Oh, friends. I'm not a jock in the traditional sense of the word.
photo credit
It's time for me to admit that.
I renewed my NYRR membership for 2012 and went shoe-shopping with Fred over the holidays. However, I didn't buy any new shoes and I couldn't figure out why I didn't care very much about having my gait analyzed again.
Meh....?
I did my nine qualifying races last year. Well, seven - to my relief, two races were cancelled due to extreme weather. I received credit for them, anyway.
Technically, I am eligible to run the NYC Marathon in November. Except, I couldn't be less interested.
Sorry, Fred.
Running hurts.
I can't run more than 4 miles without a nagging pain in the side of my right knee that I'm not okay with ignoring. Furthermore, I can't break a 10 minute mile. I've really pushed and I just can't do it! I've been running for 15 months now and I'm not getting better; I'm just getting injured. Today, I went back into training for a few NYRR races that are coming up...and I bruised my heel. Hard. I only ran 2 miles - and now I'm limping!
I don't like running in the cold. I don't like running in the heat.
I do like the "atmosphere" of the races, but I don't like running in them. I've tried to get into it because Fred's into it and we like doing lots of things together, but this one isn't such a great fit. I feel like I hold him back when we run together.
The only race I liked last year was the New Year's Eve midnight run. I'd be fine if that's one of the only races I do in a year. I can rally for a 3 miler -- you know, maybe two or three (max) just for fun.
I have so much on my plate right now and I am thinking about just BAGGING IT with the running this year.
Over the Christmas holiday, I concentrated on pilates and yoga. (DVD programs. Self discipline! Woo!) It felt good. My muscles felt long and solid. I went back to dance class last week and felt really strong! YEAH! Two great workouts, challenging me both physically and artistically. I was planning on going back to dance class tonight, but the pain in my heel is horrible. I sabotaged my ability do something beautiful by plop-plop-plopping on the treadmill this morning. GAH.
Then there's the Y.
I get a free membership because Fred's on active duty. I think it is a great perk, but I live in NYC and it's a time suck for me. Maybe it works well for military spouses with cars out in suburbia...but it's more trouble than benefit for me. Sadly. My life schedule doesn't work with 90% of the classes offered. I am required to swipe my card at the front desk at least 8 times a month in order to maintain my membership. However, with my travel and rehearsal schedule, I just don't have the time to take the 4/5 down to Union square, workout, and then travel back uptown. That's at least three hours out of my life.
I really liked the challenge of the swimming lessons (the main reason why we joined that Y, specifically.) but I've never been able to complete a full 8 week class session because they either start before the end of my work day or so late in the evening that I get home at 11pm.
The cats do NOT like being left home alone for all-day/all-night, I tell you whut.
Basically, I use the Y to run my lines. Yep, on the treadmill. I prefer to memorize in rehearsal, but if a director wants me to get off book super early (or if I have to pull something together for an audition), I memorize really well - for some reason - by running on the treadmill.
BUT --
I have treadmill access at the gym at my workplace. If I quit the Y, I still have a free treadmill for line memorizing...and I don't have to deal with travel time that I can't spare right now.
I'm sitting at my desk at home right now with a bag of frozen peas under my left foot and I'm all, "Decisions, Decisions..."
Here's what's what in 2012:
I am in grad school
I work 30 hours a week
I maintain a long distance marriage
I serve on the Board of a non-profit theater company
I am an Artistic Associate at a commercial theater company
I am on the producing team at church
I am doing a reading of King Lear in February
I am about to go into rehearsal for Pericles, Prince of Tyre
I am in a bible study that has at least 30 minutes of homework per day
I am about to start studying voice again
I sometimes go on auditions
I read and write in my "free time"
...and I want to go to dance class. WHEW!
So....I think I need to let the "jock" stuff go.
My body really just wants to go back to doing this:
