I Hate Numbers, But I love Salad.

So, you may have noticed that I haven’t been keeping track of my exercise using my handy little widget on the side of my blog. The marathon didn’t kill me or my interest in working out. I’m still alive! Exercise-wise at least. However, I haven’t been keeping track of times. I need a break. I can only take so much of the numbers game before I burn out. Keeping track of my times just makes me want to improve each and every time I’m on a bike or running on the pavement. That’s mentally tiring not to mention physically impossible.

Most of last year I was constantly thinking, “that’s my third mile at a 10:30 pace. I need to pick it up a little more so that by mile 8, I’m not so behind my target time.” Instead, I’d rather be thinking one of the following.

• “I’d like to make spaghetti tomorrow night. Maybe I can use that new recipe that calls for basil.”
• “Should I watch ‘My Princess’ Korean drama or “My Girlfriend is a Nine Tailed Fox’ Korean drama after the run? That Nine Tailed Fox is going to eat somebody’s liver at some point. I know it!”
• “I wonder if I can fit more clothes in my closet if I organize mementos from childhood a little better.”
• “Hi! My name is Tonje. I’m a little pretty girl trapped inside a grownups body. I don’t wanna be. I don’t wanna be a crappy house wife.”
• “That was three miles. I’m done!”
• “I shouldn’t eat beans before a run.”
• “Man! Kent just farted.”

These are all preferable topics to consider while I work out rather than numbers. Well, maybe not the beans...or Kent's farts.

Plus, I’m no long running like a gazillion miles where it’s fun to look back and think how cool/insane my previous 15 mile run was.

A few other reasons to lay off the record keeping: I’m not training for anything, I don’t like math so much, I’m not keeping track on my weight, and also, my watch broke.

All of these things have contributed to my hiatus. I’m sorry if I’ve let you down. Please don’t cry. I’ll be back sometime next year with more number crunching. But right now, it’s fun to just run/bike/dance/weight life/whatever with no set goals.

So, instead Kevin and I have been working out regularly almost everyday. We do keep to a schedule to some degree, but it’s not fixed by distance, sets, or time by any means (see below). You might say this is crazy, but keep in mind that I sit at work for 8 hours during the day. I’m ready to move when I get home!

• Monday: Run
• Tuesday: Strength training for 45 minutes and 1 hour dance class
• Wednesday: Run
• Thursday: Strength training for 45 minutes or freestyle swimming
• Friday: Rest
• Saturday: Bike
• Sunday: Bike

To fuel our hot summer exercise, I've been getting pretty creative with cool salads. Here's a list of my favorite ingredients for salads that make my meals jam packed with taste and energy. If I had a salad every night for dinner, I'd be happy. But I have a husband. I think that would kill him. :) I want him around so I have to make all my salads count.
 
Ingredients
cool winter squash (my favorite is butternut)
raisins
carrots
cooked (and cooled) zucchini or yellow squash
cooked onions
cooked broccoli
bell peppers
celery
cucumber
cooked (and cooled) brussel sprouts (from fresh, not frozen)
radishes
sunflower seeds
MEAT
 
For a Non-traditional dressing

• tbl spoon grape seed oil
• tbl agave nectar
• salt and pepper to taste