Archive for the ‘Mike’s Page’ Category

Week 4-8

Published by admin on April 16th, 2012

OK, so I’ve had a tough time staying updated.  As the weather gets nicer, I’m hoping to integrate more outside activities.  Trust me when I tell you gardening and its ilk will not be involved . . . but maybe sand volleyball?  Ummm, lawn darts?  Swimming?  Who knows, I’m excited as you to find out.  In the meantime . . .

Week 4

  • Monday:  Barbell stuff for 15 minutes, 20 minute run/walk
  • Tuesday:  It’s my birthday . . . golf.  I know, I know, its a little sketchy, but Mark Twain did refer to it as “a good walk” . . . although for full disclosure the entire quote is “a good walk ruined.”
  • Wednesday:  Walk/run for 9 songs . . . about 32 minutes
  • Thursday:  Walk/run for 35 minutes
  • Saturday:  Ummm, more golf . . . but seriously, if you walk 9 holes, its equal to about 2.5 miles.  Of course that depends on how much you zigzag across the course.
Week 5
  • Tuesday:  Run/walk 10 songs = 33 minutes
  • Wednesday:  Run/walk 9 songs = 32 minutes
  • Thursday:  Run/walk 9 songs = 32 minutes
  • Friday:  Mary’s Workout
  • Saturday:  Golf, rode a cart for 9 holes, then realized I wasn’t going to have time to exercise, so walked the back 9 holes.
Week 6
  • Monday:  Golf . . . the bad news is that I’m not getting in as much sand volleyball as I thought I might, the good news is that I’m also not getting any gardening in!  Haha
  • Tuesday:  Run/walk 9 songs = 33 minutes
  • Thursday:  Run/walk 10 songs = 32 minutes
  • Friday:  Mary’s workout
  • Saturday:  Run/walk for 9 songs = 31 minutes
Week 7
  • Monday:  15 minutes on elliptical . . . is it just my imagination, or is it mostly women that use that machine?  15 minutes on cycle machine.
  • Tuesday:  Mary’s workout
  • Wednesday:  Run/walk 9 songs = 32 minutes
  • Thursday:  Run/walk 9 songs = 34 minutes
  • Friday:  Mary’s workout
Week 8
  • Monday:  Golf, 9 holes
  • Tuesday:  Run/walk  10 songs = 33 minutes
  • Wednesday:  Mary’s workout
  • Thursday:  Mary’s workout
  • Saturday:  Golf, walked 9 holes, cart 9
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Posted in Mike's Mary-thon Journal

Golf is athletic . . . right??

Published by admin on March 20th, 2012

Let me start by saying that I fancy myself a golfer, sometimes a good one, often a frustrated one.

I’m always a little curious though when I see various “Greatest Athletes” lists, and I see golfers like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, etc.  It’s kind’ve like when I turn on ESPN14 or whatever, late at night, and I see darts or poker.  Isn’t there a difference between games and sports?  If not, I guess poker players are athletes, but if there is a difference, than poker players are most definitely not athletes, and poker should be relegated to the GSN channel.

In my opinion, here is a list of “games” that are often confused as “sports”

  • Poker:  Can anyone really argue with this?
  • Darts:  Ummm, pretty much like poker.  I think as a rule, if its primarily played in bars and cigarettes replace Gatorade as the vital replenishment of  choice . . . lets assume it’s a game.
  • Bowling:  This one is a little dicey, but bowling alleys are really the cousin to bars, and since I’m also generally lousy at bowling, I’m relegating it to this list.  I further use the logic that while most/many women generally dislike playing sports, most/many are willing to bowl . . . especially if it’s a first date for some reason.

This guy is an athlete . . . right??

Golf is right on the edge.  I wouldn’t strenuously argue with someone who can’t call it a sport.  There is a lot of walking involved though, generally over 5 miles over 18 holes, and for that reason, I’m going to call it a sport . . . although I still have a hard time calling golfers athletes.

