Coming clean on numbers

This post will be kind of an opposite to the previous one. But, I am reading a great book on communication, and the first chapter has awesome thoughts - one being how we often label somebody, and how it takes us away from the person, because even if a label is "good" (or so we believe), there is more to each of us than one side.

Yes, I love trail running. But, I also love having good results, in wherever that is, running not excluding. Getting results takes work. Just going out there and lolly-gagging through miles of trails will not get me there.

However, I am also normal human. Like any next door neighbor. I need motivation, and I seek it where I can. The reason I had coaches before wasn't to "learn the tricks" per se, although the first year with Scott Jurek was the best - after all, there is so much literature, friends, ultra-list...the reason was simple: I need to be accountable to someone for my actions. Like a normal school student: if there is no test, there is no way I am reading those chapters! (Speaking of school, I had finals in Massage Fundamentals last night). Of course, there are those rare individuals who are driven by their own will, but not only it doesn't happen too often, they, too, have their downfalls, we just may not see it.

That said, back to "I am normal". I get inspired by reading somebody's blog entry not any less than some may get inspired by reading mine. Circle of life and experience exchange - isn't it wonderful? :) I also kick my own butt when the goal race is in site - but right now, with 3 months not running, I am not an idiot to not realize it'll take a good month or so to get into a groove. And my goal race is far and delusive...

Ronda had been really good in providing inspiration. How does she do it? Easily: she writes what she does. And then she "challenges" others. Well, not like she says "I dare you, Olga", rather "you know, you may want to try it, it'll be so easy for you". Somehow, she manages to believe in me - and it's not like we meet on regular basis. So, I read her latest entry on the blog and emailed. CrossFit is a buzz that's going around like crazy. I can't afford it in neither time nor money - but I am curious. I am also lazy like hell to have no push from behind to perform it. Isn't it good enough on Monday I did a full leg workout Ronda provided last winter? Oh, well, since I can't do a single pull up from described routine (and no, Ronda, I can't even do a Kipling variation), we agree on a push-up instead. So, burpee-push up combo alternating with overhead press. Ha! I died at 10 burpees before going to next exercise. And I managed 3 sets instead of 4 (of 10), what made it for total of 30 and not proposed 50. And I didn't even start a timer! And my breath was erratic for quite some time! Tough...but a good shake-out. Thanks!

So, to not let myself live this let-down, after my hour of cardio I did a "fitness test" (not all, but again, from Ronda's entry). 2 min timed for each push ups and sit ups. Sit ups were the easy part, although I have to admit. doing the full range does take time, and since I don't do them this way, I was slow. 54 sit ups in 2 min. My stomach didn't hurt a bit as I think my ab routine is more difficult (yes, I do have abdominal muscle under that layer of Buddha belly), but I am not quick in going all the way from the floor to full up. Push ups were another story...I rarely do them (may be once a month, in a set of 10 3 times). Going non-stop was a huge challenge. I made it to 18 in good spirit, and then it went down spiral. Last 10 I had to make a "downdog" in between each (I didn't allow myself to rest on my knees) and the form deteriorated greatly (as in: as long as the elbows are bent 90 degrees, I am fine). All in all I got 42. Whew! My arms are still shaking!

What else can I share in "I suck" category? As of today my weight is 143 lbs, where I was for the last 3 months (occasionally getting down to 139 and then back up) and ironically exactly where I was a year ago before beginning my quest on food diary (what Gail had agreed to do with me again - after the Thanksgiving holiday). For comparison, I ran Bighorn weighing 128. I am going to be honest with you, just as I am with myself - there is no way I am dropping a pound until next year starts. Yup, I love my food. Are you kidding? Larry is cooking traditional Thanksgiving meal with whole nine yards, and I am aslo going to Russia for Christmas 10 days vacation - do you really think I'd be cautious?? I told you, I am your next door neighbour:) But comes January, I better get serious. And I know I can do it.

Being accountable to all of you will help:)

So here you go. Naked numbers that are not looking nice. Now go enjoy your Holiday and give thanks. Because, numbers or not, trails or roads, job or no money, each of us have so much to be thankful for. Much more than being upset about. Much much more.

Stephen and I are off to warm up our bones to sunny Texas, where we'll binge on that turkey Larry is cooking, as well as in all the other things. Overindulging is good once in a while:)