. . . in the distant, early morning . . .

Last night, while climbing into bed, I hurt my left ankle. 

It felt much better today, but I didn’t want to risk running.  I was wandering around the Birthday Shoes Forums when I happened on a thread about Kettlbebell.

It sounded intriguing, so I looked it up some more.  These psychos swing a heavy cast-iron ball called a kettlebell for exercise.  Crazy.

So I went and bought one from Dick’s.  I’ll invest in a much better one if I keep this up—probably from Dragon Door which comes highly recommended.

So I tried this out for 15 minutes while watching John Q.

Round one:

set 1: 10 reps - swing
set 2: 10 reps - swing
set 3: 10 swings 1h left
set 4: 10 swings 1h right
set 5: 10 reps - swing

750lbs

Round two:

set 1: 10 reps - swing
set 2: 10 swings 1h right
set 2: 10 swings 1h left
set 3: 10 reps - swing
set 4: 10 reps - swing
set 5: 10 reps - swing

750lbs

Total work load: 1500lbs; at least, I think that’s how you tally it up.  I should probably do this in kg since this originates from Russia; but I think in pounds, so pounds makes more sense for me.

I’m sure I’ll also get the move names right someday. 

This was really hard.  Really, really hard.  I almost couldn’t finish my 10th set, but I managed to.  I kept forgetting to move my hips; moving hips makes this a bit easier, since it gives you momentum and strength.

I’m a long ways from moving on to other moves; but it’s a beginning.  This kettlebell takes up almost no space - either to store or use -  and I can do it in short spurts (10-15 minutes while watching tv) and it cost me only $30 to get into.  I suspect this one kettlebell will do me for a number of months before I’m ready to move up, at which point I’ll get one of the Dragon Doors kettlebells.

This is the perfect exercise to mix in with my running.  Love it already, and it was a great way to give my legs (and my poor ankle) a break while still working out. And it’s definitely aerobic, no doubt about that.  It also appeared to get abs, back, arms, and upper legs.

Whoda thunk something so simple could be so effective?

(. . . and the best part?  I have a full fitness routine here without leaving my house.  Perfect!)

-Lisa, on July 1, 2010 at 7:26 pm .::. Comments and Reactions

Today, for the first time since I started running, I felt like I was floating.

The truly barefoot runs outdoors were a real help in getting to my form.  Running on a treadmill is a bit different than running with forward motion outdoors.

But today, on my treadmill, after the first 2 minutes I realized I felt awesome.  I was forefoot striking perfectly, I couldn’t hear my feet landing, my weight was centered and I felt peaceful - the whole thing just felt right.  My calves are getting better too, able to go longer and recover more quickly.

Today I ran the longest: 33 minutes, and the furthest: .67 miles.  I didn’t run the whole time.  Remembering that my goal is to stay at my target heart-rate for 35 minutes I tried something else.  I had noticed that when I had the dogs with me; every time Elka pulled, or pee’d, or stopped to smell (Milton too, of course), I would stop.  But I wouldn’t STOP, I’d run in place, and toward the end I’d walk in place.  After that slight rest I would feel energized to keep going much longer.

So I tried it on the treadmill today.  I ran at 2.5mph; and after the first 8 minutes my calves felt really sore, so I walked for 2 minutes at 2mph.  Then I ran again for 2 minutes at 2.5mph.  I did this for approximately 22 minutes: run 2 minutes, walk 1 minute.  My heart stayed in the target heart rate the entire time and my legs felt amazing.

For cool-down I walked and then did some stretching, sit-ups, and yoga, carefully bringing down my heart-rate.  I noticed during this that my flexibility appears to be increasing as well.

It’s been nearly a month since I began.  I’m over the 21 day “new habit” break-in and I am addicted.  Around 8pm tonight I got “the itch” to run, though prior to that I felt somewhat drained and feeling like skipping.  Now that I’ve run I feel energized and happy - not a real surprise there: exercise is known to release good stuff into the brain.

My goal now is to be going a full mile by the end of July.  I think I’ll hit that goal and then some; but I want to “keep it real”.

For the first time today I had the thought that I might one day be able to enter a race.  How cool would that be?  I don’t know if I ever would, it seems doubtful; but I’ve never, ever, ever before been able to think of that as a possible future goal.

-Lisa, on June 29, 2010 at 9:22 pm .::. Comments and Reactions

The last two days I ran barefoot.  Really barefoot.  Outside.

This morning I ran on my treadmill and noticed that today’s run was much easier. Keeping my form right seemed more natural and easier, requiring less concentration.  It was lovely.

Seeds - fruit seeds, specifically - hurt the most. Little pebbles are temporary pain as they fall off after one stride.  The seeds, though, they leave a lasting impression and tend to be sticky.

With that said, the skin on the balls of my feet toward the toes are a bit raw.  This may mean I’m landing too hard, pushing off too hard - or it may just mean I have thin skin.  I’m going to run on the treadmill/in VFF the rest of the week and aim for 1-3 runs barefoot outdoors throughout the summer.  That should let me ease into it, remember my form and get my feet suitable for such activity.

Today I am also starting to be more mindful of my eating habits.  I eat like crap, to be honest.  Now that I have the exercise routine down solid, it’s time to make slow, easy modifications to my diet so that I can get this weight off.

Should be a fun adventure.

-Lisa, on June 28, 2010 at 3:44 pm .::. Comments and Reactions