Sunday, March 11:

15 minutes Stairmaster, aerobic interval, set at eight
60 minutes back and biceps routine
45 minutes arc trainer, 1:1 intervals, resistance at eight, and me feeling I was climbing mountains, walking rather than jogging. How I sweat!


I came out of the gym to weather in the mid-50s, and the car interior wonderfully sun-warmed. Salt crystals everywhere in the parking lot and the occasional puddle were the only sign of the onslaught of snow and ice from two days before.

March 11: 90 minutes Bikram Yoga-- third day in a row!

Totals:
10 days
760 minutes

March 12:

45 minute spin class at fairly heavy to really heavy resistance in the sprints. The class was nearly empty. Either the time change took its toll on the usual early morning risers or everyone's got spring fever and plans to get in their exercise outside today. Sadly, because of the springing forward one hour, once again it was dark when I left the gym.

Just went for a walk. It's in the 60's - beautiful day. I'd forgotten how good exercise makes me feel. Nothing I do indoors gives me the same feeling that going for a good walk does. I've missed this!

March 13:

15 minutes Stairmaster stepper, aerobic intervals, resistance at eight
60 minutes biceps, triceps and shoulders routine
45 minutes Precor elliptical, intervals set at five and eight, entirely backward. I mean I peddled backward for the whole duration.


I wore my new (well, used) iPod shuffle to the gym today, since this is the gym that plays alt/country music in the morning and I don't find that very motivating, particularly not for cardio. The softness in the air was thrilling at 5:45 AM when I left the house in a light fleece jacket. No down-filled coat needed. On the news they're calling it the winter that wasn't. Rochester is likely to win the Golden Snowball Award this year, rather than Syracuse.

Wednesday, March 14:

45 minute spin class, a tough one, in which I felt myself failing toward the end. Even standing and peddling, which is meant to be a rest interval, was difficult. At the end, during cool down, the right peddle felt funny. Finally it came off completely on a down stroke. The screw holding it in place had sheared off. I'm glad it didn't do that during a sprint interval!

Afterward, the instructor said she'd been watching me and asked me to sit on another bike, one with both peddles in play. She readjusted my seating to put me a little forward and to make my legs a bit longer. Right away I could feel my inner leg muscles engage more. We have a 90-minute class on Friday so I can't wait to try out how that feels for that class.

That was the only good thing about the class, since I felt I wasn't quite up to it. I worked harder than usual, being in the front row and under this demanding instructors' eyes.

March 12: bookfair started. No exercise

March 13: none

March 14: made it to the gym! 40 minutes Stair climber. I won't make it tomorrow either because I'll be at school from 7 am to 8 pm or later. I'll be wiped out. I'll try to make it to the gym or yoga from Friday on though.

Totals:
11 days
800 minutes

Michele, you'll be fine once this disruptive Book Fair is over. You can crash & then get back to your Bikram routine. BTW, how many book fairs do you hold each year? It feels like at least two, but maybe because I've been on this board for a while, I've probably seen you go through more than one.

I'm remembering my grade school book fairs with great affection just now. In particular, I remember buying a copy of "Harriet the Spy," which I loved and still own. Oh, dear. Well, owned. The flood ruined 30 boxes of books and that was packed away in one of them. I re-read it every few years, usually when down with a bad cold and seeking "comfort reading." (My friend Mary kept some of her childhood Nancy Drew books for the same reason.)

Thursday, March 15:

15 minutes warmup, Stairmaster stepper, aerobic intervals, resistance at eight
60 minutes shoulders, back and triceps routine, bench-pressing and girlie on-my-knees pushups
45 minutes recumbent bike, manual setting, resistance at nine, and sitting back a little further to keep my legs longer. I keep the pace at 70 rpm or higher for the whole time.

Great book, Harriet the Spy. It seems our copy has moved on from here or I'd give it to you, saef.

Birchie, thanks so much for the offer. One of my discoveries since the flood is how easily I seem to acquire books, as in the months since my salvage operation I've already picked up enough to fill a carton. It's easy as gaining weight -- or attracting lint. They just come to me, one by one.

Friday, March 16th:

90 minute endurance spin class, with me trying out the new adjustment that leaves my legs hanging a bit longer. This was a hard class. I woke to a thunderstorm at 3:30 AM, which started what looks to be an all-day rain, and I didn't get enough sleep, so I felt like drowsing even while my legs were diligently peddling during the warmup period before class.

Yep-- two a year-- one in the fall and one in the spring. They are both during parent conference weeks. Last night was the science fair-- we are always open one or two nights during the fair to coincide with family events...... today we are only open 8-12 (or 1-- whenever everyone leaves) and then we'll start packing up. If I have enough volunteers, I'll direct them and start counting the money, figuring out the stats, etc. It takes a long time-- I'm estimating we've sold about $14,000 so far! Today during recess all of the kiddos will come with their baggies of coins-- no idea what they've got-- forget about tax-- and panic when recess is over. So much fun!

Saturday, St. Patrick's Day

Ran for 4 miles on the usual route, on a warm and foggy morning that feels like several weeks further into the calendar than we really are. Inexplicably, this was a good run. I felt myself struggling all week in spin class, but I found my stride after about a mile and even after going too fast too early, had enough left to finish, with a small burst at the end. I'd say I'm figuring out how to run, but there's no guarantee that, on my next run, it will feel as easy again.

March 15: none

March 16: 40 minutes Stairclimber

March 17: wanted to make it to Bikram Yoga, but it didn't happen. Did make it to the gym at last though.
40 minutes Stairclimber

Totals:
13 days
880 minutes

Sunday, March 18:

Nothing. Woke up in a crummy Travelodge, no gym. Didn't know the area, which was on a major highway, so I didn't run. (Also, my knees and feet bother me if I run two days in a row.) By the time I got home, the two gyms that I belong to were closed and it was raining.

So, nothing. Nothing at all.

March 18: 90 minutes Bikram Yoga

Totals:
14 days
970 minutes