It’s been a good while since I’ve written about running or working out or whatever, but I’ve been doing it. In fact, it’s been my main source of calm and release since all of this cancer nonsense started. Sometimes, it feels like the boys won’t leave me alone unless I’m out of the house or in the act of exercising, so that adds some extra incentive – it’s my main alone time. 

Let me tell you about the running and erging I’ve been doing. (If you haven’t read my stuff before, erging is indoor rowing on a machine called an ergometer that rowers call an erg. Erg = measure of work = torture device.) Basically I’ve been running or erging in my basement most days while watching tv. The distraction helps me immensely because if I focus too much on the workout, I start to get competitive and intense, mainly to pass the time, especially when I’m on the erg. I’ve been able to do all of these workouts without killing myself, spending lots of time in Zone 2 while catching up on all of the tv I’d been missing in recent months. (Ask me about the Harry and Meghan doc or about White Lotus. Or Wednesday! I actually saw all of those!)

To back up a bit, there are 5 workout zones based on heart rate and intensity. The zones are based on a percentage of a person’s maximum heart rate, which can be figured out by age but can also be very individualized if you do a VO2 max test or get tested by a trainer, neither of which I’m willing to do at this time. As a 38 year old person, my max heart rate is probably somewhere between 180 and 185. Zone 1 is low intensity or recovery, 50-60% of max, so for me roughly between 92-111 bpm. Zone 2 is a step up in intensity, 60-70% or 111-129 bpm for me. Zone 3 is 70-80%, Zone 4 is 80-90%, and Zone 5 is 90-100%. Here’s the Cleveland Clinic explanation of this if you’re interested in more info, and here’s a nifty chart I found on the internet that makes it a little easier to digest.

I can safely say I’ve spent ZERO (0) minutes is zone 5 in recent memory. Maybe I sprinted once over the summer because the 6 year old goaded me into a race, but that’s it and it lasted 12 seconds. I would say I used to spend most of my time in zones 3 and 4, and I was confused about why I wasn’t losing weight. Lowering the intensity and hanging in zone 2 has not only helped me lose weight, but it’s also left me feeling so much less exhausted after workouts. 

Don’t get me wrong. I love pushing myself and feeling the endorphins and adrenaline rush after a super tough workout. But something I’ve learned recently is that workout stress is still stress felt by the body, and I don’t need extra at the moment. Some gentler movement while still breaking a good sweat has hit the spot for me these past few months. It won’t always be this way, but it’s what I need right now, and that’s been such a huge thing for me to learn. 

I’ve also been able to run with friends more, especially with my running buddy who is doing the marathon with me next fall! (BTW I’m running the Chicago Marathon next fall. Donate to me here. Donate to my friend Katie, also running for Cal’s Angels, here.) Those runs are fun and go by fast because of excellent conversation, even though we end up running faster than I would alone. 

All of this together, the lower intensity solo workouts and the slightly higher intensity runner-pal workouts, have made working out such a positive escape that has helped me stay balanced these last few months. With the ups and downs of treatment and even just the regular bummer that is winter, I finally feel like exercise is fitting into my life in a mentally as well as physically healthy way for maybe the first time in my adult life. Positive changes in this new year that I was determined to hate just a few weeks ago! I’ll take it!