So I feel like my body is not what it used to be. This is both good and bad.
On the good side, I am now 13 lbs lighter than I was before I was pregnant. This worried me a little bit at first because my BMI was right on the healthy/unhealthy line, and I felt like I looked a bit skeletony in some of my wonderful brightroom pics. However, now that I have added some more muscle I'm actually okay with my weight. Also, I am really packing away the calories and paying attention to how much I eat (which is a LOT) so I know that I am okay. (This also meant that I got to get new running clothes and also that I am not so annoyed when my shirt rides up a bit while I'm running).
Also on the good side, I am way more flexible than I was before. I can actually touch my toes, and I really don't remember the last time I could do that. I contribute this to taking some time off of running this winter, but my bootcamp teacher said it is also because your body limbers up during pregnancy. (You just can't tell because who is really trying to touch their toes over a huge belly?)
Also, since I've lost some extra poundage now I can see some of my muscles! Hurrah!
On the not good or bad side I can eat us out of house and home. This is good because I love food, and the food I love is not particularly healthy. But it is also bad because I feel like I am eating ALL THE TIME which can get boring and expensive.
But on the bad side, I feel like I am starting over running again. I guess this is okay if you manage expectations (which I have been doing). For instance, my goals have changed tremendously. I am now happy with a sub 10 minute pace on longer races and a sub 9 on shorter races. I am going a lot slower even though I feel like I am working just as hard and sometimes even harder.
In fact, I was so super sore after last week's 16 mile run. Like after-the-marathon-sore. I don't know if this is because I am pushing myself harder or if it is because I am more out of shape than I was running in 2009. (I actually feel more in shape, but that the numbers are lying to me).
I am also really ramping up on the cross-training (which is a lot easier to get in than running because of baby). I am doing lots of old-school exercises...push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, lunges, etc.
I also signed up for a mommy and baby bootcamp class. It's lots of fun. We do all of those boot camp exercises too, but using baby as a weight. Oy. This is HARD. The first class was good and I had that nice achiness in my abs that makes me feel like a six-pack is on it's way (ha!). The second class was KILLER. None of the other moms showed up so I got a private lesson and she pushed me because she knows I am athletic. She didn't give me a break on ANYTHING. I did three burpee sets (of 12) alternating with 12 skaters with no rest in between. By the last set I looked ridiculous. I was like "I can't..." (and I've never felt like that during a workout) and she said "That's okay, just do the modified version." (Yes, that only helped a little.) Liam of course, thought all of this was hilarious. Needless to say I was sore after the workout (no waiting until the next day for me).
Anyway, I kind of got off topic. So I'll reel us back in...
So at baby bootcamp I had to do sit-ups (which I HATE). I especially hate these post-partem because I feel like my tail bone is GRINDing into the floor. It is very painful. I thought that maybe this is because I have less meat back there. But I asked the instructor about it and she said she had the same thing shortly after pregnancy. She said your back kind of gets looser and discs move around and stuff. She told me it would get better though as long as I kept working out. No problem. And it got me out of sit-ups (I got to do crunches instead.)
So yeah. Very sore. Body isn't what it used to be. We'll see how that works out tomorrow. I'm supposed to do 18 miles.
Showing posts with label cross training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cross training. Show all posts
Friday, August 12, 2011
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Killer Workout
In addition to "running" last night (it was on the treadmill, so in my mind, that only half counts), I did a little cross-training.
Now, I know that I have been singing the praises of Jillian's 30-Day Shred DVD, but really, I had only made it through the first level of the workouts. The workout is so very difficult that even though I've had it for about 2 months I never felt like I could move onto the next level. Quite frankly, I was scared of what the next level would bring.
Well.
The second level is EXTREMELY hard. I was sweating out of every single one of my pores, and copiously. I couldn't even do half of the stuff properly (squat thrusts, walk-out push-ups, plank crunches) and had to do the easy modification. It totally kicked my butt.
The reason I mention this in my RUNNING blog is because I think that this is a really really great workout for runners. She does all of the things runners are supposed to do (but probably don't do enough of), like plyometrics, calisthenics, and weight training using small and large muscle groups simultaneously. She really concentrates on this last group in level 2. I think that every weight lifting circuit she has you do, you are holding a position (like a deep squat) while lifting weights with your arms (like a military press). It really burns, but I think it will help me gain speed and stability.
