September will mark a year since our last actual dive at the Philadelphia Quarry in Tennessee. We were completing the Open Water Diver certification through PADI, and hopeful we might get to dive our first salt water dive during our trip to Orange Beach, Alabama. While our vacation plans didn't work out as planned whatsoever, we continued along our way while literally dreaming of diving.
Months went by, spring came to an end and our Facebook group was abuzz with divers planning trips up to the local quarries and nearby Florida beaches. Money was tight and we certainly could not pay for the refresher course, as needed. We continued dreaming and dredging down the path set before us.
One of the instructors who helped us pass our certification program, a PADI rescue diver at the time and, most recently, Dive Master, invited us to visit his pool for a refresher course. His wife, a talented diver in her own right, graciously entertained our toddler to no end while we dove down to the 8ft mark for some fun.
You may feel a little nervous when you are trying something again for the first time after a year. Your heart beats with a little more feeling, and I definitely felt I was breathing a little heavier before my feet touched the water. However, I cannot explain the familiarity that came over me when we were kicking around in full gear. It was the most amazing feeling since we dove in the first place, and I instantly remembered why I enjoyed diving in the first place.
I have always been terrified of water. Even on the first day of our certification, I was still scared. I felt like my mask was my only lifeline, considering it is the only "force" keeping water out of my nose. To this day I still have to remind myself that my regulator is what I truly need to "survive"; I can make it home without my mask and snorkel.
To those of you who may fear the water or diving in general, don't let this fear keep you from getting certified. I am certainly living proof that it is possible, and you will be so happy you worked to overcome it.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Thursday, August 27, 2015
An Abandoned Running Track
My husband and I recently expanded our walking and running route to the length of our street, which equaled out to be the distance of a 5k. While this gives us the length we need without running laps or experiencing redundancy, we were constantly running up against obstacles.
Because we run after my husband, Daniel, gets off of work, there is a lot of traffic using our road as a cut through. You literally save two minutes taking this "short cut" down a country road filled with horses and cows. Two whole minutes of driving way to fast down a road known for it's 35 mph speed limit. This road is not exactly straight. It curves up and down, left and right, which I didn't realize until we began using it and tracking it on RunKeeper. Cars don't see any pedestrians, bike riders, strollers or horse back riders until it is nearly too late.
Daniel was talking about the disappointment, of using our road as a route, with some coworkers, when they suggested using a running track at the abandoned middle school in town. While we enjoy the ability to walk straight down our driveway to our "track", this football field is only about a 5 minute drive from the house. It is flat, there aren't any aggressive dogs, and we did not need to dodge any cars.
We wanted to take it for a simple trial run, because we have kind of been rained out for the last week and a half. RunKeeper tracked 1 1/2 miles at a 16:53 minute pace; our best time! It was an overall good experience, very quiet and amazingly no disruptions, besides a few other walkers. I found it rather pleasant to focus on my exercise without being startled by a mule whining for attention.
And, our upcoming weekend should be fun, too! Daniel will be having hand surgery on Monday, so some friends from our Scuba diving group have put together a refresher course for my husband and I to take. They organized another dive member to lend us gear, will be providing the filled air tanks, and even want to grill some burgers while they babysit our daughter. We are so thrilled at the opportunity and feel so blessed to have wonderful dive buddies.
Because we run after my husband, Daniel, gets off of work, there is a lot of traffic using our road as a cut through. You literally save two minutes taking this "short cut" down a country road filled with horses and cows. Two whole minutes of driving way to fast down a road known for it's 35 mph speed limit. This road is not exactly straight. It curves up and down, left and right, which I didn't realize until we began using it and tracking it on RunKeeper. Cars don't see any pedestrians, bike riders, strollers or horse back riders until it is nearly too late.
Daniel was talking about the disappointment, of using our road as a route, with some coworkers, when they suggested using a running track at the abandoned middle school in town. While we enjoy the ability to walk straight down our driveway to our "track", this football field is only about a 5 minute drive from the house. It is flat, there aren't any aggressive dogs, and we did not need to dodge any cars.
We wanted to take it for a simple trial run, because we have kind of been rained out for the last week and a half. RunKeeper tracked 1 1/2 miles at a 16:53 minute pace; our best time! It was an overall good experience, very quiet and amazingly no disruptions, besides a few other walkers. I found it rather pleasant to focus on my exercise without being startled by a mule whining for attention.
And, our upcoming weekend should be fun, too! Daniel will be having hand surgery on Monday, so some friends from our Scuba diving group have put together a refresher course for my husband and I to take. They organized another dive member to lend us gear, will be providing the filled air tanks, and even want to grill some burgers while they babysit our daughter. We are so thrilled at the opportunity and feel so blessed to have wonderful dive buddies.
Monday, August 3, 2015
Where Have We Been?
Most of the time I start a blog related to exercising and I either stop running or forget to write any posts. Thankfully in this case, the lack of articles is related to a busy schedule and doctor's appointments, and we are still "on the run".
In the past few weeks my husband and I, as well as my sister for a few days, have increased our distance of walking and running to the length of a 5k. The road that we live on can equal over 3 miles of winding, uphill and downhill cement. Although we are just running 60 seconds and walking 90 seconds, we are feeling challenged and see improvements.
My husband has been facing some different obstacles of late. He has a developed a lump between his thumb and pointer finger, that has significantly enlarged in the last three weeks. We have been to a few doctor's appointments, he had an ultrasound and MRI to determine whether it is a complex cyst or tumor (cancerous or otherwise). At this point, we are awaiting the call regarding our scheduled visit with a hand specialist surgeon.
Last week Daniel also got the opportunity to experience a real mountain biking trail ride. He, along with his coworker, drove up Lookout Mountain to bike a route in Cloudland Canyon. They road for an hour before moving on to a round of disc golf. Even though this doesn't seem like much, it is a gigantic improvement from my husband's past.
Neither of us were good at exercising beyond normal day to day activities in and out of work. Then our daughter was born and we both began gaining multiple health problems. Since we have started running and walking multiple times a week, and working up a good sweat, we both feel better and are finally starting to look better.
In conclusion, I am still here, sorry for the hiatus. For now it is back to a semi-normal routine, while we await results of Daniel's scans. I will most certainly work on posting more updates and discoveries while we improve our running times and distances, training for an upcoming 5k!
In the past few weeks my husband and I, as well as my sister for a few days, have increased our distance of walking and running to the length of a 5k. The road that we live on can equal over 3 miles of winding, uphill and downhill cement. Although we are just running 60 seconds and walking 90 seconds, we are feeling challenged and see improvements.
My husband has been facing some different obstacles of late. He has a developed a lump between his thumb and pointer finger, that has significantly enlarged in the last three weeks. We have been to a few doctor's appointments, he had an ultrasound and MRI to determine whether it is a complex cyst or tumor (cancerous or otherwise). At this point, we are awaiting the call regarding our scheduled visit with a hand specialist surgeon.
Last week Daniel also got the opportunity to experience a real mountain biking trail ride. He, along with his coworker, drove up Lookout Mountain to bike a route in Cloudland Canyon. They road for an hour before moving on to a round of disc golf. Even though this doesn't seem like much, it is a gigantic improvement from my husband's past.
Neither of us were good at exercising beyond normal day to day activities in and out of work. Then our daughter was born and we both began gaining multiple health problems. Since we have started running and walking multiple times a week, and working up a good sweat, we both feel better and are finally starting to look better.
In conclusion, I am still here, sorry for the hiatus. For now it is back to a semi-normal routine, while we await results of Daniel's scans. I will most certainly work on posting more updates and discoveries while we improve our running times and distances, training for an upcoming 5k!
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Hitting Pavement after a Setback
Using the term setback conjures up images of a broken bone or bad sprain, but in our case it wasn't something quite so detrimental. My husband, Daniel, began experiencing some common pain that held us back from running for over 5 days. Needless to say, I was anxious and nervous when we started our run this evening.
It is our understanding, after years of suffering and mis diagnosis, that Daniel suffers from a form of chronic gout. His body is less efficient at flushing out the uric acid, which then builds up in his joints to form crystals. When this happens, his joints (mainly ankles) tend to swell, flare up and hurt. He basically hobbles around until the uric acid crystals are flushed away. The gout really seems to come on strong when he his water intake is lower than it should be on a day where he exerts himself at work (like scrap day in a hot warehouse).
Besides being our first run after a setback of more than five days, it was a run of new shoes, too. I had been running with a pair of Vibram FiveFingers, which I love dearly. Seriously. Ask anyone in my family and they can tell you of my love for these shoes. Regardless, I began noticing some pains associated with no cushion betwixt myself and the hard pavement. While these Vibrams may be amazing for trail running, some sharp turquoise Nike's are a better choice for a hard surface.
We both expressed our doubts and low expectations as we walked down the driveway to the road.
"I'll be lucky to make it to the one minute marker mailbox."
"I'm not sure I can even make it there!"
After a five minute warm up walk, it was time. And with each stride we both noticed that our muscles, while a little tight, were not holding us back! Our breathing was difficult, and as we passed the one minute marker, we kept going. To our amazement, we made it to the two minute marker with no leg pain whatsoever. Our labored breathing was the only obstacle we truly faced.
Thankfully, this gives us a little hope for tomorrow.
It is our understanding, after years of suffering and mis diagnosis, that Daniel suffers from a form of chronic gout. His body is less efficient at flushing out the uric acid, which then builds up in his joints to form crystals. When this happens, his joints (mainly ankles) tend to swell, flare up and hurt. He basically hobbles around until the uric acid crystals are flushed away. The gout really seems to come on strong when he his water intake is lower than it should be on a day where he exerts himself at work (like scrap day in a hot warehouse).
Besides being our first run after a setback of more than five days, it was a run of new shoes, too. I had been running with a pair of Vibram FiveFingers, which I love dearly. Seriously. Ask anyone in my family and they can tell you of my love for these shoes. Regardless, I began noticing some pains associated with no cushion betwixt myself and the hard pavement. While these Vibrams may be amazing for trail running, some sharp turquoise Nike's are a better choice for a hard surface.
We both expressed our doubts and low expectations as we walked down the driveway to the road.
"I'll be lucky to make it to the one minute marker mailbox."
"I'm not sure I can even make it there!"
After a five minute warm up walk, it was time. And with each stride we both noticed that our muscles, while a little tight, were not holding us back! Our breathing was difficult, and as we passed the one minute marker, we kept going. To our amazement, we made it to the two minute marker with no leg pain whatsoever. Our labored breathing was the only obstacle we truly faced.
Thankfully, this gives us a little hope for tomorrow.
Monday, May 18, 2015
Week Two of Couch to 5K
When you are so used to sitting down all the time, throughout the week and especially on weekends, your body tends to reject any sort of exercise. Knowing that the pain is inevitable it is easier to avoid exercising, and just cozy up on the couch or with the Playstation instead. However, my husband and I both have been pleasantly surprised with our results and determination this go round.
I can't tell you the amount of times we have discussed doing something together. Even now, the mountain bikes have yet to be taken down a trail. In our defense, rain and other unforeseen incidences have been working against us, but it still doesn't look good. But there is something about pounding out that pavement together that continues to draw us back in each day we run.
My husband does not have the tiniest frame on the planet, and he has suffered from high blood pressure for years. Suffice to say, it is not the easiest for him to continue with a scheduled plan that may not have been written up for someone like him. Regardless, he has stuck it out best he can. There have been break days in between harder sessions, such as increasing running time. But, I have also seen him push himself, and encourage me to endure when I wanted to quit.
That's a funny thing about marriage, or many relationship forms, I guess. When one is ready to hang up the running shoes and toss out those compression pants, the other is usually there to motivate you again. I have seen us develop together more, than I think we would have going it alone. And while I could stand to increase my running time, or even go twice a day, there is something about doing this together.
