March 3, 2008
Fitness
Written by Shana in Jaunty PostI’ve been thinking about fitness lately. Ultimate Sportsfan ran in a 10K Saturday, and it was really exciting to see him finish—and with a great time, too! 6.2 miles is no small distance to run. Plus, it was hot and sunny and some of the course was uphill. I could tell he was exhausted at the end of the race, but he felt great for having finished it.
I was also thinking about fitness because Sophie Jordan is blogging with us tomorrow, and I thought she might let us know how her husband’s fitness boot camp is going. Not to mention, I hear that Sophie joined him at boot camp. I wonder if her arms have enough strength to type? 
The other kind of fitness I was thinking about is writing fitness. USF didn’t wake up Saturday morning and decide to run a 10K. He trained for a couple of months, running many mornings and weekends to build up the stamina to finish. Writing is like that, too. It’s something that gets easier, and hopefully better, with practice.
I’ve been super busy lately at my day job, which hasn’t left me much time to write. Or maybe I should be honest and say I haven’t felt like writing. But just like there are days when you don’t feel like exercising, you know in the end, you’re better for doing it. Writing is like that. When I write everyday and meet my page goals, I feel better and my books are better. When I stop and start and take long breaks in-between, well, you can tell. Then I have to do lots of revision.
If you’re a writer, how do you keep your skills honed? If you’re just a reader, what do you do to keep fit—whether in body, mind, or spirit?
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Margo Maguire Says:
I walk every day. And since we’ve had a really harsh, snowy winter, I walk on my treadmill every morning. At least 2 miles. That’s what gets my brain in gear for a day of writing. Somehow, the exercise really helps. I don’t question it - I just know it works!
RobynDeHart Says:
I don’t often write on the weekends unless I’m tight with my deadline, but I do write during the week. I have a weekly page count that I aim for and I track every page I write in Excel. If I can’t write or I have days between writing time then like you said, Shana, my writing suffers. But I’m so used to revisions as I’m a draft writer that it’s all part of my process now. As for exercise, The Professor and I like to walk the greenbelt here in town. We’ve been toying with the idea of joining the Y, but haven’t made a decision yet. We also have a recumbant bike in our living room that we use during TV if it’s raining or too cold to go out. But Margo, I’m seriously coveting your treadmill - wish we had room for something like that.
Sarah Says:
I realize that when I write everyday… I write more… I write better… I feel better…
But trying to balance diet, exercise, writing, the evil day job…
I fall and get run over by the wagon…
I’m not so good at multitasking.
Amy Addison Says:
Write Every Day.
Keep learning. Especially from other writers. Which means you also need to read. A lot.
But really? Write. Rewrite. Write some more.
Fedora Says:
Shana, I’ve been a lazy slug
So now that it’s not raining as much, I’ll be walking the kids to and from school again, which isn’t much, but it’s a start 
Robert B. Says:
I write, but…. I can’t quite answer your inquiry because my skills are currently being put on the wayside for family and my day job. My wife lets me have a day/night a week to write uninterupted. Sometimes I get 2 nights,
, but family is still #1 and I don’t want to take advantage of her generosity.
Walking in your neighborhood (if it is safe) is a great way to get the gears moving, and get a touch of exercise… and take a small notepad and capped non-leaky pen (experience) with you for idea jaunts (don’t take your purse, just put it in a pocket… or Heaven forbid, a Fanny Pack). Nothing is worse then having a great idea, and not remembering it 20 minutes later.