When a workout is successful

My goal this summer was to see how far I could go through the training program. I remembered that it was intense, but I forgot that I was using a body that was better equipped almost a decade ago. Everything is starting to hurt more than just soreness, and my joints are screaming at me to stop the madness. I know that I do not have much cartilege in my left knee, but that is not the knee that hurts...of course.

In my younger days I would have seen the body aches as a hurdle over which I should climb, but I've seen too much. I don't want to get the news from my doctor in a few years that knee replacements are in my future (although I was told that at my last scope) It is probably an inevitable reality, but one that I can delay if I start listening to my body a little more.

So, what is my body saying? My body says that I most definitely need to exercise 4-5 times a week. I feel better, I am nicer to the people around me and I don't feel guilty about my biggest vice...ice cream! My body says that I have to stop pounding on my knees. As much as I love to run, hard runs or extremely long runs are probably not the best idea for me. I will stick with weighttraining programs, yoga, aerobics, walking, hiking, biking, swimming and the occasional jog. Plus, I keep threatening to learn how to rollerblade and ice skate. My kids will love that!

So, what I ended up doing this week for my workouts was tapping into the variety of options. I took two hard hikes with the kids (one of whom was riding in a backpack on my back)and a good quick run pushing the double-stroller. I can no longer justify dragging them to the track so that they can watch me inflict pain and suffering on myself. I am fairly certain that that is grounds for child abuse on some level.

Instead, I will incorporate a lot of my workouts into family activities, and when I get a chance, I will go for longer and more intense workouts.

The attempt this summer has taught me to better schedule my time for my own workouts, making them a priority instead of an afterthought. I am in better shape than when I started, and it is the beginning of what I hope to be a regular regimen. I am not in shape to compete against other players for a spot on a college soccer team, but I have used all of my eligibility anyway. I am in shape, however, to carry 15 bags of groceries up three flights of stairs, chase an eight and six-year-old with a wiggling two-year-old in my arms, hike for two hours with over fifty pounds on my back, play tag with three kids and my husband (even if I cannot get away from him), and push five kids in a double-stroller up several steep hills.

There is not much left of the workout to push through for those who are excited about the last week. It will prepare those who attempt it for what they are needing to do, and it did that for me!