We haven't lost weight, we haven't increased our run time past 2 minutes. Yet we have learned to push ourselves and encourage one another. Through error we have learned which kind of foot support we need, and that our diving watches make better and easier timers than phone apps. To always remember our compression pants, less we suffer in the morning. That stretching is best done before you start your session, as well as after. But we are pleased with our results, especially in breathing.
I can't tell you the amount of times we have discussed doing something together. Even now, the mountain bikes have yet to be taken down a trail. In our defense, rain and other unforeseen incidences have been working against us, but it still doesn't look good. But there is something about pounding out that pavement together that continues to draw us back in each day we run.
My husband does not have the tiniest frame on the planet, and he has suffered from high blood pressure for years. Suffice to say, it is not the easiest for him to continue with a scheduled plan that may not have been written up for someone like him. Regardless, he has stuck it out best he can. There have been break days in between harder sessions, such as increasing running time. But, I have also seen him push himself, and encourage me to endure when I wanted to quit.
That's a funny thing about marriage, or many relationship forms, I guess. When one is ready to hang up the running shoes and toss out those compression pants, the other is usually there to motivate you again. I have seen us develop together more, than I think we would have going it alone. And while I could stand to increase my running time, or even go twice a day, there is something about doing this together.
We haven't lost weight, we haven't increased our run time past 2 minutes. Yet we have learned to push ourselves and encourage one another. Through error we have learned which kind of foot support we need, and that our diving watches make better and easier timers than phone apps. To always remember our compression pants, less we suffer in the morning. That stretching is best done before you start your session, as well as after. But we are pleased with our results, especially in breathing.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Under Armour Sports Bra
Price is usually my point of purchase. But, when I can, I prefer to choose a brand I know and trust over saving $5. Athletic apparel is no exception, especially when you want it to last for more than a few uses. Whether you are brand specific or comfort specific, a good sports bra is unbeatable.
When we visited Dick's Sporting Goods to purchase my husband's Diamondback mountain bike, I stopped by they women's apparel section to look at their bras. There is nothing worse than participating in any activity while your chest is flopping around in the way! I needed something supportive to hold them in tight, while wicking away moisture and helping beat the heat. Could I be more demanding on a small piece of clothing?
Enter Under Armour's Still Got to Have it bra. Available in 19 different solid colors, it features HeatGear fabric and mid-impact support for superior performance. The straps don't dig into your shoulders, avoiding headaches, and the fabric is a marvelous soft, thin moisture proof option that keeps you dry for a next to skin feeling. And, at $25, how could you not be willing to give it a try?
I have been so pleased with my activity experience with UA's bra, it has motivated me to continue. Perhaps that's a little silly, but I am in love with gear that allows me to move without more effort. I would recommend this bra to any woman, and Dick's product reviews reflect my opinion.
When we visited Dick's Sporting Goods to purchase my husband's Diamondback mountain bike, I stopped by they women's apparel section to look at their bras. There is nothing worse than participating in any activity while your chest is flopping around in the way! I needed something supportive to hold them in tight, while wicking away moisture and helping beat the heat. Could I be more demanding on a small piece of clothing?
 | |
| www.dickssportinggoods.com |
Enter Under Armour's Still Got to Have it bra. Available in 19 different solid colors, it features HeatGear fabric and mid-impact support for superior performance. The straps don't dig into your shoulders, avoiding headaches, and the fabric is a marvelous soft, thin moisture proof option that keeps you dry for a next to skin feeling. And, at $25, how could you not be willing to give it a try?
I have been so pleased with my activity experience with UA's bra, it has motivated me to continue. Perhaps that's a little silly, but I am in love with gear that allows me to move without more effort. I would recommend this bra to any woman, and Dick's product reviews reflect my opinion.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
My Experience with Compression Leggings
Just check out a couple sporting good retailers, or big brand name web sites, and you will quickly learn about the latest athletic "fad". They claim to offer a lot of benefits to the wearer, but come at a hefty price tag. How can you get in on the goods while saving some cash?
