From my Spark blog Sunday, January 15, 2012
I have never liked running. No, really, NEVER! Not even as a small child when everyone else would race just for the sake of racing. I would rather read a book, or watch a movie, or take a nap. Don't get me wrong, I understand the need for running in things like soccer, or baseball, or if a child is hurt, or if you're randomly being chased by the devil. But running, just for the sake of running, really? I don't get it. It isn't fun for me, in fact, it's downright painful. I have no cartilage in my left knee, see, and when I run, my bones clack together in a most excruciating manner. So when my "friends" decided that their New Year's Resolution would be to run a 5K, and they asked me to join them ("It's in April," they said, "that's enough time to get ready."), my response was: "Surely, you jest! Me, a 5K, huh?" I was thoroughly confused as to why anyone would want to run. But, there it is: people love to run. They think it's liberating, it's like flying, they can clear their mind. Whatever. I'm sure it's great. For some people.
And, just as I can't appreciate running, I'm sure there are many people in the world who don't enjoy all the same things I do. Opera, f'rinstance, is not every person's cup of tea, as it were. But I could listen to nothing but for months on end. I would even spend a year's salary to see an opera at the Met, or other world famous opera houses (Sydney, Bayern, etc.).
The problem then becomes, if I'm not planning on running, how on earth do I intend to get this overbearing weight off of my joints. I have problems with aerobics, because of the impact, same with most martial arts, I've a loathing for the cold that rivals any you've ever heard of so skiing/sledding/boarding/skating are out. This pretty much leaves me with swimming. Oh, I hate it when my mother is right. She made me start swimming when I was about 9 years old because the pediatrician said I was too fat. And now, it seems my only recourse. I've tried some other things, too: Tai Chi (I always forget where the apostrophe[s] goes), Yoga, Pilates, dancing (Zumba, as well), water aerobics, a variety of workout videos like Tae Bo, and Turbo Jam. I can't seem to find something that I like, and likes me, I mean doesn't cause a great deal of pain. I know that there are things I can do, like sit-ups and stretches and things, that don't require impact nor pressure on the joints, but I also know that without a cardio activity of some sort, the weight will not come off.
To illustrate my reluctance to swimming, I have made a bad/good list. I know most people call it pros and cons, but I don't want to pay for my habit, nor put them in jail, so I say bad and good.
The bad things about swimming:
1. I am roughly the size and shape of a baby elephant - nobody wants to see that in a bathing suit.
2. It's a little tiring for my shoulders - pretty much the only place I don't have arthritis yet
3. Because of my schedule, I have to do it at the butt-crack of dawn.
4. There are 3-4 days every month that I can't do it.
5. I have to admit that my mother was right
The good things about swimming:
1. It doesn't hurt my knees, hips, ankles, feet, or wrists.
2. It burns tons of calories (nearly 500 for 30 minutes, and that's for moderate effort)
3. I don't have to talk to anyone while I'm doing it.
4. Exercising first thing in the morning is very invigorating
5. I don't actually hate it - hey, it isn't running
So, I will swim, as often as I can. Now I just need to find something else to do on those days that I can't go swimming...
I have never liked running. No, really, NEVER! Not even as a small child when everyone else would race just for the sake of racing. I would rather read a book, or watch a movie, or take a nap. Don't get me wrong, I understand the need for running in things like soccer, or baseball, or if a child is hurt, or if you're randomly being chased by the devil. But running, just for the sake of running, really? I don't get it. It isn't fun for me, in fact, it's downright painful. I have no cartilage in my left knee, see, and when I run, my bones clack together in a most excruciating manner. So when my "friends" decided that their New Year's Resolution would be to run a 5K, and they asked me to join them ("It's in April," they said, "that's enough time to get ready."), my response was: "Surely, you jest! Me, a 5K, huh?" I was thoroughly confused as to why anyone would want to run. But, there it is: people love to run. They think it's liberating, it's like flying, they can clear their mind. Whatever. I'm sure it's great. For some people.
And, just as I can't appreciate running, I'm sure there are many people in the world who don't enjoy all the same things I do. Opera, f'rinstance, is not every person's cup of tea, as it were. But I could listen to nothing but for months on end. I would even spend a year's salary to see an opera at the Met, or other world famous opera houses (Sydney, Bayern, etc.).
The problem then becomes, if I'm not planning on running, how on earth do I intend to get this overbearing weight off of my joints. I have problems with aerobics, because of the impact, same with most martial arts, I've a loathing for the cold that rivals any you've ever heard of so skiing/sledding/boarding/skating are out. This pretty much leaves me with swimming. Oh, I hate it when my mother is right. She made me start swimming when I was about 9 years old because the pediatrician said I was too fat. And now, it seems my only recourse. I've tried some other things, too: Tai Chi (I always forget where the apostrophe[s] goes), Yoga, Pilates, dancing (Zumba, as well), water aerobics, a variety of workout videos like Tae Bo, and Turbo Jam. I can't seem to find something that I like, and likes me, I mean doesn't cause a great deal of pain. I know that there are things I can do, like sit-ups and stretches and things, that don't require impact nor pressure on the joints, but I also know that without a cardio activity of some sort, the weight will not come off.
To illustrate my reluctance to swimming, I have made a bad/good list. I know most people call it pros and cons, but I don't want to pay for my habit, nor put them in jail, so I say bad and good.
The bad things about swimming:
1. I am roughly the size and shape of a baby elephant - nobody wants to see that in a bathing suit.
2. It's a little tiring for my shoulders - pretty much the only place I don't have arthritis yet
3. Because of my schedule, I have to do it at the butt-crack of dawn.
4. There are 3-4 days every month that I can't do it.
5. I have to admit that my mother was right
The good things about swimming:
1. It doesn't hurt my knees, hips, ankles, feet, or wrists.
2. It burns tons of calories (nearly 500 for 30 minutes, and that's for moderate effort)
3. I don't have to talk to anyone while I'm doing it.
4. Exercising first thing in the morning is very invigorating
5. I don't actually hate it - hey, it isn't running
So, I will swim, as often as I can. Now I just need to find something else to do on those days that I can't go swimming...
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