about getting from point A to point B in the most interesting ways possible

If you're a large woman in America, your whole life is an opportunity to feel self-conscious, embarrassed, resentful and way too big. You can hide in the corner or on the couch, you can go to therapy, or you can put on your lycra bike shorts and get out there and move.
—Jayne Williams, Slow Fat Triathlete

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December 28, 2004

first day solo permalink

It was still dark when I left the house this morning. The sky was cloudy, but here and there stars, planets and the moon peaked out. It was just gorgeous to be walking through the neighborhood then, seeing some houses still festooned with plugged-in xmas lights.

That makes it sound like I left early. Oops, not so. But I iced my elbow and my knee like I'm supposed to (and I never do). And I did get a 20 minute walk in, trying very hard to keep walking with my toes up. It's hard, for me at least. Even though my toe was barely lifted, totally unlike the real racewalkers who practically reveal the entire sole of the shoe forwards and back in a step. I could really feel it in my hamstrings. Which was the goal.

I feel like I've been gifted with another piece of the puzzle. If strengthening my hamstrings means that I'll have more endurance, more power (and, perhaps, more speed!), then that's what I gotta do. I'd like to learn some more about my glutes too—can I use my body's largest muscle group to power me as well??

I got to the gym and did my first solo set of the sports trainer's exercises. Squats: hard. The bridging exercise using a ball: next to impossible. The stretches: challenging (and I just realized that I did one of them according to the written directions rather than how he had taught me). All in all, seven exercises that took about 30 minutes.

But that's done. And my legs feel great! Wuhoo!

Posted at December 28, 2004

Comments

I've been thinking of working with a sports trainer. I've been doing the same basic exercises for two years now. I think it's time for a change, and yours sound challenging!

Posted by: susan at December 28, 2004 3:16 PM

I've been wanting to get a personal trainer in the worst way. I'm still hoping to, but this seems like a great middle step. That, and my chiropractor recommended it—how can I say no? :)

Posted by: vj at December 28, 2004 3:27 PM