~

Well, change of plans, but I have run bits here and there yesterday and today amidst 2 hr walks.  I'm trying to tire the dogs out so that they're content sleeping away my absences. I've started training in earnest for my new job, and tomorrow I get to sleep in a bit more--I don't have to show up until 5:30 am.   Woo-hoo!

Meanwhile, um...can't think....I'm slow on sleep because of a field exercise that has been going on for the past umpteen days and nights.  Whatever they're firing shakes the whole house.  Now men in black are going to come over and take my computer away--lol, it's no secret.  Everybody within a 3 mile radius can probably feel it.  It's been nice enough this week to leave windows open at night, but then the booms are louder, plus all those frogs or insects back there.  Back to my country unease.  But now I have a white noise app to block some of it out, though the booms are in another league.

Meanwhile, I actually did a shoulder workout after our walk/jog today, and I hit last year's max on a power clean!!!  It was quick and smooth--it took me by surprise.  I didn't feel it as much as I thought I would on the one hand, but on the other, it felt quite significant and precarious.  And now, I definitely feel it, an hour later.  I'll try it again next week--gotta build more of a foundation. But it was a huge boost to nail it, and it definitely felt "cleaner" than last year's efforts.

oh, yeah, I forgot to update---I'm getting to know the problem dog houses around here, including one that I'm beginning to think is a problem house or bad juju area.  The two dogs that lived there followed up nearly a 1/3 of a mile last time they were out.  Afterwards, I tried to avoid that house, but ended up getting followed by another loose dog, and getting somewhat lost...not lost-lost, but scenic route lost.  And THEN, yesterday, we went past and discovered that that house apparently has chickens now, but no coop.  They were all over the road.  Same thing today.  Well, at least I'm getting the puppy used to chickens (the old dog got to go to Key West for that).

~

Walk with ~5 minutes jogging three times, then yardwork (planting a few bushes).

IT'S ONLY 15 C RIGHT NOW A FEW HOURS LATER--IT'S ALMOST NOON---WHAT????!!!!!

I wore a long-sleeved shirt while exercising the dogs because I don't want to get too spoiled.  It still felt amazingly brisk--this, in comparison to yesterday's uncomfortable walk in a tank top.  The temps will rise again, but (please please please) it looks like they won't go into the thirties anymore. 

A day and 10 degrees make all the difference.  Now I'm feeling optimistic.  Sure I'm in poor shape, especially compared to last year after a summer of diligence--but perhaps I'm actually in a better position to take advantage of the upcoming good weather.  I'm better rested and I don't have that left Achilles issue or that right hip issue (knock wood).  My weight is down although I am actually stronger with some shoulder exercises such as delt raises, and my squats are much more flexible--plus I recently pulled close to last year's max on power cleans and it was nice and tidy, which is highly encouraging.  Instead of spending Dec-Mar somewhat injured, I might sail through winter this year.

~

This morning, I went on a long walk with the dogs--and a few minutes of that was running on a dirt road.  It counts!  I simply don't want to run, but a few minutes here and there are better than nothing.

It'll be better once it gets cooler.  It didn't feel bad at first today, but when it started to warm up, I hit my threshold.  It wasn't even hot, about 23 C, I guess, but it was too warm.  My heat tolerance has run dry.  It shouldn't work like this, it's not like there's a yearly limit for this kind of thing, but summer started in April here and now I'm tapped out.  I've been getting headaches and so forth, and I'm renting food--I've been through this before, I just need to eat and sleep enough, and *~~~*keep cool*~~~*.

Where are you, Fall? I miss you.

Soon!  Actually, this week is supposed to be nice.  And then non-winter will come and I'll get to roll happily for a few months.  Can't wait!

I did do some chest exercises today, though not the full routine. 

puppy's first run!

Well, it was just a couple of minutes or so on sand (gotta be gentle on growing puppy joints).  It was really nice to run outside, albeit uncomfortable with a leash in each hand.  I guess I'll be training too.

That was Thursday morning, a slightly cooler morning, but still hot and humid enough to set off SVT.  First time in months, I think--I'd forgotten how effective a cardio workout it is!  5ish minutes is plenty at 230 bpm.   It's like the best HIIT routine ever.  LOL

Friday: walked and chest workout (just one rep--I was still tired).
Today: long walk into/out of/about town with #2, and shoulder workout

I feel guilty because I was going to take dog 1 to the dump this morning (ok, that sounds bad, but he enjoys the ride and the smells), but I got out too late and decided to go straight to town with #2, and take #1 on a nice run tomorrow.  Unfortunately, it'll be hotter than originally forecast: low of 19 C, high of 31 C.   Can't take the heat anymore, and the dump's closed tomorrow.  Hopefully #1 won't feel too shafted. 

