A Ride Inside

Monday - rest and a night out with a couple of friends. I had intended to go home and lift.

Tuesday - spinning! Erin wasn't in the class. I really missed her!  Also the spin bikes have been moved into an arch, which I think is awesome. It felt more fun and now if you aren't in the front row you don't immediately have someone right "in your way". Or, if you're in the front row, you don't worry about your butt being right in someone's face ;)  I skipped yoga that night because my friend who I go to the class with was sick. No biggie.

Wednesday - I was going to run. I didn't at lunch. Then I didn't after work. Urban is in a very small lot, and they have "complimentary" valet at the 5:00 rush hour...but I just didn't feel like dealing with it! Isn't that horrible? Excuses excuses. I decided I'd rather run in the cold. But when I got home, I saw my bike and decided I'd rather ride! So I set my bike up on the trainer. It's been such a long time. I rode for 45 minutes while I watched a Glee episode. Picked it up during the huluplus commercials.

Thursday - I just couldn't get myself in the right place at the right time. All morning I was at the dentist getting a new front tooth. The temporary crown is on and horribly forward and sharp! The afternoon was a whirlwind. I should have lifted at least, but I was mopey.

Friday - I ran this morning about 3.3 miles. It was slow and I was tired. In the middle, I picked it up twice for .25 miles. That felt good.

Tomorrow is broomball and Sunday night is a broomball makeup game. I'm not sure what or where I'll be doing a long distance this weekend.

Consistency

This past week has been a good one for activity. Thursday I did a spinning class...another hard one. Melanie is so good! Friday I ran 3 miles. I took my phone with me to figure out what pace I was going, but the app fizzled out both coming and going. Saturday we played broomball (our first loss...boo). Sunday I ran 6 miles with Greg and Casey. Heart Mini training is officially underway.

Today it's supposed to be near 50...and tomorrow near 60! I have a bit itch to get on my road bike. I have been trying to figure out how to do a bike race in the spring. It is so challenging to figure this out. All I can think of is to go to a bike shop and ask someone. It may be too late to join any teams, and it seems like you have to be with a team to race. I am pretty frustrated with the unsuccessful research I've had. I just want some dates, and to know how it works and what I have to do to prepare. I think it would be fun to try. But maybe you have to be really really good and it's not for just anyone.

I think I'll stop by Swallow Bike Works, the new shop in Loveland that replaced Cycle Sport, and see if someone there can tell me anything to guide me in the right direction.

8 weeks to go

Today officially kicks off 8 weeks to go until the Heart Mini. Last week went pretty well. I did a 4 mile run mid-week and two spins. Friday I lifted. Saturday's broomball game was cancelled because of the ice but rescheduled for Sunday. We won again... we're 3 and 0!

Tonight's plan is to run at the gym on the 'mill. This will require Pandora big time. It seemed to stop working in my car. I just tried to make it work on the phone by itself and something got screwed up with my sign-in, but now it is working!

The New Year: here is 2012

What's a running blog without a new year post? It's the 10th already, so I had better get this one underway!

I have a lot of goals for fitness and my life activities this year. I have been reading about the Olympic marathon trials going on in Houston and it has been nothing but inspiring. One of the common interview prompts for the runners is: "Tell us about a typical day of your life." Reading about the dedication these people have to their full time jobs, families and running is amazing and humbling. I'm only a recreational runner, but the lesson is applicable to everything: You get out of it what you put into it.

When I started my own company, I quickly enjoyed the freedom of schedule. And just as instantly, I was introduced to the burdon of balance. Keeping my drive in check didn't happen this year. I forgot that no one is going to put limits on anything except me. And so, I have been operating like a go-kart with its governor removed.

Looking back on 2011, it is apparent that the many activities and hobbies I love to do have been left dusty in a closet, lonely on a shelf or waiting for me while I sleep off exhaustion. But, I think there is a shockingly simple solution to this problem. I need to work less. Then, with the right balance, which I let go so wrong these past months, I will enjoy the activities I love to do and live the life I'd like to live.

8/1/11: New Training!

It's been a busy couple of weeks, and I'm super behind on drawings!

Ultimate is now over, and training for the Cincinnati Half Marathon is officially underway. I'm really looking forward to running more again. This week has been kind of a recovery week of sorts I'll call it. Work has been crazy and taking up most of my time. But next week should be good again.

