Run in the Sun

Mercifully, the intense workouts included in the Insanity program come with an off day. Of course The Streak doesn’t allow for such. Given the option I immediately decided to get outside for a change. I’ve exercised inside for what seems like an eternity. I delighted at the idea of going for a nice easy run. Wow, what a surprise. I reveled in being out in the midday sun. Yes, I waited until noon to run in Atlanta. Shannan contends I was an iguana in a previous life. As I soaked up the rays of light and heat I noticed how strong I felt early on in the run. I have long heard running gurus lecture on the importance of core strength.

After more than two weeks of Shaun T’s Insanity program I clearly felt a difference in balance, leg strength and core involvement in my run. I felt great. Mostly, I enjoyed being outside. Did I mention I love the heat of the sun? Oh the joy, the June solstice has yet to arrive. The dog days of summer are still to come.

Get up. Get out. Get going.

Tom
***Greetings! Since this piece was written the summer solstice has come and gone, and I have enjoyed many runs in the Mediterranean sun! More on Spain, Monaco, France and Italy in the weeks ahead.

Ultimate Opportunist

Local folks raised a fair amount of hoopla and falderal to celebrate the opening of the first section of a new bike trail in a public park. Shannan and I took the opportunity to check it out, although neither of us had any intention of biking. Newspaper articles made it sound like 6 miles of trail awaited us. Upon arrival I lamented that only a 1.3 mile loop had been cleared and opened for traffic.

Shannan chose to walk along the riverside paved trail and I explored the mountain bike path. My immediate thoughts and concerns centered on the narrow trails hugging steep cliffs. I’m not a bike rider, but it seemed to me that one bike would maximize the space. Two could never share the trail in either direction. I then wondered should I, as a runner, be on the trail at all?

Etiquette aside, I wondered should I be running there with the hilly and rugged terrain. It was tough! I made things worse (as I tend to do) and took an illicit opportunity to wander off to portions of the trail under construction. It was sort of neat to see the level of difficulty of marking a route and carving out a trail in tree-filled, root-bound and uneven wooded areas.

Luckily I didn’t encounter any bikers during the outing. I did, however, slip and slide a fair amount. My arms, legs and clothes got fairly muddy. I sweated heavily. Messy and tired, I decided I liked the trail and looked forward to its expansion and running there again. I turned back and rendezvoused with Shannan. Once in the car, I realized I wasn’t the only opportunist on the new bike trail. I picked up the ultimate opportunist, a tick. That always creeps me out.

Share the road, just not with ticks.


Tom

It’s Independence Day

We didn’t manage to get switched to a room on the ground floor, and I had no new plan to help me stay on Shaun T’s Insanity program. It being a Monday, the office park didn’t hold the same allure. I decided to man up and do the insane workout in the open hotel pool area. How embarrassing could it be? So, I loaded up my gear and went to get it over with as quickly as possible. As I strode across the parking lot it began to sprinkle. I’m not afraid of a little rain--cold weather yes--but not rain. However, I did have my brand spanking new DVD player, which I will need for other trips within the 60 days of the Insanity program.

So, I punted. Given it was a travel day I opted for a run in Independence (which is what I really wanted to do) and planned to complete the Insanity session when we arrived home later that night. What a great decision! Independence is a quintessential and charming middle America town with a little bit of everything. I ran through gently rolling hills enjoying the slight morning breeze.

I’m not sure if it was to attend regular classes or summer school, but kids filed out of their homes and desperately tried to look cool while standing on the corner waiting for the bus. As long ago as it was for me, I remember the feeling all too well. Much remains the same, except for most of theses students did look a tad cooler than I did at that age. Most of them had their cell phones and I Pods out and in use. It was the 80s before we could all afford a clunky Walkman, and pay phones were never the rage even when they were the only away-from-home communication option.

The rain never fully set in during the 4 plus mile run. I had no regrets. Along the way I saw a mom and pop video store that was still open for business. Now that brings back memories. Lots of local and independent businesses still dot the landscape of Independence. I delighted in seeing them and we patronized several over our short visit. A combination of clean air, wide open spaces and interesting surroundings made me appreciate that America is much more than one continuous shopping plaza linked from Atlanta to Los Angeles.

Thanks, Independence!

Tom

Insane in Independence

I’ve done some stupid things to exercise, especially while traveling. I’m reminded of running up and down stairs and on the roof of a hotel in Damascus, Syria, after flying for 16 hours. Can you even begin to imagine the looks people gave me as I thundered past them in the stairwell?

