On Sunday, I decided to head to the gym for my distance run instead of taking it outdoors on account of fear of the eminent thunderstorms. On my way there, I saw three cyclists making an evenly paced break away in the opposite direction of where I was traveling. It was odd to see them riding in such a way, they weren't riding in a draft/pull configuration but more of an each man for himself sort of mentality. I soon understood why - they were riding to save their lives.
The sky had ripped open, and visibility was none existent about half a mile down the road. It was scary, but I was pleased with my treadmill decision because being caught in that storm would not have turned out well.
I intended to run a total of 20 miles, even though I was slated for 15. I felt strong enough to cover about 30 at my relatively slow pace. I started off at a mild 5.8 MPH, where my heart rate stayed between 75 and 78% of my max for the first ten miles. When I crossed over to the 11th mile, I turned it up to 6.0 MPH, and my heart rate held steady at 80%. Unfortunately, I had to get off the treadmill by mile 14 because I had ran out of water. The water fountain was off in another corner of the gym where the temperature was a lot cooler, and I felt my legs starting to tighten up.
By the time I climbed back on the treadmill, my leg muscles felt locked and I had lost my go. I tried to get it all started again, but after a mile struggling with the 6.0 MPH pace with a heart rate up at 85%, I knew the day was over.
In total, I covered 15 miles in about 2:45 ... and the best part? It felt good.
Last night, I struggled my way through Power and a cycling class. I was considering going home for a rest as I was on my way to the gym. Once I showed up, I was hardly energized to even consider putting two hours of work, but somehow ... I made it through.
Tonight is a Tempo Run. I hope I can find my go tonight.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Tempo Run #8 & Power
Done and done.
I was a bit ambitious and started last night's tempo run at 7.3 MPH, but a bit after a third of a mile into the work out at that pace, I knew I wouldn't be able to hang in for three full miles. So I reduced my speed to 7.2 MPH, which is basically about right given that my speed work is at 7.4 MPH and I do cross past 90% during the third set of speed at that pace. The impact of just a tiny tenth of a mile per hour or 13 seconds per mile faster is simply amazing.
After the tempo run, I peeled myself off the treadmill and proceeded to Power with the cutest fitness instructor I have ever had the pleasure to work with. I was hopeless in his class, even sat down on the bench during one of the breaks in between sets, but I still stuck it out for the entire hour. The extra fatigue on the legs is what makes them shapelier ... right? He was worth every minute of the pain though.
I just need to figure out a way to pull myself together before going to his class. Seriously, I looked like a train wreck with puffy out of control hair. Life will be so much easier when the sucker finally grows out. If it's one thing I've learned in the 26 years of my existence is that long hair is easy points on the hot chick score card.
For extra credit, I managed to wake up about twenty minutes after my alarm went off this morning, which was set at 4:45 AM. I got started on my run a bit later than I normally do, at 5:20, and it was just a miserable morning. It was hotter than normal and incredibly humid with overcast skies. I was actually cramping up a bit and the run itself was just not enjoyable. I only covered about 2.5 miles, but today was suppose to be my day off, so I'm not feeling bad about it. The main reason for the early morning run is because I have an appointment with my nutritionist tonight. I know that a twenty minute run first thing in the morning probably isn't going to do much for me in terms of my body composition, but I think it may have some sort of impact on my numbers tonight. I hope it does, at least.
I was a bit ambitious and started last night's tempo run at 7.3 MPH, but a bit after a third of a mile into the work out at that pace, I knew I wouldn't be able to hang in for three full miles. So I reduced my speed to 7.2 MPH, which is basically about right given that my speed work is at 7.4 MPH and I do cross past 90% during the third set of speed at that pace. The impact of just a tiny tenth of a mile per hour or 13 seconds per mile faster is simply amazing.
After the tempo run, I peeled myself off the treadmill and proceeded to Power with the cutest fitness instructor I have ever had the pleasure to work with. I was hopeless in his class, even sat down on the bench during one of the breaks in between sets, but I still stuck it out for the entire hour. The extra fatigue on the legs is what makes them shapelier ... right? He was worth every minute of the pain though.
I just need to figure out a way to pull myself together before going to his class. Seriously, I looked like a train wreck with puffy out of control hair. Life will be so much easier when the sucker finally grows out. If it's one thing I've learned in the 26 years of my existence is that long hair is easy points on the hot chick score card.
For extra credit, I managed to wake up about twenty minutes after my alarm went off this morning, which was set at 4:45 AM. I got started on my run a bit later than I normally do, at 5:20, and it was just a miserable morning. It was hotter than normal and incredibly humid with overcast skies. I was actually cramping up a bit and the run itself was just not enjoyable. I only covered about 2.5 miles, but today was suppose to be my day off, so I'm not feeling bad about it. The main reason for the early morning run is because I have an appointment with my nutritionist tonight. I know that a twenty minute run first thing in the morning probably isn't going to do much for me in terms of my body composition, but I think it may have some sort of impact on my numbers tonight. I hope it does, at least.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Merciless Power Session
Good Lord that was painful. I really wanted to go for a run last night, but I was far too tired and my arms wanted nothing more than to fall off my body.
It's amazing the things that can happen when you modify a count or deny even just three seconds worth of a break. Debbie - if you ever come across this site ... KNOW that you slaughtered my biceps last night. SLAUGHTERED.
