Vacation: P90X Mix & Match

The fitness center at our resort is small and crowded in the mornings, and I knew it'd be difficult to pull off a full-on Plyo session, let alone an Insanity workout. So today, I pulled out my P90X Fitness Guide and decided to pull different moves from various routines, Vegas buffet-style. I ended up cobbling together a fairly rigorous, 15-exercise series consisting of:

• Stacked Hand Staggered Foot Push-Ups
• Squat Reach Jumps
• Bicep Curls
• Plyo Push-Ups
• Run Stance Squats
• Squat X-Presses
• Side Hip Raises
• Sphinx Push-Ups
• Jump Knee Tucks
• Lawnmowers
• Prison Cell Push-Ups
• Squat Jacks
• Push-Ups with Side Arm Balances
• Run Squat 180 Jump Switches
• Hammer Curls

Sounds like a lot, but I tried to limit my breaks, so the entire workout took only half an hour (including warm-up). Today, I noticed some bewildered looks from the folks on the treadmills and elliptical trainers when I started doing Jump Knee Tucks, and again when I started huffing and puffing during Prison Cell Push-Ups. It was a little embarrassing, and I knew I was done when the mirror in front of me started fogging up from the heat emanating from me. I'm pretty sure I was getting the "yuck" look from some of the people who were reading the latest issue of "Newsweek" while chilling on the recumbent bikes.

I'd intended to stick around to wait for one of the cardio machines to become available after my workout, but decided instead to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and run a few miles along the beach in Ka'anapali. The ocean was bright blue and the morning breeze felt great. I cheerily offered a "good morning" to everyone I passed, though only about a fifth of the people returned the salutation. Lots of people were out and about: snorkelers heading for the water, an outdoor yoga class, a bunch of morning golfers, a passel of smiling runners, and more than a few grumpy-looking walkers in sparkling white tennis shoes, clutching shiny new plastic water bottles.

My favorite moment: Running past an open-air tour bus packed with sightseers while the Hawaiian tour guide yelled into his microphone: "Aloha, my running bruthah!"

I'd forgotten how much I like running. Bad knee or no, I really ought to take it up again.