion on my own part. I was letting my dislike for another person bring me down. It was pointed out to me that by doing that I was letting them win. I deserve to treat myself better than that. And so, today I was back at it, in full force.

Today I did two workouts. This morning was 30 minutes on the treadmill. This evening was 30 minutes with the weights. I think I'm going to sleep quite deeply tonight. I will write more of some of my goals tomorrow.

914.4 Miles

(1.5 outdoors, in two parts)

I've been walking the daycare kids to school, then taking a longer loop to get back home (in reverse in the afternoons). Only... I forgot to log them. I'm only going to log one day for now. If I can walk them next week (the weather might be too cool for that) I'll log them regularly.

I'm pretty sure I'm over this weird cold. It seemed that it lasted forever with the last bits of it being a tickling cough. I'm glad to be rid of it. I want to run again (and still find it amusing to say that).

912.9 Miles

(1.8 outdoors)

This morning I walked to the drugstore then over to the Farmers' Market. Why it didn't occur to me that carrying a bag with 4 pounds of honey and several squash choices the rest of the way home might cause my shoulder to feel like it was going to fall off will remain a mystery. Still, it was a nice morning for a walk. I'm a little concerned that I may have aggravated my cold symptoms, though.

911.1 Miles

(3.1 - Hills of Asheville)

This post is quite late. I ran/walked in my second 5k before my 41st birthday (and still keep forgetting that I actually had a birthday). I have a lot on the agenda for the remainder of this calender year and I'm looking forward to the progress I know I will have. In the meantime, here is a cool picture of April and me after she finished her part of the race (she ran the half marathon!!!)

908 Miles

(1.9 treadmill)

In a clearing we could feel the warm sun on our faces and met another group of elves. They finally took our blindfolds off. Gimli was spoken to with respect and was the first Dwarf to see this land since the days of Durin. Samwise looked in wonder and said that it was as if we were in a song. We climbed to the top of the hill of Cerin Amroth. We could see all around us and stayed for about two hours.

A little bit slower today, but I'm still getting to the end of that 30 minutes with less and less strain. I have made a promise to myself that right treadmill distance will be 3 miles, even if I have to walk most of it.

 

906.1 Miles

(2.0 treadmill)


Yesterday I didn't hurt as much as I thought I would (because of the work done on Monday), but I did get tired faster. When I started the chains there was no way I could finish them. It was a bit of a drag, but I'd rather have the muscle fatigue than the soreness I was expecting.

My walking time is getting shorter and shorter, which is awesome. I still feel like I should be going faster than 4.5mph while "running", but right now it's more about the endurance than the speed. Or so I keep telling myself.

I'm still a little worried that I won't be able to run an entire 3.1 miles without any walking breaks by my birthday, but I'm sure going to try my best. Today I made it to 2 miles in 30 minutes. Tomorrow I might push a little faster.

904.1 Miles

 (1.9 treadmill)

Still walking with our blindfolds on.

I wasn't sure about yesterday. My legs were pretty sore from Monday's run and from the chains I did with Brianna on Tuesday. Still, I have a goal to reach and it won't happen if I keep putting things off. So, I got on the treadmill. My shins were already screaming at me in 10 minutes of running/walking, but it felt more like the "go ahead and stop 'cause this isn't comfortable" kind of screaming, not the "there is an injury here" screaming. So I kept going. When I reached the 30 minute mark I was a bit surprised to see how far I'd gone since I fully expected less than 1.5 miles.

Today my legs are barely able to move in certain positions so I'm focusing on stretching, hydration, and gentle movements. I'm not going to be on the treadmill more than 3 times this week, but I'm okay with that since I know that the strength training is also building the healthy body I want to have for the rest of my life.

902.2 Miles

(1.8 Treadmill)

Today I took April's advice and ran slowly. So very slowly, it seemed. 4.0 mph seemed like I was dragging my feet the whole time. The really awesome thing about that speed was the fact that I did run for longer increments. Instead of needing to stop every 2 minutes, I actually kept going for 5 minutes, and walking for only 2 minutes. That felt really good. Tomorrow I will keep the same pace, maybe for the whole week, but I'll have to see how it all feels. So, I only ran/walked for 30 minutes today since there were other things I needed to take care of (weights) and feel awesome about it!

I'll admit that the only reason I ran so slow is because of the soreness of my upper body. Yesterday I was helping lift a truck and my arms feel like lead. Yes, a bottle jack was involved, but to raise (and lower) the darn thing you have to turn the crank, which is similar to pedaling a bike using your arms instead of legs. Not really a big deal unless you do that a few times. But it gave me an idea for a different way to use my weights!

Afterward, I stepped out into the back yard and stood in the pouring rain for a while. I can't even describe how great that felt.

900.4 Miles

I have 20 more miles before I reach Lothlorien.

Oh my goodness!!! I can't believe I did what I did today. Really. I thought I was going to pass out before I was finished, but I'm so glad I kept going. It was a bit odd keeping track of everything, but Brianna helped me out.

Now, up front I should say that I did not run the whole distance. However, I ran accumulatively longer today than I have before. Even during the 5k in June I didn't run as long (faster, but shorter times).

I discovered that the treadmill speed will jump by .5 if I hold the buttons down. Yeehaw, that means a lot less time for speed adjustment. That makes a big difference when you're going from 4 mph to 5.5 mph (holding the button for about 3 seconds instead of pressing it 15 times). After this awesome discovery, I had Brianna use the stopwatch on my old phone. Every time I was running she would press start, then press stop when I was walking. During my "oh my Gods, I need water or I'm going to die" break, I hit stop on the treadmill, too (it saves the time & stuff). That break was less than 5 minutes, then I was back at it.

So the breakdown is this:

20 minutes at 5.5 mph/1.83 miles
19.7 minutes at 4.0 mph/1.31 miles

I know the picture shows 3.3 miles, but with the few seconds of adjusting the speed here and there, I went with what the time calculations came to instead of what the treadmill said. I've already been drinking a ton of water and will be doing a lot of stretching for the rest of the afternoon. I'm looking forward to trying this again soon!

