April 3 to 24

 

Lot of work being done. I'm cleaning up my act and getting back into my own space at the moment. I keep being woken up ridiculously early like today. I spent the time from 5:30 until about 6:15 just stretching my hips and legs. 

I wish I was lying about that. Being woken up like that is weird, man.

The taking my son swimming continues. We went ... three times this week. Work has been interfering a little, but we got there and it was a bit of silly fun. With some swimming taking place, too.

It was so nice today we went and played a bit of bocce outside. Being in the warmth and having blue skies was  just life affirming.

Here are the gym workouts I'm hitting these days:

AMRAIC (as many rounds as I can)

warm up on elliptical trainer

2 minutes of step ups

2 minutes 12 kilo KB swings - just keeping it off the floor. Presses, swings etc

2 minute elliptical.

This is not genius level work here, but it is work and I'm getting it done. Watching Disney+ at the same time. Today's workout was 30 minutes total

My legs were the hardest hit from the pandemic; sitting for 18 months has really really hurt.

April 3 - and a pause for an updated wish list

I've come even further - I only have a few of these items now

I was just walking about, letting my mind drift when I recalled I haven't done an updated Wish List for my training in a while. I'll point to one such blog post here.

I searched through this blog's history and found I did a wish list back in 2010. I was so young then - I feel so very much older now. And stupider, too.

1) Mats - still got them. I stretch on them every day. They have been a cornerstone of my efforts to stay flexible and malicious. They are in my garage gym and basement at the moment. I try and stretch in both locales every day.

2) Space - still a good space - getting crowded with storing a lot more gear for hiking and water sports, but it is still a good space. Last month, I moved an iMac and wifi extender into the space to watch and listen to stuff while I train. Has worked ok. I have plans for changes in the spring of 2022.

3) Stuff - I don't need any more gear, but I still picked up stretchy bands last month. I'm also on the hunt for a used Apple Watch 3 ... at least a 3 as I want to have the ability to have my watch my heart and call 911 if something bad happens to it. I did pick up a bike and a hitch for the Adventure Van in the spring. Plans for training in the summer outside begin in the van, too. 

4) I took down the posters in the summer and haven't yet put them all back up. Seems bland in there at the moment.

5)Have not been boxing, but am looking into boxing instruction at Cedar Springs. 

6) If there is something I need it is someone to watch my training and be accountable. It is one of the reasons why I'm liking the idea of boxing or BJJ when everything opens back up this summer or next fall. I'm hoping to spend the time between now and then recovering from the place I find myself in at the moment.

7) Foam rollers are always needed. Got one in every room and every other nook and cranny. Along with yoga mats and stretchy bands.

8) Ropes - I think I'll revisit this idea this year, as the costs have come down and my need for low impact cardio has gone up. 

9) Bench - see #3 above - I do have a bench at the moment. It was brand new in box for 15$ from Value Village a few weeks ago. I couldn't leave it there. So, now it is in my garage.

10) Instruction - yeah. This is probably how I will re-start my journey at this time. I need everyone to stop being infected and let's get back to "the normal" I won't go to a class until then. After it's normal, I'll be able to go to Yoga, Boxing ... BJJ...stuff like that. I'll have to "research" the gyms though. A few too many gym owners were infectious disease experts in the last two years and I just don't want to support that. 

Mar 21 to April 2

 

Sunrise on March 13th, 2022

So stuff happens. Things evolve and hopefully get better. As with the growth of trees, the skin ripples and absorbs everything impeding and keeps growing.

Growth comes awkwardly at times though.

I'm taking my son with me these days after school to get into the pool. I can't say the stretching and cardio aspects are quite there in these work outs, but at least there is an element of growth. He's growing. We are growing together. At least the sleeping benefits of going to the pool and making time to do some swimming are still there. 

I am tracking my swimming in my journal these days, as I am tracking a number of healthy habits. Drinking enough water, getting enough movement and stretching done everyday. Writing and reading every day as well. Whether or not I get a date night in with my spouse. Making progress in my bullet journal. I'd like to think that things would be better by this time, but the best I can say is that they are not worse.

Which is better, which is odd to say. Everyone is hurting. A lot of people are pretending that everything is over, but it isn't. Not quite, man. Not quite. 

