'Time, Time, Time--See What's Become of Me?'

Oct 14, 2009

Finding the TIME to exercise now that I am orienting for a new job, which involves 12-hour shifts, has been difficult these last couple of weeks.

I am still adjusting to my new schedule, and don't feel I am getting enough sleep, so that I not only don't have the energy to run after work--when I get home at 8pm!--but I also have to practically wedge myself out of bed or off the sofa with a spatula the next day! I know that if I just get out the door and get moving, I will feel better, but it is hard to do! Last week, for the first time, I didn't make my distance goals for running. I only ran 12 miles instead of 17. So I am doing the mileage build-up MULLIGAN and trying to meet my goals this week. What else can I do? I'm certainly not giving up!

I did map out a 1.19 mile course near my home which allows me to do distance while staying in my neighborhood. If I start from home and do 4 laps, it actually comes out to just over 5 miles. And I keep it from getting monotonous by running the lap first one direction, then turning around at the end of the lap and going back the way I came, instead of running the endless loop over again. That way I get some variety and it changes up the work-out. Thank goodness for my Zune! I don't know how people run without music!

The weather is cold and rainy out there, but I soon warm up when I run. The cold wind actually becomes a refreshing breeze when you're heated with exercise. I still have a salad almost every day for lunch, and it makes me feel good. My new goal is to get from 28% bodyfat to 24% by next June, but I'm not sure that's altogether realistic. Well, I can only try. I feel like my mom would have been proud of my success in regaining my health, if only she were here today. As the veil between the worlds gets thinner towards Hallowe'en, I really do sense she approves and supports me just as she did in life. I sure do miss her.

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