JudoNotes

I'm still alive and kicking. Unfortunately I've been neglecting exercise for the last two months. In particular, I haven't been rehabbing my knee properly, and I don't want to return to judo until it's reasonably strong.

A few days ago I started a "30 for 30," which is a thing Rhadi Ferguson started. Here's the Facebook blurb:

Please commit to join Dr. Rhadi Ferguson for 30 Minutes of Cardio for 30 days which is called the 30 for 30 challenge. If you are "in" your only requirement is to check in daily and report what it is that you did for the day.

I've been trying to use variety to keep it interesting. Here's what I've done so far:

• Day 1: 75-minute walk.
• Day 2: 70-minute brisk walk, including a detour into the 53rd St. subway station to go up and down the stairs twice.
• Day 3: Mixed jogging and walking (mostly walking) for 35 minutes.
• Day 4: Jogged to the gym, did 34 minutes of exercises using a step platform, a rubber band, and the floor.
• Day 5: Skipped rope at the gym, alternating one minute on and one minute off, for 31 minutes (16 sets). Followed this with some non-cardio exercises.

On the down side, my strength is practically nil. It's embarrassing the basic exercises I'm struggling to do.

On the plus side, the weather in the evenings has been great. I did Rhadi's previous 30 for 30 back in April, not long after my meniscus surgery, and all my work then was in the gym. Getting outdoors has been a refreshing change. Also my lungs are holding up well. Breathing hard is strenuous but it doesn't grind me to a halt like it's done in the past (my theory is that I had a lingering low-grade infection). If I can breathe hard then I can make progress.

For extra motivation, I got a gadget called the Nike Plus that slips into a special hole in my Nike running shoes. It's basically a pedometer that sends data wirelessly to my iPhone. The iPhone talks to me at various intervals during the walk or run to tell me my progress. It lowers the music volume temporarily and restores the volume when it's done speaking. When I get home and connect the iPhone to the computer, the data is uploaded to a web site where I can review my history and get bits of encouragement, like congratulations on doing 10 total miles.

I've read complaints about the calibration of the Nike Plus, but I don't care as much about accuracy as general trends. So far, having used it three times, I've found it fun and motivational, and it appeals to the geek in me. We'll see whether the novelty wears off over time.

So that, plus watching what I eat, is what I've been up to fitness-wise. Hope to see you folks in the dojo in a few weeks.