Fitness: Back on Track

 

 Awhile back, I wrote that I would share some of my experiences with treadmill running. I recently realized that I completely forgot to do that! I have continued to run, but I've had to stop and start over on my C25K program more than once.

 

Since last fall, I've been struggling with a pesky (and painful) side stitch which sometimes derails my running efforts. I get about 10 minutes into the run and I have to stop and walk. After talking to the trainer and doing quite a bit of research on this, I traced the problem to hydration. On days I plan to run (or even better, EVERY DAY), I need to drink several glasses of water. When I do this, I don't have any side stitches. Go figure!

 At any rate, it took awhile before I figured out the hydration issue so in the meantime, I curtailed my running. Now I've started the C25K interval training program all over again. It's a little discouraging to have to do that, but I was successful once before with it so I decided I might as well do it again. Assuming all goes well, I should be able to move through the nine weeks faster by skipping a few days here and there. Still, it's important to build your stamina before moving on to the next week's regimen so you don't want to skip too many days. Truly, there is no rush!

When I first started running, I had visions of running in an outdoor 5K. But I've had difficulty transitioning to outdoor running and have finally concluded that it's not for me, for several reasons. First, I like the climate controlled environment of the gym. I hate the hot and humid weather and BUGS that come with outdoor running. I'm also not all that coordinated (understatement of the year!), so running on uneven surfaces is a bit worrisome to me. And finally, I really like watching HGTV or a craft video on my phone while I run. These things keep my brain occupied and my feet moving. These perks are not available on an outdoor run. :)

 At the gym, I spend 30 minutes on the treadmill and the remainder of the time working on other machines. Recently our gym added rowing machine, and decided to give it a try. I love it! This is the closest I will ever come to being in a row boat, since I am deathly afraid of falling in the water. It's perfect for me! I get the full body workout without any danger of capsizing!

 

 So that's my fitness update for this week. Or this month. If you're struggling at the gym, just KEEP AT IT. It's OK to have to start over. Just get out there and do SOMETHING. Trust me: If I can do this, anyone can!

jp