Exercise | Cole Camplese

When I started doing the One Post a Day project for the month of August I really wasn’t sure what would come of it. I made a couple little challenges in it to see if anyone wanted to join in and a few takers emerged. While it has been relatively difficult to keep the pace up, I’ve been able to figure it out. There has been a few very surprising things that have emerged from it.

First of all, I am taking a few more minutes everyday to think in a little more structured way. Typically my head is filled with swirling thoughts that have some structure, but not enough to really put my arms around. I find myself grabbing at those thoughts as thread starters of sorts and working to organize them into a story that I can write about. I am calling it a story, because I am working to structure the ideas in a way that I can expose them in short bursts without a ton of build up, explanation, or long term depth. I am thinking hard about how to write to the point and use examples to expose the concept I am working towards.

Another thing I am finding is that I am taking more time to comment elsewhere on other peoples’ posts. With more fresh content everyday I am working to read things and reflect on their thoughts as well. I have been trying to comment on at least one of my colleague’s post a day, but have found myself doing more than that. An added bonus is that I discovering more people through the enhanced blogging that is going on.

Finally, and this is the strangest thing I have noticed, I am more interested in getting exercise and physical activity. I’m not sure where that is coming from, but I think having my head a little clearer has given me the space to remember that I used to love to be very active. I’ve started playing tennis again and just added a second weekly match … my game is still coming into shape, but it feels great to be dead tired after a couple of sets. The coolest thing for me, given my long time love of biking, is that I have finally started to ride my bike to work. A lot of people give me shit about my Cafe Racer, but it is exactly what I wanted when I decided I needed something that was more street friendly. I actually bought it last summer and rode it to work exactly once. I’ve tripled that in the last three days and can’t say enough about how much more focused and (dare I say it) happy I feel at work. Not sure what is going on but I have exercised in one way or another everyday for the past seven days … not great for most, but with my recent track record, it is great.

So the One a Day challenge has had some surprising side effects … I think I need to consider what to tackle in September to keep it going.

I am going to preface this post with the fact that I am pathetically out of shape. I know that now b/c I went out running yesterday and I hurt today — when I say I hurt, I mean I really hurt. OK, on with the post.

Even though I am thinking my iPod is a little old skool now that the iPhone is out, I did start using my Nike + iPod yesterday. I got the thing for Christmas and have just now gotten around to trying it … when in the world would I have left a piece of technology sitting around for a few weeks? Must be the exercise part … I have to say that my first impressions are very positive … here’s a quick recap of my experiences with it:

It worked so well with my iPod Nano … really just plugged it into the bottom of the Nano, slid the fob into the sole of my Nike sneakers and it connected and communicated right away. Starting a run was as easy as selecting to start workout. It asked me to pick a playlist and I was off. Every five minutes a voice came over the iPod to tell me my progress … very cool.
It actually motivated me to exercise … something that nothing has been able to do in the last year or so. I’ve used my recumbent stationary bike on occasion, but this blend of technology and music/podcast listening is something I may be able to get into. The web interface is so slick and actually encourages you to set goals for yourself. I’ve set four unique goals using the Nike + site … to run 20 miles in 4 weeks, burn 2000 calories, run 10 times over that period, and do at least 5 miles under 10 minutes. I know at this point it is mighty pathetic, but I have to tell you it is time I start somewhere.
In high school I had to be able to do 2 miles in under 12 minutes every season for varsity soccer … my senior year I was able to do the two in eleven minutes and eleven seconds. During my run yesterday I did my first mile in eleven minutes. I am seriously out of shape. Maybe connecting the dots with technology and exercise will help me get it back together.
Once I get myself together a bit I think I will invite some other people to some running challenges. This whole site has the ability for you to create events and challenge friends from all over the world to compete against you. Again, I am seriously out of shape and it will take me time to get to that point, but I am sort of looking forward to it. This whole thing feels a hell of a lot like a massively multiplayer online game … not Warcraft or anything, but something that might motivate me further.

So other than the fact that I am so out of shape the Nike + iPod deal is really a great product. Now, can I continue to go after my goals? Only time and my online profile will tell.