Monday was a 2 hour gym bonanza that I somehow survived and am not that sore from. I guess that means I have to go harder.
Yesterday I jogged for 25 minutes, followed by Shred. My foot and lower calf cramped up near the end of it all, and I couldn't move it no matter how hard I tried for about a minute. It was the most awkward thing being stuck on the floor looking like a lazy butt and desperately trying to hit the feeling back into my foot. I think I just over-taxed my calves and did not stretch them out enough. All's well that ends well, however. All looks clear for now, so I don't think there's any strange underlying reason for the muscle seizure.
Work is exciting and busy. There's a swim championship, so there are lots of swimmers wandering through the store. We're going to have an extra setup in the middle of all the action for the next 3 days. I bought a swimsuit a few weekends ago, and I was just waiting for my goggles and cap to come in. The goggles have arrived, so I'll soon be the proud owner of a new pair of some women's Vanquishers.
I'm really inspired to start swimming again. It has been........ I don't know, over 15 years since I did swimming lessons at school. Working around swimmers, though, and being a buyer for swim gear, you can't help but become enthused about the sport. I'm pumped! I hope to start trying out the swimming pool at the gym (the one I'm signed up for, not my work gym). Ben has been swimming there, so I hope to join him one day for some laps. I will probably have a lot to say about it the day I start.
For now, it almost looks like I'm getting back onto coffee. Hahaha. I've slept really poorly recently, wracked by strange dreams and a certain excitability for life. I'm pumped about the day, but a little too much. My mind is too active at night, and it prevents me from relaxing.
But here's to keeping life exciting! You know I'd want it no other way.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Stress Busters
I went to the gym to blow off some steam after work today. I hopped on a treadmill and ran for half an hour, doing some sprinting, then some plain running, and then some sprinting again. It felt good to crank up the speed and feel the stress melt away. It came back after my workout, but at least for a bit of time it disappeared. I'm also a lot happier that I'm back on the whole running thing, even if it is on a treadmill. As I mentioned last entry, I've been getting antsy with this winter's cold, unforgiving outdoor weather. All it took was half an hour to remind myself of what I have to look forward to in the spring.
On a side note, I dropped my iPod in the middle of my run, which prompted a five minute search on my hands and knees. I felt like a creeper looking under my fellow gym rats' machines. Two people immediately noticed my weird actions and asked what I'd lost. I described my iPod, and they helped me look for it. I eventually found it just behind my treadmill and in front of an elliptical machine. So nice of those two people to put their workouts on hold to help me out. I'm very grateful. :) [Needless to say, my faith in humanity was restored at this point.]
I feel deliciously sore from last night Pump with Marie, and my quads are a bit jelly-ish from my run today. Looking forward to Shred tomorrow with Marie and Susana! That's it for now.
On a side note, I dropped my iPod in the middle of my run, which prompted a five minute search on my hands and knees. I felt like a creeper looking under my fellow gym rats' machines. Two people immediately noticed my weird actions and asked what I'd lost. I described my iPod, and they helped me look for it. I eventually found it just behind my treadmill and in front of an elliptical machine. So nice of those two people to put their workouts on hold to help me out. I'm very grateful. :) [Needless to say, my faith in humanity was restored at this point.]
I feel deliciously sore from last night Pump with Marie, and my quads are a bit jelly-ish from my run today. Looking forward to Shred tomorrow with Marie and Susana! That's it for now.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
The Goings On
It is high time I updated this blog. It's been over 3 months since I last wrote. A lot has happened.
In about mid-November, I broke my toe. I couldn't walk properly for 3 weeks, and couldn't exercise or run for much longer. Around this time, I also got a new job. So it was one terrible thing followed by one awesome thing. The job also kept me from going to the gym often, as I had to focus and put lots of hours in. I was doing 10 hour days, so I was frequently passing on the gym. In more recent weeks, I have revisited my gym schedule and have put more effort into making the time. I now do at least 2 classes per week, have a 3rd as a "I'd better do it, but if I miss it it's not the end of the world", and then I try to fit in my own little workout, whether it's on a treadmill or something.
But I'm getting ahead of myself! Back to my toe injury.
The horror. I was limping around, taking the TTC to work every day, trying to rest my foot and leg at all possible moments... I grew lazy and tired as I limped around and didn't want to walk anywhere. It took a while for the residual pain to wear off. I think I had phantom broken toe syndrome of some kind, because even when I was sure it had to be ok, I could still feel twinges of pain when I bent my toe even slightly out of alignment. It screwed up my workout regimen, and put me behind quite a bit. I haven't fully recovered from this setback, partly because it was so long that I'd been off my feet, but also because it happened just before I got this new job. The injury timeout bled into the "I have to work fifty-six hours per day" sentiment, and voila. No gym.
