I Love Hot Yoga--Really

All evidence to the contrary, I love hot yoga. My first foray was in Monterey. After my first class, I almost passed out.  Fun times.  But I went back. I enjoyed the repetition of the poses and the visible progress. I sweated it out and became more bendy and stretchy. Not a whole lot more, but enough that I could actually do all 26 of the asanas and touch my toes. (That was actually a big deal). When we left Monterey for points East, I never got back into it.

Fast forward eleven years:  I am not bendy or stretchy.  Everything hurts. The docs and the PT peeps say arthritis, blah, blah, meniscus, blah, blah, you need to bend and stretch EVERYTHING. Blah.

I bought this yoga bag in Monterey.  Now it is
filled with a new mat, a soaking wet towel, and
my empty water bottle.  The towel on top is
necessary and full of snot and sweat.

So I am back. Luckily, there is a wonderful studio right here in Coronado.  And they have a military discount. 

Last time it was a fun class that pushed me forward and made me feel good. This time it's more like a last ditch effort to move without pain.  Sounds fun, right?

I cannot do all 26 poses. Yet. 

I cannot touch my toes. Yet.

I don't feel good. Yet.

The upside to all of this, is I know I will see progress. I know I will get to all of those poses.  I will improve. I will touch my toes.  

Just not yet.

Thoughts from the Elliptical

Today started out pretty much the same as every other day lately: a chair, a cup of coffee, and a computer.  But as I scrolled through my Facebook feed, I saw all of the Veterans' Day posts. On my second cup of coffee, I saw a picture of the #RunMuchLove coin we created for the CDR Jason Much Memorial Birthday Bash 5K. As I contemplated eating one of the donut holes from the box on the counter, I saw that Brian was out running. Again. Brian is running 2,017 miles in 2017 as part of the Run the Year Challenge.  And as I scrolled some more, I saw the video of Rob Jones Journey.  Rob, a double-amputee and veteran, was running his 31st Marathon in 31 Days.

Time to get up. I laced up my brand spanking new Hoka One One's and headed over to the base gym. 

Hoka One One (Ho-Kah Own-ay Own-ay)

Why the gym and not just heading out the door to run?  Well, I am old and falling apart.  Colorado just about did me in with migraines.  Before my inactivity pushed me past the point of no return, I visited the doctors, plural.  I now have the most painful orthotics ever made and PT on the calendar.  And a directive to use the elliptical instead of walking and running.

Today was my second trip to the elliptical.  The first trip was uneventful.  30 minutes on the Precor elliptical.  Today?

Started out by picking a different machine.  I wanted to see which kind I liked best.  So, I went down the row and picked out the one that wasn't in front of the TV tuned to Fox News and claimed it by putting my water bottle in the holder.  Unfortunately, there wasn't a bottom on the water holder.  It fell to the ground, burst open, and spilled half its contents all over the floor.  After sopping up the water with the towels provided to wipe down the machines, I went on the hunt for a LifeFitness elliptical, not in front of Fox News, AND with a working water bottle holder. 

Success! I chose the Fat Burn option and entered all the pertinent details (ouch). The levels and resistance for this work out were determined by heart rate. It told me to aim for a heart rate of 114.  Seriously?  I was above that just stepping onto the elliptical.  So, I just did my thing, my HR was way over 114, and the resistance was low.  I set the time for 50 minutes, because that's about what it takes me to do a 5K with my run/walk intervals.

The rest of this story is just plodding along.  My feet got a little numb.  Not sure if it's the new shoes or the different machine. I will retry the Precor, and try this other weird looking Arc Trainer.  

On a side note:  I learned a lot about Major League Fishing.  1) You need to dip your stealth lures in small fish scent.  2) Put sponsor stickers everywhere. 3) If you are unable to reel the fish in, throw your rod down and throw a tantrum. 4) Still better than Fox News.

Again.

We've moved. Again. I'm running. Again.  

I know, I know. You've heard it all before. Guess what? So have I, but I keep trying. 

