Getting Fit #4 + my running playlist

TOA: Hey Crystal! Congrats on finishing another year of college. I still have four weeks of teaching left (but I know they will fly by). I have good news and bad news. Which would you like first?

Crystal: Thank you! Good luck on your four weeks of teaching! Start with the bad news and then cheer me up with the good!

TOA: Okay, last week, I only did the routine once. Work has been consuming my life. I work from 6am-5pm, and then I go home or to a coffee shop and grade or plan until late. Ugh! The good news is that I got back on track this week. On Monday, I spent over an hour sulking on my couch, but I actually thought of YOU and this series, and I knew people were expecting me to follow through. I went outside, thinking I would just jog a mile or something (so I could SAY I did SOMETHING), but after a few blocks I felt great and completed a full 2 miles.

On Wednesday, I really didn’t want to run again, but I knew it was the last chance I would have before the weekend, so I sucked it up. Again, I thought “I’ll just do a quick mile and be done with it,” but before I knew it, I had completed over 2 miles.

My body feels amazing. I feel like two different people when I run compared to when I don’t run. The morning after a run, my digestive system just works so much better! If I didn’t hate it so much, I’d probably do it every day. 🙂

Crystal: See, the hardest part is just getting started! Do the benefits of feeling better outweigh the hatred of exercise yet?

TOA: Well, it’s easy to say “yes” right now because I’m not scheduled to run tonight. But….yes.

Crystal: Is there anything that makes the run more enjoyable? Music? Your new fitness clothes?

TOA: I love my new gear, ESPECIALLY my shoes. The music helps significantly, too. I think I would enjoy the run exponentially more if I had a great running path to use with a scenic view. The times I have run in Central Park or along the Hudson River have been so enjoyable, but it’s terribly inconvenient. I’m stuck in the center of Brooklyn, and when I’m not in the mood to run, I’m DEFINITELY not in the mood to hop on a subway and ride for half an hour just to reach the STARTING point of my run, so it’s easier to run in my neighborhood. The broken sidewalks and frequent stoplights on my run are not motivating at all.

Crystal: Central Park and the Hudson River sound like gorgeous places to run! Are there any parks near your neighborhood?

TOA: I think the closest is about two miles away, and that one is a giant hill…no thanks. haha!

Crystal: I guess you’ll just have to pretend the broken sidewalk is a river bank and the stoplights are bridges! Will you be able to take more scenic runs in the summer? How have your strength exercises been going?

TOA: Definitely. I’m going to be in Minnesota for several weeks and will have great running space. When I come back, I’m going to be in a new apartment in (*fingers crossed*) Manhattan.

The strength exercises are going well. On Wednesday night, I actually did three sets of sit ups!

Crystal: I’m sure Minnesota has some gorgeous running trails! Great job on the sit ups! Are you noticing an increase in core strength? Do you think you could do an additional set of each exercise this week?

TOA: I’ve noticed that I can do more in succession without having to pause for a breather, like 1, 2, 3, 4……..*break*…….5, 6, etc. I definitely think I can manage three sets!

Crystal: Great! We’ll see how that goes this week. Soon, I’m going to urge you to run slightly more than two miles. You don’t have to do that this week, but keep it in mind!

TOA: I’m working on it! Thanks again, Crystal.

Crystal: No problem! Good luck this week!