A step backward

In my Ravelry group there is a thread called Summer Era. In this thread we post goals for two weeks, then recap and revise the goals as needed. These aren't just fitness & health goals, but also goals for our overall well-being. Some of those goals can be clearing out old boxes and decluttering your home and these are good for our mental and spiritual health.

So, my goals for last Session (what we call the 2-week period) were to get running again. Which I did, but not nearly as much as I wanted to. My last time on the treadmill was on Saturday.  I know why and I know that I don't have the will or the energy to change it right now. I've had the daycare kids here for about 14 hours a day. By the time they leave and I get the house cleaned up and take a few minutes to myself, it's well after 8. This might not be a big deal if I wasn't going to bed by 9:30.

I have tried getting on the treadmill and bike after they leave but, by then I feel like lead. There is no joy in completing the miles, and it just feels like castor oil or something (you know, really icky). If I could legally leave the house while they were sleeping each morning I would walk/run around the block a few times or something, but I would get into serious trouble if anything happened while I was out.

So, as much as I wish otherwise, I'm going to lighten my goals for the next session and I'm going to post them here as well as in the Ravelry group.

Week 1 (nearly over already):
- get on the treadmill today if they leave before 5, walk
- get on the treadmill Saturday morning, walk, maybe run
- continue building up the chains, I've been doing half and I want to get all of them done (there are 55 total reps, and the complete round consists of 8 different movements)

Week 2:
- Sunday, get on treadmill again, even though it's Sunday (normally I'm busy until 6 or 7, which would seem a bad time to do this, but I feel relaxed and content with life and I do believe that makes all the difference), walk, maybe run
- continue working on the chains
- Friday & Saturday, get on treadmill walk, maybe run

Okay, the main reason this really upsets me is that I won't be able to reach my goal of running 3.1 miles by my birthday. This bothers me on so many levels I can't even describe it. I know it's not really that big of a deal since I'm still putting in effort, but I really wanted to start out my next year on a different track. Yes, I've looked back at my progress and am pretty happy with that, but I wanted more. So much more. Once these kids are back in school (August 27th) I will be able to shift my training into high gear. I know that, realistically, I won't be able to push myself (without injury) to run that distance in 3 weeks. Instead I will push myself to get as far along as possible. Until then, I will keep doing other physical activities that will help bring strength and endurance to my body.

Whoever reads this, please keep in mind that there are times when it's important to evaluate what really will be right to do. Listen to your body. Nudge it, push to the limit, but don't go so far over the edge that you feel like giving up completely.

-

Edit: Okay, my trainer told me some cool news -

Here’s the thing. You don’t need to go back to the C25K program. You need to get on the treadmill and warm up then RUN. Run for as long as you can and then hop off and catch your breath for a few seconds and then start running again. (This is because of the way your treadmill adjusts. I would have you walk otherwise.) Run at a slower pace than you usually do for your intervals. I’d try running at 5.0-5.4 and see how long you can run. The intervals you described to me are speed work. You need some easy runs in there too. The easy runs help you extend your distance. The speed work helps you improve your time. Right now you just want to run for 3 miles. You are not looking to break any speed records. I wish I were there with you. I’d have you run 3 miles today. I know you can do it!

So, provided the kids leave early enough, I will be trying this out. I'll use a stopwatch to keep my time and figure my distance that way... which means I won't get a picture, but I'll take a picture of the stopwatch instead.

Sometimes it just takes knowing that someone is cheering you on and has faith in you to keep your spirits up enough to push harder.

897.3 Miles

It felt strange getting on the treadmill on a Saturday, but I'm glad I did. Mondays are a bit more challenging than I care to deal with (up at 4:30a, not done with work until after 6:30p). With the way the schedule goes, I might not have a chance to get on there until Wednesday. When I do, though, I am going to break 900 miles. I can't even describe how that makes me feel.

Also, the battery for the camera was charging so I took this with the cell phone. Ick. Even in b&w it looks horrible.

895.2 Miles

I'm on a roll! I still have 11 miles before anything changes in the book, but at least I'm making progress again.

Today's walk/run was a little more challenging at first simply because it was so late in the day. I tend to feel like I'm plodding along after the regular work stuff is done. But still, it was important to get on there anyway. After all, my birthday isn't that far away, right? I'll be running again in the morning and that will bring me up to 3 days this week. I'm still trying to work around that tiredness at the end of the day.

The black & white seems to be working for this.

893.1 Miles

It's been a while, hasn't it. I have been focusing on no-impact movements since the dentist scraped out the extraction site and packed some vile tasting stuff into it. The first week was pretty painful and I didn't eat much. The week after that (the 16th) I started doing the chains again and got Brianna involved, too. Last week I did some jumping jacks to see what would happen and there was very little remaining pain. So, this week was the beginning of training again.

I started out with the first day of Couch to 5k, but then I realized that I didn't start feeling winded until I'd run for a whole minute. That was pretty cool, and I advanced myself to the second week. I think it will push me harder, which is fine.

It's harder on the treadmill to adjust the speed. This one can't be programmed so I have to press the buttons with each change. I had the thought of setting it to the speed I like to run, then just walking through the house for the walking section and hopping back on the treadmill for the running section. The only problem that I see for that it that I won't be able to keep accurate count of my miles (I'd leave the treadmill running). I'll keep thinking through this and see what I come up with. in the meantime, here is today's picture. I chose black & white to see if it helped make it more clear.

Dry socket...

I was starting to get excited about restarting the C25K program this week, but instead will be avoiding anything that will jar my body. Why? When I woke last night (a few times) I was in extreme pain from a tooth extraction. This really surprised me since the tooth had already had a root canal several years ago. The reason for the extraction was simply because I had broken it and there wasn't really enough left to repair. All was going fine until the wee hours of the morning.

A dry socket really doesn't make a lot of sense for me since I don't usually use straws or smoke or any of the several activities that increase your chance for one. Oh well, I know how to take care of it, even without returning to the dentist.

