Morning Is For Thought

Saturday, January 12, 2013

My thoughts were all over the place during my walk this morning.  It really is a wonderful time for thinking, especially on days like today when nobody is out there.  Since it's the weekend I managed to keep them off work and for once they were largely off the subject that's been bothering me lately.  Unfortunately that means I didn't really solve anything or gain any great insight but it was still a lovely hour.

One thing I did think about was the curious link between my change in lifestyle and the increased variation in my mental health.  The holiday blues hit fairly close in time to the point when I started getting up earlier and stretching out the morning walk.  I don't think there's a direct relationship there, but if I'm honest about it, it probably hasn't helped that I spend more hours alone and in the dark.  The thing is, I like getting up early and walking.  I don't really know how I'd fit it in otherwise.  Maybe it'll be different this summer but for now (and at least through early May) I'm pretty committed to doing it this way.  If I knew something different would produce the same results and I'd be happier I'd switch but I don't.  Thankfully getting back to the regular routine and being busy was helpful

Breakfast:  Bowl of leftover vegetable beef soup, coffee

This is a weirdly good winter breakfast.

Yum.  Last of what I made last weekend -- I think I'll make another batch this morning.

Lunch:  ~ 2 oz CF cajun beef jerky before golf, ~ 2+ oz salami after golf.  I guess we'll call that lunch.

Dinner:  Taco salad, spicy pork

Couldn't eat it all.  Probably a good thing.

Pretty good, not the best one I've had lately.  It's hard to get everything exactly right.

Also:  A couple glasses of wine.  Bearboat pinot noir tonight.  We'll see how deep I get.

Exercise:  C25k, Week 2, Day 2.  Usual stuff, I walked a mile, got set up, did the routine (90 sec run, 2 min walk, repeat x6), walked the rest of the way home.  3.25 miles in 57 minutes according to the pedometer.  The time seems right - it's a mile to start, which is 20 minutes, the routine is 30 minutes, and I had about six blocks left to get home after it was over.

I had good energy while walking this morning, which was a bit of a surprise.  I was a bit sluggish getting up -- I'll chalk that up to having a couple drinks and some fried garbage yesterday -- but as soon as I got out there it melted away and I was perky.  Okay, perky-ish.  The jogging wasn't great - my knees were not keen on it today, but I was slow and super careful so I made it through.  I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't hurt too bad - I did luck out and caught the biggest incline on a walking stretch, though the 5th repeat was up the 2nd  biggest incline and into the wind.  That one wasn't much fun.  Overall, though, I'm feeling like I'm making some modest gains.  Looking ahead at the program, it takes some pretty serious jumps - as it should to get to 5k in less than 3 months - but today at least I'm optimistic that I'll make it.  I will be slow as hell when we get to the longer runs, but my goal will mostly be to not fail.  To not walk, no matter how slow I jog.

Also, I know I've said this before, but I cannot emphasize just how surprised I am that I am actually enjoying this.  Not only is the walk the best hour of the day, I'm even enjoying pushing myself a bit with the C25k.  I don't know this me but I like it.

Bonus:  9 holes of golf, walking.  Pedometer said 3.75 miles which is of course inflated.  Could have easily gone another 9 no problem.  Feeling good.

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