No Magic Carpet Ride

I was torn between swimming and hitting the gym today and my indecision was probably a factor in getting on the wrong highway. When I got off the highway to consult my GPS, I thought about turning around, going home and getting out a DVD or doing nothing at all. I was about to give in to Monday malaise.

I can't believe that I haven't been in a pool since Feb. 23rd. I had a lane all to myself for about 40 minutes then two duos took up residence on either side of me. Things got interesting when it was swimming lesson time.

Just what is it with the three lanes at these cookie cutter facilities?

The duo of women worked out something with the swim teacher and ended up in my lane which was cool while they were using kickboards. Even then, I was careful to take off behind them. Once they started swimming, I headed for the lazy river because I've seen them swim before. They are fast and I am slow and I don't like the feeling of being chased.

After finishing up at the pool, I was dreaming of a magic carpet to take me home but there is no magic carpet. There are no placebos in this journey. It requires putting one's backfield in motion, dedication and time...

Ana, this volunteer at my job, gave me a Clif bar. Whenever I see her, she's eating one. I told her that I tend to eat the Clif Kid bars.


She's trying to gain weight and is so sweet that I don't even detest her for that reality.

Ana said that the White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Clif bar is excellent and she even advised me not to drive while eating it. I love it that the bar has a rock climber on it.


Factoids:

Left work: 4:30 p.m. Arrived home: 8:00 p.m.
Pre-workout snacks: Half of a Mango + Fit & Active Baked Cheese Crackers (I got really hungry all of a sudden.)
Time Spent in Hot Tub: 10 Minutes
Post-Workout Snack: Clif Kid Brownie Bar
Detour: 25 Minutes
Dinner: Half of (leftover) Mediterranean Wrap from Crazy Bowls...
Water: 56 ounces
Food tracked: None

A Gala Apple, Chili Lime Peanuts & A Wheat Barley Stick

I was visualizing my exercise schedule for this week when I contacted Patti to see when we were going rock climbing.

I had two reasons. First, it takes at least two folks to rock climb -- unless you're using a designated route with an auto-belay.

Second, I wanted to take the torture step and muscle class and step and muscle back-to-back with rock climbing do not go together. Thus, the plotting and planning.

Tonight: Swimming
Tomorrow: Step and Muscle Class
Wednesday: Any Machine
Thursday: Rock Climbing
Friday: TBA
Saturday: TBA
Sunday:TBA

When I got to Riverchase, the lanes were occupied.

Lane 1: Instructor and student plus one lap swimmer
Lane 2: Six kids frolicking
Lane 3: Two women walking

I wondered what had happened to lap swimming.

I waited for about twenty minutes for a lane to open up. I was so eager to get in the pool that I swam the front crawl without pulling up. I went at the water for about an hour, took a shower and had notions of going to the store to secure ingredients for a meal. I quickly nixed that idea, turned on my GPS and looked for the nearest Crazy Bowls and Wraps where I got a Mediterranean wrap i.e. a baked falafel sandwich.


I took my face, ashy from being submerged in the water, into Trader Joe's. I just had to go to TJ's -- seeing that I was low on coffee and all.

At various points in my journey, I noshed on a Gala apple, chili lime peanuts and a wheat barley stick and the thought crossed my mind that I may very well kill myself via excessive exercise.

I didn't even care that my Mediterranean wrap might not be the best option. Tired and hungry, I devoured (half) it when I got home.

As I think about excessive exercise, my mind goes to The Biggest Loser's Where Are They Now? episode. Matt Hoover, a former contestant, participated in the Kona Ironman triathlon:

2.4-miles of swimming
112-miles of biking
26.2-mile marathon run

Hoover, who needed to complete the Ironmnan in 17 hours, missed the cutoff by three minutes and 43 seconds but still learned from the experience:

Our bodies -- they're amazing...I should not have been able to do what I did that day but my body kept going. There's something about pushing yourself beyond your limits that people need to do once in their life...

Seventeen hours, hunh?

And, on that note, I purchased a Groupon coupon today.

$20 for 20 Full-Access Day Passes to The Heights Fitness Center (Up to $120 Value)

I don't need to worry about where I will swim (for a minute anyway) while I figure out the best fitness club option for my varied needs.

Rolling Out To Rock Climb

Whenever I'm about to embark on a rock climbing adventure, the self-talk begins:

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to make it up the dang wall.

I'm probably also chitchatting with myself because of the waiver which, in part, reads:

I acknowledge the inherent extreme risks in rock climbing activities...

Last night, I was looking on the web for information about the ATC device because, all of a sudden, I couldn't remember which side feeds the climber.


Thanks to Outdoor Action, I didn't have to wonder too long about my little dilemma.

Mission and risk in mind, I rolled out of bed to be at Upper Limits by 10 a.m. because that's when the doors open and the joint is usually jumping.

It's always such a diverse crowd at UL, including a baby who was tethered to a floor anchor. That baby is the calmest one in the universe. There were also several dads exhibiting the patience of Job while belaying for their daughters. I love to see fathers hanging out with their girls.

One father told his apprehensive daughter to, basically, feal the fear and do it anyway. Daddy's got you, he said.

While waiting on a route (because it was crowded), I witnessed a climber who looked as if he was doing yoga and, then, ballet on the wall. It was an exquisite ascent.

I was about to belay and forgot to secure the ATC in the carabiner and I was about to feel bad but, before I could, Patti said that's why we do safety checks.

After we had exhausted ourselves and there is a point when you simply cannot ascend the wall anymore, Patti asked Jeremy and me if we wanted to go out to lunch. Since it was 1 p.m., it was definitely time for lunch but the mention of eating out causes me to fret. Patti suggested Crazy Bowls and Wraps and I didn't think that their fare would do much harm.

I ate half of my Caesar Chicken Wrap without even looking at the nutrition information. I'm glad that I only ate half of the sandwich because a whole one sets you back 720 calories.


It must be the brown rice, right? I was happy to see that Crazy Bowls has baked falafel. Holler! Looking at the calorie count, I should have gotten the falafel but I didn't spot it until I had already ordered.