Day 30

My head was fine when I got up this morning and I could breath out of both sides of my nose. 

Add that to the extra 4 hours of sleep yesterday for my head and the extra 2 this morning because weekend, and I’ve had more energy and even though my legs felt heavy I felt good finishing up week 3. 

The weather was good. 

We were hosting a brunch so I went straight into cooking and cleaning. 

It was a weird day because we had few other plans and I’d been so busy that I felt at loose ends. 

I watched some Henry VI and took a walk and relaxed. 

I finished my first major goal of this little adventure. 

Finally after many many years, I managed to do the 30 day Pilates challenge. 

Woo!

I’ll be changing my evening workouts now to a P90 schedule. 

On the rest days I’ll go back to the Pilates or take a hike depending on how tired I am. 

I don’t want to lose the flexibility I’m gaining. 

I read a concerning Mac and cheese recipe that I’m going to try plus quite a lot about cheese. 

I drank around 62 oz of water plus oj and tea today.

So far so good. 

Day 29

 

Today’s morning walk was in MD VA and WV. I went fossil hunting with my club. 

Lots of scrambling up airee covered hills and hammering of rocks. 

Unfortunately I got a nasty headache. 

I took 2 ibuprofen and a sumatriptan. 

I slept for 3 hours. I took 2 hot showers. 

I beat that migraine back with all I had. 

It basically worked. 

I actually managed my Pilates. 

Whew. 

I was so close to bombing out on day 29. 

I read more pasta tonight and ended in Mac and cheese. 

75 oz of water. 

Day 28

Today I was super tired when I got out of bed. I was disoriented enough to read my weather app wrong. I went out dressed for 69 when it was in fact 49. 

My feet made squelching noises and left wet footprints on the deck when I got back. 

It was beautiful out though. 

Burrrr

I got home a little earlier than normal as today at work I had a large training and then I was done. 

Good thing I got home early, I got to the Pilates straight away and then took my daughter to prep for a school dance, then went and got my son for a lan party that we stayed at into the late evening. 

I was so wiped from that stuff that I couldn’t believe it was still light outside when we left. 

After we got home I read more Italian mother sauces. I got through pesto. 

I drank 65 -70 oz of water plus a coffee. 

Still feeling sick and tired but I think a bit better today. 

 

Day 27

 

Today my metrics are a bit wonky because I was fighting with my watch. 

Still

I got it done. 

Whew. Not an easy morning. I slept like crap and ran with a stuffy nose. 

A busy and tiring day coupled with an increasingly severe headcold left me beat by the time I got home from work. 

My kind husband cooked dinner and I ate then napped for half an hour before gritting through a Pilates session and a quick move of my night time stuff to the guest room. 

I read pasta sauces and was persuaded by his butter arguments. 

I will try butter plus olive oul where I usually use only olive oil. 

We shall see.

82 oz water plus a tea today. 

It’s been easy to drink as my throat hurts. 

Pros and cons.

Day 26

Yesterdays desire for a chocolate reward has reminded me that I wanted something new and interesting to reward myself for hard virtue.

I imagine everyone would enjoy a reward all of the time.

I am got one this morning.

I am starting a new conquer challenge.

I did the Lord of the Rings one a few years ago but now I’m going to do the Hobbit.

I rejected the condensed version and will be walking the full 609 miles to the lonely mountain.

I went out in the damp in my ‘water resistant’ boots and listened to a book and saw signs of summer coming.

Also I saw signs of the mountain biker. 

I got my Pilates earlier tonight at around 6. 

My cold has gotten worse and I will say that a runny nose does some interesting things when you are rolling around on the floor. 

Ew but also hahaha

I’m watching some inspiring long distance running videos on YouTube. 

My reading tonight had me into the 5 Italian mother sauces. I will try them all out saving the meatvragu but I might try a veggie version of that as well. 

My water was off to a terrible start this morning. 

I couldn’t get the zinc taste out of my mouth until afterc3 pm. 

Everything tasted terrible. 

So I took until noon to finish my first 24 oz

I did have a V8 and a coffee and a large kombucha before my 2nd 24 oz. 

But really I only managed about 50 of water. 

No more zinc lozenges for me. 

🤣 

Day 25

Today was day 1 of week 3 couch to 5k. 