So what does any of this have to do with Mary-thon?  Well, not much honestly.  However I was thinking about when I start running/walking or whatever, how I check the nearest clock, and how I obsess with my watch while I’m doing my daily Mary-thon, and as soon as my 30 minutes are up, to the second, I’m pretty much done.  I can’t help but think that my attitude probably affects my long-term enthusiasm.  Golf was similar for me.  I would obsess so much with each stroke, that by the end of the round my satisfaction with golfing was solely dependent on what my score was.  Regardless of whether I hit good shots or putted well, if I didn’t score well than I was dissatisfied.  Finally, when I was by myself, I stopped keeping score.  I would just keep track of pars and birdies . . . and occasional eagles, and found myself enjoying golf more.

Using similar logic; when I start my workouts, I’ll look at the start time, but then ignore the clock.  I generally always listen to music, and just keep track of how many songs I’ve listened to.  Typically each song is 3-4 minutes, so after 9 songs I know that I’m probably done, and if not then one more song will finish it.  Often I like having that last song because I’ll push myself harder knowing that its only a few minutes long.

I find that I enjoy the exercise more, as I’m less a slave to the clock.

Just a mental trick that’s helped me . . . maybe it’ll help you.    Good luck, Keep Moving Forward!

cheers,
Mike
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Posted in Mike's Page

Week 3

Published by admin on March 20th, 2012

I bought some barbells to help get some upper body. . . just in case I ever need to take my shirt off this summer, it’d be nice to be able to not have to take a man-bra off as well.

  • Monday:  Walk/ran about 35 minutes.
  • Tuesday:  Mary’s 30 minute workout . . . a little slower than normal so took me about 37 minutes.
  • Wednesday:  Bought the barbells . . . kind’ve fumbled around with different reps and stuff with them for a good 40 minutes.
  • Thursday:  Walk/ran 24 minutes, 8 minutes of barbells stuff.
  • Friday:  Started running, but a few minutes into it decided that my heart wasn’t in it . . . so ran to a Taco Bell.  I wasn’t upset with the decision until the next morning.
  • Saturday:  Mary’s 30 minute workout.
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Posted in Mike's Mary-thon Journal, Mike's Page

Week 2

Published by admin on March 8th, 2012

So about 5-6 months ago I had written about my blood pressure being 159/90.  I reduced some sodium intake, but honestly not really that much; I largely credit Mary-thon for helping me get my blood pressure down to 120/68!  Pretty amazing really.

Last weeks workouts:

  • Monday:  Run/walk 32 minutes
  • Tuesday:  Mary’s 30 minute workout
  • Wednesday:  Mary’s 30 minute workout
  • Thursday:  Lazy, didn’t do anything, however I did eat a lot . . . hmmm, I guess a double negative here doesn’t equal a positive?
  • Friday:  Run/walk 30 minutes
  • Saturday:  Mary’s 20 minute workout, ran 15 minutes

 

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Posted in Mike's Mary-thon Journal, Mike's Page

Week 1 . . . Finally

Published by admin on March 2nd, 2012

Well, I finally started my 2012 Marython . . . I’ve been exercising 2-3 times a week, and even have a few 5 day weeks, but I knew I couldn’t string them together until now, so didn’t count them.

Last weeks workouts:

  • Monday – Ran/walk 36 minutes
  • Tuesday – Ran/walk 31 minutes – but it was in 60 mph wind gusts in Laramie, WY.  Most of the time buildings were blocking the wind, but there was one stretch in between buildings when I also happened to be on some ice, and the wind literally pushed me about 200 feet before I could get traction.  I got a few looks from cars while I passed them.  I also wasn’t sure if I could count that part in my 30 minutes, so I did an extra minute just in case.
  • Wednesday – Ran/walk 47 minutes.  I was in a balmy Missouri weather, along a river bank.  Felt good, so ran a bit longer.
  • Thursday – Mary’s workout for 30 minutes
  • Saturday – Mary’s workout for 30 minutes
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Posted in Mike's Mary-thon Journal, Mike's Page