Our computer networks are down at work, so I'll take a moment to tell you about a small victory: I swam an entire workout last night without one of my dreaded foot cramps!!!!! Since I've started swimming with the team in January, I've had an arch cramp on the bottom of my right foot (the leg that always whines) every single practice. The same time. Without fail. If I'm lucky, the foot cramp comes later in practice, when it's winding down and then I can pretty much bag the workout. Sometimes I can swim though it for several challenging laps, but then I'll kick harder with the other foot and get a cramp in that one. Sometimes my toes will cramp, but not my feet...how weird is that?
I've asked a co-worker and searched the Internet for solutions. So far, I've tried pulling out a sports drink and sipping that as an afternoon beverage for hydration. Of course, if I down a sports drink right before practice, that leads to other problems. I also strongly suspect this is a relaxation issue. I'll try to gradually ease into kicking during warmup and really focus on keeping my feet and legs relaxed. After all, I'm a person who felt the beginnings of a foot cramp after a really sad funeral. I hope for I can have more cramp-free workouts. Swimming is one of the nicest things that's happened to me lately.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
What's Next?
After learning the results of the CAE exam, I was suddenly left without any Big Hairy Audacious Goals -- BHAGs -- and a lot of free time. I feel adrift, unable to decide what to do next or formulate any concrete plans for the next Big Thing. Should I go to graduate school? Am I really ready to commit to the life of an adult grad student for the next 3-4 years? Which program should I go into? Will a degree in mid-life really pay off? I find myself looking at other areas of my life wondering if there are other directions in which I would like to go.
It's winter, and as usual, I feel like hibernating. The one thing I've been doing a lot of is rest. I hit the sack at an early hour and I no longer need two alarm clocks to get up. I've finished a cable knit scarf (I'll post pictures soon) and am now working on a lace scarf for those days that aren't so cold. Scarves are nice show-off items!! I ordered all of the supplies for an afghan and let my kid pick out the pattern. He was so impressed by the cables on the scarf that he choose an easy cable pattern.
I've been spending a lot of time with my son and his homework and I know that the spring sports season is around the corner, about a month away. I feel that this focus is the right one.
Running, cycling, and swimming are all going well. Right now my focus is on getting into a routine and sticking to it. Tuesdays and Thursdays are double-workout days with running in the morning and swimming in the evening. Wednesdays are bike days. My weekday workouts are sandwiched by rest days on Mondays and Fridays. Saturday is a long run, and Sunday is a long bike day with stretch and strengthen thrown in both days for the sake of convenience. I'm very slowly building my base, and although I'm never quite satisfied with it, I know that patience is a virtue.
I'm eyeballing several races, but can't even decide what to pick! I had my heart set on IronGirl, but with my son going off to college around that time, I didn't want to commit to a race in which there might be a schedule conflict. I did my research and picked out another early summer race that seemed nearby, simple, and shorter -- but very hilly -- but I now realize that schedule may not be an issue. I hope that I can be guided in making some decisions.
It's winter, and as usual, I feel like hibernating. The one thing I've been doing a lot of is rest. I hit the sack at an early hour and I no longer need two alarm clocks to get up. I've finished a cable knit scarf (I'll post pictures soon) and am now working on a lace scarf for those days that aren't so cold. Scarves are nice show-off items!! I ordered all of the supplies for an afghan and let my kid pick out the pattern. He was so impressed by the cables on the scarf that he choose an easy cable pattern.
I've been spending a lot of time with my son and his homework and I know that the spring sports season is around the corner, about a month away. I feel that this focus is the right one.
Running, cycling, and swimming are all going well. Right now my focus is on getting into a routine and sticking to it. Tuesdays and Thursdays are double-workout days with running in the morning and swimming in the evening. Wednesdays are bike days. My weekday workouts are sandwiched by rest days on Mondays and Fridays. Saturday is a long run, and Sunday is a long bike day with stretch and strengthen thrown in both days for the sake of convenience. I'm very slowly building my base, and although I'm never quite satisfied with it, I know that patience is a virtue.
I'm eyeballing several races, but can't even decide what to pick! I had my heart set on IronGirl, but with my son going off to college around that time, I didn't want to commit to a race in which there might be a schedule conflict. I did my research and picked out another early summer race that seemed nearby, simple, and shorter -- but very hilly -- but I now realize that schedule may not be an issue. I hope that I can be guided in making some decisions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)