FatManRunning and climbing and skiing...

It's so nice to have a free evening.  I got my school work in a day early this past week and am facing a lighter list of assignments for this week (one week before my finals).  Tonight's Scout meeting was also cancelled because of the weather (blizzard conditions here resulted in recommendations against any travel this evening and two of the other leaders indicated that they wouldn't be able to make it). That meant I was home on a Monday evening without any real pressure to be doing anything other than getting the treadmill up.

I was excited to learn that Mrs. F and our eldest son got a head start on putting the treadmill together.  By the time I got home, there weren't too many steps left to complete.  I let our son continue the fine job he was doing while I went upstairs and made some calls to make sure the boys knew there would be no meeting tonight.  When finished, I helped him finish the treadmill assembly.

Once it was up and running, I took the first run, and then a number of the older kids wanted to give it a try.  My run was very short (I inadvertantly activated a pre-programmed run and worked myself up to a headache within moments), but I got on for another one later. Mrs. F got a couple of miles in.  Since this was my first night of running in weeks, I opted for a single mile.  I started at four miles per hour, and increased my speed as I went on, until I finished one mile at seven.  I don't know why, but running that one mile on the treadmill felt longer than three miles outside! We do have the TV up on the wall now, though, so I was able to watch as I was running, so I did not focus on the clock or mileage figures in front of me. All in all, I finished with a 14 minute mile pace.

Since I've not been running, I kept it to one mile and will see how I'm feeling tomorrow before committing to run again.  On my last weight check, I was glad to find out I was within one pound of where I was back at Thanksgiving.  Since I've not been running--and have not been eating so well--I was afraid that I could have been up at least 10 lbs.

Last week, I chaperoned a trip with the local 6th grade class.  We had lots of fun, and activities included cross country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, and climbing on an indoor climbing wall.  I've always wanted to try cross country skiing and snowshoeing, and was excited that they had gear I could use.  Both activities were really fun, and I hope I'll have a chance to try them again.  I never imagined, however, that I would ever try a climbing wall.  I was always afraid of heights when I was a kid, and I've always figured my size and weight would make climbing a 45' wall an impossible feat.  I agreed to give it a try (in part to try to convice one of the kids who was a bit fearful to try it), and I made it to the top! Wow!

That one activity helped renew my hope that I can yet get back on top of this weight loss initiative. I still have a hectic schedule ahead of me.  Finals for my current class are just a week away, and I have three more classes coming in rapid succession, so I don't have any illusions about it being easy.  I've also made it clear that I need someone else to take on my responisbilities with the local Boy Scout Troop, at least until I am done with my schooling.  Hopefully, that will allow me to set aside a little more time for running.

It's good to be back!