Even though the workout killed me, it makes me want more. I am just that demented when it comes to things like this. :)
Next time I am going to try and do the full exercises instead of just the modified ones.
Now, I know that I have been singing the praises of Jillian's 30-Day Shred DVD, but really, I had only made it through the first level of the workouts. The workout is so very difficult that even though I've had it for about 2 months I never felt like I could move onto the next level. Quite frankly, I was scared of what the next level would bring.
Well.
The second level is EXTREMELY hard. I was sweating out of every single one of my pores, and copiously. I couldn't even do half of the stuff properly (squat thrusts, walk-out push-ups, plank crunches) and had to do the easy modification. It totally kicked my butt.
The reason I mention this in my RUNNING blog is because I think that this is a really really great workout for runners. She does all of the things runners are supposed to do (but probably don't do enough of), like plyometrics, calisthenics, and weight training using small and large muscle groups simultaneously. She really concentrates on this last group in level 2. I think that every weight lifting circuit she has you do, you are holding a position (like a deep squat) while lifting weights with your arms (like a military press). It really burns, but I think it will help me gain speed and stability.
Even though the workout killed me, it makes me want more. I am just that demented when it comes to things like this. :)
Next time I am going to try and do the full exercises instead of just the modified ones.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Back on Pace
Sunday was the Manhattan half marathon. I was kind of nervous because I was using it as a training run. Even though I usually have the best intentions to stay on pace during "training run" races, I usually end up racing them. It is also the longest mileage I have run since October, so I wanted to make sure I took it easily enough that I wouldn't get injured. I was also worried about this, because I swear, I get injured more when it is freezing cold out (or below freezing cold out, as it was on Sunday...14 degrees). I wanted to stay just below a 10 minute mile.
Turns out that I am actually a pretty good pacer again! My first mile was a 10:06. I stayed around that pace for the first six miles and then kicked it up to high 9:30s and low 9:40s. I actually felt really good the entire time.
I also think that my cross training is REALLY paying off. I say this because I have only had one real hill workout. Well, the hills were not bad at all...not even Harlem Hill! I don't usually feel that way until after months of serious hill training. I have to attribute it to the fact that I am really pushing myself on the cross training. My muscles in my legs are WAY developed (I noticed this as I was doing elliptical on Friday and happened to glance in the mirror.) Plus, my arms may not LOOK muscular, but I think they are getting there. I am actually able to do multiple push-ups (with good form) in a time period of 30s, when at the beginning of the year I could only do 3. (I know! My arms are so out of shape!)
So yay! Even if my waist isn't whittling away (which it isn't) and I'm not losing weight (I might be gaining...gulp) I can tell things are changing in my performance.
It also helped to have Bill with me for the first 7 miles. (And poor guy waited around in the freezing cold for me to finish, after he had finished his 8 mile run. What a stellar husband!)
Oh yeah, I finished with a 2:09:09, which is a 9:50 pace...but I'm not going to dwell on that too much, since I wasn't racing.
When I was finished I felt like someone tossed me out of a moving garbage truck, but I think it might have just been the cold, because I'm fine today.
Tomorrow is a hill workout AND it's supposed to snow. Yuck.
Turns out that I am actually a pretty good pacer again! My first mile was a 10:06. I stayed around that pace for the first six miles and then kicked it up to high 9:30s and low 9:40s. I actually felt really good the entire time.
I also think that my cross training is REALLY paying off. I say this because I have only had one real hill workout. Well, the hills were not bad at all...not even Harlem Hill! I don't usually feel that way until after months of serious hill training. I have to attribute it to the fact that I am really pushing myself on the cross training. My muscles in my legs are WAY developed (I noticed this as I was doing elliptical on Friday and happened to glance in the mirror.) Plus, my arms may not LOOK muscular, but I think they are getting there. I am actually able to do multiple push-ups (with good form) in a time period of 30s, when at the beginning of the year I could only do 3. (I know! My arms are so out of shape!)
So yay! Even if my waist isn't whittling away (which it isn't) and I'm not losing weight (I might be gaining...gulp) I can tell things are changing in my performance.
It also helped to have Bill with me for the first 7 miles. (And poor guy waited around in the freezing cold for me to finish, after he had finished his 8 mile run. What a stellar husband!)
Oh yeah, I finished with a 2:09:09, which is a 9:50 pace...but I'm not going to dwell on that too much, since I wasn't racing.
When I was finished I felt like someone tossed me out of a moving garbage truck, but I think it might have just been the cold, because I'm fine today.
Tomorrow is a hill workout AND it's supposed to snow. Yuck.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Jillian is TOUGH
Last night was cross-training. I am kind of actually regretting that today though, because tonight I have a 4 mile run. The temps are supposed to go down to single digits and the windchill is in the negatives. Yesterday it was 40. Hmmmm. I really should have switched those two nights.
In addition to watching the Biggest Loser last night (so sad! I almost for real cried.), I also did a Jillian Michaels workout.
I always feel a little bit like a loser doing her dvd because I only use my 5 pound hand weights AND the workout is only 20 minutes long. I feel that way until about 2 minutes into the workout. NO WONDER all of those people on Jillian's team lose so much weight. Like Bill said "Can you imagine doing this 8 hours a day?"
Her whole workout is based on circuits. You do 3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio and 1 minute of abs, repeating that for 20 minutes. There are two reasons (I think) that this is so hard.
First of all, you have NO REST in between. Not even 5 seconds. She just moves from one section to the next. She says in the video, that this is because if you want a good workout and you're only going to work out for 20 minutes you can't waste any of those minutes.
The second reason is that the strength exercises combine weight lifting with dumbells with strength exercises that use your body. So, instead of doing just overhead presses, you do overhead presses combined with squats. She says that this is because the weight lifting alone does not burn enough calories.
It is also good because she is really into calistenics, which Runner's World is always touting the benefits of.
Now I am using this as primarily a strength training program (not to lose weight) and it is working. I have done this video twice and I can already feel the difference (I KNOW, that is crazy). It reminds me of Ramon's crazy cross-training runs. But that is also why I love this workout. And I am only on level 1. I hate to see what is on level 2 or 3.
That is why, if I was on the Biggest Loser, I would need Jillian as a trainer...not Bob. I think I work best when someone is pushing pushing pushing me.
Yeah, and I am REALLY contemplating running on the treadmill or elliptical tonight. It is so cold.
In addition to watching the Biggest Loser last night (so sad! I almost for real cried.), I also did a Jillian Michaels workout.
I always feel a little bit like a loser doing her dvd because I only use my 5 pound hand weights AND the workout is only 20 minutes long. I feel that way until about 2 minutes into the workout. NO WONDER all of those people on Jillian's team lose so much weight. Like Bill said "Can you imagine doing this 8 hours a day?"
Her whole workout is based on circuits. You do 3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio and 1 minute of abs, repeating that for 20 minutes. There are two reasons (I think) that this is so hard.
First of all, you have NO REST in between. Not even 5 seconds. She just moves from one section to the next. She says in the video, that this is because if you want a good workout and you're only going to work out for 20 minutes you can't waste any of those minutes.
The second reason is that the strength exercises combine weight lifting with dumbells with strength exercises that use your body. So, instead of doing just overhead presses, you do overhead presses combined with squats. She says that this is because the weight lifting alone does not burn enough calories.
It is also good because she is really into calistenics, which Runner's World is always touting the benefits of.
Now I am using this as primarily a strength training program (not to lose weight) and it is working. I have done this video twice and I can already feel the difference (I KNOW, that is crazy). It reminds me of Ramon's crazy cross-training runs. But that is also why I love this workout. And I am only on level 1. I hate to see what is on level 2 or 3.
That is why, if I was on the Biggest Loser, I would need Jillian as a trainer...not Bob. I think I work best when someone is pushing pushing pushing me.
