Running Inside

We've been busy the last three weeks with RFG, trying to balance building our inventory while selling as much as we can.  Sales have been good, steadily building up as people hear about us or see us at our delivery spots.  There's so much to learn, and it seems like getting out there and doing this is the best way to get a quick education.  I think we are going to experience tremendous growth this year, and both of us are really excited about it.  


Through it all, I have managed to keep up with my average 5 miles per day despite not making it to my running group for all the workouts.  I won't lie that some days it has been difficult to find the time, and often I find myself going to the gym late at night just to get 5 miles on the elliptical machine.  Last night I was headed to the gym when Jessica suggested that maybe I should just try running inside so that I could avoid the trip to the gym on a night when people might be out drinking and driving (Super Bowl Sunday).  I initially pooh-poohed the idea, but then we worked it out together.  


We measured the main pathway from the front door to the back door at 40 feet.  At 80 feet per lap, 330 of them worked out to five miles exactly.  With a clicker in hand to count my laps and headphones on listening to old Metallica, I ran the entire five miles in the house!  It took me a little longer than running the same distance outside, and I'm hurting some today.  I suspect that that it has to do with the constant turning.  All those turns surely helped me to work some muscles that I don't normally engage, so I'm glad about that.  I did try to turn evenly on both sides of my body by changing directions halfway through.  It was exciting to find another way to get my run in.  It reminded me of some of the unique ways that imprisoned people have used to exercise in small areas, though they certainly wouldn't have the luxury of a clicker, music, or a straight 40 feet. I could see incorporating inside running when running outside is not an option and I can't go to the gym.  I wouldn't want to do it every day though.


In looking at RunKeeper, it's exciting to see how many more miles I covered in January than in December.  My overall miles in December were 75.9 with 24.6 of those as running miles.  In January, I covered 171.4 miles, which included 84.7 running miles!  I likely won't ever see this kind of increase again, so I'm enjoying thinking about it.  It's a real turning point in my running, and I feel like there's no going back.


Exercise Log:
1/18: Walking (3.99 miles); Running group - short loop + small hill training (2.46 miles - distance includes some of the drills); TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 3).  Total Miles for the day: 6.45
1/19: Elliptical (5.45 miles); TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 4).  Total Miles for the day: 5.45
1/20: Running (5.06 miles); TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 5).  Total Miles for the day: 5.06
1/21: Walking (5.30 miles); TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 6). Total Miles for the day: 5.30
1/22: Elliptical (5.13 miles); TotalGym Ab Crunch workout.  Total Miles for the day: 5.13
1/23: Walking (5.06 miles); TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 1).  Total Miles for the day: 5.06
1/24: Elliptical (5.01 miles); TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 2).  Total Miles for the day: 5.01
1/25: Running group (5.06 miles + drills under Mopac bridge); TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 3).  Total Miles for the day: 5.06
1/26: Elliptical (5.32 miles); TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 4).  Total Miles for the day: 5.32
1/27: Walking (5.41 miles).  Total Miles for the day: 5.41
1/28: Running (5.05 miles); TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 5).  Total Miles for the day: 5.05
1/29: Running (5.06 miles); TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 6).  Total Miles for the day: 5.06
1/30: Running group @ TSD (4.98 miles - distance includes the drills); TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 1).  Total Miles for the day: 4.98 (averaged with previous day: 5.02)
1/31: Elliptical (5.53 miles); TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 2).  Total Miles for the day: 5.53
2/1: Walking (5.11 miles); Running group - short loop (2.02 miles) + small hill training; TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 3).  Total Miles for the day: 7.13
2/2: Walking (4.67 miles); TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 4).  Total Miles for the day: 4.67 (averaged with previous day: 5.90)
2/3: Elliptical (5.37 miles); TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 5).  Total Miles for the day: 5.37
2/4: Running (5.00 miles).  Total Miles for the day: 5.00
2/5: Running inside (5.00 miles or 330 laps of 80 ft); TotalGym John Carleo 6-day training (Day 6).  Total Miles for the day: 5.00