It's the month when the air gets a little crisper, the colors start coming on, and change is in the air. And change is good when we're striving to become better versions of ourselves.

We're maintainers moving through October.

Wednesday, October 1st:

NROLW Stage 7, last workout of the first round, in the gym at the Luxor Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas.

The only women in the weight section with the dudes.


Thursday, October 2nd:

No formal exercise, except hauling overstuffed baggage on escalators and hallways, lifting it into car trunks, on shuttle buses, off baggage carousels, walking across vast airports, parking garages, casino floors, etc.


Friday, October 3rd:

NROLW Stage 7, Workout 1, the start of the second round. And yes, I am stronger than I was about two weeks ago, when I first did this workout.

Thurs 10/2:
DAY 1 of couch to 5k. I haven't run since before I started board studying in the spring and I can't just pick up and get back into it - I'm terrible at pacing. So starting over again, feeling humbled but determined!

Fri 10/3: Day 2 of C25K + 1/2 mile elliptical. Still eating my humble pie - I feel like I could run longer than the 60 second intervals, but before when I tried that I just got frustrated and burned out. It's almost harder starting "again" than it was starting the first time!

Saturday, Oct. 4th:

The usual for a Saturday, during a downpour
60 minutes spin class
60 minutes Pilates mat class

Wed 10/1 - C25K - I finished so I just repeat week 9
Thur 10/2 Strength training. I'm using a trainer at the moment and he has me do all kinds of things - arms/quads/abs/back, etc
Fri 10/3 C25K
Sat 10/4 Biking. I was really off today. Just couldn't go fast. We went 25 miles in 2 hours but last week we did that in 1:45 I think. I just didn't seem to have energy. But yesterday was my birthday and we went out and I had a lot more wine than I have had in forever (3 glasses). Normally I have 0-2 in a month at the most!
We had fun though! We are going out tonight again with DS, his GF and MIL. I won't have wine this time unless the MIL drives me insane and I feel I must.

Sunday, October 5th:

NROLW, Stage 7, workout 2 of the second round. Wondering if I can bench the 90-lb barbell, thinking how to get a spotter in this gym. It will have to be a guy since none of the women but the trainers would know how.

On the evening news I saw an 84 year old Nun. She is going to run the Iromman. I must say she looks great , she looks better at 84 than I did at 20.

I'm embarking on the second week of waking at 4 AM for my morning workout. Last week I managed all 5 weekdays and only once felt tired in the evening. My sleep patterns have actually benefitted from this. Granted I'm not getting 8 hours in (sometimes only 6) but I'm sleeping deeper for longer periods and waking rarely. Perhaps I'm not one who needs 8 hours a night.

Bargoo~my friend posted a photo of an 80 year old woman who looked not a day over 50. Fit and sculpted. I was envious. In researching a little I found out that she was actually only 77 but hadn't embarked on a workout regimen until she was 56. There is hope for me yet! Her biggest remark was something like "I do the same thing every day" in terms of her workouts. It obviously works for her.

Monday, Oct. 6th:

45 minute spin class, which felt really good -- I was really "on" for some reason. I don't know if it was the crisp air or my determination to enjoy this moment of physical release before plunging back into the working week, which I am not looking forward to.

Tuesday, Oct. 7th:

NROLW Stage 7, workout three of the second round of this stage. Three more to go and I'll have completed the program. This workout was difficult to keep on track because I did it in the evening, when there were men in the gym competing for the barbells, the benches and the Smith machine. When I go in the morning, they aren't there and I have the equipment all to myself for my circuits.


Wednesday, Oct. 8th:

45 minute spin class, at 6 AM, after waking up way too early at 2:30 AM and feeling unable to go to sleep again.

Saef, just wanted to say you're doing a great job with NRLW! It sounds like you're getting much stronger.

Hey Jessica, thanks! This last Stage 7 has been a revelation. Half of it is that I willing to **attempt** something heavier than what I had been doing, and then sometimes the attempt is successful!

Thursday, Oct. 9th:

45 minute elliptical, resistance at nine, difficult but not beyond me.
60 minute Pilates mat class in the evening

Friday, Oct. 10th:

NROLW Stage 7, workout four of the second round. I'm almost done. Today I put the big 45-lb plates on the bar for my squats.

Saturday, Oct. 11th:

The usual morning of classes at the gym, which feels like my social club:

60 minute spin class
60 minute Pilates mat class


Sunday, Oct. 12th:

NROLW Stage 7, workout five of the second round. Could not attempt benching the 90-lb barbell because no spotters available.

Then something perplexing. When I was done with that part, and doing a circuit, a very slender, very young pale curly-haired guy who I've never seen at the gym before showed up. "Are you done with that?" he said, referring to the Smith machine, which I use for the split squats with rear foot elevated. He had seen me setting it up, hanging the plates, and I hadn't begun using it yet, so I was surprised. "No. I've got 15 reps on each leg, then you can work in it." So I did my reps. Then I emptied the bars and left the machine for him. But he never touched it, never went near it again. I don't know what he was doing, as I focused on my workout, but I was puzzled by the urgency and then the complete lack of interest in the machine. Since he wasn't using it, after 15 minutes, I returned to it & loaded it up, for another round of my circuit. I unloaded again. He never went near it. Same thing, for four rounds. Must have changed his mind? The girl at the desk said he wasn't a member and had bought a day pass.

They can be a bit nervy, in my experience.