My Dog-Gone Fitness Blog

Still taking a break from running to let my ankle get better. Forgot to turn my alarm on this morning to go swimming before work so I went after work. Made my husband nervous because I couldn’t get in contact with him to let him know. Decided to swim 100 laps in sets of 500.

Workout:

• Type: Swim
• Date: 11/29/2008
• Time: 16:45:00
• Total Time: 00:45:00.00
• Distance: 2,500 yd
• Average Pace: 1:48.23/100yd

Went to YMCA before work to swim. I feel so much less stressed going into work when I exercise first.

Workout:

• Type: Swim
• Date: 11/28/2008
• Time: 06:15:00
• Total Time: 00:45:00.00
• Distance: 2,300 yd
• Average Pace: 1:57.55/100yd

Had the day off before Thanksgiving so went to the YMCA and took yoga class. It was one of the more challenging sessions and I loved it. I love the combination of strength, conditioning, flexibility, balance with a relaxing overtone.

Workout:

• Type: Strength Training
• Date: 11/26/2008
• Time: 12:15:00
• Total Time: 1:00:00.00

Was going to do my strength training last night but didn’t, so got up early this morning to do it. I’m definitely feeling the difference and will soon be ready to try to change/add exercises.

Workout:

• Type: Strength Training
• Date: 11/25/2008
• Time: 05:30:00
• Total Time: 00:20:00.00

The only way I would be able to get a swim in today is if I went to the YMCA first thing in the morning. That meant dragging myself out of bed at 5:45 AM when it is 20 degrees out. I tossed and turned last night in bed and debated if I would get up. Since I wasn’t sleeping well any way I bit the bullet and went. Of course once I got going I felt really good.

Workout:

• Type: Swim
• Date: 11/23/2008
• Time: 06:15:00
• Total Time: 00:45:00.00
• Distance: 2,200 yd
• Average Pace: 2:02.48/100yd

There can be good things to unfortunate circumstances. Having to take a break from running has gotten me back in the pool and I’m grateful.

Workout:

• Type: Swim
• Date: 11/22/2008
• Time: 06:15:00
• Total Time: 00:42:00.00
• Distance: 2,150 yd
• Average Pace: 1:56.88/100yd

I recently took a quiz titled “Are you an exercise perfectionist?” (http://exercise.about.com/library/blperfectionquiz.htm) I learned that I am an exercise perfectionist because
1.) Even if it has been a while since I have exercised, I try to get back into the same routine even if too strenuous
2.) Feel guilty if I miss a work out
3.) Compare myself to other people
4.) Feel guilty and worry about losing endurance if I miss work outs because of illness or injury
5.) Get mad if I’m not reaching my goals and push myself even if it doesn’t feel good

Hence I now have to take an extended break from running due to an ankle injury. If you have been following my blog at all you know that my ankle has been bothering me. I did take a break for a few days until it wasn’t hurting any more but twice now when I have gone for a short run it has started aching again. So I’m taking a few weeks off, will focus on swimming and strength training, and if it starts hurting more or hurts again with exercise I’m going to go see a doctor. When I do start running again I vow the following:
1.) To stretch, warm up and cool down even if that means I will have to go for a shorter run.
2.) Keep track of my heart rate to make sure my intesity is not too high
3.) Reassess my goals rather than admonish myself

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/21/2008
• Time: 09:00:00
• Total Time: 00:20:50.00
• Distance: 2.1 miles
• Average Pace: 9:55.04/mile

My ankle was feeling better on Saturday and then took Sunday for an extra day of rest.  Set out for a shorter easier run on my lunch break today. Feeling O.K. a little worried because it seems that even when I don’t push myself I end up going a little harder than I plan. Sometimes I can feel like I’m not going that hard but when I plug in the stats I find out I did. Will probably not run tomorrow and see how I’m feeling and do some strength training.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 11/17/2008
• Time: 12:00:00
• Total Time: 00:20:00.00
• Distance: 2.2 miles
• Average Pace: 9:05.45/mile

Ankle is feeling better but I think God was taking charge when I forgot my gym bag at work with my running sneakers. It’s his way of making sure I rest. Went for another swim this A.M. and really enjoyed it.

Workout:

• Type: Swim
• Date: 11/15/2008
• Time: 06:10:00
• Total Time: 00:42:00.00
• Distance: 2,050 yd
• Average Pace: 2:03.22/100yd

A little background. I swam competitively for 10 years until I graduated from high school. But I haven’t swam since then (over 18 years). My ankle has been aching just a little so I have been taking a break from running the last few days. Now I know that I probably shouldn’t be doing any activity, but after two days of doing nothing I just couldn’t keep away so I decided to go swim some laps. While I haven’t set any specific goals I would like to think a triathalon may be in my future. It felt really good and brought back some memories! A new color for my pie chart!

Workout:

• Type: Swim
• Date: 11/14/2008
• Time: 11:15:00
• Total Time: 00:40:00.00
• Distance: 1,900 yd
• Average Pace: 2:06.26/100yd