We have left the high altitude. I am hopeful that being at sea level and in the nearly unchangeable clime of Coronado, I will experience fewer migraines associated with exercise.  

Fingers crossed.

I started out last week.  I mapped out a 5K route and walked it.  3 times! Today, I began to run. Slowly. 

For the first time, I began with 1:4 intervals.  One minute running, four minutes walking. I did it.  So far, no migraine.  Next up will be 1:30 minutes running, 3:30 minutes walking.  I will check back in after I take that gigantic leap in training.

Here we go. Again.

Relay for Life

Saturday evening,  me (and the rest of the family) participated in the Relay for Life at the local high school. We had joined the team put together by my work and were there to make sure we would always have 2 walkers on the track.  The event was to run from 5pm - 1:00 am.  That's a lot of walking.

The weather was hit or miss.  While the temperatures dropped to a very comfortable place, rainstorms moved in and out all night.  

My plan was to walk the course most of the night, but at some point I was going to add my 3rd training run in so I wouldn't have to get up and do it before I went to work on Sunday. Watching the weather, I decided to do it a bit earlier in the evening than originally planned.  I am glad I did.  As I was finishing my cool down, the skies opened up.  I spent half of the 5 minute cool down helping to put a tarp around the team's canopy.  Then we huddled under it as it rained and rained and rained. 

I was a bit worried about the abrupt stop to my run.  I always worry about migraines when things are outside the plan.  But I ate my banana and drank lots of water and hoped for the best.

During our time under the tent, Noah and Riley continued to walk.  They held up the team on the track.  They also delivered food from the main tent.  They brought me Dickey's pulled pork. No carbs! I may or may not have eaten a lot of it.

When the rain tapered off, I continued walking. And walking. I walked most of the night and only ducked into the tent during the rain squalls.

Riley had a great time walking and dancing with other kids there.  Noah had a couple of friends show up to walk with him. Darcy showed up after she got off work, and her boyfriend, Travis,  joined us. Brian had to head home early with a terrible headache.

In memory of CDR Jason Much

In honor of Abby Furco

The highlight of the evening for me was the luminaria. We purchased and decorated bags for people we wanted to honor.  We were walking in memory of Jason Much and in honor of Abby Furco.  When they lit them up and turned off the lights, everyone participated in a "Silent Lap" as they read off the names.  It was quite moving. 

As the clock ticked on, our Team Captain needed to head out -- with the tent.  This seemed like the perfect time for Riley and I to head out as well. Darcy, Travis, and Noah stayed to finish up and represent our team. 

During the walk, you added a bead to your bracelet for each lap you completed.  I came home with 28 beads. 7 miles.  Noah came home with 50 beads! 12.5 miles.  Way to go, dude!

Relay for Life

Saturday evening,  me (and the rest of the family) participated in the Relay for Life at the local high school. We had joined the team put together by my work and were there to make sure we would always have 2 walkers on the track.  The event was to run from 5pm - 1:00 am.  That's a lot of walking.

The weather was hit or miss.  While the temperatures dropped to a very comfortable place, rainstorms moved in and out all night.  

My plan was to walk the course most of the night, but at some point I was going to add my 3rd training run in so I wouldn't have to get up and do it before I went to work on Sunday. Watching the weather, I decided to do it a bit earlier in the evening than originally planned.  I am glad I did.  As I was finishing my cool down, the skies opened up.  I spent half of the 5 minute cool down helping to put a tarp around the team's canopy.  Then we huddled under it as it rained and rained and rained. 

I was a bit worried about the abrupt stop to my run.  I always worry about migraines when things are outside the plan.  But I ate my banana and drank lots of water and hoped for the best.

During our time under the tent, Noah and Riley continued to walk.  They held up the team on the track.  They also delivered food from the main tent.  They brought me Dickey's pulled pork. No carbs! I may or may not have eaten a lot of it.

When the rain tapered off, I continued walking. And walking. I walked most of the night and only ducked into the tent during the rain squalls.