Yeah, and I am REALLY contemplating running on the treadmill or elliptical tonight. It is so cold.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The Longest 40 Minutes
This heat is just killing me. I think yesterday was especially bad though because my side of the office didn't have air-conditioning all day. I was sticking to my desk. (Oh yeah, and did I mention that it was 97 degrees)? Anyway, the whole thing put me in a bad mood, so the last thing I wanted to do when I got home was run my workout, which was 40-50 minutes easy.
As soon as I got home I put on my workout clothes, because I knew that if I didn't I would convince myself to not run. Luckily, because of the air-conditioning thing, I had been hydrating all day.
Bill ran with me, and let me tell you, Riverside Park has never seemed so small. It seems like when we got to Harlem it would have been time to turn around (20 minutes). Instead, we had only run 10 minutes. So then, not only did we have to double back, but we had to run even further. I was avoiding hills because my calves have been really screaming at me lately. I also wanted to avoid the river. Even though you get a nice cool breeze from it there are also no trees, so the sun really beats down on you. In retrospect though, this was kind of stupid of me, seeing that it was 8pm and then sun was pretty much setting. At any rate, if you are trying to avoid hills and trying to avoid the river, and trying to not stray too far downtown there is really not that much of the park to run. And we all know how much I hate loops. It made for a very long run.
But, I was very very good and did all of my stretches once I got home.
Today is supposed to be just as hot. AND we have a cross-training run. All I've heard from the mentors and coaches is that these workouts are really difficult. We will be teaming up with the intermediate group tonight. However, we have a longer run than they do. We have to run down to meet them before we start the workout. Then we divide into two groups. The first group stays with the coaches to do cross-training exercises while the second group does an out and back run for 12 minutes. Then we reverse. We will do this a "few" times according to Coach Ramon. Who knows what this means? He also told us that the cross-country course had 1.5, no 2.5, no maybe 4, no maybe 10 hills. After running it I would have said closer to 10. :)
As soon as I got home I put on my workout clothes, because I knew that if I didn't I would convince myself to not run. Luckily, because of the air-conditioning thing, I had been hydrating all day.
Bill ran with me, and let me tell you, Riverside Park has never seemed so small. It seems like when we got to Harlem it would have been time to turn around (20 minutes). Instead, we had only run 10 minutes. So then, not only did we have to double back, but we had to run even further. I was avoiding hills because my calves have been really screaming at me lately. I also wanted to avoid the river. Even though you get a nice cool breeze from it there are also no trees, so the sun really beats down on you. In retrospect though, this was kind of stupid of me, seeing that it was 8pm and then sun was pretty much setting. At any rate, if you are trying to avoid hills and trying to avoid the river, and trying to not stray too far downtown there is really not that much of the park to run. And we all know how much I hate loops. It made for a very long run.
But, I was very very good and did all of my stretches once I got home.
Today is supposed to be just as hot. AND we have a cross-training run. All I've heard from the mentors and coaches is that these workouts are really difficult. We will be teaming up with the intermediate group tonight. However, we have a longer run than they do. We have to run down to meet them before we start the workout. Then we divide into two groups. The first group stays with the coaches to do cross-training exercises while the second group does an out and back run for 12 minutes. Then we reverse. We will do this a "few" times according to Coach Ramon. Who knows what this means? He also told us that the cross-country course had 1.5, no 2.5, no maybe 4, no maybe 10 hills. After running it I would have said closer to 10. :)
Monday, June 2, 2008
Crazy Week!
Finally back home! It seems like I have been gone forever, and it is so hard to run when I am not home. I was also worried that I would gain a ton of weight, because I have not been eating so healthily. Luckily though, I am the exact same weight as when I left.
This week is crazy with after work stuff, and most of it is running related!
I have a fundraising clinic tonight, a practice tomorrow, a race on Wednesday (at 5:30 am!!!), and an injury prevention clinic on Thursday. Whew! Friday I am on pins and needles, because I find out if I made it into the NYC Marathon. I know the chances are slim of me getting in and I know I have guaranteed entry into the Marine Corps Marathon through TNT, but I will still be really upset if I don't make it in. I warned Bill already that I would probably be mopey about it. My friend Julie, who just started running in January, also entered her name into the lottery. I hope we both get in.
Tuesday night's practice is a cross-training run. Turns out that last week's run was a form practice, so I didn't miss the cross-training. I know I will be thinking differently on Wednesday, but for now I am really pumped for the practice.
This week is crazy with after work stuff, and most of it is running related!
I have a fundraising clinic tonight, a practice tomorrow, a race on Wednesday (at 5:30 am!!!), and an injury prevention clinic on Thursday. Whew! Friday I am on pins and needles, because I find out if I made it into the NYC Marathon. I know the chances are slim of me getting in and I know I have guaranteed entry into the Marine Corps Marathon through TNT, but I will still be really upset if I don't make it in. I warned Bill already that I would probably be mopey about it. My friend Julie, who just started running in January, also entered her name into the lottery. I hope we both get in.
Tuesday night's practice is a cross-training run. Turns out that last week's run was a form practice, so I didn't miss the cross-training. I know I will be thinking differently on Wednesday, but for now I am really pumped for the practice.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Cross-Training Run
Since my calves have felt all knotty for the past couple of days, I REALLY didn't feel like running today. Especially since our coach, Ramon had told us last week that our fun runs were over with. (Although I can never tell when he is joking or when he is serious).
But when I got to the park I found out that we were starting with an easy 3-mile run around the park, to see places we probably didn't know existed in the park. We were all going to run together as a group instead of our individual groups. Then, when we got back, the advanced group would do two laps around the lake and the intermediates would do 2 laps around the lake. I thought this sounded perfect!
Plus, I met my mentor, Gina, who seems really really nice. In fact, she ran next to me the entire time and we chatted the whole way.
The hard part of the run was when we stopped at every mile to do some circuit training exercises. We did squats at every one. I HATE squats. BUT I probably need to do them because it's my quads that need a ton of work (and it's my lack of quad strength on my right side that led me to my knee problems). All of the mentors started moaning about cross-training runs.
Apparently, Coach Ramon has these cross-training runs where we will do hard core circuit training within the run. I've had two mentors tell me that it is the hardest thing that we do in training and that for the whole week afterwards you feel sore. They both now have personal trainers to help them do this all the time so that they aren't sore when we start doing these runs. They also said the hardest part was after the little cross-training bit getting back into the run.
In some sick way, this made me actually look forward to cross-training runs. I think it is because I KNOW they will help me run faster and I know that they will help me build muscle. Besides I am such a slacker when it comes to any kind of cross or weight training, so I think this will be good for me.
It was cool to do the 3-mile loop because we ran on trails and hills as well as paved pathways. We ran to the highest hill in the park but we also saw some things that I didn't know existed in the park (like waterfalls).
After that we did two 1.6 mile loops which didn't seem bad at all. I guess I could have done the third with the advanced group, but I'm trying to let my body recover until June 1st like Coach Ramon suggested.
But when I got to the park I found out that we were starting with an easy 3-mile run around the park, to see places we probably didn't know existed in the park. We were all going to run together as a group instead of our individual groups. Then, when we got back, the advanced group would do two laps around the lake and the intermediates would do 2 laps around the lake. I thought this sounded perfect!
Plus, I met my mentor, Gina, who seems really really nice. In fact, she ran next to me the entire time and we chatted the whole way.
The hard part of the run was when we stopped at every mile to do some circuit training exercises. We did squats at every one. I HATE squats. BUT I probably need to do them because it's my quads that need a ton of work (and it's my lack of quad strength on my right side that led me to my knee problems). All of the mentors started moaning about cross-training runs.
Apparently, Coach Ramon has these cross-training runs where we will do hard core circuit training within the run. I've had two mentors tell me that it is the hardest thing that we do in training and that for the whole week afterwards you feel sore. They both now have personal trainers to help them do this all the time so that they aren't sore when we start doing these runs. They also said the hardest part was after the little cross-training bit getting back into the run.
In some sick way, this made me actually look forward to cross-training runs. I think it is because I KNOW they will help me run faster and I know that they will help me build muscle. Besides I am such a slacker when it comes to any kind of cross or weight training, so I think this will be good for me.
It was cool to do the 3-mile loop because we ran on trails and hills as well as paved pathways. We ran to the highest hill in the park but we also saw some things that I didn't know existed in the park (like waterfalls).
After that we did two 1.6 mile loops which didn't seem bad at all. I guess I could have done the third with the advanced group, but I'm trying to let my body recover until June 1st like Coach Ramon suggested.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Back on the Bandwagon
DESPITE the fact that I worked until 12:30 am last night, I STILL went to the gym!!!
Hurrah! I am into cross-training now. I was on the bike last night and whoa, does my butt hurt today! I guess that's why cross-training is good for you.
They also have this cool thing at my gym where they have these monitors on all of the weight machines. You enter in your ID number (which I don't have, since I haven't really been in like 4 months) and it keeps track of your weight, your reps, etc. I guess I will have to ask more about that the next time I go.
This weekend I am going to try and run the Thanksgiving Day course. I really enjoy this course and think it is really fun. Plus, I've run it a ton in all of the training groups so it is a nice familiar run. (It was funny, I was telling Bill last night that you actually run some of the course during the Pig. But during the Pig you are like "wow, that was a nice little warmup" after you are done with that part of the course. When you run the Thanksgiving Day 10k you are like "WHAT?!!! That was only 2 MILES?! But I feel like I'm going to die!")Anyway, since it looks like I am going to be working this weekend as well I might try to get my run in starting from my office and then going to work in my stinky running clothes. :) At least I will be comfortable. It's just too bad for my team. (OK, really, I don't sweat that much. I'm not that mean.)
Oh yes! and did anyone catch that NOVA special on Tuesday? It was called Marathon Challenge . They basically took 13 people who were not runners and trained them for a marathon. They talked about everything that goes on with your body in training and followed these thirteen people through 9 months of training. It was pretty good. AND they explained why I didn't lose any weight from my 2 marathons (none of the other women in the group did either, except for the one lady who was 70 lbs overweight and changed her diet and went to an additional bootcamp.) Anyway, it was good, and if you missed it you should try to catch it (they run all of those PBS shows multiple times...and with all of the channels you are bound to catch it sometime.)
Oh well. Back to the grind.
Hurrah! I am into cross-training now. I was on the bike last night and whoa, does my butt hurt today! I guess that's why cross-training is good for you.
They also have this cool thing at my gym where they have these monitors on all of the weight machines. You enter in your ID number (which I don't have, since I haven't really been in like 4 months) and it keeps track of your weight, your reps, etc. I guess I will have to ask more about that the next time I go.
This weekend I am going to try and run the Thanksgiving Day course. I really enjoy this course and think it is really fun. Plus, I've run it a ton in all of the training groups so it is a nice familiar run. (It was funny, I was telling Bill last night that you actually run some of the course during the Pig. But during the Pig you are like "wow, that was a nice little warmup" after you are done with that part of the course. When you run the Thanksgiving Day 10k you are like "WHAT?!!! That was only 2 MILES?! But I feel like I'm going to die!")Anyway, since it looks like I am going to be working this weekend as well I might try to get my run in starting from my office and then going to work in my stinky running clothes. :) At least I will be comfortable. It's just too bad for my team. (OK, really, I don't sweat that much. I'm not that mean.)
Oh yes! and did anyone catch that NOVA special on Tuesday? It was called Marathon Challenge . They basically took 13 people who were not runners and trained them for a marathon. They talked about everything that goes on with your body in training and followed these thirteen people through 9 months of training. It was pretty good. AND they explained why I didn't lose any weight from my 2 marathons (none of the other women in the group did either, except for the one lady who was 70 lbs overweight and changed her diet and went to an additional bootcamp.) Anyway, it was good, and if you missed it you should try to catch it (they run all of those PBS shows multiple times...and with all of the channels you are bound to catch it sometime.)
Oh well. Back to the grind.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Healthy Habits
So, as my time in London draws to a close I am wondering if I can keep up my healthy habits. I don't know what it is about home, but it seems so much easier to be unhealthy. And here's the weird thing: Bill has been eating healthily at home. I have been eating healthily here. But when he came to visit I can't count the number of meals that we had with fries (ok, "chips"), plus all kinds of other unhealthy things. I guess we are a bad influence on each other. I always thought it was me making him unhealthy. :)
One thing I really really like that I've adopted is that I drink a ton of water every day. This kind of started when I gave up pop for Lent. Now I can't even drink the stuff. It is so super sugary it doesn't even taste good to me. I think the trick for me is to keep a bottle of water at my desk that I keep refilling. It is also nice because the kitchen is literally 20 feet from my desk (in Cincinnati I have to walk across the entire office...which is BIG). So I will have to figure something out about that.
