TALES FROM THE TRAIL (AND SOMETIMES THE ROAD TOO)

Showing posts with label workouts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label workouts. Show all posts

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Jump!

Well, time is winding down for me with a road trip fast approaching.  Today I had planned for another timed 9.5 loop (up Meadows).  But I woke to rain and the trails were closed "due to wet and muddy conditions."  I tried not to think about it.  I don't want to get angry.  I DON'T WANT TO GET ANGRY.  What's one timed run?  I spent two hours at the gym yesterday.  If it wasn't for my not so good eating habits, missing one timed 9.5 mile run wouldn't amount to much.  And here we are approaching the holidays . . .

Enough of calories and eating!  What's important for today is that I did something new.  After rushing about running last minute errands in the rain, turning in grades, picking up groceries, mailing Christmas cards, etc., I returned home in a hurry and did something my husband has been urging me to do for a long time. 

It's not what you're thinking.  Get your mind out of the gutter. (kiddin' : )  Hubby has said for I don't know how long, that I need to learn how to jump.  Yes, jump.  And for some reason, I have a fear of jumping, mainly because I feel like I'll fall flat on my face.  I'm not talking about jumping rope, or even jumping across the gym or lawn like I used to in high school volleyball workouts.  I'm talking about standing still and jumping up onto a platflorm, pausing to balance then jumping back down backward.  He's convinced this will help me with running, especially with those technical runs (like Calico!). 

So today, I stood out in my backyard on the wet grass in front of the double-stacked railroad ties that border the planter.  And I stood there for a few minutes gathering my nerve to make that first jump.  To my surprise I made that jump without falling flat on my face into the garden.  But I did use an awful lot of upper body strength to make that flight upward.  My husband convinced me to use more of my legs, which I did.  And surprisingly, that jump up and back grew easier and easier.  My fear of jumping vanished quickly, probably after jump three.  I jumped up onto those double stacked railroad ties 100 times, dripping sweat afterwards.  I have to report the workout was fun.  Really fun. 

Miles logged today:  Zero