Taking back August

When I got back from our trip west and had a full month left of summer, I wanted to take advantage of this nice, long stretch ahead of me full of the two things I don't have during the school year: plenty of time and plenty of daylight. I was also feeling especially healthy and wanted to hang on to those good vibes as I took the slow bend in the road that led to the fall.

Last August was all about brain scans and doctors' offices. The previous August was my worst stretch of anxiety (almost debilitating and also pretty inexplicable). I was starting to associate the start of school with insomnia, panic attacks and dread rather than my usual associations: fresh faces of students, stacks of books, and crisp fall days.

This year, I decided to take back August with the hope that I could seize the last stretch of my summer, and to start my school year in the best possible condition:  strong and happy and calm.

I decided to exercise every single day for all 31 days of August, my own little summer grand finale.


Here is how it went:
Aug 1: 2 mile walk with my sister in Utah before the long travel day back to Maine.
Aug 2: 3 mile run
Aug 3: 4 mile walk
Aug 4: 4 mile walk
Aug 5: 1-hour Strength training with Pete at Bodies by Badger (B3)
Aug 6: 1-hour Boot Camp with Pete at B3
Aug 7: 25-mile bike ride around Park Loop Road, Acadia NP,  3 mile walk

Aug 8: 1-hour Step Aerobics with Mark at B3
Aug 9: 4 mile run, 3 mile walk
Aug 10: 4 mile run, 3 mile walk
Aug 11: 7 mile walk
Aug 12: 1-hour Strength training with Pete at B3
Aug 13: 1-hour Boot Camp with Payson at B3
Aug 14: 3.5 mile run, 1 mile walk
Aug 15: 2 mile walk, 2 mile run, 1/4 mile swim (from Beach Club to island and back) and 1-hour Step Aerobics with Mark at B3
Aug 16: 45-minute Strength Training with Amy at B3

Amy and her workout that included so. much. jump roping. (18 minutes total)

Aug 17: 3 mile walk (Ouch, my calves.  See above).

Aug 18: Climb Cadillac Mountain with Reed (7.4 miles)

Aug 19: 1-hour Strength Training with Pete at B3 (so many pull ups)
Aug 20: 1/2 mile swim in the lake escorted by Skyler in the kayak
Aug 21: 45-minute Ball and Tone (strength training) with Sherry at B3
Aug 22: 3 mile walk, 1-hour Step Aerobics with Mark at B3
Aug 23: Climb Mount Katahdin with Tim (11 miles).  This mountain is no joke.

Aug 24: 3 mile walk (so sore from Katahdin)
Aug 25: 3 mile walk (still so sore)
Aug 26: 4 mile walk
Aug 27: Climb Tumbledown Mountain with Tim and the kids (4 steep miles)

Aug 28: 3 mile walk
Aug 29:  4.5 mile run
Aug 30: 4 mile walk
Aug 31: 1-hour Zumba STRONG with Amy at B3. Zumba STRONG is not like regular Zumba.  Think burpees, pushups, squats and lunges, but set to music.  Very hard, very sweaty, very fun.

And just for good measure:
Sept. 1:  5 mile run

So, how did it go? A few observations:

• I am experiencing the least amount of anxiety that I have in years.  Coincidence?  Nope.

• The harder I exercise, the better my head feels. My headaches got better over the course of the month.

• I was very sore on some days from the strength-training (after that crazy class with Pete on Aug. 19 I could not lift my arms or fasten my bra for days) and normally I would take rest days after these hard workouts. What I found is that a swim or a long walk made me feel MUCH BETTER.

• Having a gym like Bodies by Badger (It's in Brewer... check it out) is a blessing because there are so many fun options there for classes and there is always good energy, good music, and good people there to keep me motivated. Variety is the key.

• Once again I am reminded that if you make it a priority, there is always time to exercise.  I will have plenty of obstacles this fall that will make it trickier to get my workouts in, but in August I had no excuses so I made none.

• A tired body makes for a calmer mind. Running, walking, sweating, and just breathing fresh air seem to be the magic bullet for my mental health.

I'm feeling strong and excited and ready to get back to work. I am so grateful to have my summers to reboot and take care of myself. I know that soon I will be tired in a whole different way, the kind of wiped-out that makes you fall asleep face down on the couch on Friday nights at 7:00. (Teachers, am I right?)

Starting Tuesday, here is where I'll spend my days:

Lastly, Reed and I made this video that shows some (I couldn't even fit it all!) of our summer. The last shot is their first day of 5th and 7th grade. Where has the time gone, Stop growing up, I guess I blinked, please slow down, etc. etc.

Happy September!  May you all start the school year with your best possible self.

xoxo
Emilie

Summer 2017 from Emilie Throckmorton on Vimeo.