Downward Dip

This workweek I only exercised twice, due to competition for my time from family responsibilities.  nonetheless, both were good workouts:  one up Olympia Av in record time (if just barely), and one downtown to the bank, also in record time (with a couple of stars due to stops at the bank and to pick up lunch).

That is the least exercise of any week since I started this in February.  The challenge now is to prevent the downward dip from becoming a new plateau.

Fac/Staff Second Visit

I have my locker combo now, and have to figure out how to handle gym gear (from shampoo to shoes).  I didn't brave the weight room yet, just walked outside and showered again.  Of course, the weight room is part of the point of spending $99 (although the indoor walk/run at the fieldhouse is also an option.

Faculty/Staff Fitness Program

I joined the Faculty/Staff Fitness program for Fall Semester ($99).  It permits me to use the locker room, the weight room, and some other facilities (like basketball courts) that are not useful to me.  The point is to have a place for a cardio workout (and maybe more?) when the weather is inclement, so that walking is not a good option.

I went to the Gym, but the staff there couldn't get me the combination on the lock of the locker assigned to me.  So I went for a walk and then took a shower.

The Last Two Weeks

... included walking every day at noontime (10 for 10).  Sometimes more intensive, sometimes less, but never lackadaisical.  Walks included an (approximate) personal best 34:26 to Airport Rd. and back, and several walks up the Olympia Av hill to the Observatory, plus some "cross-country" in the area behind Rogers-Orton and the Vet School.

New Shoes for Baby

I took my new shoes out for a spin at lunchtime -- to Airport Rd. and back in 34:29.  The shoes are black mesh uppers with red-and-black Vibram soles, about the minimum a shoe could be and still have a Vibram sole.  They really make it easy to attend to footfall mechanics.  They're not all-weather shoes, but they did very well today.

Variance

Today I walked a new route -- down Stadium way to Olympia, then east through the dorms and apartment complexes, bending uphill and north until I was behing the Global Animal Health building, then back to CUE.  About 20 minutes, with a not-too-intense incline in the middle.

Maximum Effort (for now)

Today it was one more trek to Airport Rd. and back.  Even though it was a personal best time (33:08), it felt kind of empty.  I really pushed myself to maximum (safe) effort, including leg and foot biomechanics, pace (just about 132/minute throughout), and stride.  I lost concentration for part of the way back with the usual mental chit-chat, but I kept calling myself back to the effort -- a kind of walking Yoga workout.  So I'm not sure why it didn't feel better...