Exercise. It’s a four letter word times two. Exercise is a word we love to hate.
Many of you know that for my exercise, I love to walk. I have walked long, long distances for a good cause.
Over the summer, I was in the habit of getting up early to walk. My alarm would go off at 5am. I would drag myself out of bed just before Ed’s final snooze, throw my exercise clothes on and head out the door as Ed got into the shower. During our hot, hot summer the morning was the best time to walk. The sun was just rising; the air was still cool, (or as cool as it was going to be that day) and the whole world was quiet. I would come home feeling great, kiss Ed goodbye as he pulled out of the driveway and head inside for my morning cup of coffee with the newspaper.
I have a confession to make. Some people love to walk with a companion, to have someone else to chat with and to help set the pace. I hate it. I’m a loner. I don’t want to talk; I want to set my own pace, thankyouverymuch. I want to plug those ear buds in, listen to my playlists and be in a world all by my lonesome. Sometimes I want nothing more than to listen to the sounds around me; the wind blowing though the tree, the birds, the distant traffic. I crave the alone time and the thinking time. Walking is contemplative for me. I can’t be contemplative with someone blabbing the whole time about how slouching is bad for my digestion.
Everything was going so well and I was really racking up the summer miles.
Then one weekend, I caught a fever.
No, really, an honest to goodness fever. My temperature was over 100, so I spent the weekend resting and reading. No walking for me.
Then I just got out of the habit. Just like that. School started for the kids, I started teaching again, and I’m tired. I don’t want to get up at 5am anymore. It’s too dark. It’s too cold.
I miss the way it felt. How addicting it was to get my muscles moving; to get my heart pumping. To try to walk faster each day; to try shoot for that 15 minutes mile.
Today, the calendar is clear. Today, after I drop off the girls at school, I’m going for that walk. I’ll keep you updated.
And because I mentioned coffee up there in the first paragraph, I’m linking up to Coffee Friday. (I finally remembered, Paloma!)
I'm with you – I like to walk or run all by my lonesome. It's such a good way to clear your head and be all alone. And I also love that early morning time, but honestly, I just can't get it together to get up and run that early, mostly because I love that late at night alone time too!! Maybe now that it's cooler, you can get the later in the day thing happening for you.
You are linked!
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I love that late night time alone too! The older I get, the more of a night owl I become. I used to be strictly a morning person!
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YAY Ginny! You did remember! 😉 … I love walking too but I am trying to run now… it's hard and I like running on my own too but I have a friend that I actually like running with just because when I am about to give up she makes me keep going and get to the goal I had originally set for myself… I hate her in the moment (LOL!) but I love her when I get there! 🙂
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Good for you! It's great to have someone who pushes you! I'd like to start incorporating a little jogging into my walking. I used to run for track meets a long, long time ago!
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I'm totally with you – when I go for walks, I much rather make it a solo walk vs. trying to chit-chat while walking. I just wish there was a good place to walk around here – maybe after we move back to Washington State…meanwhile I'll have to restart my workouts in the privacy of my living room. 😉
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Privacy sounds good to me! Sometimes I get self-conscious when I'm exercising!
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yay!! I like both, companionship and going it alone. So I alternate, but I also run, and chatting while running is near impossible for me. But having a friend to run with pushes me to keep trying, to keep pace with her mile-long legs, and finish strong! However you do it, it's such a great feeling, but I totally know the difficulty of just getting started again.
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I was amazed at the run you just completed! You are awesome!
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You're right, this does go well with that walking poster I shared. Thanks for letting me know! I try to go most mornings for a two miler. I always take one dog with me as two is sort of too much for me to handle. Then in the evening hubby and I try to go again and take both dogs. As I've mentioned, an athlete I am not, but I am a darn good walker! Hopefully we can both keep at it.
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I did go out for a two mile walk today! Yay! I love walking with my husband, but we'll have to wait until the girls are a little older to be able to go out together. (sans kids!)
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Hi…I like to walk, too. My Mr. and I walk a mile every morning on the track in the park by our house. We walk about 7…before it gets hot.
Sorry you are having trouble getting back into it. I guess when it gets really cold, I will try to get out of walking but Mister will push me on. :))
I'm over from Coffee….
xo bj
Thanks so much for stopping by, bj! It's good that your Mr. will push you to walk when it's cold. Then you can come home to that wonderful fireplace of yours!
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Oh with you girl…I will get in the groove and then knocked off…but just get back going and you will never know you had taken a break…I am putting my walking shoes back on also…cooler weather just calls me out doors….Happy Walking!!
I am really looking forward to the cooler weather! It's hard walking when it's so hot outside.
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I hope you find your walking routine again. I know how hard it is to MAKE the habit and how easy it is to BREAK the habit. I have a genetic disorder that bottom line means I need a very strong core of I am in a lot of pain. I discovered Pilates 7 years ago and was doing well. My trainer has had a rough year which means I basically haven't done hardcore Pilates in almost a year. It is amazing how much fun it is NOT doing Pilates and how easy it is to fall out of the habit- unfortunately the muscle strength leaves just as easily. So it is back to the grind for me as well.
Good luck getting back into it! I hope you are able to strengthen your core again. I have a Pilates video tape (yes, I wrote tape) that I love! Hopefully my VCR will keep working!
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I so know how you feel. I"m like that as well, and I can't get back in the habit yet.
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I went walking yesterday while the girls were at school, so that's a start!
My recent post Time to Pound the Pavement {Spin Cycle}
I totally agree! I love walking. It's so good for you. I hope you got your walk in! 🙂
I did! And it felt good!
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I've always wondered why it's so easy to get out of a habit that's good for you but so hard to break one that's bad for you. Hope you got your walk in. I'll be doing good if I walk to the mailbox….I might just send the kids. They need the exercise! 🙂
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Oh, yes, send the kids! Definitely. 😉
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Oh I KNOW that feeling! And when you're sore it is even harder. 🙁 It is a total mind-game though…we always feel better if we're moving.
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That's for sure. It seems strange, but I am less tired when I start to exercise more regularly!
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I hate how easy it is to get out of the habit of getting up. And exercising in the morning is so hard, even when it's not cold and dark. I don't know how you do it!
I love the morning, but it is hard to get up, especially when I've been up late blogging!
My recent post Time to Pound the Pavement {Spin Cycle}
I love the morning, but it is hard to get up, especially when I've been up late blogging!
My recent post Time to Pound the Pavement {Spin Cycle}