Discovery

I have a new routine... for now. I'm waking up and stretching first thing. It really is a wonderful way to wake up. Current wisdom has it that you shouldn't stretch right before running, or right after. So, I have some great stretches now for the PF tendon on the bottom of my foot, to prevent it from happening EVER again. I turned one into the Sunrise salutation from yoga as it was similar and I always loved that stretch.

Now, I'm going to exercise in the evening (as I shower at night before bed and I'm tired of two showers a day)!

So,around 3:50 I left on my mountain bike on the less crowded road to the gym. It was a cool 60 degrees or so (I'm not Texas wimpy when it comes to the weather, I'm just THAT FAST, the wind makes me feel cold! He he he.) It only took me 25 minutes to get to the gym, so scratch my last exercise record. It's only about 1 hour instead of 2 (this is why a GPS is good to have along, which I forgot again). I guess overdressing last ride and being SO hot made it feel longer!

At the gym I did some weight lifting (shoulders, biceps and triceps) and the thigh machine again (love that thing, it targets right where I need it!). Bunch of crunches and obliques on the ball.

I walked on the gravel trail behind the gym for 10 minutes, ouch. But, Chi running says it's the fastest way to heal up from PF. Then I followed the beautiful trail that I didn't even know about! What a wonderful discovery:) It looks like it goes quite a ways. I wanted to follow it but it was getting dark and colder. Another day. As a AWESOME bonus, it took me to a better place to cross the busiest road on the way to the gym- a place cars aren't making right hand turns and pretend not to notice that you're waiting to cross on the green light.

I'm adding this in too, because as silly as it sounds, it really has been tough. I read in Chi running about good posture. Spine straight, neck longer so chin is tucked a bit, lower abs contracted, feet hitting evenly and straight forward when you walk. WOW! Just walking around practicing that is giving me a work out. It's a little overwhelming to think about keeping it all in mind while I run- and this is only the first component of good running form! But, as the author points out, every toddler has great running form, partly because they just run when they want and it is for fun. You can see it when kids play tag and they are grinning. I want to run like that!