Also, I have been working out six days a week. I would really really love to keep that habit up. It makes me feel so much better. I guess it is also a lot easier to do this when you are tackling 2-3 miles a night instead of 12-14. I think the key is probably to mix it up.
Like last night I just didn't feel like running last night, so I hit the erg machine instead. This was probably good because it was a HARD workout (I was mentally finished after 15 minutes). In my mind, if a workout is hard, that means it was a workout that was needed.
Anyway, I am going to try really really hard to keep being healthy when I get home. I hope history is not an indicator of this all going downhill eventually. We'll see.
One thing I really really like that I've adopted is that I drink a ton of water every day. This kind of started when I gave up pop for Lent. Now I can't even drink the stuff. It is so super sugary it doesn't even taste good to me. I think the trick for me is to keep a bottle of water at my desk that I keep refilling. It is also nice because the kitchen is literally 20 feet from my desk (in Cincinnati I have to walk across the entire office...which is BIG). So I will have to figure something out about that.
Also, I have been working out six days a week. I would really really love to keep that habit up. It makes me feel so much better. I guess it is also a lot easier to do this when you are tackling 2-3 miles a night instead of 12-14. I think the key is probably to mix it up.
Like last night I just didn't feel like running last night, so I hit the erg machine instead. This was probably good because it was a HARD workout (I was mentally finished after 15 minutes). In my mind, if a workout is hard, that means it was a workout that was needed.
Anyway, I am going to try really really hard to keep being healthy when I get home. I hope history is not an indicator of this all going downhill eventually. We'll see.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Er, uh, ERG
So, I checked out the gym in the hotel on Saturday. After getting over a small disappointment that there were no free weights or weight machines, I was ecstatic to find an erg machine that wasn't ancient!
If I wanted to build up my arms and shoulders here was a great way to do it.
Since I haven't REALLY been on one of these machines seriously since my college rowing team days, I decided to do a workout based on time and not distance. So I set the clock for 30 minutes.
I always find it funny that you can be in superb shape for one sport but as soon as you switch to another, you start to realize how out of shape you are. I was dying. My back is just not used to getting that kind of workout. The funny thing is though, that most of rowing is in the legs (ask any rower) which is contrary to what most people think. So it was easy enough to go fast, with lots of resistance on the machine...but at about 11 minutes I was having a hard time bringing the bar up to my abs. I told myself I would take a 30 second break at 15 minutes. But then it got to 14 minutes and "Funeral for a Friend" was on my ipod and I thought 'no, you can take a break when the song is over' (knowing full well that by then, I would just finish the workout, since I think it is one of the longest rock songs ever). I got my second wind, and I guess I tricked myself mentally to finish the workout.
I also learned a valuable lesson: I should probably add some cross-training into my running training!
If I wanted to build up my arms and shoulders here was a great way to do it.
Since I haven't REALLY been on one of these machines seriously since my college rowing team days, I decided to do a workout based on time and not distance. So I set the clock for 30 minutes.
I always find it funny that you can be in superb shape for one sport but as soon as you switch to another, you start to realize how out of shape you are. I was dying. My back is just not used to getting that kind of workout. The funny thing is though, that most of rowing is in the legs (ask any rower) which is contrary to what most people think. So it was easy enough to go fast, with lots of resistance on the machine...but at about 11 minutes I was having a hard time bringing the bar up to my abs. I told myself I would take a 30 second break at 15 minutes. But then it got to 14 minutes and "Funeral for a Friend" was on my ipod and I thought 'no, you can take a break when the song is over' (knowing full well that by then, I would just finish the workout, since I think it is one of the longest rock songs ever). I got my second wind, and I guess I tricked myself mentally to finish the workout.
I also learned a valuable lesson: I should probably add some cross-training into my running training!
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