But now I'm back, and I'm back with a vengeance. There is not a day that passes by that I don't think about the 10K run that got me started on this trip, and the 10K that's coming up in May (yes, I signed up for the Sporting Life 10K again, so I'll be aiming to beat both my previous 10k times). The weather outside has been miserable. It's the coldest Toronto winter that I can remember, and one of the snowiest in this city. It's been slippery and treacherous, so running (avec or sans Ben) has not been an option. I swear, though, that the first warmer (as in not -20C), dry day that comes along, I'm going to strap on my shoes and get out there for a nice jog around the neighbourhood. You can only do so much on a treadmill.
In other exciting news, Ben and Susana both joined Goodlife, so Marie and I have some new workout buddies. We're all gung ho about the place. Ben likes to swim, and now that I work in a store that sells amazing swimwear, I figure I should join him. In fact, I just bought a swimsuit today, so once my goggles and swim cap come in (on order right now), I'm going to join him.
Working in a building that houses a gym has certainly raised my bar a bit higher. Now that I take care of ordering and selling fitness and sports equipment, I feel the need to further educate myself about these things, as well as get super duper in shape. I have let myself slide these past few months, but I think with the warmer weather just around the corner, I'm starting to wake up to the fact that this life is not ok and that I need to move my booty!
Tomorrow, however, there will be not workout for me. I am doing a wonderful, relaxing spa day with Esther and Rachel. Monday I can work and workout, but Sunday I will rest, sit in a hot tub, and sooth my body and soul.
I promise, my dear internet, that I will not neglect you for so long again - unless I have a very good excuse. A broken toe just doesn't cut it. Until next week.
In about mid-November, I broke my toe. I couldn't walk properly for 3 weeks, and couldn't exercise or run for much longer. Around this time, I also got a new job. So it was one terrible thing followed by one awesome thing. The job also kept me from going to the gym often, as I had to focus and put lots of hours in. I was doing 10 hour days, so I was frequently passing on the gym. In more recent weeks, I have revisited my gym schedule and have put more effort into making the time. I now do at least 2 classes per week, have a 3rd as a "I'd better do it, but if I miss it it's not the end of the world", and then I try to fit in my own little workout, whether it's on a treadmill or something.
But I'm getting ahead of myself! Back to my toe injury.
The horror. I was limping around, taking the TTC to work every day, trying to rest my foot and leg at all possible moments... I grew lazy and tired as I limped around and didn't want to walk anywhere. It took a while for the residual pain to wear off. I think I had phantom broken toe syndrome of some kind, because even when I was sure it had to be ok, I could still feel twinges of pain when I bent my toe even slightly out of alignment. It screwed up my workout regimen, and put me behind quite a bit. I haven't fully recovered from this setback, partly because it was so long that I'd been off my feet, but also because it happened just before I got this new job. The injury timeout bled into the "I have to work fifty-six hours per day" sentiment, and voila. No gym.
But now I'm back, and I'm back with a vengeance. There is not a day that passes by that I don't think about the 10K run that got me started on this trip, and the 10K that's coming up in May (yes, I signed up for the Sporting Life 10K again, so I'll be aiming to beat both my previous 10k times). The weather outside has been miserable. It's the coldest Toronto winter that I can remember, and one of the snowiest in this city. It's been slippery and treacherous, so running (avec or sans Ben) has not been an option. I swear, though, that the first warmer (as in not -20C), dry day that comes along, I'm going to strap on my shoes and get out there for a nice jog around the neighbourhood. You can only do so much on a treadmill.
In other exciting news, Ben and Susana both joined Goodlife, so Marie and I have some new workout buddies. We're all gung ho about the place. Ben likes to swim, and now that I work in a store that sells amazing swimwear, I figure I should join him. In fact, I just bought a swimsuit today, so once my goggles and swim cap come in (on order right now), I'm going to join him.
Working in a building that houses a gym has certainly raised my bar a bit higher. Now that I take care of ordering and selling fitness and sports equipment, I feel the need to further educate myself about these things, as well as get super duper in shape. I have let myself slide these past few months, but I think with the warmer weather just around the corner, I'm starting to wake up to the fact that this life is not ok and that I need to move my booty!
Tomorrow, however, there will be not workout for me. I am doing a wonderful, relaxing spa day with Esther and Rachel. Monday I can work and workout, but Sunday I will rest, sit in a hot tub, and sooth my body and soul.
I promise, my dear internet, that I will not neglect you for so long again - unless I have a very good excuse. A broken toe just doesn't cut it. Until next week.
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