Me And The Treadmill--I Remembered What I Forgot!

It was an earth-shattering moment today--I'm sure you felt the earth shift just a bit around 1:30 Central Time:  I went to the gym.  I had to confess to one of the personal trainers, (Wendy) that no, I hadn't been going early in the morning, I just hadn't been going at all.  Guilt times ten!

I've realized a few things from my visit to the gym today:

1.  I am pathetically out of shape.  Really bad.

2.  I can run again!  But, referring to the above statement, I can't run very far without wimping out.  I can't believe I ever trained and ran a marathon.  It seems like eons ago.  I have much work to do!

3.  The spinning classes, as explained by Wendy, are fun and not packed with people,  so I should go. 

4.  There's a mini-YMCA that opened near my house that has super cool new bikes that have screens so you can program a bike ride on paths around the world.  Sweet!  And the handles move, so you feel like you're really riding an actual bike.  I will be checking out this new mini-Y before everyone knows about it and it gets crowded.

5.  I inexplicably crave McDonald's after working out.  Have no clue why.  Just do.

6.  I don't enjoy running on a treadmill.  It's like parsley to me:  I think if I try it enough, I'll like it.  But no, I don't.  But I'll run on the treadmill through the winter months anyway.  However, no parsley, thank you.

7.  At home, the pumpkin bread I made had a huge hole in the middle, and wasn't baked all the way through. Now I know that adding a tablespoon of baking soda, instead of a teaspoon, will result in bread with no middle.  Into the trash after a taste--will try again later this week.  It tasted really good, just looked like someone put their fist in the middle of it.

So I feel good after hitting the gym, but my performance was sub-par.  Just getting down there, and putting on my work out clothes made me feel less sluggish and happier.  Will I get down to the gym before Christmas?  Who knows.  If I plan it, I will certainly not do it.  I will be one of those people in January who make a huge effort to kick start the year by setting a new habit--and that habit will not be eating my weight in food!  Spin classes will be on my list for sure.  My only hope is that I don't fall off the bike.  

Running In The Cold-Not

I'm chatting with a co-worker today in between helping  customers and he mentions that his partner had purchased running gloves for the both of them so they could run "sometime" in the cold.  I realized that I don't run in the cold, and there are a few reasons:


1.  I'm a big weenie
2.  I have no running clothes for cold weather.  I have shorts, tanks and a few long sleeve shirts from my half and full marathons.  No hats, gloves, leggings, nothing! I think I can only afford spring and summer running gear.  Gifts would be appreciated :) Plus, I think I would look like a stuffed sausage.  Is it all so tight and clingy?
3.  I'm terrified of falling.  I'm pretty sure I'd be so tense running that there would be no enjoyment for even a nano-second.  And then I would fall in front of the only other person out at the park that day.  And, I'd probably fall into dog poop.
4.  People in Iowa have the common sense to not hold races after the Turkey Trot in the beginning of November.  We're too busy shoveling and sitting on the interstate while another accident is cleaned up to plan races in the cold temps.  
5.  It's fun to run on the treadmill at the YMCA, and be amazed that I could sweat such ginormous amounts of water while staring out a window at below zero temps.  The key is to get home and in the tub before my body goes into shock from sweating, to freezing until the heater kicks in, to cold again, to ahhh a hot bath!
6.  I would prefer to read a good book, with a cup of tea or coffee on the table, and a warm blanket wrapped around me.


So there.  Those are my excuses.  I just don't wanna do it.  It may be an issue, if I ever want to run the half marathon at Disney in February.  I have to figure out the training for that before I even think of sending money to register for 2012.  And I have to start running again!  Starting over at zero.  Sigh.

First half-marathon, 2006. Ignorance really is bliss!  And, it makes for a good PR.