Thoughts from the Gym
• Bella has been doing her runs with me at the gym this winter. I do my strength training, she goes three miles on the treadmill. I love that she wants to do this with me. I think it's mostly that she doesn't like going out in cold weather, but I'll take what I can get!
• So glad the Composer gave me a tiny pink iPod for Christmas. So don't like the morning shows on the gym televisions. I've turned into a bandit, turning them down or off when no one is looking.
• The Composer and I were running side by side on our treadmills last week, our legs were moving in perfect unison, and we were both running our easy pace, same number of strides per minute. I was running an 11:06 mile. He was running at 8:30. If I set my treadmill to 8:30 I would not live through the experience.
• Newly in love with the stationary bikes! Always thought they would be boring, but it turns out I adore them! I set them at the highest resistance and go for forty minutes, and it feels like a party. Bring it on!
• So grateful for a safe, dry place to run or work out in bad weather. For space and time in my life for exercise.
19 comments:
ah - I could do an 11:06 mile I think.
but the gym in general has made me sooooo bored in the past. I've been walking my daughter to preschool and picking her up - enough to keep me trim this winter. However, with all the winter weather, her preschool gets canceled quite a bit. I need to get out my exercise DVDs!
It is funny that I happened to check your blog when I did because I was just going to order a treadmill. I live in the Arctic and as I am sure you know the weather here can be nippy. And so no matter what the weather does, I will have no reason not to exercise! Have fun exercising!
Anna, have you always made time for exercise? Even when your children were young? With soon to be 5 under 9 yrs of age, I really cannot seem to make the time though I know it's necessary and important. Various seasons in a mother's life provides for various pleasures.
Just like me husband!! I feel so proud when I run a 10 minute mile, yet he thinks 7:15 is a slow, easy run (former college cross country runner). I will never, ever run a 7anything mile.
This post makes me miss the gym. I too love the bike, for some reason. And the elliptical trainer. Good for you for setting a healthy example for your children--especially the girls!!
If you think the stationary bike is a party you should try spinning. Sounds like you would love it. Check and see if your gym has a class. I take three classes per week for an hour. Love it and yes it does feel like a party! Since I have been doing it I have shaved 1 minute off my running time! Coincidence, I think not. Happy excercising!
Anna,
Thanks for this small bit of motivation. I just returned to the gym yesterday after a month of sinus infections, flu, etc. It felt great to be back!
Sigh. Guess I was meant to be reminded of my intension to go for a run before dark. OK. OK. I'm going...
Hello inspiration!
thanks, Anna
again.
{{* *}}
I'm impressed! My workouts lately have been shoveling a foot of snow off my roof, trudging through 2 feet of snow, chipping chunks of wood out of 4 feet of snow and ice and loading our outdoor wood boiler with said chunks of wood. Sometimes, I can make time for my Wii fit.
Ruth, if you can afford it, get the Wii fit! My kids love joining in with me. I have 3 under 5.
I enjoy the gym as well, but for different reasons. Living in So. Cal., the winter doesn't affect my outdoor exercising. I like the gym because of the classes offered (I do boot camp, yoga and kickboxing). When you are a regular in a class, the other members notice when you are not there razz you for not showing up. That gives me additional motivation to get up at 5:20am (I fit exercise into my life BEFORE the kiddos wake up!).
You are an inspiration!!!
Anna it's been interesting to watch your journey from walking to running to the gym. I walk but have always resisted running. I remember you followed Runner's World tips in the beginning and now you are moving even further along. What motivated you to begin running?
Rose, my first running project was to train for 5k with my nephew, with no commitment to go beyond that. The satisfaction of eventually "owning" those three miles was seductive--I wanted to conquer more. Then, after about a year, the endorphins started kicking in for real :) It truly is addictive.
Ruth, when I had little ones I got a half-hour walk every day and counted myself fortunate. I went either first thing in the morning, or when my husband was down for lunch, or when the baby was napping and another responsible being was around. Your time will come.
So, do you go to a gym, or do you have your own?
Years ago I had some friends who lived in an old school house and had their own gym (great for their kids!) and weight room off of the gym. When they bought the building, all the weight room equipment came with it-what a deal!
Thanks Anna I appreciate your reply.
I love the part about the television bandit.:) The shows they have on at the gym truly are awful!
That is interesting. The mind is flying when we are exercising, isn't it.
Ok Anna, this is weird.....I had no idea where you lived - until I DREAMED about it last night!!! I woke up this morning and remembered this dream I had of you and I talking for hours about slate floors and that I couldn't believe you lived in Alabama. I have no idea why I dreamed this....I ate tuna before I went to bed....how strange.
But anyhoo, when I saw this post about "Alabama Style" I about fell over. Hmmmm....I wonder what the cosmic signifigance of it is....LOL!!!!
Sounds like you are doing great!! And yes, the gym can be a total blessing. I am thankful for mine at home and the one in town....it keeps me sane. :)
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