Riley had a great time walking and dancing with other kids there.  Noah had a couple of friends show up to walk with him. Darcy showed up after she got off work, and her boyfriend, Travis,  joined us. Brian had to head home early with a terrible headache.

In memory of CDR Jason Much

In honor of Abby Furco

The highlight of the evening for me was the luminaria. We purchased and decorated bags for people we wanted to honor.  We were walking in memory of Jason Much and in honor of Abby Furco.  When they lit them up and turned off the lights, everyone participated in a "Silent Lap" as they read off the names.  It was quite moving. 

As the clock ticked on, our Team Captain needed to head out -- with the tent.  This seemed like the perfect time for Riley and I to head out as well. Darcy, Travis and Noah stayed to finish up and represent our team. 

You took a bead for each lap you completed.  I came home with 28 beads. 7 miles.  Noah came home with 50 beads! 12.5 miles.  Way to go, dude!

Day 2

You are not seeing things: that is a Seahawks band.

Day 2 of the Couch to 5K was good.  I got out of the house a little earlier today and it was a lovely 68º and slightly overcast.  Perfect for running.

Worked a  bit on the logistics.  I used the waist pack instead of the arm band to hold my phone (and the car key-I actually locked the car this time). Much more comfortable. I managed to get some of the slower songs off my playlist. Next step is to find the running water bottle that is more comfortable to carry.


And that's it for today.  Two days of running.  Woo-hoo!

The Problem with Being a Sometimes Runner

Post Run Selfie

Well, the problem with being a Sometimes Runner is that sometimes you don't run.  And when you decide to start running again, you have to start over.  So that's what I did today: I started over.

Boy, isn't that fun.

A confluence of events precipitated my restart: 45 is looming, a friend passed away, and I had a chance encounter with an Ironman (IronWoman?).  

I am working on plans for a 5K in October and have downloaded the Couch to 5K app. Today? That app was awesome.  I loved how it used my music, coached throughout the run, and told me "Good Job" at the end.  I may opt for the Runicorn as my coach next time. No downside to the app today.

Looking back over this blog, I noticed that I was less likely to have a post-run migraine when I am not eating carbs and sugar. So, I have stopped.  Fingers crossed that this is part of the solution.


Random thoughts about today's run:

• When I run, I want to write.
• The Santa Fe Trail was awash with my personal nemesis: Grasshoppers.
• Starting out with "Back in Black" and ending with "Hell's Bells" worked just fine for me.
• Turns out Simon & Garfunkel's "Feelin' Groovy" is just fine for my slow ass.
• Sunscreen.
• I like being a runner.

One Week In

So, I am one week into my Fitness February and what have I learned?

Flossing is going great.  I have flossed my teeth every night. Yay, me.

The fitness is going pretty good, too.  I am getting to spin class three times I week. I went to one Body Pump class, but have to take a break because of my Tennis Elbow.  Yes, it does sound like a lame excuse, but I have the doctor's note to prove it.

The Fitbit has been a good investment.  If nothing else it has shown me how sedentary my life has become.  I have hit the goal of 10,000 steps on a couple of days.  One day was  17,000 steps.  The others, I haven't even been close.  So now, my intent is to hit that magic number every day. Starting tomorrow.

Food.  Food. Food.  Food is my downfall because I love it so much.  So Step One is to stop eating out.  Step Two is to really focus on what I am using to fuel my body.  Cut out the sugars, most carbs, and overly processed food.

I will check in again next with with 70,000 steps behind me.

It Hurts.

Today's spin class was pure torture.  A good torture?  If you say so, but mostly just pain and trying to stay on the bike for the entire class.  

This was today's long climb:  

I did it. And I don't have get to go back until Monday.

Body Pump

Last night, I went back to Body Pump.  I haven't been since last year in Rhode Island.  The Y added the classes here on January 1st.

So it took me a month to get there, but now I am figuring out how to add the classes to my schedule. 

Unfortunately, it looks like the evening classes are the only ones that will fit.  Not the best time of day for me, but who knows?  At least I will be taking a class I like.  And doing exercise you enjoy is one of the keys to sticking with it.

