Went roller skating at the rink today. 

It surprises me the effort it takes to feel comfortable after an absence from an activity. If something is done each year during a season, like skiing or boogie boarding, it usually justs take a minimum effort to get to your original level of proficiency back.  I skated for 1 hr and 40 minutes without a break. I used to be very comfortable skating, but now I find I feel a bit clumsy. I skated last week for the first time in about 3 years, but I hadn't done it on a regular basis since more than 10 years ago, when I taught my son how to inline skate in the neighborhood.  Last week I didn't attempt backwards skating, which can be a great workout for the butt and upper leg muscles. It took me about 20 minutes to warm up. I spent about 40 minutes towards the end skating mostly backwards. I still am not as confident as I could be, but found that I was much more fluid and comfortable and it gave my ankles a much needed strengthening workout. I also got some dance steps and rythm going and enjoyed skating to the music at a much faster pace than last time.   Everything was fine until (while skating backward) I came to the opening along the rink and a small child with no skates on, ran onto the rink. I saw him at the very last minute (I went down as gracefully as possible). I suspect I will have a nice bruise on my left knee! I got back up again, nothing major hurt.

My daughter used inline skates and wanted me teach her how to skate backward, but it is so much more difficult to learn it for the first time on inline skates.  Next week she can use the traditional style and we can see what we can do. I also showed her the dance hold, but we were not able to do crossovers.  She is not as confident on skates and I feel that is my fault for no seeing to it, that she learned a while ago. 

I think this will be a weekly activity for us.  At least I hope so.

Ok, so I have a plan.  I have my calendar and I am getting my 11 year old daughter involved with running (she has a plan and calendar too!).  There will be a Mother's Day 5K run and my D wants to run it with me.  I am recovering from a hip over-extension injury from training for a 1/2 Marathon run after completing a 10k run.

 

So, today I ran 3.26 miles, in 50:32. I will keep it easy for quite a while but I will be incorporating other physical activities in to my schedule.  I am striving for an all over fitness.

My D. started today with a 11min walk run and did .65 miles. She was not winded, but complained of a cramp in her calf. She will try for a 15 minute walk run on Sunday.

 

We both plan on going rollerskating tomorrow.