A Full Day

After Tuesday's swim practice with the Forty-Lap Kid, I took it easy in the pool Wednesday morning. By easy, I mean I dialed the intensity down, but I went up in the volume department. I swam

  1,500

  4 X 50 back

  total: 1,700

That's a practice, and in between two sessions of intensity, it should move me down the fitness road a little bit. Two sessions? Yeah, I am assuming another tough practice Thursday morning.

After breakfast and blogging, I went out for a little shuffle going 5.3 miles. This weather is great. Finally, we are back to Mississippi winters. I began to doubt they would ever return.

I did some napping and school work after lunch. We never finish anymore. There is always something else to do. But, I do have some time. And for me, time is worth a lot more than money.

Around 4:00 p.m., I went to Plate City Gym. It was leg day/night. I did squats, standing and seated calf raises, leg extensions, and leg curls. To aid recovery, I took a protein shake immediately after the gym, then thirty minutes later ate an omelette. Thirty minutes after that, I drank a glass of milk. Protein in. I tried to get plenty of sleep, but I might have failed in that regard.

So it was a good day. I achieved three solid workouts, rested some, and spent time with Pee Wee and the cats. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

A Real Practice

"Z, let's start slow, but kick it back in gear in the pool, if you feeling up to it." That was Big T, Tyler Kirk, my training partner. I needed that message and the kicking it back in gear has begun. Slow, yes, but it has begun.

We met Tuesday morning at the little pool. The practice, a real one, went like this:

  600

  6 X 50 r 15

  200 easy

  3 X 50 r 15

  150 cool down

  total: 1,400 yards

The 50s I found tough. I'm not in shape, not in competition shape anyway. After three on the second set, I declared myself done. I didn't want anymore. It is amazing how that works. I can swim for hours up and down that pool, but as soon as it turns to fast 50s on a short rest, it's not long before I want out, before I want to go home and see my cats. But as T said, "It's a start."

At work, we are in exams. I ususally turn into a shepherd, looking for wild sheep. Enough about that. I did get off and went home and shuffled for 3.3 miles. Then I took some rest before going to Plate City Gym.

At the gym, I did push and pull, spent time with Pee Wee, and just generally enjoyed the outdoors. The huge trees that populate our neighbohood, are beautiful when slightly backlit by a darkening winter sky. These views never get old. Soon I will be hearing geese in the sky above. Life is good. Thank you, Jesus.

Sometimes Nothing Is a Pretty Big Something

I'm starting to feel more like my shoulder is almost well. I say "almost" because I am not sure it will ever be 100%. But I'll do what I can do. I did what I could do Monday morning. I swam 

  1,100

  2 X 25 no breath

  2 X 50 stiff

  3 X 50 back

  total:1,400 yards

That was an actual practice. An easy on, no doubt, but a practice.

After that, I had a pretty long day at work. Exams. Yeah, always a big party. Will I be public shamed this semester for doing my job? If I get a Missing Grades email (sent to everyone who works for the school) when grades are not yet due, I might

I ran in the dark with my new flashlight. Flashlights are a lot better than they were back in the day. They are, however, still undependable after a few uses. I went 5.32 miles and enjoyed myself. I even ran out Money Road after full darnkness. Not far, but I crossed the bridge into the darkness and went a bit north. There is a feeling that comes with the annonymity of darkness. I love it. 

Not a bad start to a tough week. Just a few more days and then, I am off for a few weeks. I need the time. Rest, training, cats, family, friends, nothing. Yes, sometimes nothing is a pretty big something.

11/28 - 12/4

The end of a semester is always a difficult time for college teachers for English teachers. That's one reason I try to bust out a big one during Thanksgiving break. During the last two weeks of the semester, I go into survival mode. That includes training. Right now I am giving an exam. I will grade and enter grades and thow fits. But the end is near.

Monday I swam 800 yards. If memory serves me correctly, having to take care of necessary business was what knocked a dent into that practice. After work-- my long day, remember-- I shuffled 3.34 miles.