Even so, this diminishes the things I can do physically. Yoga? Nope, the downward position of my head increases the throbbing. Running? No way. Ah, but I can still ride the bike and I can still belly dance. And chains. It looks like it will be a productive week after all.

891.3 Miles

(3.1, during my first 5k)

Yesterday morning I participated in my first 5k. I was pretty nervous about it beforehand, but I knew that I could do it. This is what I've been getting ready for for the last month. Cool, huh? I ran some of it, walked most and came in at 44:12. I was told that was a pretty good time, but I am looking forward to doing better. One of the coolest parts? A friend, who had just learned of this last Sunday, showed up to show her support. That was so sweet!

I am still not sure how I feel about it all. I know that there was no sense of exuberance at the end, more of a quiet knowledge deep inside that I completed something that I'd set my mind to. And that, I think, is better for me than wanting to shout about it.

Today I am hurting in unexpected places like my shoulders. I figured my legs would hurt, possibly even my hips and lower back (I definitely need different shoes), but my stomach and my shoulders are surprising. Still, it's almost as if my body were telling me that it's here, and alive, and very much ready for more.

During this week I will not be running. Not because of the pain, but because I'm going to do a 7-day detox and it's not a good idea to push yourself during something like that. So I'll be spending time on the treadmill (walking only), enjoying my yoga, and maybe a little belly dance or hooping. Next week I'll be starting Week 3 of the Couch to 5k over again. I'm determined that I'll be able to run an entire 5k by my birthday.

Brianna took this as I was finishing up. 

Pushing through...

This week hasn't been what I'd hoped. My time for my goal hasn't improved that much, but I'm still pushing myself each time. I can't seem to get past the 3.5 minutes. I'm frustrated and in pain and angry about it all. My feet feel heavy sometimes, like there's no Light in them. No oomph.

I know this will pass. I know I will do fine. I just wish I were just as sure about other areas in my life.

Quiet...

I can't help but wonder if anyone really reads this. I'm sure some of my friends do, I wonder about the rest of the world.

If you happen to be wondering why I've not posted in a while, I'll tell you. I have a hard time being deceitful. A seriously hard time. Even telling a half-truth while keeping silent about the rest just eats away at me. Strange, huh? So, what does that have to do with this blog? I haven't been telling the whole truth about my miles. Before you jump to the wrong conclusion, I'm not adding miles to my progress. And I'm very honest about where I am at the 30 minute mark. But I haven't been telling the whole story. And, while most (if not all) of you may shake your head and say that it doesn't matter, it matters to me.

I can't tell you what my actual miles are right now. After the end of the month I will be able to tell it all. Why? Because I have a goal that I'm trying to reach. And I've not told some very important people about it yet.

So, in the meantime, I won't be posting my miles. I won't be posting pictures of the treadmill or the bike. I will share about belly dancing and chains and strength training, but that's it. Because I can share all of that without telling half-truths.

Yes, my honesty matters that much to me.

Other movements

Between the sunburn and the pulled muscle, today was not what I'd hoped for. The sunburn is preventing me from wearing a sport-bra and the pulled muscle is hindering my walking, much less anything else. Still, I did a bit of yoga this morning and a light session of chains. I was starting to feel guilty about this until I remembered that I did do a little yard work yesterday. Not a lot of it, but there was some shoveling and pushing a wheelbarrow full of dirt a couple times.

So, a cool shower, some more salve on my back, a little arnica on my leg, another few glasses of water and another night's rest will set everything back on track.

888.2 Miles

(1.4 treadmill)

Tonight we camp, sleeping on the ground. Our blindfolds are still in place.

A slower treadmill day. I think part of that was the fact that it was so much earlier in the day, part of it was the restless night I had. Still, I'm please with my 30 minute mark. My legs are feeling stronger and I've noticed more endurance. That makes me really happy.


I still have 32 miles to go before I reach Lothlorien. At the rate I'm going it won't happen until some time in July. I still haven't decided what I will get for myself, so I guess it's good that the treadmill is taking longer.

886.9 Miles

(1.1 treadmill)
(1.8 treadmill)

I didn't post yesterday so this is a combined entry.

Yesterday was only 1.1 miles. I'd had an appointment in the morning and felt kind of out of it physically when I was done. It's not a big deal and I feel a lot better today.

Today was 1.8 miles at 30 minutes. A lot better. I'm hoping to increase that even more by the end of the week. Wish me luck.

Monday -

Tuesday -

883.9 Miles

(1.3 treadmill)

Today was a much slower pace. Mainly because I was pretty sore in my lower legs. I guess that's normal, but it still cut my speed a bit. So, my walking was only between 2.5/3.0mph. Not much, I know. There were a few bursts of speed in the middle, but I had to keep them at 2 minutes each before my calves started to really burn.

I still did my squats, but not the chains. Part of that had to do with time since I spent a good portion of the morning talking business with a friend. She's a healer and had been running her business (Oasis Healing Arts) out of her studio for a while now, so she knows a bit about small businesses.  When I got back home it was time to start a lot of other things, but the treadmill came first.

Now, it's definitely time for some sleep.

Other Movements

Today was a no-treadmill kind of day. When I got back from the dentist my heart felt kind of wonky. Now, it very well could have been the simple fact that I'd been at the dentist. Or just because I didn't have enough water before I left. Or whatever. Regardless, it didn't feel like it was at a normal pace again until it was nearly time to pick the daycare kids up from school.

I still moved, though. I did my squats, weights, and stand-up crunches while they were drawing & eating snacks. Then I repeated the squats before my shower. Interestingly enough, my shins were sore today. I'll blame it on the sandals from Monday.

Tomorrow will be an awesome treadmill day! Let's see how far I can get.

882.6 Miles

(1.8 treadmill)

We passed through an open glad and are still blindfolded, even while sleeping.