While I am no full time runner, yet, I have had some experiencing walking, jogging and running in compression capris. I even took them for a spin on my mountain bike. Regardless of how you may feel squeezing yourself into a pair of spandex pants, you may not want to write them off completely.
I found my first pair of Calvin Klein compression leggings at a Bealle's Outlet store. Originally $50, I snagged them for $14.99 with an additional savings due to their Friday member card discounts. While I was hoping to find full length pants, I was really excited to get home and try them out. And my first experiences did not disappoint!
These Calvin's offered support I didn't know I wanted, or needed. My thighs are not very "thick" but they do touch at the top, and the compression cropped leggings kept them from creating friction. Without getting too graphic, my butt didn't bounce around too much or throw off my balance. I didn't find them to be too tight, but they did stay tight enough to keep my blood flowing.
The next day the proof was in the pudding. My husband and I have been avoiding exercise for about 5 years, so, I expected some soreness after walking and jogging, and biking. Although I did notice some muscle tightness I did not have fatigue or more obvious soreness like I was expecting. The following day I did not wear any compression pants, and I noticed definite pain. To really test the theory, I wore compression the day after that, and had much less soreness in my leg muscles. They truly made a difference for me!
While I am no full time runner, yet, I have had some experiencing walking, jogging and running in compression capris. I even took them for a spin on my mountain bike. Regardless of how you may feel squeezing yourself into a pair of spandex pants, you may not want to write them off completely.
 |
| www.belk.com |
These Calvin's offered support I didn't know I wanted, or needed. My thighs are not very "thick" but they do touch at the top, and the compression cropped leggings kept them from creating friction. Without getting too graphic, my butt didn't bounce around too much or throw off my balance. I didn't find them to be too tight, but they did stay tight enough to keep my blood flowing.
The next day the proof was in the pudding. My husband and I have been avoiding exercise for about 5 years, so, I expected some soreness after walking and jogging, and biking. Although I did notice some muscle tightness I did not have fatigue or more obvious soreness like I was expecting. The following day I did not wear any compression pants, and I noticed definite pain. To really test the theory, I wore compression the day after that, and had much less soreness in my leg muscles. They truly made a difference for me!
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Shopping for Mountain Bikes
Mountain biking is just another activity we thought we may enjoy as family. Though the idea originated from a friend, my husband and I are attempting to roll with it. After a few weeks of researching and shopping, we have learned a few valuable lessons.
Bike shops are pretty valuable, whether you purchase your wheels there, or somewhere else. The local bike shop here in Chattanooga offered great suggestions when we broke a derailleur on a cheaper bike we had. Although their models were pricey for our taste, we wouldn't think twice about buying one there, funds willing.
Walmart is not your friend. Neither is Kmart, Target or Sears. These stores include brands such as Genesis and Schwinn. While these brands may be acceptable for a kid, they are assembled and "tested" by contractors. On both bikes we bought from Walmart we found different assembly mistakes. Screws were tightened too tight and wheels were crooked. Not to mention the handle bars that had been put on upside down.
Per the bike shop, we began looking into Dick's Sporting Goods and Academy Sports. These stores offer various models of Diamondback, Schwinn, Trek and Nishiki to mention a few. After reading tons of reviews off of different web sites, we came to the conclusion that Diamondback may be our best option. Dick's bike department even had a specialist to check out the bike before it left the store.
In conclusion, we learned that shopping the cheaper bikes is not always the best option. While I try to be as budget friendly as possible, sometimes you just have to invest a little bit more money. We want our bikes to last longer than one season. Whether that means you upgrade a few components or not, I would hate to see it break after one good trail ride.
Bike shops are pretty valuable, whether you purchase your wheels there, or somewhere else. The local bike shop here in Chattanooga offered great suggestions when we broke a derailleur on a cheaper bike we had. Although their models were pricey for our taste, we wouldn't think twice about buying one there, funds willing.
