See Diva Run

The Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge is coming to an end, and though I wasn’t a contender to win, it helped me get over the idea that running is everything, and encouraged me to exercise, even when I couldn’t run.

My numbers from this week:

* You exercised 15 times on 6 days, for 6.8 hours, and a total of 19.45 miles.
* You did flexibility 3 times on 3 days, for 0.8 hours.
* You did other 3 times on 3 days, for 0.8 hours.
* You ran 3 times on 3 days, for 1.9 hours, and a total of 10 miles.
* You did strength training 1 times on 1 days, for 0.5 hours.
* You walked 5 times on 5 days, for 2.7 hours, and a total of 9.45 miles.

My totals for the challenge:

* You exercised 36 times on 21 days, for 20 hours, and a total of 67.1 miles.
* You did flexibility 4 times on 4 days, for 1.3 hours.
* You did other 4 times on 4 days, for 1.3 hours.
* You ran 9 times on 9 days, for 5.5 hours, and a total of 27.99 miles.
* You did strength training 1 times on 1 days, for 0.5 hours.
* You walked 18 times on 16 days, for 11.3 hours, and a total of 39.11 miles.

With 27.99 miles of running + 39.11 miles of walking and 3.1 hours of other activity my total points are 79.

Huge thanks to Amanda at Run to Finish for having a brilliant idea and keeping everyone motivated! Congratulations to everyone who participated.

I meant to write this review before the first of the year, but there is still time to pick up a copy of the 2009 Complete Runner’s Day-By-Day Log by Marty Jerome, and chances are, you can get it at a discount. I picked mine up for half price at the calendar place in the mall on the day after Christmas.

With so many online training logs available, you may not keep a written log. I confess that I haven’t managed to keep the written log up for an entire year, but as the beginning of a New Year approaches, I’m always excited to start filling in those blanks. I also like to go back an look at the previous year’s logs, even if they aren’t complete. The 2009 edition has been restyled, with color photos and printing. The motivational messages in the introduction and at the beginning of each month are some of the best ever. The marathon split times are no longer listed in the back of the book, but the weekly graph space is still included, along with the pages for entering your 2009 races. You can enter a lot of races!

I’ve only got one run recorded for 2009, but the year is young. I also record my cross-training in the log, because it makes me happy to see those blank pages filling up! I also keep an online log at Sweat365.com. I love the graphs and the reports.

Today was a nearly perfect day. I’m easy to please. All it took was a little sunshine. Yesterday was horrible. It was a classic winter day in the northwest. Indescribably dark and dreary. I had no energy, but eventually got in a very low intensity work out of easy rowing and walking on the treadmill. I went to bed early.

This morning I woke up before the alarm. I had energy, and a little time, so I did part of the Triathilates Fusion workout before reporting to work. It was a very quiet day at work, which was delightful. Best of all, there were patches of blue between the clouds. Eventually there was more blue than cloud. Oddly enough, the few clouds produced a little hail, but it didn’t accumulate, and it also didn’t detract from the joy of sun. Things were quiet enough that I was able to get out the door for a sunset run at 4pm. It was cold but wonderful. I started by running north up the shoulder of Park Street which had been under several inches of snow and ice the last time I checked. Today it was mostly bare. It felt great to get off my street! I finished with 2 laps around our development, so I could enjoy the sun setting over Blackman’s Lake. There were a few clouds that were glowing orange. It was beautiful. If only all of my work days could be like this!

In some respects, it seems like just days since I wrote my goals for 2008 post. In other respects it seems like a lifetime. I did work on those goals throughout the year, but with limited success. Injury limited my running. Depression had me eating comfort food. I shopped less, and continue to look for new homes for much of the stuff I have. I discovered the freecycling.org web site, where you can post things you have to give, and search for things you need. It’s a great way to keep stuff out of landfills. I’ve got a few running items that I’m going to offer through the blog, as they are light and easy to mail. Since I’ve been living downstairs with Jasmine, there has been almost no television, but probably too much Internet.

Since they were good goals which can be improved on, I will continue to pursue my list from 2008, but I do have some specific goals in mind for 2009.

1. Instead of setting goals for speed or distance, or even limiting myself to running, my goal for 2009 is 260 hours of activity. That averages out to 5 hours per week. It won’t make me any kind of endurance athlete, or give me anything to brag about, but it is more than the 30 minutes most days that are recommended for good health. If I can do more, great. The idea is just to be healthy, and not obsessed with a fitness goal that has unhealthy side effects.
2. The events of 2008 reminded me of the need to be flexible. Plans are great, but you need to be able to change or cancel them when your friends, family, and beloved dalmatians need you. I want to be more available to my family in 2009.
3. There is one monkey I absolutely need to get off my back this year, and that is the f#*!%g degree that I have been working on for what seems like forever. I’m on track to finish in July. I will be so happy when I don’t have to waste precious time on that nonsense! Who really cares about Enterprise Portals anyway?

I had really hoped to have the Tahoe Triple be part of this list, but there is no way I can do the training and still do the other things I need to do. RunDoctor says I should not be making any long term distance plans until we’ve determined what is wrong. I thought I had determined what was wrong, but when I explained it to him, he looked at me like I was crazy, and told me I need a bone scan. I’m nearly positive nothing is wrong with my bones, but he is positive nothing is wrong with the soft tissues, so there you are. I have a moral problem with continuing to waste medical insurance on this, when there are sick people who really need it. I’ll ponder it a while.

One last goal for 2009 is to do a better job of keeping up with my blogging friends. The moral support I get from you has really kept me going this year. I want to do the same for you. Wishing you all the best for a happy, healthy 2009.

1. I drove my car today, for the first time in 17 days.
2. I drove it to see Dr Webber, my chiropractic Angel of Mercy. He worked on all the usual suspects, and also adjusted my ankle. I didn’t know ankles were adjustable. I’m going to have him do it again Wednesday!
3. While I was out, RunDoctor called and canceled my appointment for a third time. If he isn’t available Wednesday, I think I might just give up on him. Maybe having the ankle adjusted regularly will solve the problem.
4. I had a fabulous run in the wind, rain and slush today. I followed it up with a one mile cool down walk, as my heart was pretty revved up!
5. After the cool down walk, I got out my Triathilates DVD, and tried the Function workout. It’s taken me 6 months to give it a try. Living with an incontinent old dog gives you reservations about doing floor work. No matter how much I mop, the floor still smells. It was a great core workout, and something I need to get back to working on. I’m going to try it again later this week, and also the Fusion workout. A review will happen sometime after that.
6. I’m trying to limit the amount of time I spend sitting at a computer, so if you are missing my brilliant comments on your blog, I promise I’ll start catching up Friday.

Did you know that shredded paper is compostable? Finely shredded paper isn’t recyclable, because the fibers aren’t long enough, but you can mix the shreds with your leftover vegetables, egg shells and yard debris to nourish your garden.