Will Wonders Never Cease?

I actually went running this morning.

It was 22 degrees (felt like 12 according to the Weather Channel) and I took Stella and Jake with me. It was a mere 2 miles, but I am pleased just the same as if it were more.

I haven't done any serious running in a long time, so I am grateful to be able to manage even a short run. Jake loves to run, so I'm grateful for his company, even if he insists on marking every tree, lampost, or clump of grass along the way. Stella runs like I often feel: unethusiastically. She does well for about a mile - maybe 1.5 miles - then decides she'd rather be walking. I still get her to move, but it isn't pretty. In spite of his size, I'd probably do better with Buster as a running partner over Stella. Perhaps I'll give it a try next time.

Tomorrow is an early morning for work (blech) so I won't be running. I hope to get back to a 3 day/week running schedule, so I'm shooting for running on Thursday. However, with this stupid conference we have coming into town on Thursday, I might just have to get it done on Wednesday. Heaven help us, we are hosting the big state high school theatre conference this weekend. Kill me.

Looking at my schedule for the long haul, Tuesday, Thursday, and a weekend date are going to be best for me.

Tomorrow I take my first Yoga class at the gym. I'm looking forward to it!

And, I actually fixed a really great meal with a bunch of leftovers tonight. Basically, I stir-fried some red and green peppers, broccoli, and pierogies in Trader Joe's General Tsao sauce. Yummy! I resisted the temptation to make a creamy pesto sauce . . . highly unusual behavior for me!

So here's to a good start anyway. Will wonders never cease?

New Year, New Beginnings

Happy 2011!

Or at least, let's hope so.

Yes, it has been 4.5 months since my last post. Let's just wipe the slate clean and start over. Isn't that the beauty of a new year?

Last MARCH I won a free 3-month membership at a local fitness center. I finally cashed it in TODAY. I am determined to get back into shape this year.

A few things finally spurred me into action: 1. I need new jeans. And I refuse to go until I can be sure I feel good about shopping for them. My clothes are . . . not tight exactly . . . just a little snug and I don't like how I feel. I feel soft and tired. Enough of that combination. 2. A friend of mine, who is a year or two older than I am, just began running this summer. He used to make fun of me and my running. We ran together this fall in NYC (running in Central Park is the BEST) and he had no trouble keeping up with me. And just a couple of weeks ago, he e-mailed me and told me he had run 9 miles! I am seeing him in March for work and I refuse to be run into the ground by him. And finally, 3. I have two crazy dogs that really need a running routine. I do notice they are generally calmer when we run so it's time to get back into it.

I realize, however, that I need more than running in my life. Right now it is cold and dark when I get up and I just cannot get excited about running when it's 13 degrees (*feels like 4) and still night-time!

So, I finally cashed in my free membership and am hoping to be able to schedule a few good workouts a week (or more) into my nutty life.

This requires me to think differently about working out. I will probably have to leave work at 4pm to get my workouts in between teaching and rehearsals (which don't start until 2/21, but I'm looking ahead). And I may even have to choose to go in the morning on non-running days. Once I start feeling stronger, the running will get easier.

So this is what I'm looking at right now: Yoga T/R afternoons at 4:30 and Interval Step W afternoons same time. I might even try a Zumba class! And perhaps I'll add a Tai Chi class on Saturday mornings (11 AM so not too early).

And I will do my utmost to make up the classes I miss. They have an indoor track, an outdoor track, a pool, and plenty of machines. And I can treat myself to the sauna as a reward! And, at the end of three months, we'll see if it's worth the $38/month to keep going.

I will be challenged, I know, by my schedule. One Tuesday/month I will have a committee meeting I will have to attend so that will push my workout back. And leaving work at 4 will require due diligence on my end. This is a busy travel semester for me, too. As it now stands, I'll be out of town about 21 days between now and the end of March. Still, I think I can do this.

Along the way, I'm going to do my best to keep up with this blog . . . just for accountability sake. I can't find a human running partner (which is the BEST accountability) for me, so perhaps taking stock here will help.

So here's to the new year and a fresh start. Wish me luck!