Three days running

Today's exercise:

None so far, unless you count mini golf and two half-mile strolls -- but I'm still aiming for a run.

Yesterday's exercise:

40-minute run with husband M!

Plus one set of 40 situps six ways (see last entry for details)

Day-before-yesterday's exercise:

45-minute solo run

Plus one minute of plank position, 40 crunches and 20 side-lying heel lifts on each side

This week's exercise has been exciting in two ways for me:

First, I've gone running three days in a row (and if I get off my butt and head out this evening, that will make four). When I was training for my first half-marathon in 2007, I was troubled with shinsplints, calf pain and what I think was an irritated sciatic nerve. I was convinced my problems were due to running on consecutive days and decided not to do that anymore. I was also pretty sure that, at my advanced age (I'm now 41), I couldn't run more than twice a week without injuring myself. That's not a big deal -- unless I'm training for a half-marathon, when it's better to run three or four times each week. Even so, I ran only twice a week while preparing for Seattle's Rock-n-Roll half-marathon in June and completed the whole distance with no trouble. (Although I'm guessing that I was helped by the four days of cardio -- elliptical trainer and stairclimber -- that I did at the gym in addition to two days of running.)

Anyway. After running three days in a row, I'm feeling just fine. A little sore, but certainly not on the verge of injury. In fact, the only thing that's stopping me from going for four is pure vacation laziness. I hope I manage to get out for a run today because I'm interested to see how I'll feel. Maybe I can become one of those people that runs five miles every day? Although that would mean I'd have to give up catching up on all my magazine reading on the machines at the gym and there's something I really like about hopping on something and mindlessly moving for 45 minutes or an hour while I skim the latest issue of Time or the New Yorker (or if I'm lucky and one of my friends has passed one along, a juicy People).

Second exercise excitement of the week: my husband ran with me yesterday! Anyone who knows him will understand what a big deal that is. He is emphatically NOT a runner -- instead, he prefers Brazilian jiu jitsu, aikido and mixed martial arts stuff. I think he's drawn to the strategy involved ... he's always watching matches on his computer, seeing how the fighters (if that's the right term) get out of seemingly no-win situations. Of course I'm happy that he's found a type of exercise that he likes enough to do several times a week, but I'm always after him to include more cardio in his overall plan. His grappling workouts are more about short bursts -- kind of like interval training. That's good, but I really think he'd benefit from regularly spending some time in the middle place between low exertion and full speed ahead. I've tried to talk him into training for a run with me, but he's always declined; running just doesn't hold his interest. So imagine my surprise when I asked him to take a run with me yesterday and he agreed!

And he was such a trooper about it, holy crap. The last time he ran any distance was several months ago, when we took a boot camp class together (see what a great sport he is?) and we did a timed mile. Yesterday, he ran at least a couple miles before needing to stop and walk -- and then he completed the rest of our out-and-back by alternating running with walking. I was so impressed! When I started running four years ago, I had to build up to being able to run one mile, let alone two. It probably took me a month to be able to do what M did right out of the gate yesterday. I so wish he'd continue! I think he'd do really well. And I confess, I did like admiring his awesome calves when he was ahead of me. I'd love for us to be running partners ... but I think yesterday's experience will probably be one of few. A girl can dream, though!