Being in a hotel room in Independence, Missouri presented an interesting situation. Like every day, I had The Streak to preserve, which ordinarily involves the delightful chance to run in a new place. As an added measure on this trip, though, I had 50 days remaining in the Insanity workout program. Doing that isn’t as easy as going for a run, even at night in a foreign country. I planned ahead and purchased a portable DVD player so I could stay on track with the program.

Here’s where things went kooky. Our hotel didn’t have a fitness center and we had a room on the second floor. They were completely booked and we couldn’t change rooms. You see this coming, don’t you? Albeit my generation often shows no consideration for others, I knew doing any aerobic exercise in the hotel was rude, but this particular program would seem like an earthquake to the guests directly below our room and possibly to others nearby as well.

So at 6:00 am I took a water bottle and the DVD player and searched for a place to set up for 40 minutes of insane exercise. I settled on a small office park a couple of blocks away. Embarrassment and self consciousness slipped away a few minutes into the punishing warm up routine. I made it through the workout without incident other than scraping my hands during push ups. I packed up and returned to the hotel before anyone entered the parking lot. Did I mention this was a Sunday? At the time I kept thinking about how much fun this would be on the following day, a work day.

There’s no shame in commitment, dedication or resolve.

Tom

Insane Travel

People regularly make fun of our travel itineraries, and for good reason. While on vacation we generally get up at the light of day and go, see and do until dusk. If you think that notion of vacation is insane, then I ask you. What’s beyond Insanity? Here’s one possibility. I popped up at 4:13 am in the morning. It was a travel day. We’re taking off to enjoy the sights and sounds of Kansas City, MO with Shannan’s folks. That is not the insane part, even at the early hour. I’m getting to the Insanity.

As you know, with fear and trembling, I committed to completing Shaun T’s 60 day Insanity program. This day marked the 9th day of grueling exercise regime, and as noted above it’s also a travel day. May 23rd I posted a silly little blog about my travel day rituals. There I noted the routine bordered on superstitious. This morning I crossed the border.

After a body breaking set of “Pure Cardio” with the insane asylum escapee, Shaun T, I dragged my drained body onto the Nordic Track and engaged in far less intense exercise while watching my traditional travel day DVD. That’s beyond Insanity.

On the verge of total exhaustion, it took a quart of Power Ade, a fruit smoothie and a gallon of water to return to a normal level of hydration and a modicum of energy.

Goodness gracious, we have other trips planned within the next 50 days. Have mercy.

Tom

60 Day Challenge

Okay, I’m going to do it. I plan to complete 60 consecutive days of Shaun T’s Insanity program. I’ve worked through the pain and soreness and used the program for nine days in a row.

Even though my mind and body said @#%& NO! after the Fit Test, I went ahead and followed the program for the next day which included 42 minutes of Plyometric Cardio. I’ve since leaned plyometric means butt kicking, push beyond your limits exercise. They named the program Insanity for good cause.

Here is what I can tell you about Insanity. The program makes the following suggestions and I strongly encourage you to heed them.

• Don’t try this if you are new to regular exercise- its not a weight loss program
• Wear good shoes, cross trainers are best
• Use an exercise mat- I can’t imagine doing this program without one. You will have rug burns or blisters from hard floors.
• Keep a towel handy
• Have lots of water close by and drink it when directed
• You will sweat buckets, keep that in mind as you choose a workout space
• Be prepared for sudden change of pace and introduction of new exercises

This weekend I discovered that if the Insanity program wasn’t hard enough, doing it while out of town is truly a test of one's sanity. More on that later.

Meanwhile, dig deeper and go insane.


Tom

Great Parks

At long last mild mornings and 80 plus degree afternoons arrived in Atlanta. Heat and humidity trouble others, but they invigorate me. I found a different story this morning as I went out for a run in Woodhaven, Michigan. I found a biting chill in the air. I hustled back to the hotel room for gloves. Once properly attired, I took up a slow gait as I decided on which direction to go. We had arrived long after dark the night before and I wasn’t able to see much of anything too terribly compelling.

Our hotel sat on the edge of the Interstate. To the left stood the same old shopping plaza that marks nearly every corner in America. I went the other way. Very close by I saw a city park. I crossed five lanes, in the crosswalk, but against the light. Civic Center Park turned out to be a gem. Asphalt and pea gravel paths circled a massive sports complex and snaked along a slow moving creek.

Lots of standing water marked the park. I pondered how the local landscape architects had gauged so poorly with their water runoff plan. I later learned the whole city and Lake Erie region is basically a marsh. I gathered the information when we visited Sterling State Park. It’s a runner’s utopia, with miles and miles of trails in the park and along the Great Lake of Erie. I’d run here all the time if I lived in the area. As is the case with other state parks, there is a parking fee (more for nonresidents). It’s well worth the money.

One great lake. Two great parks.


Tom