Walmart is not your friend. Neither is Kmart, Target or Sears. These stores include brands such as Genesis and Schwinn. While these brands may be acceptable for a kid, they are assembled and "tested" by contractors. On both bikes we bought from Walmart we found different assembly mistakes. Screws were tightened too tight and wheels were crooked. Not to mention the handle bars that had been put on upside down.
Per the bike shop, we began looking into Dick's Sporting Goods and Academy Sports. These stores offer various models of Diamondback, Schwinn, Trek and Nishiki to mention a few. After reading tons of reviews off of different web sites, we came to the conclusion that Diamondback may be our best option. Dick's bike department even had a specialist to check out the bike before it left the store.
In conclusion, we learned that shopping the cheaper bikes is not always the best option. While I try to be as budget friendly as possible, sometimes you just have to invest a little bit more money. We want our bikes to last longer than one season. Whether that means you upgrade a few components or not, I would hate to see it break after one good trail ride.
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Couch to 5k - Day Two
Due to being unbelievably out of shape, overweight and incurred health issues, we have had to begin our Couch to 5k program slower than expected. However, after a little research, my husband and I are beginning to learn a new technique or two. Here is our journey thus far.
On the first day, which hasn't counted as part of the 5k program, we walked for 20 minutes. It equated to something over 2 miles when we tallied up the step count. We also rode some bicycles that same day, which ended up being returned to the store, but that's a story for another day.
The second day, or first day of C25k, we attempted a 5 minute brisk walk. After a walk we jogged for 60 seconds and walked for 60 seconds, alternating five different times and ending with a cool down and stretch. My husband noted that he was having difficulty breathing and felt as though he might pass out. We decided to rest the next day, and read about breathing and foot striking.
We learned that relaxing your jaw and jogging with a slightly open mouth makes it easier to breath, while taking advantage of belly breathing. To start out you can begin breathing in for two steps, and exhale over two steps; repeat. Your feet, especially in Vibram FiveFingers (such like I wear), should strike either on the toes or front of your foot, or flat on the ground. Out of habit we find ourselves in a heel-strike situation, and that should be avoided.
Our third day of C25k we waited until the hubby came home from work, beginning with a brisk 5 minute walk. We then jogged for 2 minutes and ended with a 5 minute cool down and stretch. I found that I felt strong through the 2 minutes leg-wise, but started to wane with my breathing right at end time. I did feel as though my breathing was more steady through the whole job, before I began to huff and puff.
Tomorrow will be another 5 minute walk, 2 minute jog, 5 minute walk day before we rest another. Have you found any techniques or extra exercises/stretches that helped your C25k experience? We would love to hear of any tips or "tricks", as well as questions, in the comments!
On the first day, which hasn't counted as part of the 5k program, we walked for 20 minutes. It equated to something over 2 miles when we tallied up the step count. We also rode some bicycles that same day, which ended up being returned to the store, but that's a story for another day.
The second day, or first day of C25k, we attempted a 5 minute brisk walk. After a walk we jogged for 60 seconds and walked for 60 seconds, alternating five different times and ending with a cool down and stretch. My husband noted that he was having difficulty breathing and felt as though he might pass out. We decided to rest the next day, and read about breathing and foot striking.
We learned that relaxing your jaw and jogging with a slightly open mouth makes it easier to breath, while taking advantage of belly breathing. To start out you can begin breathing in for two steps, and exhale over two steps; repeat. Your feet, especially in Vibram FiveFingers (such like I wear), should strike either on the toes or front of your foot, or flat on the ground. Out of habit we find ourselves in a heel-strike situation, and that should be avoided.
Our third day of C25k we waited until the hubby came home from work, beginning with a brisk 5 minute walk. We then jogged for 2 minutes and ended with a 5 minute cool down and stretch. I found that I felt strong through the 2 minutes leg-wise, but started to wane with my breathing right at end time. I did feel as though my breathing was more steady through the whole job, before I began to huff and puff.
Tomorrow will be another 5 minute walk, 2 minute jog, 5 minute walk day before we rest another. Have you found any techniques or extra exercises/stretches that helped your C25k experience? We would love to hear of any tips or "tricks", as well as questions, in the comments!
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