Fortunately, after tomorrow...knock wood, fingers crossed...:)  I need some cooler weather!

Meanwhile, I've at least made some progress on my power cleans--I filmed myself for several weeks to fix flaws, etc, and now things are feeling darn tight (even though my max is still 20 lbs less than last summer, but I'll get there).   Appropriate soundtrack (though it's not quite as good as the version I have in my collection but, hey, it comes with some cool graphics.

...

Well, I ran today, 15 min on the treadmill.  It counts!  The past week or so has been rough but the worst is over and the countdown has finally begun: even better, it's 2XX days to go, and not 3XX.  In order to withhold mid-tour leave, they have to keep the deployment under nine months, at least in theory.

So I have nine months to finish up some household projects (but not that certain sort of nine-month-long project, rather painting rooms, replacing fixtures, building rock walls outside and other landscaping...).  And I have a new job, although I'm presently still going through the new hire process.   It's another OR job with employer-supplied and laundered scrubs, oh, yeah (honestly, it'll be a sad day when/if I get a job that requires me to take care of what I have to wear to work).

So, lots of changes, lots and lots of lost sleep (I don't sleep very well while my husband is in transit), but now things are settling down, hopefully, and I can thus proceed to tire myself out in a duller fashion to make time go by more quickly.

It took me about a week to get back into running, I think, but I have done some of Z's workouts, and I moved almost a half-ton of rock yesterday, and again today.  It didn't seem to be as much as it is.  If I've learned anything from the backyard projects, it's that rock and water are rather dense.

Sort of speaking of which, the koi pump failed while we were at the beach, and my last koi died :(  She was 18 inches long, and a fish that size generates a lot of waste, so filtration is necessary.   My plan is to consider the pond a water garden from now on, although it's also a tadpole nursery.  Maybe I'll throw in a little goldfish, something so small that it wouldn't require filtration in 1000+ gallons given enough plants and biological substrate: hey, little buddy, you're totally free to be the fish you were born to be!  

Anyway, I'm going to get back into some sort of routine, but that might take a week or two.  Meanwhile, I'll continue working out and walking the dogs.  As for running...it's sort of a chore here.  Meh.  But the heat is finally easing up, and only 2XX days to go!

! :) ! :) ! :)

Yesterday, 1/2 hr run with #1, and lots of walking.

Today, more than two hours' walk with both dogs--I would've run but my husband is out fishing today, and so I couldn't leave #2 behind alone because she'd whine.  This wouldn't matter at home, but we're at the beach!

Even better, I took them out as the thunderstorm was leaving, and we stayed dry until we waded in.  5 minutes after we got back to our hotel room, the rain came back.  Perfect timing!

There was also a beautiful moment this morning.   It was about 1/2 hour into our walk, the sun was barely up but behind clouds, and the beach was practically deserted.  We passed three people during the first hour, that's it, and laid down about a couple of miles of solo (well, trio) footprints) on unmarred sand.  Actually, there was a really cool juxtaposition of texture, the spiky storm-pelted sand against the smooth swoops of the fresh tide...well, anyway, we were wafting along all alone.

And then the clouds parted for a coral pink light just as the breeze swung into our faces, bringing with it an exotic and poignant scent.  I have smelled the sea here quite a bit--there are few surprises left amongst the smells of the Outer Banks, and possibly all unpleasant.  

This scent, though, made me think of the Mediterranean, not that I've ever been.  It's how I imagine it, like one of those 17-18th century golden-lit baby blue seascapes (without the probable tinge of human effluvia), like a combo of fresh sea air and light floral perfumes, like Venus rising from the surf.  Crisp sea water with delicate blossoms.  It was intoxicating.  

I inhaled this scent until my olfactory nerves were fatigued, and we walked on, blissed out.

About 40 or 50 minutes later, I realized that yesterday's efforts to rinse out my sea-soaked running clothes with fresh water and soap may have been unexpectedly unsuccessful.  I started to smell myself again, but just sweat.

But, for a glorious coral-pink tinged while, I was Venus.

More than an hour later, Venus may have shattered the beauteous illusion with a whispered F-bomb when someone's two loose dogs trotted over.  This was close to 9 am (way past the "it's so early, nobody's out" free off-leash time*), and in a clearly-designated on-leash area.  "Oh, but they're friendly!"  However, the treasures of the sea are capricious, if not cruel.

Fortunately, this person then leashed their dogs and the properly restrained greetings were exchanged a few minutes later.  One simply does not scamper willy-nilly over to Venus' minions.  I am no longer Venus, but I'll think of the dogs as Venus hounds from now on, just for funsies.

* for example, we hit the beach at 6:30ish today, and there was a loose dog, but it wasn't an issue at all.  Generally, people who are willing to bring their dogs out earlier are better handlers.