another slow 5K

This morning it was 35:30 instead of 35:50, but it's all the same...slow! I enjoyed my walk, though, so it doesn't really matter. I have started to wonder what I will do if I never get better (i.e. back to my old speedier self). I know that it's still very likely I will recover in a few months, but what if I don't? If I can't be competitive, I am sure I will still racewalk. I'll still do half marathons, and even a marathon this fall with my friend Sarah (she's going to do her first one this fall). I've actually enjoyed the extended respite from training in some ways, though I do miss it a lot at the same time. Weird. Anyway, for the moment I'm trying to be content with where I am, which involves watching my diet carefully, racewalking as much as is comfortable, strength training to keep up my muscle mass, and some cross-training and a day of rest each week. I've lost a few pounds since the holidays, and I'm doing well with keeping my eating pretty carefully in check, even at restaurants. I don't eat out very often (once per week on average?) but it's easy to overdo there. In any case, I'm just biding my time and seeing what happens.

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After my slow 5K, I went to the gym and lifted. I usually do 4 sets of supersets (alternating 2 exercises on different muscle groups, usually 3x10-12 reps each) plus core. Today my supersets were: 1) bench press (85 lb, Smith machine)/leg press (130 lb - low for me; tired legs!) 2) hamstring machine (60 lb)/military press (20 lb each arm) 3) calf raises (one-legged; body weight)/lat pull-downs (70 lb) 4) bicep curls (15 lb each arm)/tricep skull-crushers (12 lb each arm). Then core: 50 sit-ups on exercise ball, then 20 oblique crunches/side on the ball, then isometric exercises for lower abs, and finally bicycles (30 per side). Then stretching...ahhhhh.