Time To Get My Butt Back In Gear

I hadn't run in over a week. I ran a few times since the marathon, once for Thanksgiving Day and once the day after with my dad, but frankly, I decided to give my knees a rest. So after 5 days of doing NO exercise at all and making a lot of unhealthy food choices, I went back to the gym for a training session. At which, I learned that I lost some muscle strength in spending so much time working on running and doing interval speed drills and the like. So yay for overall fitness, but not so good when it comes to being able to lift any weight or do endless sets of push-ups like I used to.

Then on Friday I went to the gym to the same trainer for an hourlong bootcamp session, and struggled through what is usually tiring but fun. I mean, my muscles were super sore just a few hours later, and normally I've got pretty good recovery time. So many squats and planks and pushups. I know it is all about getting my muscles to remember what they used to be able to do, but these first few sessions were killer. If it wasn't for all the chaturangas at yoga class, I'd be in even bigger trouble. 

And then this morning I got out and went for a run. Just a 5k, but a pretty hill course at a park near my house that has a pretty lengthy uphill that I managed twice. While my legs were questioning my sanity (as I was wearing shorts and it was cold), particularly since they were still sore from all of the squats and mountain climbers, it felt good just to be able to do two loops around the park without worrying about time or meeting any specific distance goal. I was considering a third goal, but my inappropriate clothing made me opt to go home before my legs actually froze off. 

Then, I spent the rest of the day on the couch... 

Now, this isn't the worst thing, but I've got a to do list of chores a mile long (some that I put off because training for a marathon and then road tripping to Maine took up so much time). It was the first time in goodness knows how long that I didn't have plans, and it was rather... relaxing. Even though my kitchen is disgusting and there are still bags unpacked from Maine and laundry that is piled higher than me. 

I decided that it can all wait a day, and tomorrow I'll be focused. Well, if I survive my first Hot Yoga Bootcamp with my awesome teacher Adrienne. I've heard legends told about her new class, and well... it sounds like torture, but I think I need it. 

Especially since I'm sure I've put on 5 pounds because of junk eating and a nearly a week of slothhood, and because my brother just called me to told me that he was going to sign us both up for a Tough Mudder as my Christmas gift. Given how much I really want to do it, I'm super excited. And now I've got a reason to focus on getting my diet back in gear, and to keep going to the gym and running... no matter how much my muscles hate the idea.

So tomorrow is for chores, hot yoga bootcamp and a nice trip to Trader Joe's to stock my fridge with foods that don't start with the word Reese's.