UPDATE:  I have just returned from the doctor/physical therapist.  I am barred from lifting for at least two weeks to treat an ongoing case of tennis elbow.

I have mixed feelings about this.  My first feeling was Yay! because I have been hobbling all over town today.  My quads are killing me.  My second thought was Damn! because now I will have to go through this "first class" soreness all over again in a few weeks.

It's Early, but So Far, So Good

On any other morning, I probably would have stayed in my pajamas and discovered what had turned up on my DVR.  It still sounds like a good idea.  Instead, I dressed in my gym clothes and made the cold, icy drive to the nearby YMCA.  I had dedicated myself to 28 days of fitness.  Today was spin day.  And my new Fitbit would be keeping track.  

I went.  I sweated. I suffered.  I felt like I accomplished something. 

Now, I need to figure out how to get my remaining steps in for the day.  Taking a walk outside is off the table.  I may end up doing laps in my house.

How do you get out the door to exercise, when you would really rather stay home?

The Mountain in My Mind

From my bike in Spin Class, I can see this mountain.  It is across a roomful of people working out.  I can't get that picture because of the bright sunlight coming in the windows, but it is a spectacular view.

As the spin instructor urges us on during the class, I try to take my mind off my lack of oxygen and my trembling legs by picturing myself biking up this mountain.

The hope, of course, is that if I were riding outside, I would actually make it to the top.  In reality, I am fairly certain I would only make it to the base of the mountain.

That is the penalty for staying off the bike so long; starting back on the flat road, and suffering through the hills.

28 Days in February

What's Next?

Today's Morning Fuel.  I got bumped up from #2 on the cycle class wait list.  This required me to fuel up and get out of my pajamas and to the gym.  A morning gym class really called for a healthy green smoothie and a spoonful of peanut butter.  The coffee had been flowing all morning and the banana was for my post ride snack.

Now that I had all my fuel bases covered, I was ready to go -- once I found a lid to match the water bottle that would fit in the bike cup holder.

Today's class was a long tempo, uphill ride.  It was supposed to  build strength and endurance.  As I was riding, I was looking at the mountain outside the window and imagining that I was making my way up that hill.  In reality, I was probably only on a gentle incline.  But, I will take it.  I stayed on the bike.  I had a small problem when we were out of the saddle.  The seat kept attacking my backside.  A post-class seat adjustment consultation with the instructor should ensure that I don't have that problem again.

So that takes care of "the old."  I'm definitely getting back to spin.  I have reservations for my next three classes and think I have figured out the system, so no more wait list for me.

What's Next?  

Well, as you can tell.  I am still not running.  I'm just not there.  I miss it.  I am a bit envious when I see all of the runners here, but I know it's not time. Yet.

No running = No upcoming races.  Still, I need some extra motivation.  I think I found it.

This is InDependent.  

"A health and wellness project, InDependent’s mission is to create a thriving community of military spouses that support preventative wellness by inspiring each other to make health and fitness a priority." 

So I have signed up to be a Community Ambassador.  Yep, I will be leading and encouraging other area military spouses to make health and fitness a priority.  And in the process, ensure that it is a priority in my life, as well.  

That's the plan, anyway.

***I also promised my dental hygienist that I would floss everyday until I see her again in six months.***

2015 Inaugural Ride

All evidence to the contrary, I enjoy working out.  I like the physical effects of the exercise.  I feel energized.  I feel like I have accomplished something.  I enjoy the camaraderie that you find at the gym and on the running trail. 

So why do I have such a love-hate relationship with exercise?  Because before, during, and after a workout I have one thought going through my mind:  Will I get a migraine?

I am currently trying to combat this by changing my diet.  Other than that I have two options.  I either workout or I don't.  I don't like the second option, so I am tentatively pushing forward.  

I have had good luck in the past not getting migraines after a cycling class.  So my first day back to exercise, I opted for an indoor cycling class.