Cincinnati Half Training

Training is underway. I feel great. The distance thing is all coming back to me, and I'm really looking forward to bumping up the weekend runs and seeing what happens (both to me and Casey). This is going to be my 5th half marathon, and I had a comforting and pleasant realization recently: I know what I'm doing. I've covered the 13.1 miles 4 other times on 3 different courses: Cincinnati Flying Pig, State-to-state, Akron and another Flying Pig. So...I've done this before! Realizing that has greatly helped this slow runner's confidence.

Last week's workouts were OK, though I still didn't get all of the days I wanted in there. But this past weekend Casey and I ran 8.25 miles, and I feel like the training is definitely underway. My legs feel good. And for the first time in a long time, nothing hurts!

Tonight I am planning to go on the group ride with Cycle Sport. However...see that last statement in the previous paragraph? Nothing hurts right now! My hips and knee (which I think has gotten tweaked from past bike rides) are all good. So I'm not going to go 30+ miles with them like we usually do. I haven't been on my road bike since the Caesar's Creek Duathlon and have only done one spinning class. So I'm shooting for 20 easy miles. Likely, this won't be what Rich and Glen are doing, but I'll shoot Rich an email just in case. It will probably be a solo ride, which is fine.

Here's to a good week of training! (and cooler temps? maybe??)

Schedule for This Week 8/8 - 8/14

Here is the plan for this week's training. 

Sunday - We disc golfed. It was good walking around outside time.

Monday - Spinning at 5:50 a.m. ...that's right! I'm going to go resurrect the Community Center Membership. If I get up. It's already 10:25...

Tuesday - Track Night. 4 x 800 with 1 mile warm up and 1 mile cool down. 4 total miles.

Wednesday - 4 miles

Thursday - Spinning at 8:15 or bike ride on the trail

Friday - Off, strength

Saturday - 8 miles

Training for the Cincinnati Half Marathon October 23rd. I'm pretty excited!!!

Training

A quick thought on my recent training...

So this week I'm doing well with training. I'm pushing since next week I'll have to taper a little for the duathlon. It's made me think about how hard I train/work in general. In the past, it just hasn't been very hard at all. I think that I thought I was doing what I should, but I have gotten to know my body a little better and have discovered that's not quite true. I've also discovered (not really a new discovery, more a reminder) that it's so much easier to push myself with other people around. It would have been difficult to push the way we did on the bikes Monday night, probably mostly because I would have just been a little bored. Same goes for running. Motivation is priceless. 

I hope after the du to keep this level up and see what can happen.

Brick Workout #2 Before Tri for Joe

According to the loud DJs coming across the alarm clock radio this morning, there was a thin fog that was causing delays. I laid in bed with my eyes closed, trying to talk myself into believing it was Saturday. After I realized I didn't have the power to change the days and finally opened my eyes, I saw a beautiful, fresh sky – a welcome sight after so many cloudy days in a row. Looking out the window, I thought how it would have been a great morning for a run. Misty morning runs are my favorite. But I was planning to do another brick workout in the evening after work.

It was a mini-duathlon of sorts. Instead of doing three runs and two bike sessions, I decided to just do two runs and one bike in between, just like the race, but much shorter. With the Idlewild 5K this weekend, I didn't want to take too much out of my legs. I decided to bike longer so I'd get the lead feeling in my legs for the second run. After it was all finished, the only thing missing from this brick compared to the last brick was one 1 mile run.

I set my bike up outside like last time. I have my new tire on.

It has some interesting tread.

I wore new shorts that I would like to use for the duathlon. My current bike shorts are a little too big. I look and feel like I am running in a diaper. Until I can find a good deal on thin padded shorts (which is nearly impossible) I wanted to see if non-padded shorts would work for a short 12 miles on the bike. I'm not sure. It will be close to 45 minutes. Today was only 22 minutes. Hmmm.

I went out the door after some quick arm and leg stretches. I only wanted to run smooth. I honestly didn't think I'd be able to run the same speed as the last brick workout I did two weeks ago. But when I got to the end of the street, my watch said 4:02. Huh. I turned around, still focusing on keeping my breathing under control and keeping my legs smooth and stride strong. I got back to the driveway and stopped my watch.
7:56.

:)

To my knowledge, I've never ever ever ran under 8 minutes for the distance of 1 mile. Ever. !!!!!!!!!!

I practically skipped through the house, stopping quickly to jot my time down. Then I went out the back door where my bike awaited me. I threw my shoes on, thinking about all the setup for transition at the duathlon and how I haven't done that in a few years now, and hopped on the saddle. I began an easy spin. The seat wasn't too uncomfortable.

As there is nothing to do while on the bike trainer except watch the dogs or the neighbors mow, neither of which were entertaining, I decided to concentrate on my pedal stroke. I tried to feel the power in a circular motion rather than the mashing down motion. I soon got bored and did a few 1 minute pickups, changing gears and going faster, leaning over into the lower position on the handlebars. When I got to 20 minutes, I finally felt warmed up. So I did just a couple more minutes and then it was time for run number 2.

With Harley-dog in my face, trying to lick my sweat, I changed my shoes. I think I should get the quick-pull laces for the duathlon. Not that I'm speedy or going to place, but there is a lot of time that can be gained in transition, and good grief tying my shoes seems to take forever! I went back through the house, wrote down my times and then went out for my second run.

I prepared myself mentally for running out of juice. If I could just manage a 9 minute pace, that would be realistic and I'd be happy with that. I got to the half mile and saw 4:10. OK, I'll go for 8:20. Running back was smooth. I landed back in the driveway at 8:11, a negative split again.

YAY!!!!

The results.

I sat back outside after walking around a little bit and relaxed. I should have mowed that prairie in the background. There's tomorrow I guess.

I have no idea what to expect for the 5K Sunday. I surely couldn't keep that pace up for 3 miles in a row. So what pace can I maintain? This is getting tricky now that I can actually run different paces. In the past, 5Ks meant run a comfortable hard and then I'd run out whatever is left when I thought I could. Now I feel like I have this huge pace range to play with. If I go out too fast, I'll be screwed. But I don't want to go out too slow and not get the lowest time I can. Hmmmm...

Oh fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun fun!!!!!

Three Days in a Row!

...of exercise - woot!

This morning Casey and I set out on our run with the intentions of stepping it up a notch, since we have both discovered that we can run faster than we have been, and to try to gain some speed for upcoming 5Ks. I took off a little fast, but we soon settled into a nice 9:26ish pace. I wore my GPS so we could monitor our pace. Turns out our route was only 2.7, not 3.1 that we thought it was going to be. But we held the pace the entire time, so that is still good.

It was pretty rough for me. I am not sure if it is the fact that I've ran two days prior and I'm a little tired, or if it's just me sucking. I couldn't talk much. I thought about how I felt a lot, especially the last mile. I was trying to focus the best I could and not get mad - happens sometimes :)

It was really a great run because I need to do this more. When I used to run with Lynn back in the day, she always pushed me (while not even trying) because she was just a faster pace, so I ran faster. And I got faster/stronger from running with her. If Casey and I keep doing these 3 - 4 mile runs at a quicker pace, I'm certain I will become more used to the pace and a 9:30 pace will become what is now a 10:00 and so on. And that makes me happy!!! I'll still be doing track workouts, which also helps greatly. The longer runs need to start happening, and those will be slow and relaxing. The shorter runs are going to be work, but the pay-off is so rewarding.

I'm curious about my breathing. That is definitely what holds me back while running. I just can't get enough air and I wheeze a little on the exhale. I can't breathe through my nose right now, so I feel like a fish gasping for oxygen through my big open mouth. It's inefficient.

Now it is raining and the skies are a little bit dark. Occasionally the wind blows drops onto the porch roof outside my window. It sounds as if a bunch of acorns are being spilled onto it. They must be large raindrops from the trees. I wish I could take a little nap...

Brick!

Tonight I did my first brick workout in, oh I don't know... a few years!?

Definition time! For those that may not know, and as I understand it, a "brick" workout is any workout designed for multi-sport where you do two different sports back to back in one session. The point is to train for some endurance and also to get your body used to switching muscle groups while fatigued already. So you could do a run then swim. Or swim then bike. Or run then bike. Or any other combination! When I first read about them (and I don't remember where I read this), the idea was to do the activity multiple times, back to back. Since then I've seen that any two sports back to back is called a "brick". But to me, the bricking aspect of it comes from switching back and forth between the two where you really get your body used to the change. It's incredible how hard that second 5K always is. Maybe this is more important for duathlons, since you run then bike then run again. Anyway, I remember how much I found the workout to be a benefit when I did it a few years ago.

So without further ado... my brick session on my back porch and in the neighborhood.

Here's the set up.

I set my trainer up on the back porch so I could ride back there, then run out to our street and go to the end and back. I decided to run 1 mile, then bike 10 minutes for 3 times (except ending with the run). So it was run-bike-run-bike-run with the run distance totaling 3 miles and the bike distance approximating maybe 9 miles? But I think I was going a little slower than that. That is one of the sucky things about the wind trainer - there's no way to tell what your power/effort really is.

