Speedwalking Is Not My Idea of a Vacation

So, it's finally come to pass. I quit the sports walk after completing 1.25 miles (5 laps) instead of the 2.25 (9 laps) I was supposed to complete. It was a combination of things - not wanting to totally screw my back again, being super out of shape and not being able to breathe properly, the extra poundage I carry around with me everyday now, and the fact that you have to walk... which I still think is ridiculous. It's so fast! Also, I had to slow down since my back was tweaking, and I knew that at the speed I was going, I wouldn't make it... by maybe half a lap or so. So, I accepted the fact that I couldn't do it without really hurting myself and decided that those two vacation days just weren't worth it to me, especially if my back health was at stake. My muscles are still too tight, which the chiropractor even commented on today.

I get, like, 14 vacation days and two personal days off a year. And when I'm there for 5 years, I'll get 18. Plus, I had a hard time using all my days this year. Probably because I didn't take a real vacation this year. So, with the days I took at Thanksgiving, I still had 7 left. Which means I have 7 days to take at the end of the year near Christmas, or I lose them.

Regardless, the whole point of this is to reward people who are in good shape. And because I'm not really in good shape, I think that's a bad idea. You see, they have this thing at work where you can take an hour to go workout in the middle of the day. Right in the middle of your work day. So, you're exercising instead of working and still getting paid. And by doing that, you're getting in better shape so you can complete this sports walk thing. So, you do the sports walk and get rewarded with more time off. So really, the biggest slackers at work - those who take off for an hour in the middle of the day - those are the ones being rewarded with vacation time.

Now, the hard working folks who stay at their desks, those poor slobs aren't in shape enough to win days off. Which is really a shame because they are the hard workers who deserve a reward. Those are the people there all day, everyday. It hardly seems fair.

I could be one of the people that takes off in the middle of the day to workout, but the free gym we have a membership to had a shooting in front of it. And since that happened, I haven't been back. I mean, what's more important, my health or my life?

I'm nothing if not really good at making up good excuses. Besides, I win at a whole lot of other things in life.


End Blog.

Exercise Nazi

Tonight, I went to the gym. Hopefully this will become a normal reoccurring event for me as I am wickedly out of shape.

It's a pretty sweet deal. Working at the crime lab, we somehow managed to get a free membership to the gym attached to the hospital across the street. That's right, free. But here's the best part - work has not only approved but is actually endorsing us to work out during the work day, or leaving slightly early from work just to work out. With no penalty. Basically the deal is, we get paid to work out. And we have a facility to work out in for free.

So, given these two facts, I figured it was high time to get my butt in gear and start working out.

I went to the gym with a couple coworkers. (I stayed at work until the usual quitting time. It might take a little while for me to actually take off early from work to go to the gym. It just feels wrong somehow.) It's great working with them because if I were there by myself I wouldn't push myself as hard, and I also would not know as many different exercises to do.

That being said... I am home now. And already sore. There's some muscle in my hip I never knew existed that is currently painful. And my stomach muscles are going to be angry tomorrow, I can tell.

So, I'm now in league with an Exercise Nazi. I'm not sure I know what I've really gotten myself into, but I'm glad that I have her as my personal trainer of sorts. Maybe I'll lose the 10-15 pounds I put on since I left DC.

Heil, mein Führer!


End Blog.
(PS - Exercise Nazi, I know you've read this blog before. So, if you happen to see this... I love you. Don't stop kicking my ass.)