It turns out my local YMCA replaced their bikes when they remodeled the facility.  Yep.  The Real Ryder moves side to side as you ride.  It's supposed to work your core more.  I can see the benefit of the realism. Today, it just made me feel off kilter. 

Today's ride was an hour long work out.  My goals were to stay on the bike for the entire class and to (fingers crossed) not get a migraine.  I wasn't going all out during the ride, but I stayed on the bike. As for the second part, so far, so good.

Day Two of no carb/no sugar is going well.  Egg salad lettuce wraps for lunch. Yum.

Now What?

I was feeling really good about starting a healthier 2015.  On January 1st we participated in the state parks' First Day Hikes.  We took a 4 mile hike through the snow at Chatfield State Park.  Then from January 2nd to January 4th we spent our time at Snow Mountain Ranch where we went tubing, ice skating, and cross-country skiing.  I was feeling a bit smug.  That's a lot of activity without a migraine.  I came home from our trip and added all of the BodyPump and Indoor Cycling classes from the Y that could fit into my schedule.  I figured it they showed up on my calendar (in bright yellow), I would be less likely to schedule over them and more likely to get to a few of the classes every week.  I spent yesterday, January 5th, running a few errands, getting a manicure/pedicure, and getting set for the kids to go back to school on the 6th.

January 5th, 3:17 pm:  Migraine Aura.  Are you kidding me?  What brought this one on? Six hours later, I started to be able to function again, but I just ate some chicken noodle soup and went to bed.

Now what?  Well, today I am dealing with my migraine hangover.  If you get migraines, you know what I am talking about.  If you don't, it's just like it sounds.

I am also not removing the bright yellow squares from my calendar.  I just won't be making the yoga class tonight.

On a more proactive front, I have to change my diet.  Diet and trigger foods have long been linked to migraines.  I did a lot of reading about the connection last year. Here's what I have concluded:

1.  According to books such as, The Migraine Miracle, Grain Brain, and Against All Grain, there is a link between carbs, sugar, and migraines.  There is a lot of evidence to support these claims.  I am especially referring to how it was laid out in The Migraine Miracle.
2. From my own experience (looking back over this training blog) I have found the link to be true as well.  When I was running frequently with out headaches, I was also following the South Beach Diet.  This diet cuts out carbs and sugars.  I was running without migraines.  As I added more and more of the grains and sugars back into my diet (also known as quitting), I continued to run.  Bam! Migraines! I attributed them to a lot of different factors.  I didn't make the connection to the carbs and sugars.  Now, I can clearly see the link.

So.  Yeah.  Good-bye carbs and sugars. Hello, Gym.

I will be chronicling how this all plays out here on The Sometimes Runner.  

Who knows?  I might even get back to running.  Surprisingly, I miss it.

New Year's Eve Day

My Facebook feed is full of Resolution Do's and Don'ts.  They run the gamut from make huge, big picture resolutions so you can change the world to make incremental changes in your daily routine so you can change yourself. My favorite was the Resolutions for lazy people. Yes, I read them all.

Still, resolutions are just a "thing".  Most people make them, most people don't keep them.

So what are you supposed to do?  If you look back over this Training Blog, 2014 was not a great year for me. After I completed the Make Your Way Across America Challenge,  I didn't spend a lot of time in the gym.  Or focusing on making myself better.  And as I look back, I can't see that I did much of anything in 2014 but hold on.

2014 definitely wasn't the year of Me.  Maybe in 2014, I was who I actually am.  But I wasn't who I want to be.

So bring on 2015!  And resolutions that aren't really resolutions.  Changes that aren't upheavals.  

See you next year!

Back in the Saddle

It has been awhile.  

After my dedication to Making My Way Across America.  I fizzled out.  I had a lot of valid excuses in Rhode Island:  It was cold, I was tired, we were busy with end of school year activities, we were busy getting ready to move, and we were moving. They were excuses.  Mainly I lost my umph and didn't feel like working out.

At the end of June, we moved to Colorado. Yay!  And I was ready to take advantage of the great outdoors that was spread before me. Small problem.  I didn't count on the migraines.