It looks like I was pretty slow but it actually felt good. My legs weren’t tired or heavy. I wore the watch as you can see from above and I tried out the vest. I liked the vest a lot. It left my back pretty sweaty but it didn’t bounce at all  and the 17 oz bottle was just right. It was easy to use and tasted fine. 

I used the toe shoes so even though they got super wet I got to change out of them after. Huzzah. 

By the time I got to Pilates (just after dinner) I was tired and my throat hurt. 

I sat at the table and stared at the wall for many minutes before forcing myself into the living room to work out. 

I got it done but enjoyed none of it. 

Then I made sure to go upstairs by 8 to do my reading. I finished potatoes and got to pasta after skipping a bunch of meat stuff. 

I had two big things today. 

The first is that I forgot my water bottle when I went to work. So counting ounces was obnoxious.

The next thing was that I replaced my running shoes. 

It was time and the consistent wetting I’ve been giving them finally had its wicked way. 

Yay new shoes and boo sore throat. 

62 oz plus 2 big cups of tea and a small fake orangina. I hit 80 oz of liquid if only I could count non water.

 

Day 24

Today we left the bay house. I was talking to one of my friends about being conflicted in regards to my morning 45. 

Last time we were there I went biking along this long empty road into the backcountry and thought about the Jamestown colonists. 

Some arrogant part of me feels like I’d do better than they did but in actuality I’d probably also starve. 

Anyway I enjoyed that biking. 

On the other hand I don’t own a kayak and I don’t live by the water. 

She recommended kayaking in agreement with those latter two points. 

On Sunday we decided to do a cold plunge and jump in the pool. 

It was low to mid 60s and drizzly so it felt pretty invigorating. 

My husband went back and tread water for another half hour after that. 

Then he did it again this morning (Memorial Day Monday).

So this morning I did it again too. 

I know it’s not part of 75 hard/easy/something but a cold plunge feels very bro and within the idiom of the day. 

I therefore jumped into the cold water and took a video of it for this record. 

 

Mainly though I kayaked. 

It was foggy and drizzly and I picked a spot on the horizon and went out and back. 

I was out for just about an hour and could feel all the burn in my shoulders. 

It was early and quiet and I’d enjoy doing all of that more. 

We drive home and did lots of laundry. I managed lunch and dinner and played video games. We got the trash up the hill and laundry folded and put away. 

I did my Pilates and was delighted that my son decided to join me. 

I’ve definitely gained some strength and flexibility there. 

Got my reading in , we are on to potatoes I am happy to report. 

I drank quite a bit today 60 plus of water plus 2 coffees and a hot cocoa (no sugar just milk and cocoa powder). 

So far so good. 

Day 23

It’s been a rollercoaster of a day. 

I got everything done so I’m still in this but it was nontrivial.

We are now at the Bay house which is very beautiful and crowded with many friends and kids and food and even a good F1 race.

I knew (because we’ve stayed here before) that there wasn’t really anywhere to run here as it’s way out on the back roads, I also figured that the nearby town had some running places. So I got into my AllTrails app and found some trails. 

There is a rails to trails system here and there is a park with a loop and they basically meet up.

I was excited to do a run by the river.

This rails to trails had (in town) some great art and beautiful views of the water. 

These wolves were my very favorite!

I was worried about running in a new place and about the distance. 

This was for 2 reasons. The first is that the path is all pavement or brick. 

I run off road as much as I can because it’s nicer on my feet and knees. 

The second is that I really need to go to the bathroom all the time these days. 

So I looked up bathroom s and found a few along the trail. 

This gave me the confidence to do the whole thing, 3 miles instead of my usual 1.5. 

I finished up the couch to 5K just over halfway through the path. 

I had to find a bathroom. 

The first two of three points did not have public restrooms. 

I was so unhappy. 

By the time I knew I wasn’t going to make it I was nearly back to my car. 

😳

I peed myself on some random trail in some far off town. 

Oh man. 

It was frustrating and embarrassing. 

Then I thought lots of marathoners pee themselves in big races. Clearly I am ahead of the curve. 

I got back to the house and took a shower and cleaned my clothes and talked to my very supportive husband. 

Then we spent the rest of the day doing fun stuff, like kayaking and cooking and gaming and going out to eat. 

We did fun stuff till after 10 o’clock. 

