Aches and Pains and Staying in Shape

As I've gotten older, I really appreciate good health. In my 40s, I ran several half and full marathons a year. That helped get me through grad school. It was great stress relief. 

Six months after my Mom passed, I met the woman who I would eventually marry, Kim. We ran and worked out together. But when her Mom passed, we adopted her Mom's 3 horses. Eventually, Kim and I sold the house we were living in and bought a house with a barn. This marked the end of my marathon training and running. But I could still do half marathons. I still run two a year. 

In the new house, we bought, we installed a workout area with all free weights and a Joe Weider Crossbow (think of a the competitor to Bowflex). We also have a battle rope. I lift 4-5 times a week. I lift about 10 minutes each day. Not a lot. I superset 3-4 exercises. I usually do arms, shoulders, and chest as those areas get a lot of work when I'm in the barn. 

I try to hit my step goal of 15,000 steps every day. I go on at least 1-one-mile walk a day. It just makes me feel good AND clears my mind. 

Now on to the aches and pains part of this post!

As I've gotten older, really random aches and pains have cropped up. Despite my very regular workout regimen, I have gotten tendinitis in my left hip. That really impacted my running. I just had to back off. I have had sore ankles and feet. Right now, for some reason, I have a small spot on my upper right thigh that feels like a burn but there's no bruise. If I'm lying down on my stomach and roll over on that leg, it feels like a skin/slightly below surface burn. It's painful. And like I said, there's no mark there. It's about the size of two quarters. 

Also, over the last 4-5 years, when it gets too cold over the winter, my feet get extremely dry and cracked around my heels and my big toes. The cracks are huge and they hurt like hell. I have to take pain meds (Excedrin) or else I can't sleep. I use so much lotion on my feet during the winter. It soothes the pain and is a great band-aid but doesn't totally cure it. 

I'll try to stay active as long as I can do it. I feel it's a blessing to be able to move and to workout as long as I am able. 

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