Xercise365

My plan to exercise every day is still going (though I can’t say strong). I got off track a bit after having emergency gall bladder surgery but have still managed to do some type of intentional exercise every day. Though recently, I have returned to the bike, I have also done quite a bit of walking. I walked recently with my pastor at 5:30 am (on the coldest mornng of the year), I walked a lot in Memphis while on a business trip last week, and frequent the college woods near where I live. About a month ago, I was walking in Charleston, SC after spending the night on a WWII aircraft carrier with my son. I found a trail through some woods near the ship. Two older men (probably in their 80’s were “running” through on the trail. A snail could have out run them but by golly they were out there exercising. They greeted me cheerfully each time I passed them. They just seemed to be in great shape with awesome attitudes to boot. It’s why I exercise. I feel better and it affects my attitude. So even if I have to walk, I’ll continue right up to my exercise everyday target date of July 1st (and probably beyond) as it affects everything else I do.

That’s been my x-plan lately. I am just a walking fool (kind of have to walk, doctors orders after recent gall bladder removal surgery). Monday I walked. Don’t remember where but I walked. Tuesday I walked around Maryville College. Wednesday, I walked up a mountain behind the Claremont Resort and Spa where I stayed during a business trip to speak at a conference. As I walked up the mountain, I watched an amazing sunset over the city of San Francisco.  Ditto Thursday - another walk up the mountain but this time with more clouds. Friday am, I had an early walk down the shopping district of Berkley before flying home. Saturday I hiked part of Bote Mountain trail with some friends. It was absolutely beautiful. This morning, I walked to church with my kids (read my other blog about it to as part of a campaign I’d like to start called Silence on Sunday’s). All this blogging and I am going to need some new fingers. All this walking, I am going to need some new shoes!

When I started this plan to exercise everyday for one year, I thought it would be pretty easy. I forgot about hectic travel, busy lives, not feeling well, etc. Somehow I have managed to exercise at bit each day. Most days I have done pretty well but a few times I sat up in bed close to midnight and did 25 stomach crunches or walked the stairs in my house multiple times. This week while traveling I achieved a goal I set in this blog - to do a totally different kind of exercise every day for one week (and I almost did it in a difference city). Here’s the run down:

Sunday - Water skiing in Vonore, TN

Monday - Power walking in San Francisco

Tuesday - Jumping rope in San Francisco

Wednesday - Lap swimming in Las Vegas

Thursday - Weights in Lansing, MI

Friday - Mountain biking in Maryville, TN

Saturday - Stairs on the Riverwalk in San Antonio

Today - kickball with my kids (plus biking). Fun but exhausting week.

It’s probably pretty obvious, I LOVE to bike. I love the feeling of pedaling
as fast as I can. I love hearing the tires on the pavement. I love flying
down a hill. I love being surrounded by summer engulfed in green. I love
feeling the wind blow through my hair even if most of it is tucked in under
a helmet.

Tonight, I biked in Madison, WI. They have an awesome Greenway Trail that
backs up to some quaint neighborhoods with wonderful gardens and flowers. I
rode the bike from the Arbor House Bed and Breakfast where I am staying to a
funky little restaurant where I had a delightful dinner. My client had a
suggested a Courtyard by Marriott but I found this quaint inn that had
bikes. I thought it would be a great way experience the local flavor of
Madison. I like the flavor here and it looks like it would be a cool place
to live (make that COLD place to leave in a few short months).

I may not blog tomorrow but I plan to be up on the trail with the sun.

This morning, I intended to go to an exercise class the hotel was offering
but decided it was too beautiful not to walk on the hiking/biking/skating
trail right in front of a marina. On my walk, I saw a group of people
exercising with a personal trainer by running three sets of outdoor stairs.
There was music pumping out of a boom box and a “drill sergeant barking out
orders for inspiration. It just goes to show, you truly can exercise just
about anywhere in any way you want.

Today’s exercise was an early morning swim of 30 laps (probably about 1/4
mile based on the size of the pool. I saw my speaker friend Lou Heckler in
the pool. He is one of the funniest speakers I have ever heard.

I arrived in San Diego today for my national Speakers Association
convention. I tired to make sure I got up and walked and stretched at least
every hour on the flight. I did a lot of exercising my mouth (as did 2200
others attending!). It was fun catching up with old friends. I finally made
it to the health club at the Hyatt at about 9:30 pm (12:30 am EST) but I
made it. I worked out for about 30 minutes and did 150 crunches. Onward!
Also I received an email from my second Team X member. Want to join in?
There’s still room for you.