In my Thanksgiving eve blog I talked about pushing myself out of my comfort zone to go run in a local 5K race. It worked out fine!

On the way over there (about 10 miles) I worried about everything–was I dressed warm enough? Too warm? Where would I park? Would I know anyone there? What if I can’t finish due to my injury?  Nothing I worried about ever took place! Sound familiar? There is really no doubt that worry is a waste of time, because almost never does what we worry about ever come to pass in a way that our worrying would have made any difference anyway. So, we pay the price for worrying just as though the event did happen to us, all for naught.

What happened instead was that I got to the race area, near downtown, and found that all the parking metered areas were free that day and that there were places within 3 blocks of the start-finish line. Looking at other runners, I saw that either I was dressed appropriately or the other 1209 runners were as dumb as I was! I had no trouble finding everything I needed at race starting area, including a large building that was open so we could go in and warm up and do one or two of those last minute body-function things we usually have to do, especially if we’re under stress.

The race started right on time and I finished in slightly less than 35 minutes. No injury problems, no nothing. I stuck around for the free food and drink that always is there at the end of these events. It was a record crowd for a race taking place on a holiday morn, 1210 finishers. I beat at least 350 of them, though there were a few old ladies I couldn’t ever catch up with!

Today is a resistance training day, and I plan on working core, a daily need almost because of the back problems I’ve been having lately, and upper back muscles as well. I split up workouts these days, into three different types, pull muscles for the upper body, push muscles for the upper body, and then core/lower body workouts.

The weather here is absolutely beautiful and miserable at the same time. It’s snowing and has snowed steadily since mid day yesterday. The snow is slippery and heavy and I’ve had to scoop the driveway three times already. That’s almost a workout by itself.

Some of you are probably getting ready to start a new diet, or a new transformation challenge, or “turn over a new leaf” right after New Year’s day, right? Well, it’s not a bad idea to beat the crowd and get started earlier. If nothing else, it will keep you from picking up that extra 2 to 5 pounds that most people seem to do from Thanksgiving through New Years.

Above all, even if the weather is nasty, get outdoors whenever possible. There is nothing so exhilarating and energizing as getting a bit of exercise outdoors, especially in the day time.