We are so lucky to have actually had a spring this year and face only 4 months of 100 degree heat. Rarely can you say May was a cool month in Phoenix but I am not complaining. Now that school is out, nights are long and the weather is cool so sitting outside without sweating profusely is truly a treat. But, it is coming. We know each day it stays in the 90's is just a delay of the inevitable 110's just around the corner.
Now is a great time to look back and see if your goals you set at the beginning of the year are being met. If so, congratulations! You are in the overwhelming minority. If not, what are you going to do about it? As it has been said before, a goal is merely a dream unless you write it down and act. So, are you a dreamer or a goal-seeker?
It is not too late to end the year with that fitness goal still being accomplished! Start now by doing something. Anything sustainable and enjoyable to get you in better shape.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Acting like Kids at Koko
I guess you could say it is pathetic. I however like to say it is healthy competitive juice. You can decide for yourself.
Last fall, some friends of mine asked me to fill in on their Kickball team at Casey at the Bat. Of course I obliged and found it to be a great time and hoped to be asked to stay on full time. Thankfully I was and got to play a handful of games. I quickly learned that stretching pre-game was not a prudent idea as I pullled my quad and was on the DL for most activities. Not smart at all when I was running 3 times a week and needed the exercise.
After the second time I pulled it a couple weeks later...slow learner...I connected the pre-game stretching to the pull. I played part time in the winter league but opening the club and closing the club each night made juggling these fun evening events a stressful task.
Now that things are in somewhat autopilot at the club, I decided to create a club kickball team made up of members and staff. I wasn't sure what kind of response I would get as so many of us are so busy with kids' activities and general life stuff. Still, I decided to put up a sign in the club and see what kind of discussion it created. Thankfully, we had a good number of casually interested members that said they would give it a try and see what transpired from there. I figured it would create community and I was confident that once a person tried it, they would want to continue playing when their schedule permitted. Not surprisingly, I was right.
The league is made up of 7 teams that is supposed to be one division of Over 40 and one Under 40. However, we have been combined into one league where all teams play each other. On the surface, it appears that the youngins would be a shoe in to beat the Over 40 crews. I am happy to say (and this is where the possible pathetic comes in) that so far this has proven not to be the case. The youthful exuberance has been a non-issue as our squad of 40-something Koko-ers is more than holding its own. We won last night 10-7 against some statuesque young men and women.
I can say with confidence that at least part of the reason we are doing well is that we are a pretty fit bunch. Nothing crazy but the "functional daily strength" that I referred to in the last blog post is certainly coming into play here. I am pretty sure that some members of our team would have declined the offer to play had it not been for the confidence and strength and stamina gain they have gotten from being members here. At least I think so!
I for one am like a kid when Thursdays come. It is fun to be able to play for a short time and not hobble around and say I long for the days when I "used to" be able to run and play and just enjoy the simple things in life. And not have to ice a pulled quad too!
Last fall, some friends of mine asked me to fill in on their Kickball team at Casey at the Bat. Of course I obliged and found it to be a great time and hoped to be asked to stay on full time. Thankfully I was and got to play a handful of games. I quickly learned that stretching pre-game was not a prudent idea as I pullled my quad and was on the DL for most activities. Not smart at all when I was running 3 times a week and needed the exercise.
After the second time I pulled it a couple weeks later...slow learner...I connected the pre-game stretching to the pull. I played part time in the winter league but opening the club and closing the club each night made juggling these fun evening events a stressful task.
Now that things are in somewhat autopilot at the club, I decided to create a club kickball team made up of members and staff. I wasn't sure what kind of response I would get as so many of us are so busy with kids' activities and general life stuff. Still, I decided to put up a sign in the club and see what kind of discussion it created. Thankfully, we had a good number of casually interested members that said they would give it a try and see what transpired from there. I figured it would create community and I was confident that once a person tried it, they would want to continue playing when their schedule permitted. Not surprisingly, I was right.
The league is made up of 7 teams that is supposed to be one division of Over 40 and one Under 40. However, we have been combined into one league where all teams play each other. On the surface, it appears that the youngins would be a shoe in to beat the Over 40 crews. I am happy to say (and this is where the possible pathetic comes in) that so far this has proven not to be the case. The youthful exuberance has been a non-issue as our squad of 40-something Koko-ers is more than holding its own. We won last night 10-7 against some statuesque young men and women.
I can say with confidence that at least part of the reason we are doing well is that we are a pretty fit bunch. Nothing crazy but the "functional daily strength" that I referred to in the last blog post is certainly coming into play here. I am pretty sure that some members of our team would have declined the offer to play had it not been for the confidence and strength and stamina gain they have gotten from being members here. At least I think so!
I for one am like a kid when Thursdays come. It is fun to be able to play for a short time and not hobble around and say I long for the days when I "used to" be able to run and play and just enjoy the simple things in life. And not have to ice a pulled quad too!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Functional strength for fun things in life
My genes never allowed me to gain muscle easily. Instead of being "big boned", I have pretty small bones with some padding. Problem is, that padding has been traditionally more fat than muscle. Of course, I have been fit and pretty strong in periods of my life and have lifted weights fairly consistently since late high school. I never got great results so I usually got bored after a few months and went back to something else to keep busy.
When we get a little older, (notice little) we still try to go full speed at things we used to but now we have more consequences for those actions. Whether it be the annual Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving or just shagging balls in the outfield at a little league practice, stopping and starting hurts the next morning. Why?
My skinny legs have put up with quite a lot of pounding over the years but that never translated into an ability to gain any muscle mass. I am not really interested in looking like Earl Campbell from the waist down mind you, but just a little increase in mass makes a big difference in just about everything I do.
I am like so many men that hate working out my legs because the vanity benefit is negligible. However, now that I have my workouts planned and legs are included, the benefits are tremendous. So many little things I took for granted are now much more simple to perform. When you don't know how weak your legs are, you assume getting up from the couch is a straining event. It should not be in case you had a doubt.
My kids love the fact that I have the ability to jump on our trampoline for more than just a few jumps. Their rubber legs are matched by my 41 year old stilts and I often last as long or longer than they do as of course I am more fun to double bounce them. I have no choice sometimes but to continue to be the entertainer. I am not sure that in December I was able to do what I am doing now and I am glad for that.
All because of Koko, I have more functional strength. For life.
When we get a little older, (notice little) we still try to go full speed at things we used to but now we have more consequences for those actions. Whether it be the annual Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving or just shagging balls in the outfield at a little league practice, stopping and starting hurts the next morning. Why?
My skinny legs have put up with quite a lot of pounding over the years but that never translated into an ability to gain any muscle mass. I am not really interested in looking like Earl Campbell from the waist down mind you, but just a little increase in mass makes a big difference in just about everything I do.
I am like so many men that hate working out my legs because the vanity benefit is negligible. However, now that I have my workouts planned and legs are included, the benefits are tremendous. So many little things I took for granted are now much more simple to perform. When you don't know how weak your legs are, you assume getting up from the couch is a straining event. It should not be in case you had a doubt.
My kids love the fact that I have the ability to jump on our trampoline for more than just a few jumps. Their rubber legs are matched by my 41 year old stilts and I often last as long or longer than they do as of course I am more fun to double bounce them. I have no choice sometimes but to continue to be the entertainer. I am not sure that in December I was able to do what I am doing now and I am glad for that.
All because of Koko, I have more functional strength. For life.
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