Sunday and Monday were the days of DOMS. I felt it in a big way on Sunday, even having to adjust the way I got out of an armchair to appease my wailing muscles. No damage done, just simply a reaction to concentrated exercise again. It’ll be a thing of the past soon enough, so it’s all good.
Had an appallingly stressful day at work and to add insult to injury, a few miles from home a Volvo S40 though it would be a good idea to shunt me as I sat at a T-junction’s give-way sign waiting for a car to pass. It’s my 8th or 9th car accident in 20 years of driving and I’m still fortunate than none have been my fault (nor have I caused them!). Fortunately the damage seems to be minimal and we were both able to drive away without a problem.
Anyway, when I got home this evening I gave very serious thought to not going to the gym. I had excuses available: arranging the insurance claim, still mildly shaking (mild shock or adrenaline?), unsure whether the ache in my neck was there before or after the accident, and generally having had a crap day. I chose to go partly because I promised Tarkwin I’d be there, partly because I wanted to keep building up the attendance routine and partly because I figured a workout would melt the stress away.
So I met Tarkwin in the carpark, having had to dodge another lemming (two for two visits) who thought it’d be great to stand in the middle of the roadway and not move when I approached, and made our way into the still new and shiny gym. I chose my proper treadmill exercise this time, which meant I ran for the first time in ages — and it felt marvellous. The profile was walk/run, but it made me grin. I really do like to run, despite being overweight and with what my great-aunt calls a horseman’s physique: long torso and short legs. Personally, I think it’s a kind way of saying average height fat git with short legs, but that could just be me…
Next was the cross-trainer and bike, both of which were fine. I’m still taking it easy by dialling the time down to make it manageable. After that was the weights, which I did as stipulated with the exception of those on the dip/pullup machine.
Overall it was an enjoyably tiring workout, and it completely did the trick with my stress levels. Walking into the gym I was stressed, tense and grumpy, but walking out I was calm, relaxed and peaceful. It’s an alternative to a martial art, I suppose…
