Friday Five: Exercise

I just got back from an 8 mile bike ride down the beach boardwalk near our home, and was struck with the number of people out enjoying physical activity. Runners, other cyclists, surfers, swimmers, dogwalkers, little kids on scooters....



It's easy to lose track of my physical self-care in the midst of flurried preparation for a final interview Monday for a college teaching position in the Midwest (prayers welcome) and the family move that would accompany it. But each day that I do make time to walk or ride my bike it is such a stress reliever that it is well worth the time invested!



So how about you and your beautiful temple of the Holy Spirit?



1. What was your favorite sport or outdoor activity as a child?

In elementary school we had great hide and seek games with neighborhood kids, and rode our bikes on long explorations. In high school I was on the field hockey team freshman and sophomore years. We were a pathetic team, as I was at a very small private school and the real athletes played basketball--also a winter term sport in California. But I loved being left halfback my first season and halfway through my second. Then it got rapidly unfun-the varsity goalie quit, the j.v. goalie got moved up to varsity, and I got sentenced to the impossible and unrewarding task of being the last line of our weak defense. (Plus I could no longer wear the cute little skirt as I needed sweats under my leg guards-and sweats still only came in basic grey). I am amazed now to see the tiny little goal the roller hockey goalie on HockeyBoy's team has to guard--of course, they shoot on him way more because they can zip back and forth on the rink so quickly. I used to like running as a teenager and college student but I don't know if that will ever happen again.



2. P.E. class--heaven or the other place?

Not too bad, actually, despite the geeky uniforms, as we had rotating sports and some interesting ones. Gymnastics equipment at above private school included a vaulting horse, though no uneven parallels, and there was a tennis court and, for my first year, an unheated pool (which I dove into with my brand new birthday Barbie watch, sob) at the convent school which preceded and followed it.

3. What is your favorite form of exercise now?

I love to walk the beach and will miss it greatly, assuming this move will come through. I also like bike riding if it is flat and, again, helped by a view of the beach--though our targeted rental house is close to campus so I should be able to ride when the weather permits. Swimming in the ocean and riding waves is way better than a pool but I plan to learn to love lap swimming again.

4. Do you like to work out solo or with a partner?

Partner makes it a lot easier, though I didn't have the chance in the quite a few years since leaving grad school town--until this Lent we realized HockeyBoy was old enough to watch Ladybug for an hour or so while we rode to the beach and down the boardwalk.

5. Inside or outside?

Outside looking at something beautiful unless it is too hot or cold. GradSchoolUniversity had two lakes on campus which I walked many a time with girlfriends, TechnoGuy, and/or EldestDaughter or HockeyBoy in strollers.

Bonus: Post a poem, scripture passage, quotation, song, etc. regarding the body or exercise.

Romans 8: 22-27

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as children, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what she sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit herself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And she who searches the hearts of people knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.