Jason and I ran the Kicks for Kids River Run 5K Saturday. It was my first 5K since last May when I ran my first one ever. I was better prepared for this one, and in better shape, so it was more fun. However, it was also a lot larger and more competitive than the last one I did, so even though I improved on my prior time by a hair under 2 minutes, I still finished right in the middle of the pack (those of you who know my alias can search for my results here--just look for me somewhere in the 31-minute-and-something finishers.)
It was fun, and thinking about how 4 years ago this month I was undergoing chemo puts it in perspective--how can I be disappointed with a mediocre finish when I couldn't even get out of bed some days 4 years ago? And I ran the entire length; that's always my goal. But it's a little demoralizing to get passed by 60-year-old men, 12-year-old kids, and women pushing toddlers in jogging strollers. Besides meeting my run-3.1-miles-without-stopping goal, I suppose I should be proud that I sheared 2 minutes off my last time and that I didn't injure my achilles tendon and need weeks of physical therapy (there's a reason why it's been a year since my last 5K.)
Jason was disappointed with his run but still smoked me. He still finished higher among the males than I did among the females. Being disappointed with his time will just fire him up to kick butt at our next run, the Racing to Read run to benefit Kenton County Public Library. It will be hard for me to improve on my time as I think I just had an exceptionally good day at the River Run, but there is one incentive the Racing to Read 5K has that may have me sprinting to the finish line...
Pancakes from First Watch will be served in the parking lot after the race.
Showing posts with label Fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fitness. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
Letter to a Sweat Hog
I wrote the following letter by hand during a break from a workshop last Friday and found it in my car this morning. After you read it, you'll see that they don't call me Cranky for nothing.
To the guy who hogged the leg press last night at the gym:
Hi! You probably don't remember me, but we both worked out yesterday afternoon. See, Thursday is my designated lower-body workout day, and I couldn't help but notice you because of your, um, affinity for the leg press machine.
I know our gym is currently replacing some of their equipment and that all of their old weight machines were moved out of the weight room downstairs, and apparently you are a leg man. Hey, no biggie. I like to work on my legs, too. We all were having to do our resistance training upstairs in the circuit training area yesterday, and there are only 3 leg-centered machines up there. So we were all sharing the limited equipment. All of us, that is, but you.
I like to start with the leg press, but you were using it when I arrived. So I moved through the rest of the circuit, keeping an eye on you and your favorite machine.
Not that I needed to keep an eye on you. I could hear you quite well throughout the circuit what with your grunts and groans and exclamations of muscular distress. You also startled us all with the occasional curse at the end of a set. I have to admit that I felt a little embarrassed for you, dude. Keep that in the bedroom next time.
The entire 20 minutes I worked out with weights, you stayed on the leg press. You lifted with both legs. You lifted with one leg. You did calf flexes. You made it your own personal Bowflex. And that's not cool.
After you were finished tying up 1 of only 3 leg machines available, I had exactly one minute left to finish my workout before I had to retrieve Ainsley from swim lessons. And of course, you had not wiped your 20 minutes worth of sweat off the machine before you left it. I want to thank you for that.
In closing, I just want you to know that being a gym-equipment hog just ain't right. Sure, you got a great workout, I guess (not sure why you're so obsessed with your quads, but whatevs), but the rest of us (and there were several of us working through the circuit, doing a few reps on each machine, giving you dirty looks when we had to skip past you and your beloved) got a little slighted. I know, I know, there used to be more machines downstairs, and there will be brand new equipment this time next week, but I've dealt with your type before. Some of y'all like to claim a machine and live on it.
Please be considerate. Be aware. Share. That's all I ask.
Sincerely,
A Cranky Librarian Just Trying to Get Fit
To the guy who hogged the leg press last night at the gym:
Hi! You probably don't remember me, but we both worked out yesterday afternoon. See, Thursday is my designated lower-body workout day, and I couldn't help but notice you because of your, um, affinity for the leg press machine.
I know our gym is currently replacing some of their equipment and that all of their old weight machines were moved out of the weight room downstairs, and apparently you are a leg man. Hey, no biggie. I like to work on my legs, too. We all were having to do our resistance training upstairs in the circuit training area yesterday, and there are only 3 leg-centered machines up there. So we were all sharing the limited equipment. All of us, that is, but you.
I like to start with the leg press, but you were using it when I arrived. So I moved through the rest of the circuit, keeping an eye on you and your favorite machine.
Not that I needed to keep an eye on you. I could hear you quite well throughout the circuit what with your grunts and groans and exclamations of muscular distress. You also startled us all with the occasional curse at the end of a set. I have to admit that I felt a little embarrassed for you, dude. Keep that in the bedroom next time.
The entire 20 minutes I worked out with weights, you stayed on the leg press. You lifted with both legs. You lifted with one leg. You did calf flexes. You made it your own personal Bowflex. And that's not cool.
After you were finished tying up 1 of only 3 leg machines available, I had exactly one minute left to finish my workout before I had to retrieve Ainsley from swim lessons. And of course, you had not wiped your 20 minutes worth of sweat off the machine before you left it. I want to thank you for that.
In closing, I just want you to know that being a gym-equipment hog just ain't right. Sure, you got a great workout, I guess (not sure why you're so obsessed with your quads, but whatevs), but the rest of us (and there were several of us working through the circuit, doing a few reps on each machine, giving you dirty looks when we had to skip past you and your beloved) got a little slighted. I know, I know, there used to be more machines downstairs, and there will be brand new equipment this time next week, but I've dealt with your type before. Some of y'all like to claim a machine and live on it.
Please be considerate. Be aware. Share. That's all I ask.
Sincerely,
A Cranky Librarian Just Trying to Get Fit
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