Today, I ran to Dick's to buy a new pair of walking shoes. Now that the weather seems to be generally warm, I've decided it's time to start taking my monthly seven mile walk along the canal again. As I started wearing my "dedicated walking shoes" from last summer all the time during the winter, I figured I best get a new pair.

Once I had my new shoes in hand, I immediately put them on and decided to take the first step in breaking them in. So I drove downtown (well, a bit east of downtown, really), parked my car outside of Psychic's Thyme, and set out for my first real walk of the year.

I decided that being a new year, it was time to increase my "short" walk. So rather than walking the circuit of Park Avenue, Alexander Street, East Avenue, and Culver Road, I decided to walk the circuit formed by Monroe Avenue, Union Street, East Avenue, and Culver Road. Estimating my brief bathroom break and tea purchase at five minutes, I would say that my walking time was an hour and fifteen minutes. That's up fifteen minutes from last autumn. Further more, now my "short walk" takes more than half the time of my seven mile walk!

I fared the trek quite well, really. My feet were aching by the time I got back to my car, but I think that was mainly due to the fact that I was wearing the new shoes. Overall, I'd say the dance class has kept me in the same shape I was in when I quit walking for the winter.

I've also come up with my tentative weekly exercise regime (or I should say "plans to have fun while getting some exercise without really thinking about it" regime):

• Tuesday night: Beginner's Contemporary Dance Class
• Tuesday Night:: Floor Barre Plus Class
• Sunday Mid-Day:Walking the Circuit Downtown. (Alternative: Seven mile canal walk one weekend each month)

I'm also thinking about adding another walk on Thursday night, but I figure and wait to see how everything goes.

After this week's dance classes, my body decided it was time to change which muscle groups got sore.  While my thighs chose to scream the first week and then my knees and thighs decided to team up to complain (less intensely) the second week, my upper arms and lower back decided to take over this week.  In fact, I was totally surprised hen I did something on Wednesday and my left arm put up a mild protest.

Fortunately, the aches and pains are becoming less pronounced as each week goes buy.  The first Wednesday night after class, my thighs tightened up to the point where I had to struggle to stand and move around until my muscles started relaxing again.  Now, everything's a mild ache that usually isn't even noticeable unless I'm actively doing something.  And then, it's as if the muscles involved are simply whining, "Hey, didn't you already make us do enough work for one week?"

Of course, I also think I can now notice that I'm starting to build some tone.  This morning as I got out of bed, I rested my hand along the outside of my thigh.  As I stood, I could actually feel the outline of the muscle as it tightened and shifted under my hand.  I just blinked and stared for a moment, thinking that was pretty cool.  Of course, I'm still pretty fluffy in the midsection.  But I've always known that's going to take a considerable amount of time to change.  Though I think I'm already seeing miniscule progress.  Belinda said something about me shrinking last weekend.  One can only hope.  I just need to keep reminding myself that this is a long term goal.

Two weeks ago, I started taking dance classes. Half my friends are laughing over the whole thing, but all of them are being relatively supportive.

This is not the first time that I've taken a dance class, mind you. My junior year in college, I took two semester's of dance class. I took the first semester because it counted against my phys ed requirement to graduate. I figured it was a nice alternative to trying to play a sport (I have yet to find one I'm not awful at) or go fly fishing (which I despise). So when my housemate suggested Joan's dance class, I decided it was worth a shot. I ended up taking the class for the second semester simply because I enjoyed it.

A few weeks ago, I noticed some cookbooks on a table at work for sale. After reading the material next to the cookbooks, I learned that they were to raise money for the Park Avenue Dance Company. I also found out which coworker brought them in and inquired as to his involvement with the organization. As it turns out, he's one of their dancers.

As we briefly discussed the matter, he suggested I give one of their dance classes a try. As I had already been thinking about it (I had already checked out their website), it didn't take him much time to convince me. The following Tuesday, I took my bag of with workout clothes over to the dance studio and had my first class.

I've had three more classes since that night and have loved every minute of it. In fact, I'm reaching the point where I feel like the class is the highlight of my week. I enjoy dance that much. In fact, I forgot just how much I enjoyed it.

It's been close to thirteen years since Joan's class. And while Joan's class primarily focused on ballet, Christine's class is more contemporary, which means that I've had to relearn a few things anyway. However, I have noticed that a lot of the work at the bar is the same, which is why I seem to be picking that up pretty fast. Now if I can get just as good at the rest of it all. But I'm making slow progress.

One nice thing about the class is that it's an answer to my concern about exercise during the cold months. Now I have at least one hour a week of good exercise planned -- exercise which is far more intense than the walking I normally do, anyway. I'm also considering picking up the Wednesday night class, which is 99% floor and bar exercises. Add to that the fact that I hope to eventually start practicing the routines at home (I'm still trying to learn them right now and don't wish to practice them "wrong"), and I should have no problems maintaining my physical activity year round.

And of course, I want to try the jazz class someday. But I think I need to get more comfortable with the contemporary dance stuff before I confuse myself with a second style and instructor.