Xercise365

My exercise today was a half mile swim tonight. I must confess, I really didn’t want to get in the water. It was a cool (er) night and my friend Randy (yes the one who saw me someplace I shouldn’t have been last week if you read my other blog) was there at the pool as well for swimming for lessons his six year old. It would have been easy to exercise my jaw talking with him but alas that doesn’t qualify for an X-event. So I swam and, as usual, I was glad I did. It’s always that way for me when I exercise - I feel great when I am done. That’s why I’m doing the year long plan and that’s why I want you to join in.

I’ll be in Western NC for the 4th with family. I’ll get alot of exercise walking up and down the hills where my parents live literally on the side of a mountain. If there is room, I will put my bike on the luggage rack as it’s a beautiful location for cycling.

Only 354 days left! I did the same bike loop tonight and again had nature’s show to enjoy. My wife’s running buddy, Caroline, asked me tonight if walking to the mailbox counted as exercise. I guess if you mailbox is on your house or a few steps from your house, it doesn’t qualify (unless your over 90 in which case standing up and sitting down qualifies). In Caroline’s case, it counts. It’s close to a quarter mile round trip. Plus she probably gets plenty of exercise living on a farm.

My plan is not to have a strict regiment of daily exhaustive exercise but simply to be intentional about doing things that get me moving. Most days, I hope to really exercise. I suspect most Sundays will be pretty light. It’s your call.

I had hoped to swim laps this morning while the kids had swim team practice but all the lanes were full. I did 200 crunches and will go on another bike ride tonight (ala men in black). I do wear a light. Ride safe.

I started my plan to exercise every day for one year. I must confess it was difficult after a lazy day (sleeping in this am, nap this afternoon, boat ride on the lake tonight, and then grilling out). I had difficulty telling the fork to stop putting delicious grilled siskabob in my mouth. This delectable dinner included vegetables from our garden and the most red and incredible home grown tomatoes I have ever tasted (fruit or vegee?..,you make the call). After the dishes were done and the kids were in bed, it was after 10:00 pm, so it would have been easy to postpone my start but I had committed to several friends that I was going to do it (accountability is a wonderful motivator). I took off for a short bike ride of about five miles on our beautiful greenway. It was a lovely evening and was cooler than usual. There were fireflies illuminating the trees and crickets cheering me on. I wore all black to signify the end of the lazy Tim I have become the last few weeks after having some back and knee trouble.

In the coming days, I will write about why I am doing this and who some of the people were who inspired me to begin this plan to exercise everyday for one year. There’s still room on Team X-365 if you want to join in. Just start something this month, exercise in your own way, and track your results. Maybe there will be a party on June 30th 2008 at some beautiful location. Or perhaps, the sports rehab center will let visitors come visit me while I sit in traction recovering.