Wee little dogs out in the yard.























So here I am with dry hair pre-workout. Man I sweat a lot. And I think it's funny to start a workout in makeup. It was the end of the work day. I just always feel funny going for a run in makeup. And I was too lazy to take out my earrings.

I took off out the front door down the street.
Run #1, I ran this mile in...
8:18.

Whhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat??

Hmmm, well that was a tad on the fast side and surprising side.

I got on the bike - teehee! This headband rocks. Keeps the sweat out of my eyes, though at one point on the ride portion, I put my head down and about 10 drops dripped out onto my handlebars, like I had squeezed it or something. Or it was collecting in a pocket. Weird. I couldn't help the goofy smile. I was thinking about actually doing the duathlon.
And woah, hey, anyone need some blood because that vein on my arm be poppin'.

The first bike session was kind of easy, probably too easy. I picked it up two different times for a minute each. Other than that it was just extremely boring. We have a boring back yard. And bugs were flying around me, annoying me.

Run #2, ran in 8:32.
Still a bit shocking. Surely I would die on the third run.

Bike #2 was better. It went by really fast. I tried to push longer and harder to feel a little bit of burn in my legs to mimic how it feels actually out there on the road, racing.
I was taking pictures because I was so BORED.

Harley didn't understand what I was doing.

So I was prepared to just not be able to run the same pace on the last run. I got my legs pretty burning on the bike and figured I'd just run out of gas. But I didn't!!!! Run #3, ran in 8:28! I definitely was sucking wind really hard and was tired, but I kept the pace! I felt the lead legs similar to during an actual duathlon, so it was good I finally was able to simulate that.

Mmmmmm water...

I'm really happy with the workout! It was fun, and different, and I did way better than I thought I would. For the next one, I think I need to bike longer to better simulate the fatigue in the legs for the last 5K of a duathlon. It is such an odd feeling. Maybe I'll bike for 20 minutes, with some hard intervals, then run a mile and only do that twice.

I can't believe I ran those miles that fast (which I know really isn't fast, but for me it's fast). This makes me very curious for what I could pull off for a 5K these days. I think I owe my seemingly added strength to both weighing less and the Monday night group rides. Biking long distances makes you strong, for sure! And it's only May! Wooohoo!

Post-workout reflections... eh? get it??

I am getting stronger. Finally. And I love it.

Below is what I wrote/scrawled on when I came through the house between each activity :)  The neighbors across the street were sitting outside during this and must have thought I was a little odd popping out my front door, tearing off down the street...three times. If only they could have seen the bike too. Come to think of it, it probably would have been slightly more interesting in the front yard. But I don't think I have the guts. :)  T = transition, like when you're actually doing a duathlon or triathlon (your time in the transition area is also timed... you can make up a lot of time here. It's kind of like a pit stop). I wasn't hurrying, obviously.

Track Night Tonight

I didn't get to bike this past weekend as I had hoped. But then I didn't get to go on the Monday night ride either. I need to bike in between going 34+ miles!

Friday I ran back to the street that everyone test drives their cars on (it's near the dealerships). It's a nice relatively flat stretch of road lined with hotels and offices. I thought it would make a nice environment for some impromptu speedwork. It was about 8 minutes to jog over to the spot. I was carrying water, which was very annoying. I forgot how much I hate that. Then I ran for about a minute fast-ish. It definitely wasn't a sprint, but was faster than 5K pace for sure. Then I walked. I did this 6 times. I was tired. I don't know if it was the heat or just being Friday, but 6 was all I felt like doing.

Saturday I worked. Sunday was Easter. I did manage to run around in the back yard playing various tag games with the hubby's family. Freeze tag - when's the last time you've played it!?

Monday I had to meet Greg at the Apple store for him to get his new phone, so I didn't do the 5:30 bike ride. I was planning to go home and set the bike up on the back porch and ride for a while, but by the time I got home from the grocery store – actually while I was getting home from the grocery store – a good thunderstorm rolled in. So I watched a movie instead, with intermittent power outages and one spectacular lightning show. I suppose the actual ride would have been pretty miserable and interrupted by the storm.

Tonight is track night... I've called the school and listened to a hotline and there supposedly isn't a track meet tonight. Then I also noticed the school is on spring break this week, so we should have no problems!! Now I just need some good energy lunch...

