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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January 26, 2005

Ka-boom! permalink

Well, it's been an interesting morning so far.

I was sitting on the couch with my first cup of coffee at about 5:40am. Echo had his head lying in my lap, and I was thumbing through a really tattered library copy of Dave McGovern's The Complete Guide to Racewalking. It couldn't be much more idyllic. And then I heard this tremendous, house-shaking boom!! boom!!. I hit the floor while all the animals started circumambulating the first floor at top speed.

Sweetie came out of the bathroom and said, what the hell was that? Well, yes, indeed, what was that? We both threw on some clothes and went outside. The next block up was cordoned off by police cars, and there were several large police truck units. Hmmm, somebody got busted.

A number of our neighbors also came out on their porches to see what was going on. Always nice to see the neighbors, and if this had happened at a more normal time, everyone would have been out.

It was a meth lab, by the looks of things.

So, I'd like to say that the police made me late this morning, though that would not be true. My inability to get going made me late. But I did get a half-hour's walk in.

I decided today to do an exercise that Philip Dunn had taught us, of taking really really absurdly tiny steps with really rapid turnover. I decided to do one block on, one block off. I found it really difficult. Among other things, the tiny steps made me feel like I was getting nowhere fast. And if I'm walking really fast with high turnover, what do I do with my arms? I kept flailing, because they weren't keeping up. (and damn it, your arms power your stride! What do you do when the arms are confused?)

It sounds very silly, but it was rather taxing. And good.

By the way, I'm not sure what you call what I did yesterday, but maybe intervals is not the right term. Basically, what I was doing was a fast lap alternating with a rest lap. I am still reeling from how much fun that was.

I am still 238, by the way. 2 pounds down, 8 to go. 17 days. Wuhoo, I can't wait! In the hopes of kicking up the intensity, and making 10 pounds by Austin, I have decided that I must do maximum incidental exercise. What this means mostly is looking for excuses to take the stairs, walk, etc. I work on the 5th floor, and our offices span multiple floors, so there are some opportunities there.

And today is Wednesday, hill climbing day! I've recruited a couple of coworkers to go with, and I'll give them the choice of doing the Harrison Hill, which is short, has a low grade and is in walking distance, or the Vista Hill, which is long, straight up, and not in walking distance. It should be big fun.

Posted at January 26, 2005

Comments

Well, let's hear it for Vista then! That's a great turnover exercise you're talking about; I've done similar workouts myself and its a real bear sometimes. Still, that's why its a good workout, not necessarily good race strategy. Oh, and those last eight pounds? You'll get 'em - just make sure that you're up to strength by the 13th.

Posted by: Richard at January 26, 2005 1:02 PM

so what was the boom!! boom!!? the meth lab exploding?

Posted by: Chrissie at January 26, 2005 4:12 PM