Reckoning/Updates

Obviously, it's been a while since the last post. 

Nonetheless:

1. I ran!  I ran a whole 5K!  I beat my personal best by some distance, too.  It was amazing.  My knee held up pretty well, too.  The last month, due to absurdly emotionally and administratively intense work, has seen me neglect my running somewhat.  I ran on Monday (more on that later), but my knee came close to locking for the first time in a very long time.  Potential explanations:  a) we went too fast; and b) the yoga.  Oh, the yoga.  We'd started doing some yoga again, and I was hoping that my knee would be able to deal with both yoga and running.  Nonetheless, it seems likely not.  Yoga involves just too much kneeling which, for my left knee, is often accompanied by an ominous crunch and shifting of... stuff in my knee.  So maybe it's time to give up on the yoga.  At least the kneeling postures.  
2. Press ups.  Well... I'm starting again this week!

April 2014: Mid-term Update

Given that it's halfway through April, it's time for mid-terms - how am I doing?

1. Running.  To date, I've done week 2 of the couch to 5k training.  It's going okay, although my knee is a little sore.  I'm trying to roll my knee, stretch, and ice it to keep it in shape.  But it's nice to get out and about, particularly given that the blossom is finally coming out, it's warmer but there are still April showers to keep one cool (I am one of the rare people who love running in the rain). 
2. Press Ups.  Oof.  I've managed week one, so I'm behind schedule, but going to be on time from now on - for real.  Honest.  

We are also restarting the Kardashian challenge - albeit we're not doing the multiplier, but we have added a third person so we have an additional layer of peril. 

April 2014: Objectives and Reawakening

Spring has finally sprung in New York City and, with the input of vitamin D, blossoms, and early morning birdsong, my impetus for doing a little better each month has reawakened.

Usually I try to do a mixture of mental, cultural, and physical objectives to balance out making these only be about working on my body.  But I have been rubbish about doing exercise this year so far and making excuses for myself.  Thus I have only two objectives, and both of them are physical, but next month will be different.

1. Couch to 5k: I plan to do the whole six week program, but April is the month to kick start the plan.  I have completed week one already and my next run is tomorrow morning.  To complement this, however, I will need to make sure I am stretching and doing the old foam rolling trick.  This I will be doing in front of Parks & Rec, which is my new obsession.  I have to have something to justify how much I am watching that.
2. 100 Press Ups Challenge.  A friend issued the challenge to follow this program - she's going to have a party on Memorial Day where we all try to do 100 press ups.  Given that I give up around week 3 each time I do this, hopefully Memorial Day will be the spur to do this beyond halfway.

Happy spring!

April Reckoning

April - not so springlike, after all.  Still, the objectives...

1. Gastronomical - we were supposed to try out a new one each week.  Didn't really happen - weeknights were busy, and we were away for a weekend, and so, really, it just didn't work.  Bummer.  But we did two new ones, which were pretty good - and one of them, at least, I intend to visit again (Puerto Viejo) on a highly regular basis - Dominican breakfasts = fab.
2. Environmental - Well, I haven't done something every day, but I (and the significant other) are being far better at going out and weeding regularly - every few days.  I've been properly using the composting, too - we used a lot of compost for turning over our soil and enhancing the soil before planting some herbs, tomatoes, that sort of thing, and giving a new lease of life to the plants already there (I hope!).  Additionally, I've been regularly attacking the evil Japanese Knotweed that's in the back garden, and our trees have been savaged by a proper arborist, who has given us back sunlight!
3. Cultural - Well, I failed to learn to use Adobe LightRoom.  Hmm.  Maybe that's a summer thing.

 

April Objectives

April! The bringer of Spring - well, sort of, as it's currently 42F/4C, and that's only the "Real Feel" because it's finally sunny. Bleurgh.

Nonetheless, it's time for April Objectives.

1. Gastronomical - there are a million restaurants and bars in the neighbourhood. We go to the same ones all the time. So it's time for a new one a week. Hooray!  [Note: this has already been achieved for Week One. Huzzah!]
2. Environmental - Gardening! Trying to do something every day. Yesterday I took photos for the arborist who is going to trim our trees, and I'm going to do something today - check out what it is that we need to do this month, basically. Hooray!
3. Cultural - I have Adobe Light Room. I don't know how to use it. I would like to learn that. This month is the month!

 Also - does anyone know how to play cribbage?