Belated but happy Christmas to all of you too! For years I went for a solo run before sunrise on Christmas morning and always loved it, but this year I decided to wait and run after gift-opening. That didn't work out at all -- but I had fun cooking, playing board games and watching dumb TV with my family instead and there really is no better way to spend time.
I got some fitness gifts: a Cathe strength DVD (still haven't done it); another pair of rowing gloves; and a bunch of running tights and capris. I needed them because I can finally size down woohoo! The rowing has definitely kicked my weight loss past the sticking point and I've been stuck at that point a very long time -- probably at least a year. Up three pounds, down three pounds, rinse repeat. But I'm down five pounds in the nine weeks since I got the rower.
I also got a water bottle with a map of the Boston Marathon course on it. Norm is very proud of that gift and he's got a right to be: I love it.
Alison - It sounds like you all managed to make it a good Christmas even though it was split between two households. Hope you enjoyed your hike yesterday and I'm glad your knee is feeling good again.
Pratima - these are extraordinary times and it sounds to me like you're doing an amazing job with kids home while you're working. It's tough when they can't play with their friends. Screen time sounds like it will work out just fine.
PS - Thank you for putting up with all my raving and passion over rowing. I just can't get over how much I love it. Partly it's because it feels like it's so good for my body but I think a huge part of it is the whole Hydrow "live outdoor reality" experience. Having the big screen right in front of me with all kinds of scenery flashing by transports me to wherever they are rowing and the instructors are great companions on the journey. Add in the music and an incredibly smooth, quiet machine and I'm thrilled. -- watching boats go by, runners on the shore, cyclists on the shore, dolphins jumping, once there was even a stag swimming in the water.
Vannie - Congrats on the weight loss! You're off to a good start.
Workouts - I'm off work this week so my workouts are longer than usual, but it's the same basic routine. (One day, I focus on running with a side of rowing; the next day I do the reverse.)
- Friday/Christmas - Rest day.
- Saturday - 1 hour run + 25 minutes rowing (20 minute "Sweat" row + 5 minutes cooldown) The row was in Chattanooga and had a power focus, which I should have seen coming since the soundtrack was all ZZ Top. "She's got legs, she knows how to use them" So maybe I'm not using them as well I should, but I'm learning, I'm learning!
- Sunday - Walk 2 miles outside for my daily injection of fresh air and mental health, then ran 2 miles on the treadmill to part of a Peloton Matty G tread workout, then 55 minutes of rowing (5 minute warmup row + 45 minute "Breathe" row + 5 minute cooldown row.) The Breathe rows are the slowest paced ones and good for a day that I do not want to work too hard.
- Monday - 1 hour run + 20 minute Hydrow on the mat mobility workout.
- Tuesday - Walk 1.5 miles outside for fresh air injection, 2 mile treadmill run to Matty G Peloton workout, 55 minutes rowing (5 minute warm-up row + 15 minute "Sweat" row + 30 minute "Breathe" row + 5 minute cooldown) + core work from Cathe's Lean Legs and Abs. All the rows were filmed in Miami Beach in the last week or so, but no dolphin sightings yet this week.
- Today - 4 mile run outside + 20 minutes of rowing. The run felt great but all the longer workouts are catching up with me and I didn't have my rowing legs today. So I just did 3 different warm-up rows @ 5 minutes each + 1 cooldown row @ 5 minutes. One row in Austin, two in Miami and one in Boston. I love doing warm-ups/cooldowns because there are usually a lot of technique drills and stretches mixed in with the rowing, so I can feel virtuous about feeling lazy.
Onward and upward, bring on 2021!