I have been keeping track of my exercise every Friday for over 2 years, and plan to continue doing so.
I started the Friday Firsts sections as a way of keeping track of some of my “firsts” as I dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. Things seem to be settling down, but I will keep it for now–more as a way to be aware and thankful of what is happening in my life.
Friday Firsts
This week’s firsts:
- Saturday morning, Mr. PiN took me out to play tennis. Though this was the first time in over 25 years I had played, the real first for me was the location. As the crow flies, we probably live less than a mile from the sports area of our local park, but I had never been there in the nearly 20 years I have lived in the neighborhood. It’s very nice, with a track, and soccer fields, the tennis courts, and I suspect lots of other amenities I will have to explore another day.
- Saturday afternoon I had to run an errand in a popular outdoor shopping area. I think this was the first time since the pandemic hit that I was around so many people (not all of them masked). Despite going to work throughout the pandemic, I found myself particularly uncomfortable around so many people. I realize it will be a while before things go back to normal for me.
Fitness Log
As a reminder, my current goal is to make sure that I get 210 minutes a week of moderate exercise, of which 60 minutes should build strength (yoga counts); if I am working in the hospital, my goal is just 90 minutes, which is a more realistic stretch during those busy days.
How did I do?
- Saturday: The aforementioned tennis. I didn’t bring any timepiece, so this is a total guess. Plus, I don’t know if collecting the stray balls counts as tennis, but it certainly involved a little exercise. I will call this 30 minutes. Later, when I had to get my phone fixed, I was not comfortable waiting, and I walked home. It took me roughly 29 minutes, and I got to meet a friendly and talkative 6 year old and her brother as they tooled around the neighborhood with their parents.
- Sunday: A quick walk before my afternoon tea with friends. I felt slow, but finished my short course more quickly than usual. 19 minutes.
- Monday: I warmed up for a few minutes hitting a tennis ball in the basement; most of my time was spent chasing it. This was followed by a session with my (diabolical) trainer on a new day. 30 minutes of strength training.
- Tuesday: Finally made it to Zoom yoga. 80 minutes.
- Wednesday: Late afternoon walk, 29 minutes. I have finally hit my exercise target and can coast the rest of the week! Or not.
- Thursday: I came home early from work, with plenty of time to work out, but I did not. No exercise.
- Friday: I did not feel like exercising today, but Mr. PiN encouraged me to go out for a walk after work. It felt great. 25 minutes.
Total: 102 minutes walking, 30 minutes of tennis, 80 minutes of yoga, and 30 minutes of strength training, for a total of 242 minutes. Even with some of my time guesstimates, I am pretty sure I met my goal this week.