Not Five-for-Five

So last week I was trying for 5 exercise bouts in 5 days -- not even close.  I did the Oly walk on Monday and Friday, and Yoga on Tuesday, and that's all.  Much better than nothing...

Over the weekend, I made up for it with exertions with a manure shovel, bedding tool, etc. (Nate did all the wheelbarrowing).  Unloading Brent's 1-ton dumper (dumper unloading turning out to be a little more complicated that you would think) was a major effort, as was spreading and then tilling in the garlic patch.  I had a little soreness in the hip-SI area, but it seems to be tapering off.  I hope I don't have one of those four-day dormancies before the injury shows up...

Yesterday I did the Oly walk again -- about 24:30 (I forgot to look right at the end).  Today I intend to attend Yoga.

Going for 5 for 5

It's not my usual practice to announce goals -- too many disappointments have made me skeptical -- but in this case, I am being bold!  I am going for 5 exercises in 5 days this week.  I read in AARP Magazine that you can train your muscles to reduce insulin resistance with 150 minutes of eercise per week, but you have to do it by repeated exercise, not just 150 minutes in a go (like moving chunks of firewood on Saturday).

Today I did the Olympia route in 25:36, which is not at all bad, though it seemed to me that I was not performing very well -- respiratory discomfort and lots of spitting.

A guy I passed up near Global Animal Health made a remark I didn't really catch, but I responded "I'm figured I better use the last of the good ones" (days weather-wise, that is).  It was beautiful -- just a little cool, which supposedly helps the "brown fat" (but Ihaven't researched that at all).

With all that, I'm 1 for 1.  So nu?

Apparent Personal Best

... on the Olympia Ave. route -- 24:19, which is a full minute less than my previous "official" (mentioned in the blog) time.

I have been exercising about twice a week during the ramp up of the Blue Implementation project at work, which is less than ideal but lots lots better than nothing (my pre-2013 level).  This week I had to just "do it" on Friday to make a second outing.

It was pretty much maximum effort, especially on the uphill Oly part, though after crossing the top of the route at the Observatory I admit that "maximum" was somewhat lackluster. I had the full panoply of aerobic stress symptoms, including spitting, panting, and that sick feeling, and also (new symptom) a soreness in my lower back near the spine (psoas?)  However, symptoms eased once past the top.

Airport Rd. Revisited

I decided to take the longer, flatter walk today to Aiport Rd. via Grimes Way.  My times were almost the same as those I recorded in this blog last October:

• 10:49 at Dairy Rd.
• 16:50 at Airport Rd.
• 23:13 at Dairy Rd.
• 33:26 to finish.

Today's times:

• 10:45 at Dairy Rd.
• 16:45 at Airport Rd.
• 23:10 at Dairy Rd.
• 33:37 to finish.

I could make the same remark about "a little weak and wobbly" today as then.

Still, I felt pretty good about the extent to which I was able to apply myself.  Not really a "maximum effort", but something resembling a workout.

Oly Oly...

Given a late departure, my only choice was the Olympia Ave. route -- the best exercise on a (time) budget.  5:36 to the beginning of the uphill at the base of Oly Ave, 16:26 to Observatory Drive, 25:50 overall.  Probably within random error compared to the last time of 25:30.

I had some right hip soreness (which I associate with sacroiliac problems, but the SI itself was not sore).  I also felt some twinges down the outside of my right thigh, those went away later in the walk. Overall, the hip was no sorer at the end than the beginning, so I don't consider it to contraindicate exercise at this time.

Dizzy's and Back Again

Today was a walk to Dissmore's for cottage cheese and peanuts -- the B Street route, with a big elevation change both ways (naturally).  I didn't push for a good time, primarily because I have a mild case of shin splints (from the standing desk?  or...?) but still did about 17:30 downhill and about 20:30 uphill.  Notably, the shin splints felt worse on the downhill, and almost disappeared on the uphill, suggesting that they are related to extension and not flexion of the ankle.  Perhaps I tried too hard to push off with the toes on my Olympia walk on Wednesday.

I'm Baaaack...

Though I haven't posted since last year, I was exercising semi-regularly until the summer hit.  The combination of crazy work agenda and crazy home agenda (including Sharon's international conference and a visitor from Africa) seriously interrupted the fitness program.

Now I'm trying to establish some regularity for fall -- no time like the present to start.  I walked the Olympia Rd. route in about 25:30 -- not great, not bad.  I walked uphill without having to stop, which is good. I had continuing soreness in my left big toe and ankle, but by left-side sacroiliac was not troublesome.  At the very end, I had some soreness in my right big toe, which suggests that my feet aren't used to toe push-off in my stride.