This weekend has gone by fast. Too fast and I feel like I got nothing done. I haven’t even done my homework yet.
Friday night I went to a concert and was out until midnight, but I was up and at it at seven Saturday morning. I went to a spin class at nine then did the rowing machine for ten minutes and the elliptical for twenty minutes or so.
The rowing machine is a great for cross training. You work your arms, shoulders, back, core, legs, hips, and torso. Really, you are working every major muscle group. There are so many benefits for runners and cyclists who use the rowing machine.
Saturday I decided to go to the bookstore because I wanted to buy the book Natural Running since I want to get into barefoot running. I need to do more research before I go out and buy a pair of barefoot running shoes. Long story short, I bought Chicken Soup for the Soul: Runners and Born to Run.
Next week my gym is having a seminar on chi running and barefoot running. I’m super excited because I want more facts. I’ve been looking at barefoot running shoes.
So far, I am leaning towards Vibrams. I have been reading they actually help with foot injuries. Oh, and good news! My foot is starting to feel better. I’m still going to take another week off though. Just in case.
As well as hitting up the bookstore, I went to Whole Foods where I found Jimmy Fallon’s new ice cream and free samples galore. Can I just live in Whole Foods? I love that place. I spent an hour just walking around drooling over everything I wanted.
Today’s workout: one hour of a weights class, 45 minutes cycling, and 10 minutes on the elliptical.
I decided I want to create some goals for April. I believe it’s very important to set goals and that an individual should always be working towards something, whether it can be achieved in a month or a year.
1. Start swimming! I e-mailed the triathlon coach at my gym and he is willing to let me try out the master swim class for a few days to see my potential. I want to do a triathlon in the future so I need to improve my swimming skills.
2. Listen to my body. If you read ‘my story’, you know I struggle from a past eating disorder. I do not count calories for the most part, but they are unconsciously on my mind. I know I can eat 2000+ calories a day and I’m petite (5’3). I work out intensely so I need to let myself eat when I’m hungry and even when I’m not just to get in those calories. I have to fuel my body correctly and I shouldn’t worry about eating three bowls of cereal after dinner if I’m still hungry.
3. Take running up again slowly. I don’t know when I am going to begin running again because I want my injury to be fully healed before I go pounding the pavement. However, when I do run again, I will only allow myself to go so far. I cannot just knock out 14 miles and expect to be alright. This also goes with listening to my body. If my foot starts to hurt, I need to stop running and take a break.
4. Cycle more. I already do bike outdoors and in, but I want to bike more and drive less. I want to bike to the grocery store or the mall instead of driving. However, this is going to be tricky since my mother (yes, I’m 18) lets me ride my bike to certain places only if I haven’t exercised intensely already. It’s all due to the past and how I can sometimes over exercise.
Honorable eats:
Toffee bread pudding
Sweet & salty
What are your thoughts on barefoot running? Have you read Born to Run or Natural Running?
Do you have any goals for the month of April?
