1000

A couple days ago I sort of quietly did something for the 1000th time.  That thing is an activity on Runkeeper, which is an app on my phone that I installed quite a long time ago, really.  I have covered a lot of ground, really, and if every one of those thousand posts was for walking or moving forward in some way, I would have covered a lot more ground.  I keep track of my weight lifting on it too.

So let's say that I am not a big numbers person, which I am not.  I can fiddle around with numbers in my head and have some success, but I still have to set up percentages by using the whole numerator/denominator thing, and things like that.  I CAN do the math, but seriously I just don't want to.  Hahaha.  I got through trig in High school and then got out of math as a second semester senior with my life and gradepoint intact.  I prefer to leave that sort of thing to - oh, I don't know- let's say an accountant who is comfortable with that stuff.  :) I have said for years, that is why God gave me an accountant, so I don't have to ever  EVER in my life worry about things like tax forms.  shudder.

However, if you REALLY know me, you know that there is definitely a geeky person that lies deep within.  If allowed to rise to the surface this person likes to play around with things like computers, and know scientificky thing (yes that is a word, shut up) and gasp- enjoy interacting with mathematics..... PLEASE do not tell the "MadArtTeacher" that, she gets a little antsy and her eye starts to twitch.  This person can get carried away and wants to live in a world full of numbers that used to make so much difference to her, and she did find out recently that they really don't matter...

Anywho, back to Runkeeper.  #1000 activity.  I find it pleasing that I did a walk on that activity, because it is certainly the way I began.  It seems like something cool like a kayak would have been in order but it is November, though until this morning, November forgot what she is supposed to be acting like.  No, it was just an ordinary walk, that I shoved into the period of time between school and sunset, which is getting distressingly shorter and shorter.  But we do all know that will change in about 6 weeks, so its all good.

Numbers to go with the free version of Runkeeper- I have fought off the urge, successfully, to pay for the Runkeeper elite that will tell me all sorts of cool things, that I really do not need to know and really, again, do not matter.  My first activity was only a 2 mile walk, or else I did not finish the walk or had some sort of issue with the app- idk.  It was in June of 2011, and I was way worried about all sorts of numbers.  Since then I have traveled 3,239 miles, burned 373,000 official calories, have gone through at least 8 or 9 pairs of really expensive shoes,  overtrained myself into: an ouchy knee, carpal tunnel and possibly a broken limb or two; plus gained a lot of confidence and entered into some really fun events and activities that include hiking, biking, and kayaking.

I do not use Runkeeper for the numbers anymore, I use it to keep track of where I have been through posting the event and taking pictures.  I have referred to the app several times to remember what adventure I went on and when.  Fortunately or not, I almost never venture off on a walk or hike without the app running, I hope that didn't annoy too many people.  I have it totally muted now, except if I decide to use music.  I do not have the pace cues, I do not have a trainer in my ear telling me to do whatever, I only have it to mark where I am via satellite for future use.  It is a relief to not be worrying about whether these calories being burned are enough for the food that I ate on any given day, because it just doesn't matter.  I am not my weight, nor do I reward or punish myself with exercise.  I am me and not a number.

What I am, that is amazing, is a much fitter person than I was in June of 2011.  By fit I mean that I can pretty much do what I want to- I can hike where I want, including up any landform that I would be brave enough to climb on (granted that is somewhat limited by the terror factor), bike and kayak.  I am game for most any physical activity, and I can do it without a lot of whining..... though there are those that might argue that fact!  :)  Am I as in "good of shape" as I was at the height of my obsessing over numbers, why yes I am, I am just not as light!  And I am so so fine with that.  At any given time I may be a little heavier, lighter, stronger weaker, have amazing cardio-vascular endurance or not, but I am not worried about that at all.  Except for broken things, I worry these days about not breaking things.

Runkeeper has taught me many things, well sort of.  I am using it as a metaphor I suppose.  I have learned that I can walk literally all day long if I need to.  I have learned, though I knew it deep inside, that I am NOT a runner.  Running seems to be held up to all as the standard for all truly worthy people to be working on, but that is such bull shit.  ugh.  Save your knees people, unless you are one of those people who really ARE able to do it without constant injury, why abuse yourself like that?  If you are, yay for you, but if you are not, do what you like, not what the rest of the world thinks you should like.  I won't credit Runkeeper for making me realize that I am a really good weightlifter, I am going to thank my amazing friends from the former Triple B gym for that, and of course me, because I kept at it and still love it so much.

But you can not disregard ill-advised activities that you have gone through to get to where you are right now.  I have done many things that I will not do again, but that doesn't mean I wish I wouldn't have done them.  That is a bit of a waste of time, don't you think?  I am so glad, though, that now I am getting my activity doing the things I love to do.  Because beating the crap out of yourself for the sake of getting exercise, especially if you detest that activity (yes I am talking to you elliptical), well that is crazy and I won't do it any more.