I had my migraines (somewhat) under control in Rhode Island.  I pretty much knew what would cause them.  Hence, no running.  And I knew if I did get one how it would play out.

1) Exercise 2) A migraine aura would start 20 minutes later 3) the migraine would start 20 minutes after that.  Not the best thing in the world, but somewhat predictable and somewhat avoidable.

Surprise!  It's different here.

Migraine #1 happened at the end of a long day spent at Water World.  This water park is consistently on the Top Ten Water Parks list.  We had a lot of fun, but we had been here less than two weeks. We definitely weren't acclimated to the altitude.  We spent all day, in the sun, walking up and down hills, dragging giant inner tubes.  Fun, but I wasn't surprised when the aura began as the day was winding down.

Migraine #2 happened one week later.  Still not acclimated, but not doing any crazy exercise either.  I took the dog for a walk. There were some hills, but all I did was take the dog for a walk.  Then, an hour and twenty minutes later, the aura started.  So, two changes from my normal migraine modus operandi. Bummer.

Migraine #3 wasn't a surprise at this point.  I signed us all up to go rock climbing in the Garden of the Gods.  This would be definite exertion.  (Remember, I hadn't been to the gym since March).  I climbed the rock. I had the scrapes to prove it.  We got home and about an hour and twenty minutes later. Bam! Aura. Migraine. Done.

So I am a bit leery about exercising. Or hinting at anything that resembles exercise. Still, I don't want to be a couch blob, so I keep trying.

Last week I went on an easy hike to Monument Rock.  It took about an hour and fifteen minutes.  It was pretty flat.  We kept an easy pace.  And then I waited. Twenty minutes. An hour and twenty minutes. Two hours.  Seems I managed to do something fun outdoors with out succumbing to the dreaded migraine.

Fast forward to today.  

The view from my bike at Tri-Lakes YMCA

In Rhode Island, I discovered that Spinning was "safe".  It never resulted in a migraine.  I wanted to get back and see if that held true here in Colorado, the land of weird migraine happenings.

I didn't want to jump into a full-blown spin class.  That would have been way too intense.  Instead, I opted for a 25 minute spin on the bike, on my own.  There was no dripping sweat, but I could feel unused muscles in my legs and I was out of breath quite a few times. Then the waiting began.  I may have been pacing around the house.  

Success.  I managed to workout and not get a migraine.  

Now to keep moving forward.  I am going to keep going to my lone bike.  I am going to add minutes to my workout each time.  I may do it at night so a migraine won't blow my entire day, or I may just keep my fingers crossed.

Once I am back up to an hour, I will join the spin class.  

Eventually, I may even take the dog for a walk.

I Did It!

Day 40!!!!

I Made My Way Across America.  40 workouts in 10 weeks.  Doesn't sound like a lot and for some of you it's not, but I had to work at it.  And I did it.  Express Pump today and done.

I decided I was going to celebrate by getting my poor abused feet a pedicure.  I had been putting it off so that it could be an additional incentive to complete the challenge.  When I went downstairs after class to log the workout in the binder, I found a note from my gym buddy to check in my car for a surprise!  She snuck a gift certificate for a pedicure in there.  It was so thoughtful and so unexpected.  Now I was extra excited.  I drove right over to the nail salon and hopped into that pedicure chair.  It was lovely.  Hot stone massages are the best.

Here's the completed pedicure (a nice spring color) and my
completely used up punch card.  

One Day More!

Day 39: 

Today's workout was another midday workout.  I had a couple of things to do this morning. Dress with make-up and everything.  Then I diligently headed to the gym.  Used the make-up cleansing wipe to get the goop off my face (I started carrying these in my gym bag last week or so) and headed out to the bike. I remembered everything this time.

Except my banana.  Maybe I should keep a spare in the car.  Hmm.

At long last.  I am one day away from completing the Make Your Way Across America Challenge!  Yay me!  

I am hoping to get to the Express Pump class tomorrow and then I am going to treat myself to a pedicure to celebrate.  Sounds like a good idea to me.