Let's talk about physical activity in our lives. I start with myself.

Exercise story

Lena

Young years

As a child I was running and jumping in all kinds of group games, and climbing trees whenever I could.

When I was six my dream was to became a ballet dancer, I trained myself by books to be very flexible - I could get in a side over-split, for example, - to be accepted in a specialized institution. But the school was too far from my parents' home, to get up before 5 seemed crazy to them, and we moved frequently anyway. So, nothing happened, but I kept the split. Later I was so busy with getting best grades in school, with music school, with boys, and with reading (actually, in the reverse order :), that I usually had no time on extensive exercise, and I did it only to shape my figure. Aside from usual sport lessons in school I had only dancing classes for a couple of years at age 10-12. A serious modern dance training I had when I was already 17-19 (4 -5 times a week, 3-5 hours per training, with pauses). In addition to that I exercised at home on a self made ballet bar and run in sets for toning (or for fun :).

Each summer of my upbringing ( 1-2 months) I spent by seaside; once we lived not far from a see for a couple of years. And I swam quite a lot: slow but long. I loved it because I could go to the areas where nothing was around and the buildings on the coast seemed very small, and mountains stood up from behind. I just like open areas. It was a nice challenge to swim away without thinking and then start to return back already been tired, and it felt so good to lay, exhausted, on the sand on finish... Some times I crossed rivers for fun. I don't like swimming in pools though. I went to swim in them in some periods, but did not enjoy it much: my skin and eyes reacts on water, and it was too busy for me: one must always adjust his pass, giving way to others, and turn all the time.

Running

I started to run regularly when I was in my early 20s (already been fruitarian, but not very high raw). Before that I trained myself for a team games including running only twice for a couple of months at 15 and 17. First games we military expired :(, and I "trained" literally only 2-3 times :(, but during the games I got to be first among all girls from best teams in the district, but not in running at all, in abdomen muscles strength! There was a standardized exercise everybody must do and I kept the longest. My beauty-training must had helped me :)

But at 22-23 I went from 5 km per run to 8-10 in a short while, and it was remarkable to me. Sometimes I did more, once in 2000 I run 25 km and felt great. Later I increased the number to 11-12 km, but I was not running daily, and could skip weeks or even months - it happens now too.

In those years I run a very long distance only once, when I was 26: I run more than 18 km and simply crushed after in a bliss of relaxation for 20 minutes, only later I could take a shower. I learn what it means to be really tired. My other favorite run was on the coat road few years later - 16 km.

And I am certainly not a competitive athlete, at all! :) I made few organized runs (10-15 km) in recent years just for the company and beauty of nature (they were organized in forests!). If a friend would not drug me o inspire me I wouldn't go. Mental power and dancing for pleasure are much more important for me.

Half-Marathon

By training for a half marathon two years ago I did ~16-26 km 2-4 times a week for a while (7 weeks). Not less than 7 of those runs were actually as long as marathons or longer, probably more, but I was not very accurate at counting. I was able to measure the distance more accurately later on the maps in internet, but my routs were variable and I did not remembered some very long of them.

I run primarily around a beautiful lake, several times each time, slowly and with a great joy - one of my truly athletic friends called it "recreational training" :) Once, there were workers repairing the road next to the lake, and they were astound to see me again and again in just under 3 hours - I was on my longest in life 26 km run. I was astound myself in the beginning, how could I hold for so long. It was a very valuable experience for me. It must be funny to read for a serious athlete, but believe me folks, for a girl like me, that grew up without any sports, it was special. I still cherish some moments of it in my memory and keep photos of the lake. Its beauty was imprinted in me in my usually amazing endorphin-highs.

By the way, I have eaten only fruit (more or less than 2 kg a day, mostly apples) and almonds (~125g a day, surely raw, Spanish) in those couple of months, only in the last week I ate something vegan, twice. I did not lose weight, at least nothing significant - I have no idea how it could be! I only know, that my fat layer got just a bit thinner, and my upper leg muscles visibly stronger.

I discovered a limitation in knees during that period though - I had pain. Not much, but it was bothering me. I still have this pain sometimes, but very slightly.  I read a bunch of articles on the issue, and it appeared that there is a structural limitation (the angle of the hip bones) to very long runs at least in females. 

So I participated in the actual final run that one time. I was invited to the run by a friend, long-term vegan, who did the whole marathon in the same time - and he did great! The good thing for me was that I was not tired, have not gone out of breath, as many people did, and needed no rest. I was in the top of the last third by time among all females, it was very satisfactory for me, and I was just happy to be able to do that.

I was foolishly wearing a new pair of cool shoes and causing my feet bleeding soon after the start. The story with shoes was the following: I was living in my friends house in Germany, and they new my goal and observed my training efforts. Once one of them, Bernhard, noticed my old gummy shoes and asked me how long did I had them and how much they were used. They were used for 4-5 years a lot, I repaired them two times, and loved them dearly. I practice Chi-running, by which one put the foot on the surface rather parallel to it, without rolling and shuffling, so the sole base were still OK. But he said, the plastic was surely flattened, nor springy any more down and in a new pair all would be lighter. As a result the next day I went with another friend to a neighbor-city Essen, where they had a big sport store with equipment to video your running style and choose "perfect" shoes with a help of a pro-runner. I had a very good angle of foot landing, so I had choices and bought a cute soft pair. Unfortunately, there were only few days left till the run, I had to travel, and I never run in them. That was very stupid of me. As the result I fight with sharp pane the whole last run. Later on I managed to switch my mind from it.
I tried to use those expensive shoes for running again, but with a similar result starting to emerge, I was only able to play tennis in them occasionally (as a total dilettante). Dear reader, never ever run long distance in new shoes! Don't get fooled by their good fit.

Lately

Then I returned back to my usual irregular ~8-11 km, or just by time 1-1¼ hours, with speed ~ 8 km/hour. I use running as a meditation: plenty of times I resolved issues, clarified strategies, and generated new ideas during the time. 

I run with weights (1kg / 2 pounds total) on my wrists to train my upper body. There was a period I used them on my ankles, but it was uncomfortable and painful in places they touched the shoes, and my legs got way to muscular after already a month or two, so I changed the way I use them. Since last Summer I include very fast runs in the process (as fast as I can) for a minute or so many times an hour - it feels lovely.

I have my favorite routine for an hour or so (I can make it two if I am in the right mood), adapted long ago from my dancing trainings and other practices - it basically consist of various jumps and intense fast exercises, also with light weights.

Sometimes I go to gym. I had once a favorite one I went to for 5 month: early in the morning I had a group room with a mirror wall for myself - that was amazing. I did my normal stuff in it, and even taught few occasional people something.

I love high-intensity short brakes during usual activities (in other words, from being attached to my notebook :) - I jump/spring very fast on one place with certain feet positions for 3-5 minutes, and stop just before getting hot. This is so refreshing and energizing! I developed it for myself, the idea started to form by observing cats, their gracious sudden runs and complete relaxation after, and I don't know, whether there is a name to it. I do it normally several times a day, but only if I am alone and it is not too hot.

I also break for my favorite exercise with weights, I call it "Bird", it looks like flying in the first part. My old friend Luda tough me that part many years ago, and I am convinced this keeps my breast's form beautiful. Maybe I should make a video of it one day, many girls could like it.

Some hatha-yoga asanas and mudras I practice for ~ 20 years, but it is a special subject. I also borrowed some movements from Japanese Nishi system, Dao Chi techniques, Qi Gong, and integrated them in my daily life.

How about you?