Tag: mlfitness

Metro Madness

I took the metro to work this morning since T took off and is picking me up in a little while to head to the beach (Ocean City, MD). I’ve never been on the metro during rush hour and thankfully today was Friday so it wasn’t as bad as I imagined it to be. I only had my lunch bag and purse with me, but I still felt cramped or like I was taking up too much room. 

After like 11 stops I got off to take a bus, except I couldn’t find the bus stop – not true I found it, but no buses came for like 30 min. So I went back on the metro to a different line and took it 5 stops and then took a campus shuttle to work. It took me almost 2 hours AKA double my drive time to get to work. 

The good news is that I logged like 1.5 miles and 15 flights of stairs during the mayhem. Plus today most of my office is out and I didn’t have any meetings, so me rolling in hideously late wasn’t unbearable.

Today made me realize I don’t hate my ~55min commute as much as I thought I did.  

Knowing my limits

There is a big difference between excuses and recognizing limits – which is sometimes a hard concept to grasp when it comes to myself. 

I signed up for the Army 10 miler on May 25. I interviewed for a new job less than a week later and started said new job within a month of the interview. I then moved in a house with my boyfriend in a new part of town. Couple all of that with it being SUMMER and hot as blazes in the DC area with the fact that I’ve had a nagging heel/PF/Achilles issue since last fall that I’ve been treating only with mild success. 

I am firing all cylinders all the time these days. Faking it until I make it at work, fixing up the house bit by bit, navigating a new routine with T, creating a new personal routine from commute, to eating schedule, to working out schedule, to social time with friends. 

A few weeks ago I looked into deferring the Army 10 miler until next year, but they don’t do that. I also missed the transfer window. I thought I could force myself to train up to at least walk/run it – but my heart isn’t in it, my body is flat out tired, and I’m really trying to mend and overcome this heel issue. 

I randomly posted on FB yesterday about maybe not running the race and who may want my bib (”illegally”). Within minutes a friend who joined the Army in his 30s inquired. He is super pumped, I made some of my money back, and most importantly I took the pressure off myself. Running is something I love and for it to be overly weighing on my shoulders wasn’t good. 

I’m free from the commitment to train and “race.” I feel lighter and happier. I’m going to try and get to body pump 2-3x week and yoga 1-2x a week plus walk/run as my heel allows. I want to focus my extra energy on being a good manager, girlfriend, and friend right now. 

Healthy Wednesday

  • Got up and ran/walked 3 miles this morning
  • Went to the dentist for a cleaning/check up (new dentist, due to new insurance and new part of the area). Got the usual crap about not flossing and also have a cavity (I’ve had very few in my life thankfully). I need T to make me floss. He got invisalign last month and he’s been obsessive with his teeth, so I really have no excuse.  
  • Went to lunch time yoga today

AAAAAND just realized it is Wednesday and I for to weigh in! Tomorrow it is. 

Running Slowly

Please sing “Falling Slowly” from Once in your head as I am whilst writing this! 

I got up early to run before work. I actually planned to get up earlier, but sadly it was still dark at 6:15, so I snoozed another 30 minutes until there was day light. I don’t mind running before the sun with a headlamp and vest, but since i don’t know my neighborhood well I figured it was best to wait. 

I had mental plans to run 3 miles this morning, but thanks to dropping the spare house key in a crevasse between the house and the sidewalk (thankfully BEFORE I locked the door or else that would have been baaad) I was frustrated and behind schedule.

I started with about ~8 minutes of walking/yogging (y on purpose) as per doctor’s orders. Then ran/yogged/walked out and back for the 2 miles. I hate how out of shape of I am, but I gotta start somewhere. 2 miles in 28 minutes. I feel good about getting out and active before work, but I also feel like HOW IS IT ONLY 10:15AM?! 

In other news I started my anti-inflammatory meds over the weekend. All of the side effects hit me: dizzy, stomach ache, numbness of the feet/legs. The doctor said that might happen, so he advised me to take half a pill with breakfast and half with dinner. I still feel weird, but I’m going to give it a few days. I’ve also made it a point to put my inserts in all my non-sandal shoes since I got them last week. 

Getting in gear

The Army 10 miler is a month out. I’ve thrown together a 5 week training plan that kicked off this week. I’m focused on building up mileage, but not speed. I’m planning on walk/run intervals. 4 miles is the furthest I’ve run since 1x in early August and like 1x in June. 

Workouts in review: 

  • Sun: 2.25 miles
  • Tues: Body Pump
  • Wed: Yoga
  • Thurs: Cardio Strength
  • Sat/Sun: 4 miles (planned)

Something’s afoot

Went to see a new podiatrist yesterday (new insurance with the new job). 

He had a different approach to my PF/heel pain (and it didn’t hurt that the doctor was cute). He didn’t xray me, he looked at my foot, pressed places and asked about pain, asked me to stand barefoot, examined my arches, wiggled my foot around, etc. 

He came to the conclusion that my achilles are super tight and that is the root of the issue. He also said just based on how my feet are, I am prone to PF. 

He gave me some basic inserts, prescribed me an anti-inflammatory to try out, and insisted I stretch daily – especially first thing in the morning. He didn’t think another round of cortisone was a good idea since it’s only provided 5 weeks of relief the first time I had it and did nothing the second time. 

So the plan is to trying and really get strict about stretching. My routines has been a disaster lately among all the life changes, but with the Army 10 miler coming in a month and the fact that I want to remain active the rest of my life I need to treat my foot right. 

WIW

Today: 200.6

Last week: 199.2

I don’t like seeing a 2–, but I’m not shocked. I ate and drank my face off in Chicago plus I just started my period. 

But the good news is that I did make it to the Gold’s Gym near the new house yesterday and went to Body Pump. I also joined the campus rec center here yesterday and went to lunchtime yoga today! 

On top of all that I have an appt with a new podiatrist this afternoon to deal with my stupid plantar fasciitis.

I’m getting my act together…

My pants are tight

August has been a doozy with my birthday, moving into the house, vacation, house projects galore (and for the foreseeable future), and finally an 85 hour 6 day work week in prep for the start of the school year.  

The first day of the semester is here and I have not been to the gym in a month. I feel very out of shape and know I could at least be eating better. I’m out of town this weekend for a wedding (hi E!) in Chicago and then plan on getting into the groove of a new gym, a new schedule, and back to meal prep. 

My life has had a lot of changes lately, but I need to ground myself and find balance. There will always been work and there will always be house projects. I cannot ignore myself! 

PS. Full disclosure I looked into deferring my Army 10 miler registration, but they don’t offer deferments and its too late to transfer. So I think I am going to devise a walk/run plan because there is no way I’ll be trained up for it properly on 10/9.