That is already an hour after my bed time. 

Some of my friends left and when I was helping strap a sleepy toddler into her car seat I set my phone on the roof of their car and promptly forgot it was there. 

After they left I thought I’d better get to my Pilates before I fell over. 

I couldn’t find my phone. 

Find My Phone said it was driving away.

That thing stayed stuck to the roof of their car for like 12 miles. 

So we drove out after them and retrieved my phone and came home and did I Pilates. 

Then I got my reading in (roasting and braising veggies tonight).

Good gracious. 

What a day. 

72 plus oz today.

Day 22

Who put all this water out here?

 Today I got to test out my rain gear. 

My rain gear is lacking. 

It showered on and off during my hike. I wore my caving boots and they are water resistant and my husbands rain jacket as my poncho is stuffed away in my backpack and I didn’t want to dig it out. 

I also wore my water resistant hiking pants. 

None of these things worked as well as I’d hoped. At first the shoes only let water in around the laces and the rain jacket around the seams in the shoulders. After about 20 minutes my feet were wet to the ankle and my upper back was wet in a line stretching from the top of my arms across the back of my neck. 

It was fine though because I knew I had a hot shower and dry clothes after. 

Today went to stay at an Airbnb with some friends. I’m happy to have had the morning outdoor workout done first. It’s more comfortable to be wet at home. 

I did the Pilates routine off my phone so that was no problem. I had a confused but fascinated little girl come in and watch me while I did it  lol

I read sauté roast and sear sections of the vegetable chapter. 

Not bad. 

About 60oz of water today. 

Day 21

 

It looks like me and the mountain biker and the deer have been undeterred by the wet. 

My shoes took most of the day to dry yesterday and today I think they are just going to be wet. 

I might start wearing different shoes for different activities. 

I saw this cute snail on my hike this morning. 

Lots of puddles and running water and bird song kept me company. 

The rain really got going today. It rained from about 9 am throughout the rest of the day. 

I think it’s quite possible that tomorrow I will not manage a dry workout. 

My feet never really dried all the way out today and it made me cold and tired. 

When I got home I shoved off all my duties to my family (unusual) and took a hot bath. 

I did go back down to cook after I warmed up and after dinner did my Pilates. 

It was rough tonight. 

I felt stiff and tired throughout. 

But I did it. 

I did get an exciting new piece of gear to try out. 

This is my new running vest. 

It has a 17 oz silicone bottle and it fits very well. 

I’m hoping is solves 2 of the camelbacks biggest problems. 

The first is that the camelback slides around when it’s empty and near empty, the next is that the water tastes weird. 

I should get a new water bladder for it but I keep forgetting. 

I’m a huge enjoyer of gear. 

I drank well today 3 green teas and a kombucha plus about 70 oz of water. 

I read more about vegetables. 

I’m out of blanching and into saute. 

So far so good. 

Day 20

 

I lucked out with the forecast again this morning. 

It was wet and gray but only a misty sort of drizzle hit me. 

I ran day 2 of week two. It felt much harder and my heart rate reflected the increased effort but I got it done and in the same general amount of time. 

It was cooler but the morning was the warmest part of the day so I was double lucky. 

It started pouring on my way in to work. 

I got some extra walking in as I had to get a ride share to base again because the car is back in the shop. 

I’ve been having weird lymph node and breast pain this week and that made the running a little harder. 

I must be fighting something off but I feel fine otherwise. 

Time for some vitamins and extra extra hydration. 

Ha

I don’t think I can drink much more without floating away. 

In the Honda service bay I was listening to the charges and diagnostic notes from the service guy and all I could think of  was “Where is the bathroom around here.”.

We went out to eat for dinner at a cool ramen place with some old Cub Scout day friends and I got my Pilates in as soon as we got home. 

Being full of noodles and bending like a pretzel make for a startlingly loud fart, it turns out. 🤦

I drank a green tea and a decaf cappuccino in the morning and then a pot of green tea at the ramen place in the evening. 

I sort of lost track of the water but I think it was 54oz or so. 

My reading today was all in the vegetable section. It was great. I learned important things that I hope to try out soon, maybe tomorrow. 

Day 20 yall. Woo. 

Day 19

 

Today was a walking day. I was so tired from the big day yesterday that I did the first little bit with my eyes closed but by the time I saw the sun I was moving better. 

