Be in better shape when I turn 32 than I've ever been before.
Anyone inclined to suggest that this is incompatible with Resolution # 1, please pipe down. And please note the order of the resolutions.
Training to walk this marathon has been a fun thing to do, and a great way to be outside regularly, and for long periods of time. A side benefit has been that I've had to learn quite a bit about proper gear and being comfortable in the cold for many hours of exertion. And my legs are definitely stronger than they've been, and my stamina better. Today I walked 12 miles and it's not noticeable -- just feels like I did a short walk. When I started this thing 12 miles was a big deal.
But anyway, this marathon training hasn't had a dramatic affect on my body or the way I feel about it. I'm proud of myself, and feel pretty good about what I can do. But I've been stronger and leaner and more flexible before, and I'd like to get back there again.
Housemate and I have already decided that after this marathon we'll pick out a half-marathon in the springtime to train for. We both like walking. It's good for our friendship, and it's great to be outside so much. We're going to focus on speed this time. Training for the half-marathon sounds so much more manageable. Our longest walk will be only 8 or 10 miles -- a couple of hours, easy. But we'll be pushing the speed part of things, aiming for a 12 minute mile or under. When you're walking that fast your arms are pumping like crazy and your body keeps wanting to break into a run. At that speed I guess walking starts to be pretty serious exercise. We'll see.
I miss yoga, quite a lot, and I miss being able to do a whole bunch of push-ups, so I'll probably braid those back into my life. In about six months I'll see how I'm doing, and how I'm stacking up to the resolution.
I was in the best shape of my life in 1999 and 2000, I think. I had just broken an engagement and was heady and determined to live MY way. Looking back it was a frantic time. My journal is full of pages and pages of tiny printing -- each day's entry six or seven pages, sometimes several entries a day. I was working 25 hours a week and was interviewing with firms and was going to school full time and getting up early to work out, and was running in the middle of the day and going to karate at night and I look at the whole thing now and think whoah, kiddo, slow down. Maybe it's not fair to say I was in the best shape of my life, even though it was the time I looked the best in a short skirt. It's not what I aspire to for the upcoming year.
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