I believe today is a personal record on the treadmill. I made it to 1.8 miles in 30 minutes. I know that might not seem like a whole lot of miles, but 4 of those minutes are only 2.5mph and 4 are 3.0mph. That's the way the program goes. There is more variation in between the warm-up and cool-down, so I certainly am not just plodding along.

Today I had my headphones on and a Pandora station with a great beat and I think that helped keep me moving at a better tempo. As time goes by I know my distance will increase, but I have to take this a bit at a time.

Yesterday was a bit of a bust as far as a workout, part of that had to do with the walk from where we parked to the Memorial Day ceremony. Normally that wouldn't have been anything at all, but I wore sandals. By the time we reached the "gazebo" my calves & shins were on fire. Why did I buy shoes that wouldn't stay on unless I kept my toes tightened? I have no idea. Truly. As soon as I can I'll be getting something that has a strap or a different construction or something (flip-flops are out of the question).

I'm a little worried about my goal. Forget that, I'm thrilled about my goal! I will succeed at that one and will be able to know that I can do it. That goal will help me reach toward the next one. Yeah!

Now, however, I'm literally dripping sweat. Seriously, it's dripping from my elbows to my pants (which are now being held up with a safety pin so they don't fall off while I'm on the treadmill.) No, I'm not going to buy more right now. Instead I'll add elastic to the waists of all my capris and get to the end of June before any clothing purchases.

880.8 Miles

(1.6 treadmill)

We are getting closer to an open glade, but the blindfolds are still in place.

I forgot to post this yesterday, but I was back on the treadmill! I only did a little yoga in the morning as a gentle way to stretch out the muscles & joints and it helped a lot. The treadmill has 4 programs on it and I've figured out 3 of them so far. I still am not able to finish them as they're set (one goes up to 6.5mph), but I can still change the speed, which is nice. I think the coolest thing for me is that it forces me to cool down at the end. The speed slows to 3.5 for a minute then 3.0 for 2 minutes and 2.5 for another 2 minutes. By the time I've finished that part I know that I can eat some lunch without any problems.

I think I'll be using the treadmill and bike in the mornings before the kids arrive (for summer break). That way I get it done in the early part of the day and I can do other things in my room (like belly dancing) while they are sleeping.

(I think I'd get better pictures if I turned the treadmill around, but then my back would be to the window.)

Other movements

Today was a gentle stretching and belly dance kind of day. My hips are a bit sore. Why hips? Who knows. I'm sure the stretching helped a lot, though. The hard days seem to come in waves - sometimes I feel no pain, others I feel a lot. Yes, there is a variation on the things I do, but it still seems strange to me that after this much time I'm still sore. I guess those little changes make a pretty big difference.

Tomorrow I will feel good enough to get back on the treadmill so I'll have a better update then.

879.2 Miles

(1.7 treadmill)

Since I'd gotten on the treadmill Tuesday evening and I knew I'd be sore by the next evening, I decided to get on the treadmill again early in the day. Lo and behold, I made it through the whole 30 minutes without keeling over. Okay, that's a little dramatic, but there have been days when it felt like that.

I'm thinking that the fact that I got on the treadmill before the weary muscles set in may prevent me from feeling it too much tonight. I have a school function to go to this evening and I don't want to be limping in. We'll see.

I also did about 20 minutes of hooping, which helped relax my lower back a little. I think the belly dancing would have been even better for that, but I really didn't have the 45 minutes to devote to the short version (the long version is about 2 hours and the full version is nearly 4.)

I'm still trying to work out how I'll be working out while the daycare kids are here. (yeah, funny pun wasn't intended.) I really don't like getting on the treadmill at the end of the day, but it just might be necessary for the summer (the kids are generally here until after 6pm). Regardless, I am determined.

877.5 Miles

(1.2 treadmill)


Still trudging to Lothlorien.

Yes, I got on the treadmill today! No fever, no achiness, no ickiness. I did have to stop a couple times for a tissue, but I felt pretty good afterward. I will probably be hurting tomorrow, but it will be a good hurt.

I still have 43 miles to go before I reach Lothlorien and I'm determined to get there very soon. I still haven't decided what I will reward myself with, but I want it to be extra special.

For now? shower time.

Final Day

Today I woke feeling still a bit icky, but as the day progressed I felt better and better. I only needed a few tissues and I didn't feel like I was going to fall asleep all day. Through this time, I took good care of myself. I rested, ate only the foods I felt like eating, drank a lot of fluids, and relaxed. I didn't beat myself up over the fact that I didn't exercise this week, either.

I learned something about myself; I used to push and push until there was nothing left to sustain me. This time, I listened to what my body was telling me. Whatever "this" was, it wasn't simple allergies (not with a high fever on Monday and into Tuesday, achy muscles until this morning, and fatigue so strong that I took several naps over the last few days). Whatever it was, it's passed now. And that is all that really matters.

I have gained no weight, and my muscles still feel strong under the surface. I am sure that I lost none of ground I've covered. I'm also sure that I am happier with the ability to stop and take good care of myself when I need to. I do believe that I can now go forward with more enthusiasm and determination than I could have mustered this whole week.

I love Me!

Pressure...

Today was... well, not the best day for exercise. There is no more fever, which is awesome, but there is still a bit of sinus pressure. When I started the sun salutations this morning I realized that anything that would aggravate that was just not a great idea.

Why is this a big deal? Because I want to work out. This is an odd and great place for me. I want to move physically and get my heart pumping. I want to smile at the sweaty shirt I always end up with. I want to log the mile or miles I've traveled. But, this body is in need of healing first.

So. I am learning patience.

I am determined to wake tomorrow feeling a lot better.

Fever?

There was no workout today, other than dyeing the club yarn. Even with that I took it easy and went slow. You see, I ended up with a fever today. Crazy, huh? I actually took a nap after hanging the yarns up, and have been drinking a lot of water. Now... time for more sleep.

Oh, my muscles are a little sore from helping Kevin with the lawn yesterday. Nothing big, just the upper arms from starting the mower.