Weather. It's Nice.

This week has been sooooooo great weather-wise. And I also have been pretty happy with my consistency in exercising.

Monday was the epic bike ride, longest ever and beginnings of a new realm of cycling.
Tuesday we tried to have our first track night of the season, but it was converted into a 3 mile run in the park thanks to a track meet.
Wednesday I was very tired. Not sore, but just worn out. So a rest day.
Thursday I ran with Krista after work... ended up being a 45 minute chunk of activity, but we didn't run the entire time because we were both so tired. It was also very warm!
Today. Is. Gorgeous. I'm getting out to do something, be it a run or hopefully squeezing in a bike ride. I'm leaning more towards run because I'll have plenty of time to go on a bike ride tomorrow. Today I'm busy with work and the yard also needs mowed!!

So this is definitely more like it! :)

Wow...time flies

So, I've been busy. And a little uninspired. Then inspired again. And now sick. :)

I've had a good handful of  runs that are 1.5 miles with no pain. I was doing them every other day, until work and getting sick sidelined it for a bit. But this week should be better and I should be able to get back on the schedule.

Basically I roll on the foam roller for a bit before I leave, and then again when I return. I've found that it feels better after having run on it, perhaps somehow loosening it up.

So, that's the long overdue update. Here's to a better week!

First Spinning Class of the New Year

I am making it my mission to attend the Wednesday morning spinning class at the community center each week. This morning's was the first of the year, so I have perfect attendance so far!

One issue with the class is it the fact that it is held before I am awake. This means I have to use my alarm and drag myself out of bed. I am a morning person, just not a 5 a.m. morning person. See Figure 1 for proof.

Figure 1. Me at 5:15 a.m. Ahhhhh! It lives!!!!!!

The class was great, but I haven't done anything for some time, so I felt it. And I'll probably feel it even more tomorrow. I also got there later than necessary, since now it is the new year and everyone is trying to start it off with exercising. And good for them; let me make it clear that while I joke about how it's annoying that the gym gets crowded with all the Resolutionists, I am by no means truly upset. I think it's great! There was a girl in the class, however, who was really annoyed, talking about how she had to wait for a treadmill the other day. (I mean, the gall of these other people thinking they can work out!!) She glared at me a few times, perhaps because she didn't recognize me from 2009's few classes I attended. Well, I didn't recognize her either, so hmph!

Tomorrow we are supposed to get a decent amount of snow (for Cincy). I wish I had cross country skis. I've always wanted to try that.

December Challenge: finis. On To the New Year!

The December Challenge has ended. In summary, I joined the community center gym, rekindled my love for spinning, and am in the ongoing process of learning how to swim laps without swallowing a pint of pool water. It was a good kick-start and fun to begin to do other things. The consistency for the month kind of fizzled out in the end. But it has helped me realize how much effort/discipline required to do everything I want to do. When I was just running, it was easier – one activity, predictable, and I could do it any time I wanted. Taking classes at their given times and figuring out when the pool is open and not crowded definitely takes more effort.

And now for some lists... I love lists!

Some loose goals for the new year:
1. Figure out what is wrong with my knee, aka make an appointment with Oxford Physical Therapy
2. Get stronger overall
3. Eat better

In keeping with the spirit of "new year resolutions", an umbrella resolution is to be more consistent with training. I want to get serious, be it setting a new goal for a marathon or trying to do my first triathlon. This is the stuff I like to do, what I love. I'm happiest when I am giving it as much focus as possible, so I just need to remember that and not think about distractions and the temptation of laziness.

Specific goals / training desires:
1. Get the garage set up with my wind trainer again. This is happening right now as I type. Greg is putting the place back together (we had a small flood which made it a mess). I am looking forward to streaming random Netflix shows while riding. Though I haven't figured out how I'm going to listen to said shows over the volume of the trainer (computer's speakers are not loud enough).
2. Take one spinning class per week minimum.  5:50 a.m. is rough, but there is also a 9:30 class that might be possible when I'm not really busy with work
3. Keep swimming.... I'm up to 1000 yards total and I can do 100 yards consistenty. While this seems like a swimming fitness level equivalent to only being able to run across the living room before having to gasp for air, I keep telling myself the best way to get better is to, as Dory says, just keep swimming.
4. Be able to do real pushups.  Useful thing to be able to do. You never know when you might lose a bet and have to do 20 pushups or something.
5. Work on overall strength. Legs, arms, abs, pinky fingers...everything!

