The Workout Routine

I had a brief dalliance with fitness this summer.

As with many people, I’m still trying to find a routine that works for me. About a month ago, I started a new job that took up most of my time, meaning that I lost an hour or so in the evenings. I also had a pretty terrible cough around then, so it discouraged me from doing anything physical without wanting to line my esophagus in something soothing. Like an anesthetic.

I hate dropping off on any sort of progress. Unfortunately, this is a bit of a habit for me. My parents call me a Jack of All Trades, meaning that if you can think of some hobby, I’ve probably tried it. Or am itching to, at least.

So when May happened, and I returned home from Kingston with both a minor beer gut and a perpetually foul mood, I decided to do something about it. Having avoided the gym through my five years at Queen’s, and after observing how lifting could alter others’  physiques, I thought I’d give it a shot, especially now that I was home twiddling my thumbs from the hours of 5 pm to midnight.

This was when I’d do some standard weight and strength training, often to an episode of Friday Night Lights (Coach’s inspirational yelling and the Explosions In The Sky-inspired soundtrack are, unsurprisingly, pretty motivational). It was a good time. I started to develop the beginning of abs and I could see my butt becoming a bit perkier. That was nice.

But, as with most things, I became bored. It was prime summertime at this point. All along the road by my house, I could see runners with their dogs or their iPods, pounding away at pavement. Some of them were so fast.

I decided that running was something I could do – throwing on a sports bra, shorts and running shoes is simple enough. I didn’t really like running through the park with my fellow suburbanites and judge-y teenagers, so I took to the Humber Trail.

I really did love it. It was a decently-challenging running trail, with hills and mixed terrain (hate concrete, love dirt paths) and the occasional deer spotting. It was also nice to see other runners and cyclists in the evenings who, like me, had probably just returned from their evening commute. 

I’ve grown up near that place for most of my life, but this was the first summer that I really got to know it - fireflies, red wing blackbirds and all. I have running and my semi-regular trail walks to thank for that.

Life has a tendency to get busy though, which leaves you pretty unmotivated to exert energy on anything other than work or your social life. I want to prioritize fitness again. I’ve been getting out to hike, but it’s not giving me the same returns as running or strength training.

Last night, with my pyjamas (sweatpants and a ratty tank) on about to get into bed, I did 30 or so crunches and an embarrassingly small number of push ups. It’s small, but it’s a start. I’m feeling a tiny bit better already.

(The above video, “The Runners”, is by two filmmakers who asked London runners intimate questions during their regular route. It’s a pleasant watch.)