Every Single Day

Days 29 & 30.

We had our standing Thursday Night Climbing night with Dawn, and put in a good effort. We climbed for about 2 hours, and did a bunch of challenging routes. Steve even did a couple of 5.11+, but I managed to weasel my way out of trying either of them. Maybe next week.

Tonight, we were tired and frazzled, and didn't have a chance to do anything until fairly late in the evening. I spent just over an hour doing core exercises and stretching, and then Steve rode the bike for the mandatory 30 minutes.

Tomorrow morning, we head up to the mountains for a little getaway - two days of powder skiing in the backcountry (and a night at our favorite B&B), sans kidlet.

Day 28.

Steve and I both rode the bike tonight. I did almost an hour, while Steve hung out in the basement with me eating chocolate, and then Steve did about 40 minutes, while I did core work on the Fit Ball and stretched (and also ate chocolate). The chocolate consumption probably canceled out some of the exercise benefits, but why do we work out, if not to be able to eat chocolate when we want to?

Also, Steve clarified the extent of his Day 27 workout. I was under the impression that he was riding the bike, but in fact he did 40 minutes of crunches and push-ups, while playing rounds of hearts on the computer between sets. Definite points for creativity.

Day 27.

Thanks to the lovely KC, I got to swim tonight. It's hard to work up the nerve to jump into a chilly pool when it's only 10 degrees outside! Once I survived the initial plunge, I swam for almost 40 minutes. I felt good, if rather slower than last week.

Steve's downstairs right now, doing a late-night bike/stretch routine. His knee is bothering him, so he's taking it pretty easy for a few days.

Day 26.

Steve made today a "recovery" day. He spent his lunch hour at the gym, stretching, doing core exercises, and taking a quick steam. I never left the house on this frigid, snowy work-at-home day, but put in 45 minutes on the bike trainer, plus another 15 of core work on the fit-ball.

Day 25.

We went back up to Berthoud Pass today for more backcountry skiing. The slopes were covered in 2 feet of fresh powder, the temperature was in the low 30s, and the skies alternated between light snow and partial sunshine. I did one run with Sonya, then one run with Steve and Joe, for a total of well over an hour of hiking and some quad-searing powder descents. Steve did another run or two with Joe, while Sonya and I played with the kiddos in the warming hut. Very fun day!

Days 23 & 24.

No, no, we didn't fall of the wagon already - just didn't have time to post about it! Yesterday, I did an early morning hour of stretching and core work. Steve put in 40 minutes on the bike trainer in the evening, before we went out for a delicious dinner with friends.

Today, Milo and I had dance class, which was more work for me than I expected. He wasn't too into the class today, so I spent a lot of time hauling him around the room, bouncing him on my legs, and otherwise exerting. Then we walked to and from the playground (about 15 minutes each way, with almost an hour of playing in between). Milo fell asleep in the stroller on the way back from the park. Since we finished our walk at his grandparents' house, I left him there to nap. I took advantage of the solo time at home to ride on the bike trainer for almost an hour, so I guess I ended up with a pretty good day of exercise!

Meanwhile, Steve went up to Eldora. The conditions were challenging - high 30s, and snowing wet, heavy snow. He spent a lot of time switching skis and waxes to find a workable set-up. He did get a good workout, but it was accompanied by considerable frustration.

Day 22.

Steve, Dawn, and I climbed hard tonight! Over the course of about 2 hours, we each did 9 routes, all 5.10- or harder, including a couple of 5.11- and mostly pumpier, overhanging stuff. My hands and forearms hurt (and typing will be harder tomorrow), but in a good way. Steve says his crimping abilities are coming back, and I definitely feel like I'm climbing a lot stronger and more confidently.

Day 21.

Poor Steve - once again, he was planning to spend his Wednesday evening doing a skate-skiing race at Eldora, and once again, circumstances interfered. Last week, he discovered the race series hadn't started yet. Today, he had a late-afternoon meeting that ran too late for him to make it to the resort in time for the race. So he rode his bike on the trainer while I did Milo's dinner, bath, and bedtime. Then he finished soothing Milo, who was fighting sleep, while I took over the bike trainer. I rode for just over an hour, which enabled me to catch up on all the drama and can't-look-away idiocy from Monday's episode of The Bachelor.

(As an aside, I hate reality TV with the passion of a thousand burning fires. Yet every couple of years, I inadvertently stumble upon a new Bachelor season and get totally addicted. It doesn't hurt that the current Bachelor is completely adorable. And Jewish!)

Day 20.

Steve managed to just barely cling to the edge of the wagon today. He had a bunch of errands to run at lunch, and got in about a half-hour of walking around downtown as he ticked things off his list. We're going to let this one count.

I almost blew my own workout opportunity, too. I've been unable to swim for a few months, since my regular swim partner's schedule changed, and the only pool within walking distance of the house stopped having any convenient lap swim hours. So when Jessica offered to swim with me tonight, I was thrilled. But when I got to the rec center, I realized that in my haste to throw my swim bag together in between feeding, bathing, and wrangling Milo, I had taken only half of a two-piece bathing suit.

I called Steve, nearly in tears. He immediately came to my rescue, throwing Milo and a one-piece suit into the car and zipping over to the rec center. Once I was properly attired, I had just enough time to swim a mile and soak/stretch in the hot tub for a bit. And, as it turned out, Milo had been fighting bedtime with a frenzy, and the car ride proved magically sleep-inducing.

I was really pleased with my swim. Despite my hiatus from the pool, I felt strong, fast, and efficient in the water. I did my first 800 meters pretty close to my personal best, and I wasn't even trying to swim fast. I'd like to think this is evidence the Commitment is paying dividends.

Yes, we can exercise every day!

Day 19.

I had the day off today for the MLK, jr. holiday, but spent most of the morning working. I was planning to do something outside, since it was sunny and in the 60s here. But I got caught up in work, laundry, having lunch with a friend, and wasting time on the internet, and realized I was quickly running out of time to do anything, especially if I was going to pick up Milo early from daycare and play outside with him. I decided to multitask. I packed a sippy cup and snack for Milo, a couple of layers for me, my phone, bus pass, and credit card, and my Beco baby carrier into a small camelbak pack, and ran the 4.5 or so miles from home to daycare. Then I loaded Milo onto my back in the Beco, carried the camelback over my arm, and walked over to the playground to meet a friend.

It was awesome! I got in a great run, made it to daycare at just the right time, and had a blast playing in the park with Milo and his buddy Leo. And bringing the Beco was genius, since it eliminated the need to run the whole way while pushing an empty stroller. I've done that before, and it is ANNOYING.

Steve worked out at the gym over lunch. He claims to have lost several pounds since we started this every-day Commitment, including a half-pound since last week.