Tuesday morning Tyler and I met up at the pool. I swam 1,200. He swam more. Then I shuffled 1.98 on the treadmill while I lifted both push and pull that evening. 

By Wednesday morning, I was feeling a little bit like a swimmer again. Thus I went a whole 1,250 yards. On the road, I lasted 2.45 miles. Not big numbers, but numbers nevertheless.

Thursday found me in stride, or in stroke, maybe I should say. I swam a whopping 1,300 before scurrying off to work. After work, I lifted some more and shuffled 1.49 miles.

Friday, I had to wait until after my Social Security appointment to go out for my long run. I did 17.85 miles out Money Road and back then went to the parade with Penny. Yeah, I'm dutiful like that. 

Saturday was big shopping with Penny. I ran 1.05 miles in a parking lot. That may not be much, but it reminded my legs that they are always on call even after and really long run.

For the week, I

  swam 4,149 meters,

  skiergged 6:05 minutes,

  lifted weights two times, and

  ran 28.16 miles

That wasn't too bad for the end of the semester. One more week of getting by and then I will train in a Randy-Beetsdown fashion. Yeah, I'm vengeful like that. Forgive me, Lord.

Give Me that Cookie Now

Friday morning, I drank coffee from my new mug and waited on a phone call. The call came in right on time. It was my Social Security appointment. Yeah, I am that age, about to start drawing. Retire? I am taking that one year at a time. Right now, I plan to keep working.

I also plan to keep working out. After my phone call, I dressed and headed out the door for some road work. Since I had that delay, I went out Money Road, 9.11 miles before I turned around. I was wanting to drive somewhere and do some exploring on foot. But I have a break coming soon, and that is at the top of my list. I actually have a list. My goal is to check them off one by one.

It was not a particularly strong run for run. Over the last two miles I walked a bit. When I made it home, I had 17.85 miles of running on my legs. It was 3:15, Penny was home, and she was ready to go to the parade. Yeah, that. I did it. Give me a cookie.

Friends, Cats, and a New Mug

For the second day in a row, I didn't do much. But I did do something. A couple of somethings. Tyler cancelled on the pool, but I went alone and did a straight swim. I went 1,300, which is pretty much all I can do and still get to work on time. Then at school, we had a good day. We had our faculty/staff Christmas luncheon and dirty Santa party. It was nice, and I got a good gift: some candy, coffee, and a mug that I am drinking coffee out of now. I had to steal it from BK, but the good thing is, I think everyone was happy with what they wound up with.

Even though I did full body Tuesday, I decided to workout again Thursday evening. I did full upper body. Usually, I space weight workouts 72 hours apart for the same muscle group. But hey, I'm bad like that. I can handle it. I ran on the treadmill and hung out with Pee Wee. It was chilly but cozy out there. I had fun to top off a nice, full day.

Now we are down to one more week. During the break, I plan to do lots of training, lots of cat petting, and lots of coffee drinking. I want to go back and see my aunt again, and drive down and get up with Charlie Turner and Lynn Watts. That should be something special. Thank you, Jesus. Life is good with friends, cats, and a new mug.

Violent Cats

I'm taking it kind of easy this week. I swam again Wednesday morning. My shoulder is better. It has not been popping as much or as loud. It was popping so loud that people nearby would turn around and look when I moved and my shoulder sounding like a large stick breaking. That loosness apparently happened when I took that fall on Friday while I was out on a long run. I fell down and landed hard on my right shoulder. I have re-aggrivated it a couple of times since, but now it seems that I am on the mend. I swam 1,250 straight with some multi-pacing and backstroke interspersed. 

Since I hit all body parts Tuesday afternoon, I did not go to Plate City Wednesday. I did go for a short, easy run of 2.45 miles. After I went to bed, I had three of the cats all over me. It was great. Until they became violent with each other. Then, not so much.