Oy vey. Soccer refereeing started for me this weekend. I officiated two games for the Mex-Ark league out at Burns park. For those of you who don't know about soccer matches, it's essentially two 45-minute halves of running, at least for the referees. So Sunday, I ran for three hours at these games. Then, less than 24 hours later, it's back on the Walkstation. It was easily the toughest day I've had walking while I work.
However, the past couple of days have been pleasant. Time has flown by while I work (as I type this, I've already been walking for an hour, but it seems like about 20 minutes). Yes, the novelty has worn off. No longer do I think this is "cool" or "fun". It's become part of the job. Fortunately, it's part of the job that has some benefits. There are a few side effects I didn't see coming when I started on the Walkstation. 1) I feel really awake and aware throughout the day. Just moving constantly as helped sharpen my focus for the entire day. 2) I'm drinking a lot more water than I previously was. I usually get through 2-3 bottles every day while I'm walking, plus another for lunch and another between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM. That's an average of two liters per day, and that's before I ever get home. I'm drinking fewer sodas and.... other beverages because I'm full of H2O. 3) My legs feel stronger. It may be purely psychological, but I feel like I can run faster and farther than before I started. Maybe it's the constant motion, or maybe it's just my imagination, but I have noticed a difference.
Fortunately, I get a break from soccer refereeing this weekend, and Labor Day weekend I'll be on vacation. I'll have to do something on Labor Day though, maybe jog a few miles or go to the track to keep the regiment going. Huh, I guess that's another side effect. 4) I'm actually planning ways to keep in motion. Walking while working is becoming a subconscious activity, but it's making me think about other ways to exercise. My next weigh-in day is Friday, I'll let you know how that goes.
