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.

774.4 Miles

(2.8)

We've turned southwest and are rounding the foothills of Silvertine.

I decided to walk again today. The weather is simply too nice not to. I followed the same path as I did on February 27th and enjoyed the fresh breeze and the sight of robins everywhere. When I got home I did my hooping and my upper body chains. I'm feeling pretty good about being able to finish them without too much trembling. I'm holding the thought that I'm building a stronger body, one that will carry me through the rest of my days.

The thought occurred to me that, if I get a treadmill, my journey will be much slower. Of course, it would also build my leg muscles better for the Appalachian Trail.

771.7 Miles

(11.8)

Aragorn and Borimir created a path through the snow so the hobbits could get to a clearer place on the mountain. The going is slow and the crebain returned. There wasn't anything we could do about that, other than to keep going.

Today's ride was slower, and that was due to the residual soreness in my legs. After the ride I had the almond & protein and rested for about 10 minutes before picking up the weights. I felt really good that I was able to finish the whole set of chains this time. At one point I wasn't sure I would.

I've been thinking about self-sabotage lately. I know that subject very well. In times before, I had no problem sitting here knowing that I should exercise, knowing that I should eat better, and not doing either. I also would minimize the accomplishments until they seemed unlike achievements at all. At moments I can still feel that inside me. Recognizing it is a good step toward eliminating it. I've traveled nearly 800 miles at this point. That's no small feat. I need to remember that, and celebrate it as I continue.

I've reached a part of the socks where I should turn the heel. Since I'm still unfamiliar with the "Tomato Heel" I will work on it off the bike.

759.9 Miles

(13.2)

The going has been hard. At one point we were trying to shelter on a slim stone shelf while the snow piled up around us. It is only the miruvor that kept the Hobbits from freezing to death, I'm certain. 

The hooping today was a little challenging. Since my legs are sore from yesterday's chains, it felt like I wasn't as fluid as I'd have liked. Still, I finished up. After I was finished with the upper body chains, I was certain I wouldn't be able to lift my glass of water. I'm not kidding. That stuff really takes the strength out of your muscles! Still, I know that it will add strength with a little more time. In the meantime, I will just keep in mind that I will be loving all this hard work before much longer.

A few more rows on these socks. I'm thinking that, even if I only worked on them on the bike, I will have them finished by the end of the month.

746.7 Miles

(13.2)


Gandalf and Aragorn discussed the possible direction to take and it seemed as though they had a disagreement over something. For whatever reason we will be taking the Redhorn Pass. The weather will become our enemy. We've all begun carrying wood and the snow that has begun falling is much heavier than the norm for this time of the year. (pretty close to the end of chapter 3)

Four songs of hooping, 45 minutes of biking, and lower body chains. In order to avoid the dizziness from last week, I had a breakfast of leftover chicken, veggies, and some juice. Between the biking and the chains I also took a 10 minute break and had some of the protein drink I make. And, of course, plenty of water in between everything.

I bought a new set of weights this weekend. The grips are a little larger and they are covered with a foam (I don't remember what it's called). Much more comfortable! That didn't change the fact that they felt like a ton by the end of the chains, but at least there will be less strain on my hands.

This week's knitting is a pair of socks that I started at Kevin's. These are with a DK weight yarn and shouldn't take very long to finish.

Other movements

Today was all about stretching and getting more oxygen to the muscles. I'm sure that, if anyone was here through the day, I would have been laughed at. I did this slow marching walk down the hallway anytime I needed to get to a different room. While I reskeined the shop yarn I did the quad stretches. Anytime I was standing still for any reason I stretched out the muscles in my legs. Even sitting cross-legged created an opportunity to stretch. And I feel a lot better.

Oddly enough, my legs still want to buckle at odd times. Like during my belly dancing and hooping. So, I stuck to the upper body and called it a day.

What strikes me the most is that I really thought my legs were strong. I walk a lot, I bike a lot, I use them daily. So why this much pain? Why this much time needed for recovery? Because the parts of the muscles that are now being strengthened haven't been used that much. Yes, my legs are fairly strong, and now they will start getting stronger.

