Countdown

One of the things I've learned by taking classes was the importance of The Countdown. Counting 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. On the left side, 5 ,4 3, 2, 1. Sets. Breathe. Recover. At the end I half expect my butt to eject but so far I've only experienced the occasional polite fart.

For example, we count laps, up and back, in the pool. Today I did 4000 yards, which translates to 80 laps, or "What are you, a crazy woman"? I'm sure the lifeguards find me mildly interesting, more so perhaps than the condition of their nails, half hoping to do a rescue, knowing I'm pushing 50. Being a lifeguard is probably almost as interesting as being a shrub. If a fellow pool dweller tells me "they lost count" in terms or how many laps they've done I always tell them they have to start all over again. I've had a few weird looks. Go figure.

On the treadmill there are, I think, 6 ways from Sunday to track your workout. How fast, number of laps (.25 miles/each), Kcal (translation: killer calories), distance, etc. Then, when you finish your run the stupid thing tells you how far you went, your average speed, and when you will die from a heart attack if you don't slow down. I suppose this is added value for having a Y membership. "GREAT WORKOUT" speeds across the display. I'm bright red and half dead. What crap.

Some days I get to the gym and I'm not feeling all that shit hot - kind of crabby, tired, and stiff. If I am in Spinner mode I set my Resistance at an "8". I don't really want to socialize and again I thank gawd for earplugs and earbugs. In midwinter when most of the exercise I get is indoors, alternating between swimming and machines get pretty sterile. Life is stressful, I work too hard, the problem with the world is everybody else and I gained 2 pounds over the holidays. Not fun.

But the weather is improving. It's May in upstate NY - some of the best weather we can have. It's a wonder to run outside and go as fast, or as slow, or as far as I want. I get on my bike and ride and am absolutely joyful at flying down hills and going really fast. What a release not to count, or countdown, or keep track, or record any part of what is going on with my bod. There I am thinking "Resistance is at a 0". I am free.