Sporty Sunday: Fitness Routine, August 2013

It’s been almost a year since my last Sporty Sunday post. In that year, I moved to California, started a new job, bought a house, sold a house, got a dog, and eloped. In all that transition, I abandoned many of my good habits. I had intentions of keeping up my workouts and healthy eating, but the stress and long hours defeated me. For a month, I literally only slept and worked (and survived on a diet of fake chicken nuggets, pistachios, and Pyramid Apricot Ale). Over the course of the next six months, I cut my working hours to a more reasonable level and started taking care of my body, again. I still rely a little too heavily on fake meat products and alcohol, but my workouts are back on track (if not at a competitive level):

Running

3.5 miles, 5 days a week


Jasper doesn’t normally pull during our runs, but he got a little excited as we raced back and forth in front of Beefy for these shots
At Jasper’s final puppy shot appointment, I asked the vet, “How soon can he start running?” The doc gave me the immediate go ahead and we began run-walking the next day. We currently run from our house to the river. I can’t wait to start running along the water, but I’m waiting until Jasper has finished growing before I increase our distance.

I plan an entire series of Sporty Sundays detailing how we learned to run together and some of our best practices.

Swimming

1 hour, 3 days a week (with Masters Swim)


I’m so happy to be back in the water! It is great crosstraining and so gentle on my joints. I swim the easy workouts with the older folks.


Handstands are optional.
Hiking

5 – 10 miles, 1 day a week

I tell people I moved to California for my job, but it was really for the Sierra Nevada mountains. They truly are my favorite place on earth. I’m planning on hiking every trail in the Desolation Wilderness, but we also hike in the Eldorado National Forest and the Molokumne Wilderness. When the snow level descends, we’ll go west, towards Napa. It’s lovely country, but a poor substitute for acres of granite, crystalline lakes, and towering peaks.


Jasper gets to hike the trails leash-free. We practice recall and proper greeting etiquette along the trail. He is leashed when we pass children and unfriendly dogs (and when we are near vehicular traffic). That dog was made for the mountains! He is so joyful as he sprints ahead (and runs back to check on me), vaults on top of boulders for the view, and splashes in lakes and streams.

Until the new year, I’m just enjoying my workouts and establishing a good exercise routine. In 2014, it will change as I prepare for Sharkfest (swim from Alcatraz to the shore) and my 2nd Pike’s Peak Ascent.

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!