I do like going swimming when there are very few people if any present. I'll try and keep to that. I did get a bike hitch for the Adventure Van this weekend, too. I keep wondering what's next for it, but I'm also thinking I should just save money and prepare for repairs and maintenance. 

I need to get back to better workouts, but there is something keeping me from doing so. Not sure what, but I know it will boil down to me just yelling at myself to get on with it.

Feb 9 - March 20

 

Yeah man ... it's been a while. Sorry for that, anyone who reads this. I will do better - work and life have been exhausting and there is only taking time away to solve that.

I have been walking in the pool and adding some swimming to my sessions. The last few days have been hit or miss, but most of this time I've been mostly hitting, usually four or five times a week. It has been helpful and my sleeping has been a heck of a lot better. 

As the seasons change here, I look forward to rugby season. I want to look forward to rugby season but will not this year. My side hustle and my intense dislike of the direction of the local club I used to be a part of are going to keep me away in 2022. I started this blog off with the notion that if I needed more money I would start a side hustle. My current side hustle has been the thing that has kept me going and my family going all through this. Depression and mental illness have a hard time growing in hands that really busy.

And so, I will be working on the training nights and Saturdays from now until the end of August 2022. I'm not sure but I'd like to then shift into something else. Why would I do that? I'm interested in a number of other things and this side hustle is ok for money and interest, but I'd like more. 

Walking in the pool is awesome, swimming is a good workout, too. I'm planning little after school "escapes" with my youngest. I'll pick him up and we've planned a spot to get to so that within 15 minutes of leaving the front door of his school we can be in the woods. Should be cool, updates to follow. 

Jan 26 to Feb 8

I've made it a week and a half so far getting into the pool for 30+minute walks. I can't say my legs are liking it yet, but at I'm liking it. I'll keep going with the current routine until the end of the week, then start adding to it.

I just needed to get going. I am using the bands I got a few weeks ago, and am thinking about the battle ropes again.

Most days are walking in the pool while listening to music or my novels that I just have to keep reading. I'm glad the weather isn't messing this up for me. I did basically challenge the weather to snow last week, but nothing.

 It was a valiant effort, but no dice. I did get a few snow afternoons, but nothing else. I was underwhelmed with the effort so far.

Winter will end and I will be aiming to continue with a show on the road.   

Dec 20 to Jan 25

 

The whole world shut down by the time Christmas came. Shortly after the last workout on Dec 23rd, just everything stopped.

I know I'm not supposed to blame anyone, but it would be a lot better if everyone got vaxxed.

We started up after break online for two weeks. I got my stretching done, but it was too much to do, just barely hanging on to my sanity. I don't swear on this blog, but I want to. This was tough.

I'm hoping that going back to in-person doesn't mean I get C19 and something terrible happens. There are no guarantees here and I'm feeling less immortal than I have in a very long time.

Lots of shovelling and walking about - I miss the pool and it should be back open in a few days now. 

Just lots of stress and people wanting me to do things I just don't want to do. 

Dec 13 to Dec 19

 

This just keep plugging along. I'm just getting to the parts where I can go through a day without having to wake in pain or in some sort of weary poor sleep deprived nothingness. My hips are starting to not hurt for no reason and my sleep mis much improved over August.

My foot is also recovered nicely as well. Nagging things are pleasantly absent today anyway. I did spend a part of today working on things at work and things in my house as well. Nice to be functional and able to work and have fun.

Of course I've had to start to book myself in to the pool at my club, thanks to rising numbers with this never ending pandemic. I booked myself in at a time wherein I'm thinking I'm going to be the only person in the place, aside from staff. One can only hope.

Mobility sessions with some fitness as well. My Apple Watch 2 does not like walking in the pool and is off and on with both the distance and the heart rate. I'm not sure of other options at this time, but at least I can get some idea of what is going on. I do like my consistency and so does the Fitness app. 

I do take the opportunity to listen to my readings while I walk. I'm finding it about an hour each session in listening time and since I listen to the books sped up, I'm getting almost a book a week done. I'm actually kinda happy about that. I am also getting news from the rugby club that I find personally disappointing, but I don't air laundry on this blog. I did meet up with a follower of this blog and we got to chat for a bit at the side of the pool one evening. That was pretty cool. 

I'd like to think that this next few months are my chance to get rugby ready in so many ways, but whether rugby will be running at all this summer is still a very good question. I may be in lockdown next month, but who knows.