Jog at the ball park

Sometimes we have to take advantage of the time we have to exercise. I am speaking mostly to women who have school age children who are busy with various activities, like playing ball at different ball parks or practicing dance and piano on a regular basis.

 

Four years ago, when I became committed to losing weight and getting in better shape, I would walk around the ball field during warm-ups, rather than setting camp in my folding chair. I also decided to stand during the games. Standing is helpful because it uses more calories than sitting. Also, it becomes a stress-relieving activity. I get nervous when my kids pitch or bat or swim races. I want them to:

• play or swim or bowl well.
• play the game as it was meant to be played. 
• swim her race or bowl his game.
• use the skills that they learned.

 

The more important the game or meet, the more nervous I get for them. I guess because using their skills become even more important during the games where something is at a stake--whether it is pride or a championship.

 

Anyway, I use the ball park as a great place to expend calories.

 

Today, when we first arrived in Millbrook for a tournament, I took a 50 minute jog. I know I can take time to walk or jog during the 1 hour before the game because my girl is busy warming up, she has the essentials, and she is being taken care of because my husband is the coach.

 

This morning I jogged down a street that turned into a county road. It made for an interesting jog. As I jogged "out" of town a bit, the shoulder at times had grass taller than me and patches of briars. Oncoming traffic required me to jump to the shoulder and sometimes straddle the briars.

 

It is always interesting to jog a new route, particular in a town I am unfamiliar. When I do this I learn something about the area. I also find myself not concerned with my speed or the distance, I just jog.

 

The most interesting part of this jog was in the outskirts of town, I found the smell of the country to bring back memories of the smells at home near the creek. Hot, humid , but fresh. It is hard to describe. I am not sure what is blooming that has a fresh and sweet smell that is not overbearing. The moisture in the air near the creek and today in Millbrook because the Alabama River is nearby has feel about that is beyond humid, but an almost refreshing feel.

This morning workout included: 

• I stretched my legs a little.
• I jogged variable speed for 50 minutes.
• I walked about .1 mile.
• I stretched 20 seconds toe-touch hold with feet together.
• I stretched 20 seconds each with one leg crossed over.
• I stretched 20 seconds each for a hamstring stretch.
• I stretched 20 seconds for calf stretch.
• I stood or walked for most of the game.

 

The advantages of this kind of activity during warm-ups are:

• expending calories
• using muscles
• getting a cardio workout
• not using my time with the kids to get my exercise done.

 

The disadvantages are:

• I not available is something were to happen (like my ballplayer getting hurt) which is one reason I take my phone with me.
• Even though I bring an extra set of clothes, I look bad for the rest of the tournament.
• I smell bad for the rest of the tournament.
• I have to drink more water than normal.
• I am usually a little tired (but isn't everybody at an all day tournament?)

More on Operation Boot Camp

I forgot to mention two things about Operation Boot Camp.

The instructors were concerned with everyone doing the exercises, particularly squats and lunges, correctly. There were few exercises, like squatting to touch a plastic cone, this little jump step thing that George had to explain to me twice , and the plank that I had not done before so the explanations were good.

The other thing is that the workouts take place at the grass lot behind the Duck Samford football stadium. The field has patches of bald ground. My shoes were filthy when we were done. I am okay with getting dirty, but if I had known, I would not have worn my best and newest tennis shoes.

Trying something new

Since November, I have been struggling with being motivated to exercise. I have essentially decreased my exercise regiment from 5 or 6 days a week to 3 or 4 days a week. Interestingly, I have been able to not only to maintain my upper body strength but increase my strength. Though I am increasing the length that I jog, I am jogging less frequently. One difference is that I feel like I am not as toned and I can tell a difference in my abdomen.

 

I feel like I need to do something different, but I have not figured out what. I know for sure I need more motivation, and possibly a change in my routine.

 

When a friend invited me for a trial workout with Operation Boot Camp, I thought this would be great. Maybe I could get some motivation and direction in how I can change my workouts. The trial workout was fun--well as fun as a workout can be at 5:30 in the morning. There were lots of people there since it was bring a friend day. I knew several people including two of the instructors. They were friendly and encouraging, but not in the over-enthusiastic cheerleader kind of way. The beginning of the workout was tough--that may have been because it was so early in the morning.

 

We started out with a short jog to our first "station" where we did a few calisthenics and stretched. We jogged to each station. I cannot remember all of the exercises we did, but the hardest was the plank. We held this position for minutes at least twice. We also did one set of sit-ups, squats, tire kick-ups, and several side shuffles. I thought my legs, particularly my inner thighs would be sore, but it was my abs and obliques that were the sorest.

 

I got a great workout and I was able to do the entire workout without resting and it was very effective.

 

In this program, participation is expected – and monitored – for every single session. Instructors are with you the entire time. Although there were lots of people, the instructors were able to watch and gauge our abilities.

 

It seems that the program is a total fitness program that includes nutrition information and log book, as well as intense workouts. This may be the reason that it is so expensive--because of the individual attention.

 

I am going to participate in one of their workouts that is open to the public. But, I don't think I will be able to join this group anytime soon. Expensive is an issue. An even more important reason is that I will be traveling over the next few months that will prevent me from fully participating in the program. In each of the summer months,  I would miss at least 8 days.

 

Overall, Operation Boot Camp is a good program, but someone would have to convince me why what I would get out of it that would warrant the expense. Of course, my travel schedule will be probably be an issue.

 

Thanks Dana for the invite! I really did enjoy it and wonder what the next workout would be like.

Jogging strategy

I often joke at how slow I am at jogging, well,  because I am slow. I also enjoy longer jogs over shorter runs. During some of my slowest jogs I begin to think about the happenings in my home and work life and begin to think about alternative solutions to whatever has my attention.

 

Though I have begun to jog at times longer than 3 miles, I want to jog faster and longer because 1) I need to expend more calories, 2) I feel like the faster pace will help work my legs better, 3) the longer length will give me time to think, 4) I want to prove to myself I can improve, 5) I want to become even more fit (the older I get the more this seems important).

 

A few weeks ago on a Saturday, I jogged a new route. I had no idea how long or how much time I took--I was just jogging. I later learned I jogged between 5.2 and 5.4 miles.

 

Also, I have noticed some differences in how much I jog and I have fast.  Some of things I am beginning to realize. I have a lot of trouble jogging fast early at in the morning (5 AM). I also have trouble jogging past the 4 mile marker, though at times I jog longer.

 

While on a jog at North Carolina William B. Umstead State Park  during the NETC08 Conference, Ray Kimsey told me that if I jog past the 5 and 6 mile marker, then the jog becomes easier--routine like. Floyd Davenport agreed.

 

On two different occasions, I tried Ray's suggestion. It seems at the 4.5 mile point, I want to stop, so instead I forced myself to jog through the mile marker and kept jogging--regardless that it was slow.

 

This worked. By the time I got to the 5 mile marker, I knew I could make it all the home--6 miles. Wow. Did I feel like I accomplished something!

 

On my third attempt, I did not make it to the 4 mile marker. I am not trying to make excuses, but I want to understand the differences when I can stretch myself and when I cant' seem to do it. This time, I seemed to be just tired.

 

This past, Sunday, I jogged 5.8 miles. I was surprised, based on my attempt a few days earlier when I did not make 4 miles. Through observing my abilities and how far I can take my efforts, I have learned that I can break through that tough bump. I will try more often to jog at least 6 miles. Rather than 6 miles being the exception, I want it to be normal cardio workout. I also learned that rest is important.