I love running on the beach. It makes my day when I know I can do it. Today, I can do it!!
I had a ton of energy, strapped on my iPod mini and hit the beach.
The first mile was splendid, bright sunshine and some new tunes. I passed bikers, strollers, runners and lollygaggers. I'm in my zone, in the sun, the surf, the sand.
Then, my iPod dies.
F.
I'm not gonna stop. I'll listen to my breath and the ocean. No prob.
I get to my little parking bump leaps and intervals. I get to the end of the path where I do more intervals and I see this biker guy doin' some weird stuff on the path.
Hey, I thought I was the only one doin' weird stuff on the path.
I took my stance and did my weird intervals. Then I saw him doing what I was doing. I looked over. He looked over. He continued. I continued. We were having a physical fitness duet and I was impressed with his stamina and zeal and the joy of working out at the beach. I had finished and was going to continue my run.
I walked passed the crazy dude and was going to say something before he intensely went into a new wacko exercise.
Ok, I'm serious, but really, a few exchange of words, would it be too much?
It's rare that I see someone with such fun exploration of the space around that I can't help but want to strike up a convo.
Wasn't going to happen.
I'll go to my end of the sandbox. You stay at your corner.
It's Friday. I'm burning calories in the lovely sun and sweet air. I spot the swing set just off the sand and I run to it.
I swing on the swings for 20 minutes. I talk out loud. There's no music to distract me. This is the best thing eva!!
I was a kid again. Alone, but a kid again and having the time of my life.
I think if I had a kid, I'd have a reason to play again, but I don't and I'm fine with that 'cause on a Friday late afternoon, I can swing on the swings and not worry about some kid who wants to get on 'em. It is my playtime.
I make up some new routines on the sand and the path for my clients but it's the swinging and the memory of Disneyland just a few days prior that have tapped my being into childhood.
We are free then. If we are lucky, we have loving parents to take us to the park or provide us with toys to play with. I was one of those kids.
I'm in my thirties now and I still love to play.
I think that's the reason I teach. I can provide students with an adult playground atmosphere where it's ok to play and look funny and have fun. If you aren't having fun, we have a problem.
I love working out and exercising but it's not much different from when I was young, running with my friends across the yard or park (cardio), swinging on a swing (workin' the core), or jumping (core, cardio and agility).
Sometimes, when I play, I wish I had a friend to play my silly games with.
Crazy bike man didn't need a friend and that's ok. My iPod is usually a good alternative. That wasn't working but really, how often do we ever get to be by our selves, alone, in the quiet of the world inside and out and just play?
I was quite content and happy to explore that.
And, I think swinging is the new fitness routine. I kept my heart rate up for those 20 minutes and burned calories like there's no tomorrow all by laughing and swinging into the sunset.
Priceless.
Now I'm going to have a cookie. And maybe some milk.
Jai Ma,
Laur