Recovery

Okay, I pushed myself yesterday morning with the thought that I would not feel so bad today since I'd already gone through this last week. Hah! I can barely move this morning. After I get the morning errands done (grocery store, etc.) I will spend a good deal of time stretching with yoga and drinking a few gallons of water.

On the very bright side, I can feel the muscles getting even stronger all the time. I don't know what will have been achieved by the Solstice, but I know that there has been a great deal of progress so far.

Edit: 9:13a - Morning stuff is done, 3 glasses of water finished off, 1 cup of coffee, arnica has been applied, and sun salutations have been completed. The muscles aren't quite as stiff as they were earlier, but they are still pretty sore. Once the recovery process is complete, I will be happy for this, right?

876.3 Miles

(3.6 outdoors)

It seems to be taking forever to get through the forest, but I know it's just because I've been walking instead of biking.

I realized that I'd not posted since last Thursday and I feel as if I'm letting myself down with this. I know there are far more important things to worry about right now, and too many things have been slipping my mind lately, but I really want to stay focused with this.

Today I walked to the post office. I didn't need to, I could have had the carrier pick the stuff up. But the morning was cool and the rain had ended. I may be feeling a few twinges by tomorrow, but it will be worth it. Most of the walk was pleasant. Columbus Avenue has some nice houses to look at and it was nice being able to see the yards and such at a more leisurely pace (driving doesn't allow for that).

I didn't do my chains today, mostly because by the time I got home I was fairly wobbly. I took just over an hour for the whole trip and, even when I wanted to slow, I made myself keep a steady speed.

Recovery

Today was all about stretching and taking it easy. The pushing I did over the last few days caught up and made it difficult to carry on normally. Yoga this morning was very slow and the stretches throughout the day were very gentle.The arnica salve was definitely my friend, even with the humidity and warm temperatures. (I think I should learn to make a butter or something so that I can make a product that absorbs much faster.)

I've been drinking enough water to float a small watercraft, but it's still not releasing the tension from the muscles. No worries, since I'm sure I'll feel a lot better by morning.

Today I also made a gazpacho. I made some in December and liked the way it tasted, but that was definitely the wrong time of the year to appreciate a cold veggie soup. It was much more suited to this time of the year.

For now, I will keep stretching gently until it's time for bed. Tomorrow, I look forward to getting back on track.

872.7 Miles

(2 walking outside)

Today the weather was just too nice to stay indoors for long. I finished up some stuff for ASC, then headed out. At one point I was sure it was time to sit down for a while and even made it a point to return along Washington so I could sit on one of the benches there. Instead I decided to keep going until I got back home. I was definitely ready for some cool water when I got in (yes, I know I should take it with me.) I like the Google "pedometer" but realized that I really should get a real one before long.

After cooling off a bit, I continued with the chains (strength training) and pushed myself a little there as well. I don't know if it's the warmer weather or just the longer days, but I am feeling a lot more energetic when it comes to getting healthier.

No pictures today, but if I walk outdoors again tomorrow, I will bring a camera to show you all the cool flowers out there.

870.7 Miles

(1.6 walking outdoors)

After running a few errands downtown I checked my mileage here and found that I'd walked a little more than I thought (that's what I get for having to go back twice). Still, I felt pretty good that I didn't feel totally winded by the end of it all.

My upper legs are a little sore this evening, but I know that's just because I was refocusing yesterday on strength. And, I took a picture of me in my jeans. There is a 2.5" gap between my waistband and my waist. And, actually, it's closer to my hips since the pants won't stay around my waist anymore. I feel pretty fabulous about that. I still have a lot of work ahead of me, but I feel pretty motivated nonetheless.

869.1 Miles

(1.7 treadmill)

Still traveling to Lothlorien.

Today was a bit of an odd day. My emotions were all over the place with all that was going on and it was hard to focus on things. Still, I got on the treadmill before I needed to leave the house and felt a little better afterward. I also walked outdoors, but I didn't thing to record that one. No problem.

Today was also a refocusing on strength training. Last week was challenging for me since there were several areas of my body that were in pain. I'm not sure, but I think my elbow issue is more of a tendon thing instead of a muscle thing. One more thing to set an appointment for. Still, I'd rather know that it's just something that can be taken care of simply instead of putting it off until it's something big.

It feels strange not to have anything posted since last week. Almost as if I'm letting myself down. I'm not going to be too harsh on myself, but I will certainly be striding forward.

867.4 Miles

(1.1 walking)

We are still traveling to Lothlorien. 

Boy, this seems so much slower with a treadmill! Yes, yes, I know I'm "only" walking instead of biking and walking is slower, but still. Anyway, I feel it differently when I walk and I really do think it's making a bigger impact physically.

Today I walked slower than usual. Mainly that's because I stubbed my pinky toe on a bathroom wall over the weekend (yes, I know that corner's been there for the last couple of years, but it jumped out at me, I swear!) I'm just happy it isn't broken.

I also did the chains today and I think I was sweating more from that than the walking. Oh well, it's all toward a great cause, right?

On the food subject... I was craving bread so very much yesterday and today. I know it's more the sugar (simple carbs) than anything, but I could almost taste the chunks of bread being dipped into a thick  au jus sauce. Kind of pathetic,  in a way. I do hope tomorrow is different.

I wonder if the picture would be better by turning the treadmill around.

Catching up

Sometimes, trying to keep up the blog is almost as much work as the workouts! Not really, but it's still something I need to figure into the schedule.

Wednesday and Thursday were both dedicated to weights. There was no soreness or any twinges in my arm at all and I lifted weights, did the chains and thought about how it will feel to move up the scale on the dumbbells. I've decided that it's time to increase the number of sets each day. I've been assured that it's nearly impossible for me to get "bulked" when it comes to weight-lifting unless I dedicated several hours a day to it. So... next week will be more.

Friday I did a lot of squats. You see, when the yarn is skeining I only need to stay close to catch any snags. Those rarely happen so I have a lot of time in between changing the yarn. This time I brought the weights into the shop room with me (I think I need a cool name for that room) and did a lot of overhead press squats along with various lifts. I kind of like doing them like this since I feel I can do more. There is a 1-2 minute break when I take the yarn off the winder and put more yarn on the swift so it gives my body a chance to be ready again.

