Hugo's Blog

Last weekend, I went on an easy fresh walk from Felsenegg to Langnau-Gattikon to Adliswil on Saturday 21 November. It was generally a descent, because we took a cable car up and walked back down. For the route, you can take a look at gps track I recorded. I took some pictures, and there's ten more that have been uploaded to meetup.com (see them via the first link).

On Sunday 22 November I joined in on a "paragliding introductory course + optional tandem flight". I missed out on a tandem flight, there was too much interest and our group was too big. I took six photos prior to getting some water on my lens and giving up on it. Basically, we schlepped the gear up a hill, then ran down to practise launching. After a number of runs on a lower hill, we went to a higher hill where we could manage short flights. I had two particularly nice flights (can't estimate distance very well I'm afraid) and one where I was too focused on catching good air and not focused enough on steering, so I had to bail in a less neat way to avoid hitting the ditch. ;)

Monday and Tuesday I could really feel that I had had some exercise. With the paragliding I was rather eager to get back up the hill and set up for another launch as quick as possible, I think that was probably where I got the most exercise. You also have to keep the paraglider off the ground as you schlep it up to avoid getting it wet - thus arms and upper body also got sufficient exercise to feel it.

It was a great weekend to terminate the week before (16-20 November), which was getting rather bleh towards the end. Getting out, being somewhat social, getting fresh air, getting some exercise, perfect! In retrospect I realise I should probably have taken a day off that week, to recover from the previous week's on-call. (That's what we get on-call compensation for.)

This past week I was on-call again (but with a less strict response time, the second smaller rotation I'm a part of). That extends into this weekend, so I'm mostly hanging out at home. I can get out and get some exercise, namely running or cycling, as long as I stay near enough to home. Short distance thus. I might consider doing that tomorrow, it's time to get fit for the ski season. I'm currently planing to join in on a trip to Avoriaz (France) on the weekend of 12/13 December.

Just now, in the past 10 minutes, I spotted the following shared by Pieter:

Phys Ed: Why Exercise Makes You Less Anxious

His chosen snippet from this article was:

"The rats had created, through running, a brain that seemed biochemically, molecularly, calm."

I find myself not wanting to choose a snippet/extract: read the whole article! This goes well with yesterday's post.

This one isn't one I've been deriving enough benefit from, but I have had the opportunity to experience its benefits on one memorable occasion: a number of months ago I took part in the Zurich triathlon, in a company team. This actually got me running during the work week. (I did the running leg.)

I generally do get out and about during weekends. Good weekends are important, but aren't what I'm talking about right now. Rather, I discovered how going for a run lifts the spirits there-and-then. In the week prior to the race, my routine was to work until a bit after 5pm (usually became 6pm), then head out for a run, say, 90 minutes (exploring Uetliberg, so it certainly wasn't all solid, boring, monotonous running - some bits were too slippery, others too steep, and others just required going slow via curiosity), then grab a shower back in the office, and head to dinner before 8pm. After dinner, more work to finish the day (another hour to two) as I usually get up so late in the morning.

I suppose this is all rather obvious, "get exercise" is an eternal truth, ain't it, but I'm just being more conscious about it now. I need to get out and get active during the work week as often as I can afford, not just on weekends. At present, I'm trying out underwater hockey twice a week, two weeks out of three (due to on-call obligations). I'm now heading to my third session, typing this on the train, on my phone. ;-) Gotta go, laterz!