I have race/event goal ideas too, but I don't want to talk about that until I know what is going on with my knee and how that will effect what I can do this year. Really hope it's nothing too major.

So, here's to a new year, new training schedules and new possibilities!!

December Challenge: Day 17...18...19...20....21!!! Ahhh!

Wow, so the days have really passed by quickly. Tis the season of busyness I guess.

I am not even sure what I've done! I do know I went swimming on Saturday. Did 1000 yards freestyle and 150 kickboard. The kicking was done between bouts of anger after being frustrated with how the breathing was going. I swallowed a lot of water and choked a few times. I just know I'm lifting my head too much and can't seem to get it right. Oh well, practice makes perfect I suppose. I did manage to go 100 yards 3 times again, at the end of the workout too.

Totals:
Swimming 1000 yards freestyle, 150 kickboard
Foam roller a few times but still not enough
Not sure if I did anything else... the days are flying by

December Challenge: Day 16

Swimming progress! I went 100 yards without stopping 3 times! And I think I breathed properly a few times!

I started with 50 x 10 freestyle. I rested about 45 seconds in between each one. Then I did 100 of  reaching drills (not very successfully I'm afraid... was sharing a lane and I tend to go a bit crooked with that drill). Then 50 elbow drills, again, not too successfully. And then... I did 100 nonstop - x 3! Woot! I don't know how long I rested between them. It was somewhere around 45 - 60 seconds. The last 100 was a bit rough. However, during the 100s, I think I finally got my head in the right position to breath by just turning. There were a few breaths that felt really good. It's such an awkward feeling.

After the pool, I got on the treadmill for 20 minutes. Borrrr-rrriing. Man I hate treadmills. Also, my knee started hurting at 1.5 miles so I stopped and walked the rest. So it hasn't gotten better yet. But I also haven't been on the foam roller. I've been stretching, but not doing my hip stretches. Why? Why haven't I??? Grrr. This was not a happy moment, especially since I spent some time today looking at what races I want to do in 2010.

Totals:
1000 yards freestyle
150 yards weak-ass drills
1.5 mile running

December Challenge: Day 15

Figuring Out How to Get a Workout In


Plan A: Get up early, as I do for spinning, and hit the pool by 6 a.m. when it opens.
Didn't happen. I'm not so good with the 5 o'clock hour.  L. A. Z. Y.
Plan A

Plan B: Go swimming at 4:00 p.m. before the rush, but while there is only 1 lane open. And run a little after that.
I had a meeting at 9, so I packed up everything I thought I might need at the community center and started my day. Especially because of the pools having limited hours and lanes open, I feel better if I have options in my bag. So I packed stuff in case I could have a "dry" workout or a swim. Good thing I did. I was working onsite all day, and the afternoon just kept stretching out... 4 came and went, I couldn't leave early.
Plan B

Plan C: Total Body strength class at 6:00 p.m.
Ding ding ding!!!
Yay, at least I did something. I really wanted to get cardio in, but it didn't happen. I had another meeting at 8:00 p.m. so I couldn't run or bike after the strength class.

The whole going to the gym thing has been an adjustment for me again. Every bit of time throughout the day counts, and I'm not really fond of planning my day so closely. I enjoyed how during the marathon training I would just run when I felt like it. But I know that I'm doing more now and getting stronger, which is the goal. Being prepared for whatever I may be able to accomplish at the gym is very helpful. I feel like I need to carry around a catalog of workout supply options in my car - shoes, shorts, bike shorts, class money, bike shoes, swimsuit, towels...

Total for the day:
60 minute Total Body strength class

December Challenge: Day 14

I started the day off with a spinning class at 5:50 a.m in the shoe pictured above (actually two of them), the last class at the community center until after the new year (bummer). It went really well - it was hard, but I felt like I was in control rather than just surviving like in the first class I took!

I liked this instructor better than the one from the first class. She took the time to tell us how to fit on the bikes and gave pointers and heart rate zones throughout the class. There was a chart off to the side to check heart rate zones and I had no problem getting and keeping myself anaerobic. We stood up and "climbed a hill" for 3 minutes quite a few times while "recovering" on a seated hill. Ugh!

On another note, I am pretty excited about a great article in the Active.com email newsletter I get. It basically teaches you how to build up swimming over 12 weeks to be able to swim in an olympic triathlon. So I'm not the only one that has to rest between 50's!?!?

Totals:
Spinning 60 minutes
Abs
Pushups (wimpy ones)