My Goal

I ran the same route as last week. I was able to shave off one minute and do it in 32 minutes. My goal is to do it in 30 minutes within 2 weekends. I'm going to do a different route tomorrow. Then, next weekend, hopefully I can do it in 31 minutes. Thus, by the following weekend, I'll be able to do it in 30 minutes.

Then, I'll need a new goal.

By the way, if anyone has any ideas for new routes, please let me know.

The Bottom

As I've mentioned in a previous post, we're living just east of Shockoe Bottom. Or as Richmonders like to say, "The Bottom". Well, today, I decided I would run outside instead of on a treadmill. It's been a long time since I ran outside. I now fully appreciate that we're at the "bottom" of a hill. It was quite a climb to the west towards the VCU campus. I was able to run 3 miles in 33 minutes. On flat land, I usually can do it in about 28 minutes or so. That's still slow compared to most of the runners I know but I was quite happy with that time as I actually walked a few times.

Shocking

Here's what was going through my head this morning:

Freak accident kills woman in Richmond, VA on Saturday. She was running on a treadmill as she has done many times. As she ran, she unknowingly was building up an electrical charge. As she always does at about minute 20, she pushed the button to increase her speed. But, instead of increasing her speed, it gave her such a powerful shock that she fell backwards off the treadmill which caused her to run into the wall.

Ok, so that's not exactly how it happened but the shock was so powerful, it caused all of my hair to stand up (even though it was in a ponytail) and my Ipod to short out!! I will never get back on that particular treadmill.

Good Morning

I haven't been as good about posting because we currently don't have wireless internet. I have to sit at a desk in order to use the computer. I've gotten really used to being able to take the computer wherever I want in the house. Anyway, the reason I'm posting right now is that MTH gets up very early in order to get his workout done for the day. I've gone with him once (he just started going in the mornings when we moved here to Richmond). I expect to go a few more times before we move to the new place. Once we move, it won't be as convenient for me to go in the mornings. Since we're currently living in an apartment building, the fitness center is just steps from our apartment. When we move, he'll have to drive to the gym. He'll be able to take a shower there and drive straight to work. I would rather not have to take all of my products to the gym in order to get ready after working out. Also, people in his office don't get in as early as they do in my office so he has more time in the mornings.

Living here in Richmond definitely has some positives. I'm sure everyone is aware that the housing is much less expensive here than in the DC area. Well, just about everything else is less expensive. I bought a tall skim latte at Starbuck's on Sunday. It was three dollars even. In DC, it's at least $3.30. I realize that's a small difference but it definitely adds up. MTH picked up our dry cleaning yesterday. He thinks that it cost at least half of what we were paying before.

Of course, there are some negatives as well. While the grocery store is cheaper, they don't have quite the selection that I've gotten used to. It's certainly not the end of the world but I will miss some things.

It looks like like it's going to snow today. That means I could be home early. I'm definitely not going to stay around at work if it starts snowing. Our offices are out in the woods and I don't want to get stuck there!

Gotta go get ready for the day.

Resolution Number Two

Get back into working out once we’ve moved to Richmond. I still need to decide what “working out” means. It may be something other than running in order to do something different. The great thing about running though is that there’s no equipment needed except a good pair of shoes.

Yoga

This week has been interesting for yoga. On Thursday, I was going to my normal ashtanga class that's held in my work gym. But, it seems that the teacher is on vacation for 2 weeks. So, there was a plyometrics class instead. Unless you're MTH, you're probably asking "What is plyometrics?" as I was. Well, it's this workout that involves a lot of jumping. Here's the definition from Wikipedia:

Plyometrics is a type of exercise that uses explosive movements to develop muscular power. It may be used, for example, to improve the effectiveness of a boxer's punch, or to quicken the vertical jumping ability of a volleyball player.

It was very hard while doing it and then on Friday and Saturday, I was very sore!! It was hard to sit down and then get back up.

My next try at yoga was this morning. The interesting part is that MTH went with me. It was an open class which means that the instructor works on what the class wants. So, there wasn't a "flow" like there is in ashtanga but I did learn some new moves. I really enjoyed it and I think that MTH did as well.