Punishment!

Having misplaced the Schedule amongst my infamous logbook papers, I had to make uptoday's run. I was in the mood for bit of self-punishment for having been so slack with running over the past few weeks, so I decided I had to run all the way non-stop to one end of my run route (9 mins) take a stretching break, then run back again (11 mins coming back uphill). Feeling better now, is that the endorphins?

Renee's Nordic Walking pt 2

The past week without a bike has given me ample practice at walking - 5 hours to and fro work, 4km a day. Then today, I mastered Nordic walking lesson 2 - from arm swinging to proper push-offs, I even have the knack of up-and-down-hill. Good conversation with my boss too - about global warming today (auf Deutsch of course!). No idea what's in store for me next week. But without a bike, I have to reserve jogging until my feet have a rest :-)

Renee learns a new sport

This morning, I discovered that Saarbrücken does have a Nature side. I met my boss and his wife and her Nordic walking class and went for a serious walk in the woods. Only 4°C, but sunny and not cold if you keep moving.

Nordic walking involves lightweight poles with fancy wriststraps that keep you from losing them every time you let go (which is every step). It is a bit like learning to ride a motorbike - coordinating hands and feet and getting into a smooth routine of motion. Quite relaxing once you get past tripping over your poles :-)

We walked through the woods from Am Kieserhume all the way to the university and back in an hour and a half, looking over a river, small towns and the campus from about 100 meters. I got to practice my German and my boss told me he's organizing a field trip for the local engineering association to Barcelona to discover Gaudi!

Next week, same time, same place. In the meantime, tomorrow it's back to the 10-k jogging program. My new long term goal is the East Coast Trail when my current contract is up ... or maybe for summer holiday next year if I can't wait. I miss Newfoundland.

*ack!* If that isn't enough exercise for one day, one of my new house-mates just called me up to invite me for a walk along the river with friends. At least I think that's what he said - man, these Saarlanders talk fast!

Recovery Week - yippee!

To anyone else in the world who reads this - apart from Ms Boileau - this is me, Kathleen.
Managed to haul my post-Barcelona-hot-chocolate-fest body round the local highways for Week 5, Run 2. Managed to do the 2 min running with 1 min walk the full 8 times without, surprise surprise, feeling too horrendous. And this despite not running for 2 weeks (blame Ms Boileau for the interruption).
Nearly half way through the course, amazing! Although I'm sure its going to get worse before it gets better.

Renee meets hardcore German exercise

OK, so I've been slacking off ... sort of. But walking an hour a day and weekends on major power walks around different cities (Darmstadt, Luxembourg, Barcelona) should count. I started using my walking poles too - supposedly an extra 20% energy, and I notice how much warmer I am when I get to work. But apparently I've been doing it all wrong.

I feel so inferior. My boss laughed at my poles. He and his wife are experienced Nordic walkers. They're dragging me off into the countryside tomorrow with their Nordic walking class (his wife teaches it) to learn the proper technique and see what real Nordic poles look like.

I think I may be indoctrinated into a cult. If you haven't seen a new post from me in the next week ... no wait, that's normal ;-) If I suddenly start enthusiastically writing about exercise, please send someone to capture and de-program me.