Fastest PFM ever

I just looked up and realized that this Sunday's Bay to Breakers race will mark the end of what's turned out to be the shortest Physical Fitness Month in history. I have tried to keep those magical three letters on my lips whenever the choice to walk the stairs or take the eleveator comes to mind, but the truth is that i haven't gotten into the best shape of my life this year, and Sunday's 12k run will probably leave me hobbled and sore for the next few days.

I'm excited to report that i have ventured into new territory with my personal health and fitness this month by trying acupuncture to help with some neck pain and soreness in my back. I was surprised to learn that a lot of work can be done by poking around in the ear lobes (and all this time i thought they were just there for decoration!). I was slightly less surprised to learn that being needled in the ears is extremely painful (that's how you know its working, they'll tell you). Anyway, after the fun of getting jabbed in the ears arms hands legs and feet, i was left to rest for twenty minutes and during that time i experienced a feeling of lightness in my body that made me feel as if my entire body had turned to wind. During a later session, i noticed a stubborn irritation in my throat and it seemed that cool clear water was rushing from all points in my body to heal my throat. Results may vary but my neck and back feel much better now.

Hope your insides have a sunny day,
K

WEAK 2

I'll be the first to admit that for me, PFM week 2 has been remarkably weak. One yoga class, a little late night bike racing through the city, and thats about it for the huff-and-puff. Not having the free time to workout made me wonder, who even needs a gym when you can just not work out?

Someone pointed out how much energy is used to keep a gym running, to maintain all the running machines, lighting, temperature control, water and towels and other amenities, and asked the question of how environmentally friendly our workouts are? It just feels a little odd to live in Northern California and pay someone to maintain a venue where i can run in place or ride a bike nowhere while breathing air from a ventilation system and getting nothing done on my farmers' tan. (I realize there are some PFM'ers who swear by their fake n'bake but i assure you even that can have its costs.)

Back to the question: should we just stop working out? Maybe. There are certain things in life that muscles are really good for, like good posture and balancing, and the ability to climb stairs and lift things. The muscles that help with these tasks are mainly those in the abdominal and lower back or core region, and we can work those out by lying on the floor and doing some crunches. Bust 50 or 100 of your favorite variety in 2 minutes and see if you don't feel more on top of your game.

While gyms offer lots of fitness options, i like to remember that by being active and eating a reasonable diet, its easy to feel good and cruise at a comfortable level without making each fitness experience all about the gym.

Improvise,
Jeff

Week 2 HUMP DAY

A guy i used to run with told me that i wasn't really running hard until i started throwing up. More recently i've been told that the mark of a true runner is a person who has gone #2 while running. if this is true, i accept that i'm a mere hobbyist, an amatuer, a dabbler, a person who gives up well before things start erupting, and i may never know the glory of fierce competition.

A yoga teacher was complaining once about how after studying for 8 years to become a certified anusara instructor he was earning the same amount as people who'd taken two weekend classes to be Spin instructors. He sighed and lamented that there is little money to be had in yoga because it is an inherently non-competitive activity.

Competition has always been difficult for me. Growing up i preferred the cozy team atmosphere than direct one-on-one face offs. During a short stint playing tennis tournaments i would find myself trying to build connections and comradrie with the other guy, which is maybe the stupidest thing a person could do in contests where you're supposed mercilessly crusherize your opponent. Batting in baseball was another nightmare one-on-one situation i'd never care to revisit. I admit that the psychological battling makes these competitions fascinating to watch, i'm just grateful that teamwork and collaboration are also prized in modern society because i would probably be dog food by now if we lived in a fight-to-survive community.

Go team!
JK

PFM 09 mid week 2 update

Its amazing how by practicing enough we can teach our muscles to do things and eventually do them without even thinking about it. i write mostly about running and biking and yoga and each of these activities improves with practice. For these activities it usually means that things get easier to do; a mile run goes by quicker, a hill gets easier to bike up, and my toes begin feel closer to my face than they rightfully should. But this muscle skill goes for other things too. When I watch my friend knit it looks like each of her fingers has its own little brain and is doing this amazing river-dance boogie thing with the needles and yarn. Its amazing to watch! I harbor a personal pride in my ability to nerd-down on the 10-key and fly through a column of numbers so fast i don't have time to look at what my hand is doing, like the supermarket checkers rocking the cash register key pad in the days before bar codes and lasers. I think its worth taking a second to check out your hands sometime while you're doing any random thing like typing or washing a dish or opening a door and just marvel at the way those well-trained little sausages glide and bounce and claw all for YOU!

-Ken

PFM 09 week 2 Day 1

as we settle into the long-haul of physical fitness month i already feel myself losing steam on the motivational fitness rants. plus with those jokers at lolulemons putting out stuff like this
i have to admit there's not a whole of feel-good fitness words left to say.

Went to the gym today to do this thing called yin yoga which works on tendons, ligaments and other connective tissues that hold our muscles to our bones* by holding stretches for 3 to 5 minutes. its fun because i can't just hold my breath and strain and fight until its over, i actually have to sit there and say, "ok this sucks but i'm not going anywhere for awhile so i just have to accept it for now". fun life lesson. On a somewhat-related note, i learned that concentrated lavendar water can go a long way and too much can change that relaxing aromatherapy to a harsh choking agent.

cheers,
Jeff


*there are no "other" tissues that hold muscles to bones

WEEK 1 Wrap Up

With all due respect to personal trainers i've always felt a little confused at why people pay money to have another person stand around and be a sort of coach during a workout. On Tuesday i was at the gym jogging on the treadmill and a woman and her trainer took the treadmill next to mine. He stood leaning on the machine while she ran and said stuff like, "so whats going on this weekend?", "how old are you?", "Do you like to lay out a lot?", "Wow you're way tanner than me." Having to hear all this made my skin actually crawl off my body and slither out the door. It was really hard to run

BUT

In addition to providing exercise ideas and fitness plans and flirting services while exercising, having a personal trainer means that SOMEONE'S WAITING FOR YOU TO SHOW UP. For me getting out of bed, or the apartment or wherever and going to workout is the hardest part. Knowing that someone is counting on me being there and facing the potential shame of being a flake helps overcome the inertia.

since i think working out should be free and cause i'm hella stubborn about how i exercise i try to find a friend to workout with instead of getting a PT. (Thanks Tim). Its especially helpful with early morning workouts. Give it a try.

End of week 1 kudos for all your hard work.

JKB

PFM 2009 Kickoff

Hi welcome to Physical Fitness Month 2009

Over the next four weeks or so i'll post about fitness, working out, nutrition and health ideas with the aim of bringing an awareness of fitness into our lives. The month ends with the Bay-to-Breakers 12K race, which i actually like to run.

I got a message from a friend who ran the Boston Marathon last week, she mentioned that after the race her legs were so sore that stairs were her enemy. I've had that feeling of being unable to walk properly because of exercising too hard. It makes me wonder whats going on when a person who's basically in good shape ends up temporarily crippled from working out too hard. Its like, are you really in good shape anymore if your exercising has caused you to walk like tiny tim?

Here's a video of me cruising around on my mountain bike. (sorry about the schmaltzy soundtrack)



Let's get it on!
J K B