Saturday, July 25, 2009

25 Things about me.

A friend from Twitter read these 25 things on an old blog, and I decided to move them over here.

1. It drives me crazy that I am mentally incapable of controlling my weight. My mind is my only interference - I'm physically doing everything I need to do.

2. I have had totally silver hair since I was 35.

3. I was terrified of high school - even though I hung out with a popular crowd I was always afraid they would find out I was a fraud.

4. I married my first husband for fear of being old and single. (I was 22)

5. I left my first husband because I didn't want my daughter to see me become old and miserable.

6. I would like to go back to school and learn everything there is to know about computers and technology.

7. I have published a book of erotic poems. (Approximate Value of Love)

8. I am a fiercely loyal friend.

9. I am afraid of my brother.

10. I have learned more about my father since he passed at age 52, than I ever knew about him while he was alive.

11. I love all animals and can't ever imagine eating one - although I understand why people do and don't fault them for it.

12. My partner is my best friend and confidante, and I should have found him first.

13. I don't lust after material things and nothing that I own matters to me beyond being convenience.

14. I was a terrible mother (at times) but I'm a fantastic grandparent.

15. I wasted way too many years drinking too much wine and looking for escape in a bottle.

16. I'm a hard worker, and put my all into anything I do.

17. I don't like to cook.

18. If I let myself, I could live on corn chips, candy, and bread.

19. I have run a half marathon, and I will run a marathon before I'm 65.

20. Finding exercise has saved me from sinking into the sewer of depression.

21. I admire my sister and wish I could be more like her.

22. I really enjoy 'connecting' with people online - if were as easy to bring so many interesting people into daily life I would do it - but I think we'll have to wait for time travel to do that.

23. My musical tastes move forward - I hate being stuck in a musical rut.

24. I'm addicted to apples. (hate red delicious - all others fair game)

25. I am constantly trying to improve myself through meditation, exercise, reading, blah blah blah - you get the idea.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Episode 14 - Cross Fit

When I decided to hire a trainer to whip my butt into some sort of shape, I chose a tiny gym near my house. I didn't want monthly fees - I just wanted to pay by the hour and walk away when I felt like it. The tiny gym near my house is a CrossFit gym - known all over the world for training excellence, and used by professional athletes, armed forces, and ordinary folk like me. I borrowed this blurb from a CrossFit website:

WHY CROSSFIT?

  • Why we do CrossFit!
    Why do we do CrossFit? Who really relies on the results of their fitness to preserve their lives? Soldiers, Police and Fire fighters. What is being adopted throughout the Special Forces communities, Secret Service, US Marshals, FBI, ATF and many other people who rely on fitness to preserve their lives? CrossFit. When it comes to an endeavor where being weak costs you your life, they do CrossFit. Most of us do not require that level of fitness in our daily lives. Why train this hard? If you look at a continuum when on one side is residing in a nursing home and the other end the decathlete (or similar well rounded capable individual), ask this simple question: Which side do I want to be on? Time, aging, and lifestyle conspire to put us in long term care homes and alike. The harder we pull toward the elite side of the continuum, the less close we are to the nursing home. If teaching a 57 year old women to dead lift 200 plus pounds seems extreme, think of the grandmother who can't pick up her #20 grandson. Which place do you want to be in? Very few of us will get to the level of being on the CrossFit website for some outstanding physical feat. We CAN all work diligently to achieve the best effort and results our age and ability allow us to achieve. Much of what we do is based on functional exercises, executed at high intensity that are varied to the point of near randomness. Why? Our goal is to create people who are capable in ALL aspects of fitness. When the SEAL Teams and Special Forces adopt Swiss balls as a major tool to keep them alive when it counts, I will buy them. Until that time, we will do CrossFit.
I'm heading out for my 4th session with Dave - and I know I'll come away feeling a bit stronger, and a bit amazed that I did something I never dreamed I could do.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Episode 13- Trainers and Trail Shoes


These are the beatiful trail shoes I won from the Run Run Live Podcast. The photo really doesn't do them justice - they're much bluer than they look.

Since I've never had trail shoes before, it's difficult for me to rate these, but their performance on my trial run was excellent, and I have nothing bad to say about them.

The laces are super. Non-slip - won't likely ever come untied. The tongue is integrated into the shoe sock, so there are no seams or bumps cause foot discomfort. They made my feet feel very stable, even when twisting from side to side on rocks. The soles have superior grip power - I felt comfortable going both up and down steep hills. The downhill slopes on my trail felt very slippery to me in regular running shoes - not so in these puppies.

The shoes are Patagonia Release made by Vibram (the Five Finger people.) When these wear out I won't consider looking at other brands.

So - I decided to get really serious this week. I hired a trainer. His name is Dave and he owns the CrossFit gym a couple of blocks from my house. When I first noticed the gym I said it wouldn't last more than a couple of months because of its size, location, and proximity to other chain establishments. I was wrong.

CrossFit is and Elite Fitness Training Center without the Elitist attitude. They focus on training the whole body - not just parts of it. There are no gimmicky gadgets in this gym and the only aerobic equipment is a non-motorized rowing machine. I was very impressed with my first workout, and very sore the day after. It's an insidious thing that sneaks up on you. I'm planning for two sessions per week for now.

Dave told me to not go near my scale for one month. That is going to be very difficult for me, but I'm going to give it a shot. Since my first workout my diet has been clean and sugar-free. The first few days were hard, but I perservered and I'm not going back there.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Episode 12 -Counting back in time

While listening to the Runner's Round Table last night (found on the Talkshoe Network most Wednesdays at 4pm) my friend Cewtwo posted a link to my blog and my podcast. Toni Harvey was pleased to hear about another podcast and thought that mine must be about counting back age.

When you think about it - runners do that. They start with a body age, and the more they run the younger they feel and the fitter they get.

For myself, this is so true. Before my oldest grandson was born I felt like an 80 year old woman. My knees hurt, my legs hurt; and I had zero energy. I dreaded summer because I knew the heat was going to do me in.

The advice I got from almost everybody when I started running was - don't do it. The theory was that my already bad knees would get worse and I would be crippled. Fortunately for me, I didn't listen to the advice and I got my knees and hips back.

It's true that body parts wear out from lack of use. Get them moving and they will reward you with renewed life.

I would be lying if I said I never get any aches or pains. Of course I do. But they don't last and I don't spend cash on anti-inflammatories and muscle rubs. I rarely take anything - ice will usually do the trick if I'm feeling a bit sore.

So - this blog (and podcast) has new meaning. Not only am I counting down 50 pounds (and not well at the moment) but I'm also turning back the clock on age.

You can do it too. Get MOVING!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Episode 11

Busy, busy week. Canada Day fell right in the middle of the week (it's always celebrated on the day - not on the nearest Monday) and it kind of threw everybody off a bit.

We have had buckets and buckets of rain in the past week. I haven't really done any what I would call 'good' runs - most have been walking, shuffling, dodging rain, and generally whining about bugs. On to better things next week.

I spent some time with my grandchildren. We visited the town of Stratford, home of the world-famous Shakespearean Festival. It was so much fun to view the town through the eyes of little boys. They have a totally different, and completely fresh view of life.

It looks like we're headed into a much drier week. I hope so, because cutting the lawn every other day wears thin after a while! I must say that my yard and garden are looking pretty fantastic though.

A la prochain!