Sample "AL" Digital Evidence Post

In keeping with my last post, I want to demonstrate how I keep digital evidence and demonstrate effort/learning. Here is a snapshot of my last three days of eating and exercise.

Focus: Active Living - choices outside the actual classroom.

On Fitness Friday (my favorite day of the week by far) I participated in two insanity workouts. The first was with my class, the second was my prep but the community effort fired me up to go again. At that point I was pretty tired, with a left hamstring that was beginning to yell at me. That night I had my Dad in town for dinner and felt like a movie and bed, but I went off to a late night ice time and pretended to play hockey. As I am not very good ... Hockey is like running in quick sand for me. By the time I hit the sack at 2AM my legs/back felt like old rubber.

Saturday (after only 2 hours of sleep) I was feeling sorry for myself. Rain poured down, I had errands and another family dinner and I didn't do much. I did eat healthy meals all day though... Which I wasted by having birthday cake... And I don't even like cake. During the day I saw a very quick 5km time posted by Ms. Phillips but couldn't find the energy to go for it myself.

Sunday brought sunshine and a better sleep. After a 2 hour walk with the family and dog, I decided to take a shot at a new 5km best time. The vitamin D helped and I knew I needed 7min miles to get under 23 minutes, so I plugged in the Nike+ running app and had a go. The first mile was under 7... The second a little over... and the last 1.1 miles were a split. The first half was blazing and the last half was hell on earth as my legs turned to mush. When the girl in the headphones said I was done I was covered in mud (ran through a field) and feeling like puking... But I had done it. A new fastest 5km over the last 12 months; not by lots but still best. I cooled down by taking my eldest to public skating and now I'm relaxing again.

I know from years of research and personal experience that the hardest part of a fitness program is getting started. That is why we try to make physical activity a family thing. Now that I have begun making it a more purposeful personal habit again, my body is able to put up with a lot more than a year ago, and I find reasons to get out rather than stay in. The second piece that has been key for me is finding others who motivate me when I slack off. The PE department at Sulli has such a positive participation model going I feel inspired to find my shoes and go hard... Even on the days I was planning on watching.

All this in only 3 days. What have you been doing? What are you learning about yourself and your body's abilities? Please share.