Wednesday, April 25, 2012

It's HOT Out There

As a resident of the Southwestern part of the United States, it's hot out there and it's going to get more unbearable to be active outside for many hours of the day once summer rolls around.  I slept in yesterday, pretending that I would fit in a run right after work in order to justify my extra pillow time.  Alas, as the day progressed and I felt the hot mid-day sun on my face, the prospect of outdoor exercise drained me. It was a great time to remember my membership that included pool time.  So immediately after work -avoiding the hazardous distraction of arriving home and deciding that the many tasks at home trumped a badly needed workout- I put on my swim suit, grabbed a towel, drank some water and headed to the pool.  I haven't been swimming in over 4 months.  The slight chill of the water was a blessed relief on a hot April day.  Trust me, in December the chill was most unwelcome. 

The manner in which we get physically active is less important than any specific activity we choose.  Components of physical activity include broad categories such as strength (think Mr. New Mexico) and cardiovascular (think Ironman) activity.  But the areas of physical health also include things such as flexibility, balance, endurance and the other benefits that we each focus on based on our individual goals.  These components are all part of a comprehensive fitness plan.  In order to reach my goal of completing a half marathon at my target pace, I will have to ensure that my training includes more than just the cardiovascular activity.

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