This week

Another week has passed and now we've got a long weekend. I had a very tiring week. I went two days without eating until late in the day and I feel I'm paying for it. It's a reminder that not only do I need to make sure I menu plan every week but I also have to keep in mind that we probably need to buy more each week. I think I went out to pick up extra groceries three times this week. Hmmmm!!

I've been trying to do extra study this term. I'm on a team working on a new program for our school and I've realised that it's a whole new language. I feel, too, that if the school is investing in us we need to do the job honourably. After all this is all about the students' education and ultimately their future.

I went for a run this morning. In my new runners. Which carried me along so swiftly. Actually, not! I had to cut it short as I'm not very fit at the moment. I want to squeeze in a run during the week but in the mornings it's dark and getting cold and in the evenings I am usually too tired. So I will challenge myself again to exercise three times this coming week. I figure that any exercise is better than nothing so let's see.

When I look back at the week and reflect it seems that it's a time of adjustment. I have a new and very different routine at work. One day a week I work off-campus and one day a week I work on the project.  The weather is changing making it harder to fit in a spot of outdoor gardening or exercise. I remember Martha Beck's advice many years ago to go with the flow when life goes awry. Life's not awry here but I think her advice still bodes well as I try to find the rhythm with a new routine and new demands. Like an autumn leaf being carried down the river, that is what I plan to do.

Today I'm catching up with friends and after that I hope to get out in the garden. I also want to get in some study. The best thing, of course, is that tomorrow is another holiday. Life is full of so many wonderful things!

During the week, as part of my reflection time, I worked on an A4 version of the following quote. I had been thinking that painting and crafting can take a lot of time but  getting creative on the computer can be faster, so I tried it the other day when I had a spare half-hour. I tried to format the final product so that it was suitable for the blog but it wouldn't work. As I said above, this is a week of readjustment so you get a readjusted version of the quote (and may I say not nearly as good).

Enjoy your week and keep moving with the flow!

Goal: Running again!

Goal:  Exercise three times a week.

 

I’m running again and I’m running better than ever. Well, today marks the end of Week 2 of the Couch to 5k program. This week I’ve had to do cycles of 90 seconds running and 2 minutes walking. It’s been much easier this time around compared with my first attempt.

I embarked feebly on my second round of training. I figured that I would not achieve much so I set off and flippantly fancied I might manage 100 metres of running in total that day. Almost farcically I ran as slowly as I could knowing I hadn’t been exercising for a while. To my surprise, my terribly slow pace was comfortable and manageable. I didn’t need to cut anything short. I just focussed on jogging as slowly as I could. I made it right through the training session.

So Week 3 here I come.

MY GOALS: A RUN OF BAD HEALTH

My Goal:     Exercise three times a week.

Update:       Coming out of winter, struggling to exercise once a week.

A little while ago a unique opportunity came my way. Some of our staff members were preparing for the October marathon. They were excited and buzzing with plans for fund-raising. I was impressed and wished I could do something like that. So when a colleague asked if I was interested I made sure I said “Yes!”

Now, I haven’t run ever, except back in secondary school P.E. lessons, and even then I was always the one who lagged behind.

I went home, looked up the 9-week From Couch to 5k website and the very next day I began.

Here’s a rundown of how my efforts have gone so far. Keep in mind, it’s three runs per week.

Week 1   Day 1    Began. Did the 5-minute walk as part of the 20 walk-run cycle… only to find out that the walk takes place before and after the 20 minute cycle … only managed 4 out of 8 cycles… and came home too exhausted to cook dinner.

Week 1   Day 2    Similar to Day 1. I counted to myself and found that kept me focussed. Still too exhausted to do anything after the run.

Week 1   Day 3    Headache. Can’t run.

Week 2   Hurt my back. Or a muscle.

Week 3    Feel that my back is still not quite right.

Week 4   Rainy days. 

Week 4   Day 3   I’m back on track. This time I’ve got my podcast to guide me and I almost complete the first day program. It feels good, I’m excited and I’m determined.

Week 5    Day 1   Going well. The last stretch is tough.

Week 5    Day 2   Hooray! I’ve finished Week One of the program.

Week 6     Not feeling well. Take the week off from work with laryngitis.

Week 7    Got to face the fact that I won’t make it for the October marathon.

Week 7    Um..er…ah… I’ve got a cold. A bad cold. I feel terrible.

 By now I’ve realised there’s no way I’ll make it for the October marathon. I can’t believe I’ve had such a run of bad health. Running is one of those things I thought I could never do. I’m still not sure that I can physically accomplish it but I really want to have a go.

Stay tuned. One day I will tell you about my first mini-marathon but it certainly won’t be this October!