FamilyInShape

Running, Chafing, lessons learned

Chafing, according to Google's definition is "to make sore by rubbing" against an article of clothing, for example.  In my case the chafing occurred as a result of rubbing skin. That's right! I decided it would be a great idea to go for a run in the middle of the day when the temperatures where in the 80's. Why not? It was hotter in GTMO at 7:00 AM and I ran plenty there.

Difference? Being prepared.  Nothing feels more uncomfortable than to feel your skin burning while you're running and knowing full well that you still need to go home.  When the burning begins two miles into the run and you have at least one mile before you can feel relief, it hits you. This is going to SUCK!!

Sweat drips from all over the place and every drop feels like fire. It's like pouring salt or lemon juice on an open wound, over and over and over again. What the HECK was I thinking???

I finished a three mile run in 31 minutes. Probably the slowest run since I started seriously running three years ago. Shameful is what that was but at the time, the pace was not of concerned since I still had to get home and it didn't matter if I ran or walked, it was going to burn just the same.  I ran for a bit pulling my pants down between my legs, surely that must have looked interesting to the motorists.   Then I adopted this side to side hop/run thing to help keep my thighs from touching each other and causing further damage.

Oh it gets better... I finally made it home, almost in tears. First things first... a shower. Of course, right, that should be a huge relief...yup.... EXCEPT when you soap up immediately and realize that the soap feels like someone just poured lemon juice in your eyes! Did I mention this was a great run through a beautiful lake with awesome paved and unpaved trails? Really, it was.

Anyway, I finally got myself cleaned up and decided it would be best to wear long pants to protect my hurting skin.  I little baby powder and it felt much better.  So what happened? This is not my first run in any temperature, what went wrong?

#1 I did not even think about preparing for my run.  Preparing means drinking lots of fluids (and by fluids I mean water) the night before, having clothes, shoes, socks, sports bra AND my anti-chafing stick ready.

#2 I spent the morning unpacking, sitting, standing and feeling defeated.  The run came in when I felt like I was going to jump out of my first floor window. I realized I needed to go do something physically active that would help me think, refocus...so it was totally an impulse run, still.... the anti-chafing stick, hello?!?

Lessons Learned:

#1 Prepare, plan, stick the routine, keep your gear organized. That way there is never an excuse to not go running or worse yet, to end up running and with chafed inner thighs.

#2 Don't let your circumstances, stress, the recent move (that's me), or anything else (excluding emergencies and illness of course) keep you from doing something just for you---walk, run, yoga, meditation, sleep.

Running... well, I have a new goal. Can I just act like a teenager who just found out she's going to see the latest teen idol (whomever he is these days, I'm so out of it now that my teen is away at college).... OMG, OMG, OMG.... I'm going to be a princess in February!! Tee hee hee hee!! Woot! Woot! I gotta text my BFF!! OK there. WOW a lot of words and nothing concrete was ever said.  What I'm trying to say is that I am going to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon in Orlando next February.  YUP! I signed up, I will make my travel plans shortly and I will be meeting some of my awesome and inspirational friends in Florida to run 13.1 miles just because we can and I am thrilled to have a goal, and this is a huge goal for me.

Disney's Princess 1/2 Marathon

OK. There now. Go get excited about your goals. I don't care how small you think they are. Own them. They are YOUR goals.

My training will begin in a few weeks but in the mean time I will continue running a few days a week just to keep up the routine and trust me, I will never again run without using my anti-chafing stick. By the way, you can also use any deodorant that is not a gel or spray.  It has to be the white deodorant most people avoid because of the clumping and stripes it leaves on your clothes. Trust me, it works, I rub that anywhere skin touches skin or sports bra touches skin.

I will keep you posted on my progress. If you're working on whatever... share it! Tell me about it!

Stay Well,

Terie

Getting Fit with the Wii--oh yeah, it can happen

I celebrated my birthday a week ago and as always I was thankful, blessed, and excited to reach another year in my life when I still have the ability to enjoy life, my children, family, and friends.  Another year in a job I love because I can help people stay motivated, get excited about fitness, and really, who doesn't like working only a few hours a day.  

To celebrate my birthday this year my husband and children decided it would be appropriate to give me the Nintendo WiiFit.  I've read a lot about it and heard a lot about getting fit with the Wii but my only experience was when I did my body test at a friend's house.  That time my scores were pretty sweet- I remember my WiiFit age was 28 at the time.

My life is always full of things to do with kids, at the gym, or in the house.  My busy schedule kept me from opening my new game right away.  But that's OK because my Peanut (7) and her daddy decided they would open and set up for me.  How nice.  They went as far as trying it out too.  Such wonderfully thoughtful people I live with.  

I finally had my chance to get on the Wii and perform my body test.  I was hesitant because the timing just wasn't right.  I had just come home from having a late birthday lunch with friends, I had a drink or two and ate like one should only eat on one's birth date.  I expected to have terrible scores and I did.  If I wasn't in the right frame of mind I would have been depressed.  The darn thing said I was nearly obese AND ranked my age at 47.  OUCH!!

We also learned that if you have plush carpet you have to use the extra caps on the board, for stability I guess and that might have contribured to my poor balance..no, it was definitely the Peachtini.  I decided I needed to redo this test.  I was convinced I could bring those numbers way down.  I waited a couple of days, gave my body a chance to rid itself of excess water and being completely sober would really help my balance which apparently has a huge effect on the Wii age.   

My second test put me back on the "healthy weight" range with a decent BMI and my Wii age---28!  Yes!  Now that I like!  I think I'll keep the game.  It's safe to keep in mind that this game is just a game and not an exact science.  It doesn't know that you have a muscular body which might make you heavier than it says you should be.  I think they should update it to ask if you are athletic or sedentary and to add body measurements, then it would be a little more accurate, maybe.

Anyway, I haven't had a chance to really spend a lot of time on the game, but I did go through every game available to me at this point and found that you really can get a workout with this thing.  The push up plank works abs, obliques, shoulders, chest and back; the V sit works abs and legs; there's skiing, Yoga, and aerobic exercises like step, boxing and running.  They start at a very easy level, I mean my 7 year old can do them.  But as you get better and reach high scores you unlock other games so the challenge does go on.  One of my favorites for a quick cardio routine was the Hoola Hoop. WOW!  I was only on the Wii for a total of 7 minutes and I was sweating, dripping down my back and exhausted after that program.  The next day, my abs and legs were sore.

Now we have some serious competitions going on because five of my six family members are trying to beat those high scores.  We all want to be number one. 

The WiiFit has brought some really awesome things to my life:

• We, as a family, spend a lot more time together being active, have a great time.  Yes, we could be active outdoors and we are, but when it's 95 degrees outside, being together, active inside is the next best thing.
• The game requires us to strive to be better because they are all exercise related so we get a workout each and every time.
• Even though the body test could be better, it does give a guideline to measure our progress, like a scale.
• My young children would rather get active on the Wii then watch TV.
• I get to practice my balance moves with Yoga - I'm actually not too bad with balance.

Please remember, however, that this is just a game--don't take it too seriously, just have fun. Now I'm going to give that downhill ski another try, my dear hubby has the highest score right now and I need to take him down a notch or two.

Stay Well,