Sometimes I can see a hint of a difference in the mirror. I'll catch my reflection as I pick something off the floor or wrap a shawl around me and I have to stop and really look. There is a slight definition in the muscles. It's still under a bit of fat, but it's there. I know that it won't be that long before that is what I see even more clearly.

866.3 Miles

(1.7 treadmill)
(5.1 biking)

Haldir led us through the woods and, as we left the Nimridil, we all felt a little sad at leaving behind the lovely sound of the water. When we came across the Silverlode again we crossed the river on elvish ropes. We were not able to go further until Gimli was blindfolded, which did not sit well with him. Aragorn made the choice that we should all be blindfolded and we continued with Haldir as our guide.

I decided to combine both modes of transport today. Not for any particular reason other than it felt the right thing to do. I was on the treadmill about half an hour and the bike only 15 minutes. I probably could have gone a little longer, but I think 45 minutes is good for now. I still am not lifting weights since my arm is still a tiny bit sore, but I'm certain it will be fine by morning. I'm looking forward to getting back into that routine. I feel like the week of the daycare break was a bit slacking, even though I spent most of the time with the strength training.

There are things I want my body to do and to be able to accomplish and right now I know that I'm just not there. I will keep pushing, though. I am determined.

I did knit a little bit on the bike, but I'm certain that I won't be able to knit on the treadmill.

859.5 Miles

(1.1 walking)

We have crossed the Nimrodil and met up with the elves here. They startled Legolas when he climbed the huge mellan trees to see if we'd be safe for the night. After a meeting between them and Frodo we slept in flets up in the trees. Today we follow the Silverlode.

Today I decided to walk barefooted to work my feet a little differently. I will admit that I was surprised at how slow I had to walk! Still, I got in my half-hour. Tomorrow I will see how my legs react to that bit of craziness.

I didn't lift any weights today. Over the weekend I pulled my right tricep pretty hard (jammed lawnmower) and am more than a little worried that I could injure it or something. When it happened I was willing to continue working with the heavy stuff, but Kevin pointed out that I could really do some damage if I didn't stop and pay attention to my body (not in those words, but that was what I got from it). I'm hoping tomorrow will be a lot better. (As you can see, shading the screen doesn't really help with the picture.)

Other movements

Yesterday I walked swiftly & steadily and learned my limits of speed. This morning when I woke I was pleased that the sore muscles I had weren't nearly as bad as the day after I'd done the lower body chains for the first time. My back was a little sore, but I gently warmed it up with a couple belly dancing moves. While I was finishing up the shop stuff I worked on weights. You see, while the yarn is winding into a ball, I can do other things (yes, that is very cool) and I chose to get in some strength training. Today I used the 3lb weights, but lifted until I couldn't go any further. Then I'd switch to a different lift (bicep curls, tricep curls, overhead presses, etc). By the time I was finished with the yarns I was sure I couldn't even left those 4oz skeins.

My legs? Oh, yes, I did my squats this morning and felt good about the strength I could feel in my legs. Shortly after 10-ish, however, my legs started feeling more sore. By lunchtime I could feel the tightness even more. So I kept drinking water and gently stretching. I did walk a very short distance to have lunch with some friends, but when I got home, my calves were hollering at me to knock it off. I ignored them and continued to gently stretch.

I know I still have a long way to go, but I feel really good about the progress so far.

858.7 Miles

(1.7 treadmill)

I'm still in the same place in the story since walking has severely curtailed my mileage gains. However, I think it's a good thing anyway since I can feel the muscles being worked differently. I'm pretty proud of the pace I kept today and am looking forward to continuing.

I did learn that I cannot walk faster than 3.8mph before I start to stumble. I guess that's good to know.

It's a bit difficult to get a clearer picture of this. I don't know if it's the angle of the light from the window or what, but I'll keep trying.

Other movements

What happened to this day?! I was tracking along well, thinking I'd have plenty of time this evening to get some blogging done, knitting, enjoyed, an audiobook listened to... but the time has caught up with me and it's time for bed.

So, a very brief update: 20 minutes of hooping this morning, and only 20 minutes of walking before the kids arrived. They left early today and I headed out with outgoing orders and a grocery list. When I got home I focused on some strength stuff before continuing with yarn work. Then, before I thought it was possible, it was past time for a shower and nearly time for bed.

Tomorrow will be better with more focus.

Other Movements

I got in 20 minutes of hooping before the kids arrived then, after they went back to sleep, I started on the strength training. Upper & lower chains, and 50 squats. I don't know what variation they are, but they are similar to a braced squat, only when I stand up, I pull in the muscles of my stomach inward (pelvic thrust?) and pull the barbells toward my body. After that I decided that it wouldn't quite be enough, so I repeated the squats. By the time the kids were gone, I was pretty much done for the day. I know that might sound lazy, but I do stay busy with them (crafts, cooking, etc.).

Let's talk about food for a little bit. I know I don't really get enough protein and I"m still on the hunt for a decent, non-sweetened powder that is affordable. I have found a whey powder that is mostly smooth, but it's a lot more expensive than the rice protein. The rice has a pleasant taste, but is very gritty. I'll keep trying.

One thing I miss is a cookie. Yes, that sounds silly, but it's true. With the elimination of nearly all grains, cookies went first. However, I have been trying out a couple recipes for raw cookies that are made with almond flour (no wheat). These are simple and pretty good and I'll be playing with the recipe a bit until I'm happy with it. I'd also like to try out some shortbread cookies without flour. We'll see how that goes.

When all is said and done, when my blood sugar is under complete control, when the weight has been shed, I want to be able to maintain it all without missing out on the things I like most (like ginger snaps on a winter night). Many things I've found awesome replacements for (hot cocoa with stevia instead of sugar), and many things I'm still trying out (I have come to the conclusion that I don't like turkey bacon).

I am choosing to have a strong and healthy body for the rest of my years.

