Trying to Run Again

Well, I've been avoiding it, or putting it off, but I couldn't do it any longer. I need to increase my cardio and the truth is, I've been so focused on BodyPump, almost to the exclusion of anything else. I've done a few kickboxing classes, a few yoga classes......but my main focus is BP. This has nothing to do with the scale not moving, I KNOW I need cardio to balance out my workouts and I haven't made time. I need to schedule it in like I used to.

I have a tendency to focus too much on one thing. While I am good at multitasking in general on a daily basis, I've discovered that with exercise, when I have a goal, I focus too much on that goal. This is a new phenomenon for me, since I am relatively new to this whole "exercise as a way of life" thing. With the marathon, I did more running and very little cross training. This was partly due to the fact I didn't HAVE BodyPump readily available to me. I am not a gym rat in the sense that I can go and do weights or machines and get a workout. I am too much of a wimp and when it hurts, I'll stop since there is no one but me to push and motivate me. That's why I love BodyPump and classes in general - the group setting motivates me to keep going even when I feel like giving up.

That's also what was so great about Stephanie and the running group. That pushing, that motivating so that I would keep going. Today was interesting, running for the first real time since the race. I ran once on the treadmill awhile back, but I just couldn't get into it. It felt off, and I know that's because the only running training I have done has been outside on pavement. Well, I knew I was not going to go to the gym tonight and do BodyPump, as I have been dealing yet again with my upper back tension pain. A massage yesterday helped but it's still there.

Franklin has been going to Woodside to walk around the track while Alexander has been at soccer practice so I thought I would join him and do some running and walking.  The girl's teams were playing so there were a ton of people there, but Franklin was not there when I arrived. I decided to go on the track and start anyway. My knees have both been acting up as well and I was a bit concerned about them so I walked 2 times around to warm up. I began a slow jog, and it felt really good to run again. However, once around the track and I had to walk. Pathetic. 1/4 of a mile? I walked for a minute or two and kept going. With short walking breaks, I kept going, having to stop once to hit the bathroom and the water fountain because someone keeps yelling at me to hydrate :-)

Franklin showed up but he has his friend Miguel to walk with and so I stopped to say hello and kept going. There is an 82 year old man that runs around this track literally EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. Rain or shine, weekends, every day he runs 2-5 miles. It is so amazing and inspiring. Same time of the day. Well he was out there as usual, and Franklin had stopped to talk to him so I stopped as well and was introduced. He is an old Irish immigrant, his accent still evident and we began walking around the track and he is the NICEST man. We talked running, exercise, the gym, the grandkids (his, not mine!) and he mentioned to me that he was happy to see Franklin out there every day as well. He had assumed that the doctor had told him he had to go but I explained to him my journey and how Franklin is now  ready to begin getting healthy on his own and I am just supporting him however I can. We ended up walking 2 laps, just talking about his wife, kids, etc. After we parted ways, I had completed 8 laps and began running again. Well after essentially cooling down for 2 laps, it was not so great. I was able to do 1-1/2 more laps, then walked to complete 10 before I stopped because the right knee was yelling at me.

10 laps. That is only 2-1/2 miles. Pathetic. I know I need to give myself a break, I haven't run in a long time. It's not like starting from scratch like I did in July, it was better, but of course, me with the high expectations, expected better from me. Oh well. This just proves that I need to run 3 times a week. Especially if I am going to do this 1/2 in April. I have only about 10 weeks. My focus right now is passing my video tape for BP but now I have to start training again for the 1/2. How in the world am I going to make THAT happen? Oh boy.

This Sunday, Alex is coming to my class to video tape me for the first time. I am completely nervous about it. To have him on the other side of the lens, watching my every move with a teacher's eye, will be more nerve wracking than any observation in my classroom! I will look at it like a dress rehearsal. I know it's not going to be perfect the first time. I will take his critique and feedback, adjust as needed, and do it again. I hope it doesn't take too many times to get it right. The video is due March 5 and I want to only tape on Sundays since that's the only time I can do the entire class without pressure.

Speaking of pressure, I had mentioned previously that the hip hop class before my Thursday class was going away and I was hoping to tack on an extra 5-10 minutes to my class so we have time to set up and clean up. Well, found out today that they replaced it with Tae Bo, which I would totally want to take myself, but there is no adding of time for BP. Which sucks. So I am still challenged with getting into my class at 6:30 and being done by 7:30, set up and clean up included. CRAP. And I don't know that I can take a Tae Bo class and then immediately teach a BP class. I don't know. Maybe I could but I would look all hot and sweaty from the start. EW.

Like old times, I am sitting and icing both knees and my lower back. BioFreeze is my friend again. Tomorrow, maybe I'll do a Spin class or just go get on the bike at the gym. My goal is to do 3 days of cardio. 3 days of BP. That's about as balanced as I can be right now.

One more thing: My principal is shameless and sneaky. In our district, we have a Fun Fit program, which is designed to give teachers exercises and activities to do with the students. Someone has always taken the lead at each school, going to a training and then training the teachers on how to incorporate fitness in the classroom. The teachers always roll their eyes at these staff meetings when the Fun Fit person pulls out the binder and tries to get people off their feet to learn these activities. A thankless job for sure. Well, she sends out an email today to the ENTIRE staff, saying that we need a new Fun Fit ambassador and if anyone is interested, they should email her ASAP. Then she goes on to write that she knows a certain Kindergarten teacher that would be great at the position, that everyone needs to encourage this teacher to take it on, and here's a hint: she teaches exercise classes at the local gym. Hellooooo? Freaking great. Like I have time to take on yet ONE MORE THING.

Sigh. Can't wait to go to school tomorrow and see the fallout of that email.