There are some goals along this journey through Middle Earth that I am beginning to see clearly. One is a weight loss, another is a healthy and strong body. April pointed out that once these goals are reached, it will be time for new goals. That thought frightens me a little bit. What I said to her was that the need for the goals doesn't scare me, but the ideas I have do. Just a little.

For example, the Appalachian Trail. It's 2180 miles long. How long would it take for me to walk that? I couldn't do it in one summer, that's pretty clear (after I looked at my math again). But if I took a week or two each year, maybe one in spring and one in autumn, how many years would that trail take? What beauty would I encounter along the way?

I sit here now and I dream of such things.

733.5 Miles

(12.3)

Still traveling upward and the days are cold. (I can start listening to the book again!)

Okay. Yesterday's chains were pretty rough. My legs trembled starting about halfway through, but I finished them anyway. After all, I thought, I'm not going to make progress if I don't push myself. Well, today I could barely get my legs to move down the hall for the morning coffee. Sitting down was a little challenging and I briefly wished for different body parts so I didn't have to hurt so much when going to the bathroom. I had the serious thought of avoiding the bike simply because my legs did hurt so much. But I got on anyway. And pedaled so very slowly at first. I was a little surprised when my legs started easing up a little and I was able to start going a little closer to my "normal" speeds. I feel pretty good about that.

Afterward I had water and protein and will be preparing a decent lunch as soon as my shower is finished... I'm sure the warm water will help ease the ache even more.

I finished the scarf/shawlette. I love how soft this yarn is. I don't know what else I would make for myself, but it is amazing and I'm so glad I can carry it in my shop.

721.2 Miles

(12.3)

The sun has been out, but it feels colder now. We camped during the day (Jan 9) and now the road seems to be rising a bit.

I truly wanted to ride for a full hour today, but started getting dizzy enough to be nervous. So, after only 45 minutes I got off, had a tall glass of water, some protein in almond milk and took a coolish shower. I think part of it was because I did the leg chains before getting on the bike. Those took me nearly 30 minutes and really got my heart going and my legs trembling. When I asked April about it she let me know that it was to be expected since I hadn't had a big enough breakfast. So... now I need to reconfigure my morning meals just a bit.

The knitting is coming along nicely and I think I'll be finished with this scarf/shawlette by tomorrow.

708.9 Miles

(17.3)

It's a full moon and the going is not that bad. Very cold, of course.  Just before dawn Gandalf & Frodo were pretty sure there was something flying over us, but it was too dark to see clearly.

I made it to 10%! Yes, that makes me smile. I was only going to go for 45 minutes today since that was my goal, but, even with the strength training, it just feels more right to go for the full hour. i am also much happier doing my workout in the earlier part of the day. To me that just works so much better.

The chain workout (strength training) hurts. I couldn't do them all because my arms were trembling so much. I'm going to stick with the even numbers this week, then I'll try again. I know that "failure" in this sense is a good thing, but when I fail to lift a simple 8-pound weight... well, it feels kind of crappy. I refuse to go down to a 5-pound weight, though.

Knitting was good and I'm working on a pattern called Baktus with my new yarn base. It's so soft!

691.6 Miles

(12.4)

As Sam was keeping watch with Strider, a cloud of something took shape in the distance. Before long a flock of crebain flew overhead and we knew the danger was even greater.  With the full moon overhead we continued onward.

Today I wasn't able to get on the bike until after 7:30. Why? Well, there was a snow day, which meant there were kids in the house most of the day. I will say that I do not like exercising in the evening and nearly didn't do it. The thought crossed my mind that "one more day" wouldn't make that much of a difference. But it would. Perhaps not to my body, but it would have made a difference in my head and in my heart. So, I finished my 45 minutes of biking, and my 6 songs of hooping. I haven't done the chains today. There really isn't time since I will be in bed shortly. So that will have to be done tomorrow.

I'm glad I got on the bike, especially since it helped work off some of the irritation I'd felt most of the day. I'm hoping it will help my sleep be more restful.

I finished a slouchy hat while I was biking and I'll be turning it in for one of the HPKCHC classes some time tomorrow. Then it will go into a basket of gifts that will be sent out as soon as I have another one done. You see, I put out word that I would hand-craft 5 gifts for people as long as they passed it along to 5 more people. One of the coolest "chain letters" there are, don't you think?