Habits

I started this post a week ago (maybe longer) and forgot I didn't finish it.  

I have become quite reluctant to run outside this winter.  I run when it's sunny and beautiful, but if it's raining, or late, I say screw it and do one mile on my treadmill.  This has meant that my mileage continues to be low, because I'm not running outside and I hate running on the treadmill.  

Western Washington isn't necessarily cold.  I don't remember it ever being single digits, but it does rain a lot.  I don't care for western WA rain, it's drizzly and is like running through a cloud.  I am trying to run outside, but I've gotten so used to just running one mile on my treadmill that it has become my go-to.  I remember, just five short months ago, when I complained about the treadmill and hated that I was only running one mile.

I know it's just habit.  It has been a habit to run everyday for over 2 years, and at first that meant I was running outside.  Then I hurt my ankle and it became habit to run on the treadmill.  I just need to make it a habit going outside again.  

I love the idea of running a lot of miles.  I can see parts of my 20+ long run route when I drive to work (which is only once a week currently) and I always think of how much I loved those miles . . . back in 2015.  Now, the idea of running 5 miles seems so daunting.  Plus, I don't even know if my body can handle 20+ miles anymore.  Getting older certainly does a number on your body.  

Not only am I running every day (most days inside on the treadmill), but I am also doing weight exercises that I did with my trainer in November and December, and I started "yoga" (I think it's more like pilates).  I follow beachyogagirl on instagram and suddenly ads for her yoga program started popping up on Facebook.  I decided to join her "thing" and have been doing her Metabolic Workout almost daily.  I have only been doing that a week and see no benefit.  I have seen, or maybe felt is a better word, a difference with the weight exercises I've been doing for 3 months now.  My weights are a little heavier, I can balance on one leg a lot better (she did a lot of balance things with me because I wasn't good with them).  I've had comments on my backside being nicer, so I know if I stick with something it works, even if I don't see an immediate difference.  (I am definitely a child of wanting instant results.)  

I've even gotten my sisters working out with me.  I told one of my sisters (Nancy, the one I'm very close to) that I needed someone to hold me accountable, so I asked her if she would be interested in joining me for the weight exercises a couple times a week.  She agreed, so we were doing them 2 or 3 times a week together.  Then I decided I wanted to try the yoga thing, so she's been doing that everyday I have.  We do it on Zoom, I share my screen and then we follow together.  It makes it more fun and I feel like I "have" to do it now.  Then, we decided to ask our younger sister, Tami, if she wanted to join us (not for the yoga, she wouldn't be able to do that).  She's only been able to join us on Saturdays, but it's been fun, and it gets our very sedentary sister doing something, even if it's only once a week.

I don't know where I'll end up this year, but I hope to be in a better place than I started.  Plus, going to Hawaii in June is a good motivation to do better.

Oh, I didn't tell you I was going to Hawaii in June?  Well, we've been planning on going for 2 years, and we just bought our tickets last week.  Here's hoping COVID has lessened a little and we are able to go.  😊 I can't wait!