Happy Holi-runs...

I was at the in-laws for Christmas weekend, which limited exercise options, but maximized "fuel-intake" opportunities. Quite a bit of carb-laden and quick-pick-me-up options..... Can't wait for the weigh-in next week. Probably a good time to start training right before the holidays, because you have little where to go but down once they are over (or at least, little excuse for no improvement after the holidays.....).

Well, I've tackled and conquered the gravel road, a little over 2 miles round trip (I forgot to measure while here.....). Ran it on Saturday and Monday. I can run it without stopping - couldn't even do that in college when I was trying to get ready for the ROTC PT test - though I think that was mostly just stubborness on my part back then.... The only problem was my right hip, knee, ankle and arch didn't like it too much by the end of the run.

Monday evening (Christmas Eve) didn't turn out too well - I caught the flu - pretty much out of the eating frenzy all day Tuesday through most of Wednesday. Hopefully this will get rid of whatever I've been holding on to since last week. Stomach hasn't been very happy after eating since then. Didn't eat anything on Christmas day. Bad thing is I missed the clam chowder. Ah well. Now we'll see what happens at the weigh-in...

Skipped the swim and going to work on Thursday, hoping to begin eating regularly to get my strength back up. Plan to go to work on Friday.

One thing I noticed this time with the flu - all my old injuries from soccer in highschool and college didn't come back to haunt me in the overall achy-ness that usually comes with the flu - not certain if that's from just getting older, or if I have so many new issues that the body only picks up the most recent 100 or so to magnify at the time of illness. The oldest was my left elbow - I threw it out in Japan while showing guys that girls could throw.... after proving my point over a few hours one afternoon, I couldn't move my arm at all the next day - but they got the point......) Now it reminds me of my folly whenever I get sick or my arm gets too cold.... The most recent pain I felt was the neck issue from a couple of weeks ago - I'm hoping that is just flu-reaction, and I didn't re-injure it tossing and turning all night when I first got sick. We'll see. Tons of pain inbetween those two, biggest concern is all the aches and pains in the entire back - from the hips all the way to the neck - spasms, dull aches, sharp pains and everything in between.... I really need to get my core in shape...

Now in my recovery, my right hip and knee are killing me - probably just complaining that I haven't exercised them after putting them through the wringer on the gravel road. Ah well, I expect to start up again on Saturday.

Two weeks without a swim. Not too happy about that. But I've worked my lungs more on the few runs, so hopefully I'll see that improvement. I already notice it when resting in bed...much deeper breathing...