I fought a headache much of the day and had to take my serious medicine. 

I saw the mountain bike guy 3 times but he was ahead of me each time. 

By the late afternoon big storms hit and much of the pressure in my head went away. 

We went to the gym, the whole family. 

I did weights and finished out the time playing the shark game on the rowing machine. 

Then home to make a pretty good corn chowder and do my Pilates. 

My feet hurt. 

Tomorrow is a running day and we are entering a week of rain. 

I haven’t had to do that much yet. 

I think I have my rain gear sorted. 

As a bonus expenditure I have purchased some toe shoes. 

The first time I got plantar fasciitis was years and years ago. At that time the Born to Run book was just peaking and barefoot shoes were all the rage. I got some at a hiking store because the guy said they might clear up my foot pain. 

They actually did, or it went away anyway.

So I ordered a cheap Chinese pair from amazon and we shall see. 

They came today and I wore them to the gym. 

Tomorrow is day 20. 

I feel like I have a good chance of finishing the 30 day Pilates challenge. 

Woo!

I wasn’t much in the mood for water today but I did about 55oz. 

Plus keifer and v8 and green tea. 

So I’m still hydrated but didn’t do great on the water. 

Day 18

 

Week 2 couch to 5K. 

Today was the first run of the week and it was already 71degrees (21)  by 6 am. 

I wore running shorts and my old Frederick Steeplechasers 5k singlet. 

I wore the watch and my headphones and had the camelback on. 

My hands were free and I had (slightly weird tasting) water. 

It was lovely. 

I almost ran into the same mountain biker twice!

I have never seen one out this early. 

The trails I use are mix use but actually they were designed as mountain biking trails. So he was in the right place but boy early. 

Probably because today is going to be very hot (93f/34c),  he was out early. 

I’m going to a work conference today and probably won’t be home till late so I did my Pilates at 10. 

That felt weird but I had plenty of energy though. 

I used the extra morning time to sign up for a group running 5k training program. 

I convinced my daughter to do it with me!!!

It won’t start until June so more on that later. 

I must drink and read today. 

In thrilling to me news. I get to have a shower and put on clean clothes and just be clean all day. 

Wooo!

72 oz

Day 17

There is a bird in this picture. It’s on the path a bit ahead of me. 

Here is what I sent to Kathryn and Mariam (those tolerant souls keeping me honest for this project) this morning. 

“I think this bird was trying to lead me away from her nest. 

Oblivious to the fact that I had no interest in her nest. 

She hop walked in front of me for like half a block before flying off.”

My big accomplishment happened overnight. 

I finally figured (read my husband figured) out how to get old files onto an Apple Watch. 

Look at this: couch to 5k files, all loaded up and in a charged container. 

I also got my headphones paired. 

I had a bit of a stressful day and was thinking about how convenient it was to be blowing off steam with working out. 

I got my Pilates done and read many more than 10 pages in The Food Lab. 

I’m into classic French onion soup this evening. 

75oz of water plus a green tea and a 12 oz smoothie (strawberry and lime!) and an 8 oz kombucha.

It’s hot today and much easier to drink.

I had lunch by the pond and avoided mother geese while drinking that smoothie. It was really really nice.

 

Day 16

 

I didn’t even get out till like 8 something. 

I think I might have even slept longer except my husband got up to go for a run and I was like”wait for meeee.”.

We walked together for his warm up and then this was the last I saw of him for the workout time. 

The walk felt short. 

I looked down other paths and thought about extending. 

On the other hand it’s a foot recovery day. 

I feel my feet for sure. 

So I went home and made a big breakfast and chilled. 

I got my reading in early. Some of his tips are genius. 

I used his frozen blueberries into the pancakes at the last moment trick today and it worked a treat. 

A nice quiet day. 

Pilates a little early and laundry done and folded and trash up the hill. 

Spent some good time with my husband cracking jokes and watching a movie (we watched Nope). 

I made a fancy dinner and we fit in some Minecraft with our son. 

A good day. 

64 oz

Day 15

Today was the 3rd day of week one couch to 5k. I couldn’t figure out a good way to hold my water and phone. 

I used my big metal bottle which was fine all week because I had a hoodie pocket. 

