J.A. Pitts

Finding a way

I normally work out at the YMCA. I’m a creature of habit. I like doing routine things, it gives me comfort. With our local YMCA closed this week for their annual renovations, I’ve been floundering around, doing little beyond some stretching and angsting.

So, yesterday, with the help of my ever capable wife, I dug the rowing machine out of the storage area and set it up. Had to remove some corroded batteries from the Concept2, but once I had it cleaned up and re-batteried, it was great. That, of course, was enough of an accomplishment yesterday.

This morning, I had a regular fasting blood draw for my doctors appointment next week, and I was suddenly very aware that I hadn’t worked out in way too long.

Time to fix that. Tonight, when I got home from work, I downloaded one of the new short stories from Clarkesworld Magazine (Semiramis by Genevieve Valentine) onto my ipod, and set to rowing.

The story was excellent. Kate Baker did a superb job reading it. Her lovely voice carried me through 5250 meters of rowing. Not bad for not being on the machine for a couple of years.

But, this has given me a new plan. I desperately need cardio, and with my knees the way they are, I’m struggling to get enough to lose the weight I want. Now, I will be taking advantage of my newly discovered pod casts out there, and rowing on the nights I don’t end up at the YMCA. This way I get weights three to four days a week, and cardio three to four days a week. I expect better performance than I’m seeing on my diet and exercise so far.

And, I get to discover more great podcasts. Besides having Kate tell me stories, what other podcasts should I be listening to?

You can help me keep my mind off the pain of working out, with your timely and insightful suggestions.

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