Other movements

Today was strength training only. And about 12 hours of yarn work. By the time the last skein was done I didn't even want to shower (I did anyway). I'm mostly fine with that, especially since the scale this morning showed 171.2! I guess the balance has begun to shift now.

Having the daycare kids here is a little more challenging than I first thought, but I will keep my focus on what is important to me.

857 Miles

(1.6 walking)

Yes, only 1.6 miles in 30 minutes. I got a new treadmill yesterday and am getting used to it. I will say now that walking on a treadmill is very different than walking on the ground. I don't know why, but it makes my legs ache in a completely unique way. Still, I know it's for the good. My hope is that the muscles will continue to grow stronger in a balanced manner.

I also did my chains and weights today. And moved furniture. On this screen that doesn't really seem like very much, but my body is now tired and ready for sleep.

The picture was taken with my phone since I'd forgotten my camera.

Movements & thoughts

There was no biking today. Or even walking. Why? Because I listened to my body and lifted weights instead. And belly danced.

I started this blog as a way to share with you the journey that I had intended to travel. To catalog the miles I pedaled and attach them to one of my favorite stories. I've been doing that, I think. But there are days...

I was starting to feel guilty about not getting on the bike even though I'd done so much more during the day. After all, how do I show you that I'm lifting 8-pound weights more than 50 times in various positions (above head, behind head, leaning over & "pulling the lawnmower cord", etc.). How do I show you that I'm sweating quite a bit while I'm belly dancing? How do I describe the stretching involved in the yoga that I'm doing? The only thing I can really show is the screen on the bike after I've ridden for the allotted time.

As my body changes and grows in strength I hear different messages. It's an interesting thing, listening to my body. It has been telling me things like, "Be stronger," and "Push harder." And so, even though I know I should get on the bike because you might be watching for the miles, I need to listen to my body.

Part of that will include even more walking. I am not so sure about walking out in this neighborhood in the wee hours, but I am willing to walk in the afternoons. Also, I'll be looking at some treadmills. They are used, they aren't top of the line, but they are in my budget range. We'll see what I find.

855.4 Miles

(9.7 biking)

After traveling onward, Frodo and Sam began to fall behind. They were both injured while we were in Moria and Aragorn tended them both before we moved on. This is when we discovered Frodo's mithril corselette. After going on for another few hours we reached the edge of the woods of Lothlorien.

I felt pretty good today, even though my sleep is still broken each night. I'm hoping that will change very soon. Even so, I didn't want to ride today. I feel better emotionally, but I am still physically tired. And yet, I felt a lot better about myself when I'd finished the 30 minutes.

I also continued with the strength training. That seems easier to do lately. Not in terms of the physical challenge (since my muscles still tremble after a few sets), but in terms of motivation. I feel more motivated to lift the weights than to get on the bike. Weird, huh?

Other movements

I'm going to need to rethink the next 2 weeks somehow. Brianna is out of school this week and the daycare kids are out next week. This week is a lot easier to get the biking time in, but next week will be a challenge. So...

Today was all about strength & hooping. Chains, squats, etc. and tons of yarn-lifting. If I had a hanging scale I could figure out how much a wet skein weighs when I first pull it out of the pot... I just know it seems heavier after I've lifted 20 of them.

I have a small dilemma which may seem pretty insignificant to many folks, but I'm still dithering about it. We kind of need a lawnmower. I would really like to have a treadmill. I'm beginning to lean toward the treadmill, though. After all, once the grass is cut short (and I can sometimes borrow a lawnmower for that) it's easier to maintain with the reel mower we have. The treadmill would get used several times a week by Brianna and me. For now, I'm going to put the thoughts on hold and focus on how to get my biking time during next week.

845.7 miles

(9.1 biking)

The sadness that lies over us is too deep to express. Gandalf has fallen and it feels as if the hope has left us. Continuing will be hard to do.

Okay, I screwed up a little bit. I was pedaling along and got to the battle of the Balrog & Gandalf and forgot to take a picture. I know the meter said 9.something, and since I'm not sure what it was, I'm only adding .1 for now. I will admit that I was in tears when listening to this part of the book. It was hard not to.

Here is a picture of the knitting, though.

Other movements

Today was a day filled with strength training (chains), belly dancing, and yarn lifting. What's that? you ask? Well, wet skeins are heavy especially when lifting out 4 or 5 at a time. I usually lift and dunk the skeins into the pots several times to get the dye spread more evenly. The lifting starts from slightly lower than shoulder height to well above my head. Then I do it again in  the rinsing pot to get most of the acid out, then once more in the pot with Eucalan in it. Yep, lots of lifting. I think my shoulders will rebel forcefully if I try to lift anything else above my head.

I also included a different form of squats and kept going until I started to shake a little.

I'm happy with how well I've been doing and I feel pretty good with the way my muscles feel beneath the layer of fat.

836.6 Miles

(8.8 biking)

We left the guardroom early and have been traveling along huge curving pathways.

The weather feels colder lately and I'm thinking it's simply because there were several warm days. I only spent 30 minutes on the bike today. Since I didn't go walking I did more hooping. The chains are getting easier and my time of recovery is lower and lower. I know that I will need to alter the routine a little to keep my body strengthening and I'll add a different set of squats tomorrow.

I started the potholder over again since I didn't like the way the stripes were going. Not that I need them to be even, I just like the look of stockinette better.

827.8 Miles

(9.3 biking)

The going seem very long. We traveled many hours and were ready to sleep. Suddenly we entered a huge empty Hall. Gandalf says there are windows that will let the sunlight in, but since it's still night we cannot see it. We slept in that hall, cold and tired. The next morning, Gimli recited the story of Durin and it touched us all. Gandalf told us about mithril and how it was worth so very much. When he mentioned a corselet that Bilbo had, Frodo seemed more quiet than usual.

I didn't walk today. The wind feels as if it's trying to work its way into my jacket. Instead I increased the time of hooping and I completed the upper and lower chains. As for the biking, I decided to take it a little easy today, sort of. I kept it steady at around 18mph instead of doing any high intensity.