I’m thinking of trying a running vest. I could use the camelback but it has no pockets for my phone. 

I finished the run and it was faster and less difficult. 

Tomorrow I’m having my easy day with only walking and Pilates. 

I’m ready for that. 

I finished tired but pleased and had time to make breakfast and speed off to my D&D game. 

When I got home from that I did my reading and more cooking. 

We watch The French Dispatch and I made dinner then did Pilates. 

My legs were so tired and stiff that the Pilates was difficult and ugly. 

But I got it done. 

72 oz of water. 

 

Day 14

Today is one of those days when I question my decision to pile a number of challenges upon one another. 

My morning walk was good. It was cold and I was tired but I bundled up and got going. 

I’m hoping to hang a lot of things off the framework of 75 hard. 

I have the typical adhd difficulty with consistency and figured when I laid out my plans for this that it would go better if I had a system going. 

It’s not really a will power or motivation issue, it’s mostly a distraction and enjoyment thing. 

If something is interesting or fun I can keep going at it forever. 

I built in a bunch of small goals that will make me feel rewarded. 

I tried to structure it with a very gradual build up to avoid antagonizing my feet (which only partially ever recovered from surgery) and avoid burn out and cortisol build up that can plague women of my age when doing strenuous workouts. 

My anxiety and semi insomnia just don’t need the help. 

It I do it right with a gradual build up I can avoid the cons and reap the pros. 

 So anyway

My morning walk went well despite some tiredness from staying out late last night for the art class and despite it being the end of a week of getting up and out early. 

My concern is for the evening stuff. 

I think I can schedule it out right, and I know I’ll get all my workouts in. 

But one of the challenges I’m doing right now is the 30 day Pilates challenge. 

I first did this routine about 20 years ago but have never managed to do all 30 days. 

This evening from around 6:30 till 1, I will, with a team from my work, be doing a relay for life cancer walk. 

My feet are going to hate me and I’ve got to fit in Pilates and dinner and getting to and from town. 

We shall see. 

Update 9:10

Got it all in and am now walking around a track.

My wonderful husband came to walk with me a bit and eat pasta  

So far so good.

This is not at all a work blog but I will give a shout out to work tonight.

Nice job FNL. 

Boo to cancer .

74oz water plus a coffee and a kombucha 

Day 13

Today was day 2 of week 1 couch to 5k. It was a live test day for a few things and I got up a little earlier to get things squared around. 

It rained overnight and was chilly and foggy when I got out. 

I tested out my camelback and figured out how to get my watch to track a run. 

I’m happy to say that I got both things working right within the first few minutes. 

I’m hoping that by the time I’m really running everything will be smooth and minimal. 

The camelback is 50oz not 32 so I’ll be in great shape for a while. 

Also it’s not really bouncing around. 

Once I figured out to click the little green guy and select outdoor run I got this cool map. 

I’m slow as molasses but that includes a 5 minute warm up and cool down walk on each end. 

I took my kids over to my club for an art class and some dnd research this evening so I didn’t get to the Pilates and reading till after 8. 

But I got it done. 

I’m thinking of skipping some sections of The Food Lab. I’m in stocks and it’s all meat. 

I mean it’s intellectually interesting but not super applicable. 

My step count was very high today as I had the car in the shop and had to walk onto and off of base. 

62 oz of water plus a kombucha. 

Day 12

10 degrees warmer this morning. 

I found myself grateful that I’m only going to run 3 days a week for the time being. 

The walks are so peaceful and I listen to the birds or my book and relax. 

 

Today I got everything done quickly. 

Reading and Pilates and even the gym were done by 7:30. 

I did the rowing machine and the bike, so really I played the fish game and the biking version of mario kart. 

My Pilates is looking less like a dying hippo is convulsing around the living room. 

Metric for the day = many steps. 

I didn’t love running with my big metal water bottle yesterday so tonight I gave my camelback the old baking soda and vinegar treatment. 

Hopefully it’s dry and smells fresh in the morning. 

It’s a 32oz bladder so I should get good use from it. 

Today I read about biscuits and scone and had strong disagreement with the text. 

I drank about 54 oz of water. This low number has to do with the fact that my 3rd refill was from the drinking fountain at the gym and tastes like chlorine. 

I did have a tea and a 16 oz kombucha though.