The weather here has been gorgeous lately, so nice that I’ve been seduced into starting up running again. Yes, once again, I’m throwing on my Vibram Five Fingers shoes and heading outside for my physical activity. Because I’m out of the habit of running, I’m taking it slowly. I’ve been running 2-3 minutes, then walking one minute. This is more to give my calves a chance to build up than my endurance. My cardio endurance is pretty good, and I can happily go for 30+ minutes on the elliptical and not be out of breath. But my leg muscles aren’t in such great shape, and the Vibrams really do change my running stride so I have to build them up before I can run 30 minutes straight.
But that’s okay. I figure I’ll continue to increase the amount of time I run versus the amount of time I walk over the next month or so and I’ll be up to speed by mid-June at the latest. I plan to run early in the mornings, right after dropping Pixie off at her preschool, until school lets out. Then I plan to run even earlier in the mornings to make sure I get my running time in before Hubster has to leave for work. I expect I’ll be running 4-5 days a week. I’m certainly glad to get back into running, as it’s the best way I know of to maintain my weight.
I’ve also started doing a bit of yoga again. Yoga Journal has a podcast of 20 minute workouts, and I’ve downloaded some episodes of that to my iPad. I’ve got Yoga DVDs, but I don’t use them much anymore. The problem with the DVDs is that I only get to do the same 3 workouts over and over again, and that bores me to tears. Also, I don’t really like the DVD workouts that much. Can’t exactly say why, but I enjoy the podcast workouts better. And it helps that the podcast workouts are FREE and I can take them with me wherever I go.
So yoga and running will be key componants of my summer workouts. I’m hoping to get to water aerobics at least one day a week, and do 4 hours of karate class each week as well. Plus I’m sure I’ll throw in some Wii Fit, EASA 2, etc. Whatever I need to keep moving.
