I Really Like. . .

From a paper I'm grading this morning:

"I really like the idea of being fit but really do not enjoy the effort it takes to become physically and cardiovascularly healthy."

At first it made me smile but then I started thinking about life and realized all the blanks I could fill in "I really like the idea of _______________________ but really do not enjoy the effort it takes to _________________."

have a tidy house, keep the clutter picked up
being a reader, finish a book or read challenging material
cooking, find the time to do so
eat healthy, make disciplined food choices
entertaining guests, have my house ready

Anything your willing to share that adds to my list?

Google Map Pedometer

As part of a walking program at work we were shown a link to Google Map Pedometer. You can put in any zip code to find your starting point and then click on the points of a route you are walking/driving. It will give you the distance. I found out I've been riding my bike 5 miles in the mornings or walking just under 2 miles.

This morning I was doing my morning walk. Typically I use this as my prayer time and then think about the day. I was walking along when about 15 yards in front of me something was moving. It’s still dark when I’m out, but thankfully a street light was close by. My first thought was a small dog or cat until I saw the white stripe down the back of the black animal.

Yes, a skunk went waddling from some garbage cans on the street up a driveway and along the side of a house.

That was a first for me, and I don’t want to come across a skunk again not only at that ridiculous time of the morning but ever.

My morning "run"

This morning I was on my morning run/walk and apparently the Hudsonville High School football team was doing a run in the opposite direction of the square I was doing. That meant I crossed paths with them twice.

It was a bit intimidating but I was surprised at how many of the kids said hello or good morning as we passed. They obviously didn't realize that all I think about is the next step when I'm "running" and can't really think about the niceties of the morning.

To Run or not to Run

A few weeks ago I posted about setting a goal of running a 5K later, much later, in the year. I realize that's not a very impressive goal for most people, but it is enough of a challenge for me. I have a schedule of running and walking that bumps up each running segment by a minute every third run. It then backs down the minute and then back up for two runs before bumping up again.

This morning was a bumping up a minute. It isn't too bad yet, and the mornings are really nice to be out. I'll be glad when it's about 60-65 in the morning instead of 49. I don't look forward to the summer mornings that will be humid even at 6:15 a.m.

And now my dilemma. I want to be exercising and outside on these beautiful mornings, but my allergies make me conflicted about this.

Ramblings

RAMBLING #1:
Last night I had a meeting from which I returned about 9:15. Before the meeting I made ghoulash and readily admit that I left the stove messy with grease splatter, tomato juice, etc. as well as dishes all over the kitchen.

When I got in the door I smelled something that didn’t smell like ghoulash, but I just assumed it must be a carry over from my dinner. I did a few things and then walked through the kitchen and saw half an onion on the counter. The smell wasn’t onion, but I thought that must have contributed to the smell.

Then I walked in the living room and saw a half-eaten bowl of popcorn. Hmmm, some Goldilocks must’ve been in my house. The living room floor (which my recruiter describes as Mary Kay threw up in my living room) was straightened up so that the MK clutter is at least neatly stacked and boxes in a row. I walked back through the kitchen to realize the stove was cleaned, the dishes were done, and later I found out that the cherry juice that had spilled in the refrigerator was cleaned up as well.

Renae was my Goldilocks and is a very good friend.

RAMBLING #2:
I love the Olympics, but I was disappointed that the IOC gave the Olympics to Beijing based on their human rights record. I’m glad to see that there are protestors in the cities where the Olympic torch is traveling through. As long as the protests are non-violent, I’m glad that they are shedding light on the fact that China has an abysmal human rights record. While some progress has been made, much more needs to occur in China.

RAMBLING #3:
My goal for quite awhile has been to run a 5K. I’ve started walking/running to “train” to do so several times, but often things like winter get in the way and I don’t complete it.

I have a new goal and thought that maybe if I put it out here and occasionally update on my progress I’d be more motivated to continue through.

My goal is to run the Mary Kay Ash Foundation 5K on October 11. It is a local event to raise money for the Foundation which supports cancer research and issues regarding domestic violence. Today was Day 4 of the training. The funny thing in this program which is designed for running 2 miles is that the first day is Rest. I can handle that.

The struggle for me is that if I don’t get up and do this in the morning than I get busy after work and don’t exercise. This means I have to get up a 6:00 to get in 30 minutes at least. Over the last few months I’ve realized how much better I operate when I sleep until 6:30 so I’m going to have to reset someway.