Workout Wednesdays: Sept 12 – Sept 25

This workout encompasses two weeks because I was on vacation for 12 of those days.  I can also assure you that I didn’t work out except for a very easy yoga class on the beach, playing a little paddleball, and riding bikes into town to the bars.  Vacation is vacation to me – if physical activities fall into the plan, like when we went on long hikes and kayaking in Hawaii, great…but if not, I don’t feel guilty about it.  I’m sure I gained a few pounds, but I know it’s more a result of multiple margaritas every day and the awesome gluten-free bakery that we went to several times!

Wednesday, September 12 – Sunday, September 23

Vacation in Siesta Key: As I already mentioned, I did very little.

• We rode bikes most days, but not for long or hard.  I’m usually very safe when riding here in Columbus – shoes, helmet, bike light.  We were only riding for a little over 1 mile at a time on back streets with very little traffic, like 1 car each time, and it was exhilarating to ride without a helmet and while wearing flip-flops.  It was the slow season and was very bike friendly, so I felt safe.  We were cautious as we could be and since we didn’t have rear bike lights (just reflectors), I pulled off if a car was coming behind us after dark – mostly because I didn’t trust myself!  Our friends have 2 regular bikes and a tandem.  They said the tandem was going to be ours, but they ended up riding it when we all went together.  I think they remember how Lo and I were in a 2 person kayak and wanted to spare us – plus they are better riders than us.  When it was just the three of us (before Chuck got there), Lo rode the tandem by himself, which was funny. 
• Yoga on the Beach – I was excited for this and thought we’d want to go most days that it was offered, but after taking the first class, I didn’t care if we went back.  It was mostly stretching and very slow (hatha, I guess) – and geared towards beginners.  And the instructor – wow – she was special!  Kelley warned me that she was a yeller, but I didn’t know what to expect.  As we were walking up, they were just starting to get settled in and all I heard was “Relax your face…LET IT GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”  The capital letters and exclamation points are not exaggerated.  She was very, um, passionate about things I guess.  I’m not saying I’ll never go back when we visit – taking yoga in the morning with the sounds of the ocean was awesome – but I’ll be  more likely to want to go back when the start time is 9 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. in the cooler seasons.  Her yelling about various things kind of ruined the serenity of the beach for me.
• Paddleball – we’d never played but our friends love it. We didn’t play for long or often, but I did buy a set so we could play at home.
• Despite not really exercising, I managed to break my pinkie toe.  Pinkie toes are fairly irrelevant, so it’s not big deal. How’d I do it?  It’s not a cool story at all.  We were riding home in the RV and went to walk up front and kicked the bench.  I crumpled to the bed while trying not to choke on the piece of cookie that I just put in my mouth.  Once I sat up I said to Loren “It’s broken” (which is a line from Teen Wolf that he never gets – he’s supposed to respond with “Dog whistle”).  I didn’t really mean that it was broken though it hurt really bad. Later that evening I realized that it probably was broken since it looked like this (foot pic to follow, Jackie avert your eyes – and sorry for the lack of pedicure and sock marks):

It’s fine because like I said – pinkies are useless, except that I can’t wear my vibrams with it like this, so I have to work out in shoes (the horror!).  It feels so weird to wear shoes to work out.  I don’t like it.

Monday, September 24

• Noon:  Back to it.  I was worried it was going to be hard to do my 100 Workout with my toe being jacked, but it was fine, though weird to do those moves in tennis shoes versus vibrams.  Since this was my 9th week, I started with 100 knees to elbows in plank (that was hard!), moved on to 90 burpees (hard, but I split into 10 reps between each exercise), and down through the list to finish with 10 skater lunges).  The workout was tough, and I’m sore, but it could have been worse considering all my time off.  Only one more week!  I need to come up with a new challenge to start with some different moves.  I’d like to add some stuff that would include my upper body, but my elbow isn’t quite ready for 100 of anything, so I need to think about it. 

Tuesday, September 25

• Noon:  40 minutes of elliptical – I didn’t have time to go to yoga class and wanted to give my toe a few more days before I try yoga on it.  Today when I was coming back from the gym a (kinda weird) co-worker asked me if it was an iphone or ipod (in my hand).  I said it was an iphone.  He asked how much memory I have on it (who cares!) and I said I have no idea – Lo picks those things out for me.  But what I wanted to say was 90 minutes and show him my case:

• 7:15 p.m.: Dublin Reverse Co-ed Volleyball – I was a little disappointed with how the first week went.  We played okay, but there were some team dynamics that I wasn’t happy about. Hopefully it isn’t an issue.  It isn’t anyone’s fault – but after taking such a long break from volleyball with my elbow and being more selective about when and how often I play, I’m just less willing to accept others’ perceptions on what they say is best for the team when it’s really just what is best for them.  But it’s a strong league, close to home, and we have a great sponsor (shout out to Yogi’s Bar and Grill), so I need to make the best of it.  Update – it did go better this week and what I suggested two weeks ago was finally realized to be correct.  I did however dive after a ball that I shouldn’t have and hurt my knee a bit.  I kept playing (I don’t feel pain while I’m playing) but it was pretty sore after we had been sitting at Yogis for an hour or two.  Unfortunately when I tried to stand up after getting out of bed, I realized I can barely bend it or straighten it and twisting on it is out of the question.  I thought I was doing a good job at hiding the limp after Lo dropped me off out front at work, but a security guard immediately called me out.  Crossing my fingers that it’s nothing!