Working Out Works for Me

I got on a treadmill about 2 years ago and couldn’t run a full mile. I was shocked.

I had a mental image of myself as a physically fit person which shattered with the panting, sweating reality. This state of being needed to change both for my body and my spirit.

I was carrying a few extra vanity pounds but (thanks 5th floor walk-up) I was not overweight. I was, however, obviously not healthy or active. I started with making my sporadic Bikram practice a priority and hitting the treadmill. My only gidea was to get to running a full mile without stopping… that means I’m in good shape right?

Jingle Bell Jogger “Get more fit” is pretty nebulous and thus not at all likely to be successfully achieved.

The turning point came a friend suggested that we sign up for a 4mi run in 4 months time. Yes. A true goal and friendly competition. I can work with that.

By the time the Jingle Bell Jog came and went I was hooked on what exercise could do for my body but also what it does for my mind.

Looking over posts and social media presence over the last year I have been surprised at how much I’ve talked about my fitness goals. I never thought I would be that girl – not even to think about a gym rat – but here I am tweeting about lifting and facebooking about triathloning.

It is common to see bloggers and lifestyle designers working on their bodes as well as their businesses. Pushing physical limits beyond conformity (hello obesity epidemic) seems to come with the territory of breaking other social norms for life path. There is the idea that we just want to be around for a long time, stay up later, do more, so we begin to take care of ourselves physically. There is escapism and vanity but there are two additional big reasons for this correlation.

Why do we do it?
1. The Finish Line
2. The spirit-mind-body triad

[Read more…]

My Journey List

Per inspiration and instructions from Mr. Impossible himself (AKA Joel Runyon of the Impossible League) I am sharing my own intended Life Itinerary Way-points:

The truly Epic:

Substantially and Quantifiably help one person pursue his/her passion… every year

Invent one word that makes it into the Dictionary (not just the urban one)

Fund an artist for (at least) a year

Other Life:

52 weeks of one blog post a week

52 weeks of one book a week

1 year living debt free (no mortgage, car payment, student loans, nor carried credit card balances)

Live in another country for (at least) 6 months

Publish an Academic Article

Publish a Non-Fiction Article (printed)

Be paid for a speaking gig

Teach a collegiate course

Travel:

Solo travel in non-english speaking country

Visit Every Continent

Drive US coast-to-coast

Spend (at least) 1 week hiking Appalachian Trail (or comparable)

Stay in a hostel (yes, I really never have)

Couchsurf

WOOF

Spend a night on a sailboat at sea

Have coffee in 50 countries before I turn 50

Fitness:

Race/Ride/Event in every US State (and DC)

5K (technically I haven’t raced a 5K, first race was 4miles) (Corri di Vita 9/30/12)

 

10K

Half Marathon

30mile No-Stop Ride

Metric Century Ride

Full Century Ride

Double Century (2 Days)

Double Century in one day (STP – July 2012)

Triathalon – sprint distance

Triathlon – olympic distance

Things to learn:

Scuba

Emergency Medical Training

Yoga teaching certification

Fluent in one other language

Things to try:

Bellydancing

Poledancing (for fitness)

Rollerderby

Trapeze

Guided Meditation

Fly a plane

Jump out of a plane (skydive)

Rappel

Hand-glide

Roast my own coffee

Brew My own beer

Raise Chickens

A 3-Day Fast

Vegan for 3 months

Polar Bear Swim

Surfing

Snowboarding

 

32nd Year Books

(* = A Future Librarian Recommended Read)

* 1. “Unfamiliar Fishes” Sarah Vowell

* 2. “Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter” Seth Grahame-Smith (really quite good and surprisingly moving)

* 3. “Bossypants” Tina Fey

4. “The New Glucose Revolution Guide to Living Well with PCOS” (the whole dern thing)

* 5. “Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk” David Sedaris

6. “Black Coffee Blues” Henry Rollins (did not enjoy it except for one phrase)

7. “Happiest Toddler on the Block” Dr Harvey Karp (useful but not far off what we have been doing)

8. “Gator A-Go-Go” Tim Dorsey (good Summer Book read and possible intro to Dorsey)

* 9. “The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove” Chis Moore (Very fun, another great Moore)

10. “The Chocolate War” Robert Cormier (purchased on the road for $1, one I didn’t read in high school and felt like I should – was a good travel read)

<even though I am not continuing this project, I am going to continue my list – now with linkage>

* 11. “The Art of Non-Conformity” Chris Guillebeau

* 12. The Summer Without Men Siri Hustvedt

* 13. The Flinch Julien Smith (full reaction/review)

14. “The Color Purple” Alice Walker

15. “A Christmas Memory: One Christmas, and The Thanksgiving Visitor” Truman Capote

* 16. “Boy Still Missing” John Searles

*17. “A Visit from the Goon Squad” Jennifer Eagan (very much enjoyed)

18. “Mysteries of Pittsburgh” Michael Chabon

19. “31 Days to Finding Your Blogging Mojo” Bryan Allain

**20. “Sacre Bleu” Christopher Moore (see review)

*21. “Bird By Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life” Anne Lamott

*22. “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened” Jenny Lawson (The Bloggess)