Remember when I told you about my Summer Fitness Bucket List? At the beginning of summer I created a list of fitness tasks I wanted to complete before the leaves started to change. It was to be a motivator of sorts, staring at me from the wall of my workspace, taunting me if I dared be too idle.
So how did I do? I put 12 activities on my list. The teacher side of me gives me a 50%, which is a big, fat F, because I only completed 6 of the 12 fitness activities. But looking at the numbers only gives you part of the story. Some things go deeper than pure numbers. Let’s take a closer look.
Here are the 6 tasks I completed:
Do <1 speed workouts on the track.
Run 6 miles.
Run 8 miles.
Run at least one road race.
Try a new class.
Do a hill workout.
Here are the 6 fitness activities I did not complete and the excuses reasons I didn’t complete them:
Go on a long bike ride.
Time and logistics is the only reason I didn’t do this. It would have meant me taking time away from my family on a Saturday to drive to the bike trail by myself. It didn’t seem worth it.
Do yoga 1x per week.
No good reason for this one. I just have a strong dislike for yoga that I need to get over. My body needs yoga.
Complete a 30-day plank challenge.
I started this one three times. Each time I forgot about it for a few days, then tried to start again. Then I went on three separate road trips and totally forgot about it. I finally just decided not to do it.
Run 10 miles.
Time is the main thing keeping me from doing more long runs. I try to squeeze them in, but they are time-consuming. And when I do more long runs, I lift less, which I don’t think is good. I have actually happy to squeeze in a 6 and 8-miler.
Complete a 30-day push-up challenge.
Mid-summer, I had some elbow pain, and that’s the main reason I didn’t do this one. I figured out it was from carrying my 38-pound toddler too much and putting awkward strain on my elbow. I made a conscious effort to carry him less and sometimes carry him on my left hip instead of always my right, and the pain went away.
Technically speaking, I failed. 6/12 ain’t a passing grade, folks. But just like standardized tests, there’s more to the picture than the straight percentage you see. The main thing I’m happy about is how the Summer Fitness Bucket list helped me get back into running. I absolutely would not have done a road race if it weren’t for the Bucket List. That list was on my wall all summer long, and it made me do things. I added more variety to my workouts (new classes, hill workouts, speed work) and worked out more consistently than I did before the Bucket List. All of these things add up to success in my book.
I’m sure that next time, I’ll be more discerning about what I put on my list (Did I really want to go on a long bike ride? Eh…maybe not.), but I know there will be a next time. I’m thinking a Holiday Fitness Bucket List to get me though the tough days of holiday indulgence. What do you think?!
This is great. I just created my flower summer fitness list. Thanks for the inspiration!
I LOVE running and if it was up to me I’d run an hour a day. My body, however, has other plans and it only lets me get in half an hour every other day. This summer I started biking too and was really surprised how much I liked it and how much I think it helped with recovery and giving other muscles a workout.
That’s so great that you listen to your body and switch it up. I wish I could love running as much as you. 🙂 I’m in a good phase where I’m liking it though!
Great Job!! As fast as you run I think you could get 10 miles in in just about 15 more minutes than your 8 miles. 😉 As for the 30 day plank challenge, I can totally relate. I can’t tell you how many times I have started that then forget to do it a day or two and then forget forever.
Happy Monday!
haha–I don’t run that fast on long training runs! 🙂 Honestly though I squeezed an 8 miler in when my inlaws were here and I had more time to get away. It’s just hard to carve out that much time for runs. I don’t know how the hard core marathoners who are moms do it!
I don’t consider myself hard core, though my friends might. I am just a reliable person. We moms get up before 5 am , meet and 5 and run 3 times a week. That is the only way we can fit it in. Granted you’d have to be a morning person. Trust me I crash in the early evening. 😉
That is so great that you all meet to run. I’d definitely get there if other people were counting on me. I’d probably be in bed before the kids though! 😉 Although I do get up just a little later than that. But I’m drinking coffee and eating oatmeal in my warm and cozy house. Much easier to drag myself out of bed for that!