I have deleted all of the "fitness", "health" and "weightloss" apps off of my phone.  They and their numbers are not important to me any more.  But I do hold onto my Runkeeper.  It reminds me of the journey I have been on and the people I have been with and the amazing things that I have done, and will record the cool things I plan to do in the future.  Book Across the Bay, I am headed your way!!

Find the joy  in your day today, and be a joy GIVER for heavens sakes, it is Friday after all.  Though I don't think you should wait for any particular day to give that joy away.  They all work equally as well.  Rock on every one and MWAH!

My favorite part of the weekend....

I have been doing a lot of exercise in the past year, it has steadily increased to at LEAST an hour a day!  I feel that it is AS important as my choice of foods.

Triple B!  My home away from home

 I LOVE weight lifting- LOVE LOVE LOVE doing all those reps, learning new things, adding more weight!  It makes me look different than I was before, and makes my life very much easier!  I now go to the gym and lift 4 times a week- one day of chest and triceps, one of back and biceps, one for legs and one for shoulders.  Plus I am doing a killer ab workout at least 3 times a week.  BIG thanks to Laurie and Brian Duba for their assistance and friendship!

I have also been attending both Ballet classes and Dance Fitness classes at Triple B and I find them a wonderful compliment to the weight lifting!  They are a great way to stretch and do cardio during this long winter that we have.  And the complex movements are so challenging and exhilarating!  If I have a free night, I have the elliptical, treadmill and the recumbent bike that can be conquered.

Then I have gotten my awesome snowshoes, which are really helpful to get out and about in the snow.  You know, when it is too dang snowy to do anything else!!

BUT, the best part of my weekend, my favorite activity is to go for my walks....

Walking is how I got to where I am right now, or at least most of the way.  I walked when I began this journey, including walking in place, on the road, at school through the halls, where ever I could get a little exercise in.  I have been walking for exercise for years, but this time, with the help of the Loseit! app and my friends there, it had a different effect.

So last weekend, I took some pictures as I walked my "Head East- long" route (according to my Runkeeper app), because I reached the road after not walking for 2 weeks, at least not here, and I realized how HAPPY I was to be back into the groove.  What a JOY I was feeling to be back in my running shoes, heading down good old Hwy E, seeing my familiar sights, annihilating hills that used to make me huff and puff and limp.

Omaha Road

Weinberger's farm

Hwy E

Tuscobia Trail

Smith Creek

Hilgart farm

HUGE freaking rock!

The MASSIVE rock in Hilgart's field

Waiting for spring

Tracks on Smith creek

The sad thing, visually, is that it looks almost exactly the same this week as last!  I like a little variety when I walk, at least something!  Oh well, so I went the other way this morning and took a few photos going west!  Again, the same basic look, but it was another relaxing, yet energizing, run/walk.  I don't feel like I have done enough now if I don't go at least 4.5 miles!  I'm really looking forward to a slight improvement in road conditions that will get me around the blocks again.

I wish you could see the dropoff of the gravel pit better!  It's a visual joke!

Another visual funny- no small trees to be seen!  :)

Looks like an ancient ruin

Another view of the stone house with it's ghostly companion

Favorite tree, slightly different view

As fun as Thanksgiving and Christmas can be, it is really nice to be back in the groove of regular life!  The comfort of my walking paths and my improving times, speed and health make this year sure to be full of promise and maybe a 5 K run!  We'll see.

Walking gives me time to think, to imagine, to solve problems.  It gives me time when no one is talking to me, the only voice I hear is the artist who is singing on my iPod (and those occasional voices in my head!  LOL!).  I savor this alone time..... it is something I need to have to keep my head on straight.  So no matter if it takes 20 minutes to get ready to go- because of the long underwear, jeans, wind pants, t-shirt, sweatshirt, running coat, wool socks, running shoes, gloves, hat, phone, ear buds (I need new ones) (with a microphone) (and they need to be way sturdier than the cheap pieces of junk I've been buying lately because they are cobalt blue or pink), camera, lip balm, reading glasses, sunglasses, HRM watch and HRM strap or if it is summer and it takes a minute to throw on the shoes and stuff the camera/phone/ bug bomb into the pockets, it is worth every second of preparation.  Because I am worth the time and effort that it takes to take really good care of myself.  And then I will be more able to take care of all the other people that need me!

Do yourself a favor today, go do an activity you really love!  It'll make you feel great, it'll get your heart pumping and improve your fitness, and it will pour some joy through your body.....  and that is the best side effect of all!