I brought up to April that my scale is still pretty steady. I lost four pounds in the last 2 weeks, but then gained two over the weekend. However, there are a couple inches fewer than there were. For example, my waist was 35" and now it sits at 32.5". I won't list all the differences, but they are there. She says that the scale doesn't matter as much while my muscles are gaining strength and I trust her.

For the knitting, I started a potholder from some old handspun I have. I don't even know where I got the original fiber, nor do I know if it will felt at all. But, it's pretty and I can turn it in for another class.

818.5 Miles

(2.5 walking)
(10.5 biking)

After taking a short break to eat and have another sip of miruvor. We began following Gandalf in the dark. True, Gandalf's staff shone brightly, but it was very small in this great, dark cavern. Frodo has been hearing steps behind us, but didn't say anything. After a bit of time we came to a junction and Gandalf was too weary to decide which way to go, so we camped in the guardroom.

It was so cold this morning! I really pushed myself to go out there and walk, but I figured it wouldn't kill me so I bundled up a bit and headed out. Before very long I was already starting to sweat. I didn't take off the outer layers simply because the breeze would have chilled me to the bone.

The biking was a little more pleasant, and I really pushed to keep a good speed and a few bursts of high intensity. Afterward I was pretty done in. Oddly enough, I felt more tired after the walking than I have lately. I think it's simply because of the cold. I didn't do the chains today, but I'm not upset about it. I know that I will make them up tomorrow by doing the whole routine.

I am pretty sure I won't get this scarf finished by the end of the month since I'm spending any extra knitting time working on the sweater. I am determined to finish this for the OWL on HPKCHC.

805.5 Miles

(10.6 biking)

So much in such a short distance! We reached the West-door of Moria. The description of the beauty of this magic is breath-taking. There are symbols of dwarves and elves wrought in the ithildin, which is visible only in starlight and moonlight. Gandalf spoke many different words and spells to no avail. Finally, in frustration, Borimir through a rock into the water, causing unease in Frodo. After another moment, Galdalf shouted, "Mellon" and the door opened. Suddeny there was a huge commotion! The Watcher in the Water had Frodo and Sam jumped to help. We all began running inside the doors and made it just before the Watcher slammed the doors and we were left in darkness.

I didn't walk today, but I did pedal faster during the biking (only 30 minutes). I also chose to do 20 minutes of hooping and the complete chains (not breaking it down to upper and lower). How do I feel? Not as sore as I thought, that's for sure. I'm not quite ready to go up to the 10lb weights yet, but I know it won't be that long.

I'm pleased with the amount of knitting I got done, even though I had to set it aside a couple times since my hands were sweaty.

794.9 Miles

(2 walking)
(7.5 biking)

We reached the Sirannon and started eastward. The going is rough and I sometimes wish we were back at Rivendell.

I walked the kids to school again today and enjoyed the weather. I know it will be cooling off a little bit next week, but still not cold, which means more time outside. The biking was only 30 minutes and I kept my pace slow. Sometimes that's harder for me to do.

I really like this pattern and how it's turning out as a scarf! The colors of the yarn paired with the design remind me of an opal dragon or something.

787.4 Miles

(2 walking)
(6.25 biking)

We've been traveling a barren country, and the Fellowship is weary of the cold. The Sirannon is dry and we push on. Gandalf gave everyone another mouthful of miruvor.

This morning I walked the daycare kids to school (about a mile round-trip since I walk a couple blocks past the school after dropping them off). When I got home I realized one of them had left their book bag, so I headed back out. It was a nice morning for walking and I enjoyed being out that early.

Afterward I decided to ride the bike anyway, then did the lower body chains. I might be sore tomorrow, but that's alright with me. I know that it's just a sign that my muscles are getting a good workout.

I'm doing my best not to feel disheartened by the lack of change on the scale. I can feel a difference in my body, and sometimes I can see it, too. But the scale remains at 175. I'm hoping that will change soon.

I worked on a scarf while pedaling. This scarf was adapted from the Dragon Scale pattern that will be in an awesome book (not yet published) and I think it's going to turn out lovely.

779.2 Miles (Walking)

(1.9)

Heading southeast to Sirannon.

This morning was walking, and I didn't go as far as I usually do. I did belly dance before my errands, though, and that was nice.  I'm doing my best to not focus on how many miles I've come so far and instead focus on the fact that my legs are not as sore as they were last week. Part of me wants to go digging in the yard, but it's still pretty wet out there, which means I'd end up with big chunks of mud instead of nicely turned soil.

We have sunshine until Friday and I am so happy for that. Dare I say that winter is over? It just might be.

777.3 Miles (Walking)

(2.9)

We stopped to eat and were able to have a small fire. There was some debate about which path to take and Aragorn said that he can hear wargs on the wind!

The journey is much slower when I walk, of course, but I can certainly feel the different muscle groups in my legs. The biking seems more to get my heart pumping, but the walking makes my legs throb. The weather is just too nice to stay inside. The hooping I still do inside, but there may be a time when that changes. Perhaps the belly dancing, too. For now (especially with a work crew in the house next door) I will keep that part of my workouts indoors.

With the walking I'm not knitting much. Partly because I really need to pay attention to the sidewalks around here. That's okay, I'm nearly done with my Magick Number sweater and a pair of socks.

Other Movements

Today was a belly dancing day. It wasn't that I didn't want to get on the bike, or anything like that. Instead, I just wanted to move differently. I've been following an old disc that I have and am going to start a different set next week. While I like the friendly smiles on most of the DVDs, I prefer Rachel Brice's seriousness with belly dancing. If anyone asked me why I would try to explain that I see this form of dancing as serious. I see it closer to a sacred dance than most would. I know a lot of people prefer to have fun with it and I think that's wonderful. For them. For me, it is deeper than that.

I also did the leg chains and felt proud of myself for completing the whole set. I did take a 5 minute break once I reached the 7s, but I kept going after that.