No Rest for the Wicked... Sunday, June 27

It’s a Sunday and though this is our usual training-free day, with Snickers’ upcoming fight and the pressure of it building up, today was nothing close to a training-free day. Because Snickers trained, I trained. Sunday is the one day the weight training gym where Junior Mint has been taking Snickers in the early morning is closed but that didn’t stop Junior Mint from calling him out for training.

Off to the boxing club to pound away at the sand bag and pad work Snickers went. I, on the other hand, went and did my 10km route. Later in the afternoon I attempted to go for a little jog with Mi Nam but that almost resulted in me doing a face plant. Mi Nam just can’t seem to run in a straight line. He runs as straight as a drunk man with a case of beer in his belly.

In the evening Snickers wasn’t feeling up to par. I blamed it on the mellow mood of Ggum Guum. Our house is just so chill feeling and it’s so easy to switch into lazy mood because of it. I struggled but managed to get him up and out of the house for a late evening walk around the Dankook lake.

I was happy to note just how many runners were out and about running the path around the lake. There were so many people strolling around too. Kids were rollerblading in the mini roller rink and the badminton and basketball courts were packed with people enjoying the summer evening and being active.

See, no one ever said exercising had to be painful and boring. And no one ever said it meant shilling out money for a gym membership.

I use to be such a gym rat in that I loved weight training and I loved running on the treadmill. I haven’t stepped in a weight training gym for almost eight months now and I don’t miss it at all. Snickers use to push me to do what he calls “natural weight training” and I use to hate it but now I’m all for it and all for training outside now.

By “natural weight training”, he’s referring to skipping the weights and using the body weight instead. Whether it’s pull-ups on the monkey bars, push-ups off the end of the slide, or sit-ups using the merry-go-round, all these exercises utilize your body weight, most are compound exercises, and they can be done just about anywhere.

Moreover, running outside kicks the treadmill’s butt. Not only are you carrying your bodyweight forward as supposed to just running-on-the-spot, but it works your legs harder because of the natural ups and downs of the terrain (ie. hills and valleys), but it’s harder to cheat when you run outside. Unlike a treadmill where you can just simply step off of when you’re tired or unmotivated, when you run outside no matter how tired you are you still have to make your way back. Sure you could walk back but that still involves more calorie burning than simply pressing the stop button on the treadmill. And then there’s the issue with the climate you train in. Running on the treadmill in an air-controlled fitness club will burn calories, sure, but try packing on the layers to keep you warm during a winter run or try battling the heat during a summer run and you’ll see that the treadmill can’t compete with the intensity of running outside.

Lately I’ve been running 5-6 times a week and I can’t seem to get enough of it. I’m back to my usual running/boxing schedule because of my morning and early evening tutoring, so I run in the late morning and then I go boxing around 7pm. I like to go running around noon, when the sun is at its peak, and despite the heat I’m still running with a sweater and hoodie on.

It’s funny cause I feel comfortable when I’m running but feel like total ‘doggie poop’ right when I stop. The blood all rushes to my face, my heart continues to pound through my chest, my breathing tries to calm down, and then I’m totally overcome with sweat and heat. Snickers helps me stretch after my runs, so he leans and pulls my legs, arms, and back in different directions to stretch out the muscles.

The initial five minutes after the run is killer though – I hate it – and it isn’t until I’m finished my shower and flop down on the floor that I feel terrific for having just ran. The feeling I get after an intense workout, whether that be boxing or running, is like my drug. I’m addicted to it and nothing, so far, quite gives me the satisfaction and feeling like it does.

I am who I am today because of everything I did before today.

Everything either helps or hinders you and I am glad to note that I now know the difference and am making a difference with myself.

QUESTION OF THE DAY...
What do you do to keep fit?

QUOTE OF THE DAY...
Just do it.
-- Nike