Because I couldn't make last night's run, I intended on grabbing a few miles this morning. That really didn't happen. I woke up at 7:20 this morning, which is about 10 minutes before I need to leave for work. Needless to say, I'm not looking too pretty today.
So tonight I have a tempo run and I may go to another Power class. Because I am in fact, a bit crazed.
It's amazing the things that can happen when you modify a count or deny even just three seconds worth of a break. Debbie - if you ever come across this site ... KNOW that you slaughtered my biceps last night. SLAUGHTERED.
Because I couldn't make last night's run, I intended on grabbing a few miles this morning. That really didn't happen. I woke up at 7:20 this morning, which is about 10 minutes before I need to leave for work. Needless to say, I'm not looking too pretty today.
So tonight I have a tempo run and I may go to another Power class. Because I am in fact, a bit crazed.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Speed Work #4 and the Pursuit of Balance
I do believe I am out of my little funk. I had a great work out last night, though breathing is proving to be somewhat tasking these days. I choose to do my speed and tempo sessions on the treadmill, but I don't feel comfortable spitting into a tissue when the machines next to me are occupied. I even rarely spit when I'm running outside, so my indoor inhibitions are even greater.*
I originally wanted to head home right after I was done, and try to persuade H into running a couple of miles with me. I was a little anxious to do something active outside considering a lot of the summer seemed to have slipped right by me. Instead, we decided to meet up at the local bar for a beer and a quick dinner. I was hoping to land a spot at the tiki bar, but it was probably the humidity factor that made H drop anchor at the bar stool directly in front of the Mets game. I didn't mind too much - having a close up few of David Wright made up for it.
Although I was a little smelly and looking incredibly not cute sitting at the bar in my post work out state (short hair with curling tendencies that was cut for a straight style after a sweaty work out is not exactly a fabulous look), we definitely needed the little mid-week jaunt. I was concerned that my return to my training would consume my conscious hours, so I wouldn't have any time to share with H. Well, last night, the bar acted as a balance. If it should happen again, I'm definitely getting a quick rinse and real clothes to change into after the gym.
The only negative aspect of the jaunt is the stromboli we had for dinner, which is not a prescribed item on my meal plan. So, to balance THAT out, I got up early this morning for a quick four mile run. It felt great. Harder than it was before, but it still felt pretty damn good.
Tonight, another Power session and either a light evening run outside, or I hop back on the treadmill. It depends on the weather and my mood I guess. We shall see.
* For the non-runners in the world who deign to read my humble blog - spitting is about as normal as breathing and sweating when you're running. Gross, but true.
I originally wanted to head home right after I was done, and try to persuade H into running a couple of miles with me. I was a little anxious to do something active outside considering a lot of the summer seemed to have slipped right by me. Instead, we decided to meet up at the local bar for a beer and a quick dinner. I was hoping to land a spot at the tiki bar, but it was probably the humidity factor that made H drop anchor at the bar stool directly in front of the Mets game. I didn't mind too much - having a close up few of David Wright made up for it.
Although I was a little smelly and looking incredibly not cute sitting at the bar in my post work out state (short hair with curling tendencies that was cut for a straight style after a sweaty work out is not exactly a fabulous look), we definitely needed the little mid-week jaunt. I was concerned that my return to my training would consume my conscious hours, so I wouldn't have any time to share with H. Well, last night, the bar acted as a balance. If it should happen again, I'm definitely getting a quick rinse and real clothes to change into after the gym.
The only negative aspect of the jaunt is the stromboli we had for dinner, which is not a prescribed item on my meal plan. So, to balance THAT out, I got up early this morning for a quick four mile run. It felt great. Harder than it was before, but it still felt pretty damn good.
Tonight, another Power session and either a light evening run outside, or I hop back on the treadmill. It depends on the weather and my mood I guess. We shall see.
* For the non-runners in the world who deign to read my humble blog - spitting is about as normal as breathing and sweating when you're running. Gross, but true.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Star Power Mario with Gaspari
Last night's work out involved some severe ass kicking. I'm taking the pre-work out supplement called SuperPump by Gaspari, and it feels like being Star Power Mario with fireball capabilities in Super Mario Brothers I. During the Power session, I cranked out the following wieghts
Squats = 55 lbs
Chest, Clean & Press and Back= 38 lbs
Triceps and Biceps = 22 lbs (I think I can probably go up to 27 lbs)
Lunges = 49 lbs
Shoulders = 22 lbs
After the Power session, I went in for a cycling class that included a few hills, two sets of isolations, and one series of interval sprints. By the time I got home, it felt like I had hit up a goomba just as my Star Power was fading, and I had shrunk down to little Mario.
I killed 900 calories and I think I lost a quarter of an inch in circumference. At least, it feels like I lost a quarter of an inch in circumference.
Tonight, speed work on the treadmill. I'm hoping that I can get that done super quick, so I can head home and squeeze in a relaxing run. It's a beautiful day, and I don't want to miss the chance to enjoy days like these.
Squats = 55 lbs
Chest, Clean & Press and Back= 38 lbs
Triceps and Biceps = 22 lbs (I think I can probably go up to 27 lbs)
Lunges = 49 lbs
Shoulders = 22 lbs
After the Power session, I went in for a cycling class that included a few hills, two sets of isolations, and one series of interval sprints. By the time I got home, it felt like I had hit up a goomba just as my Star Power was fading, and I had shrunk down to little Mario.
I killed 900 calories and I think I lost a quarter of an inch in circumference. At least, it feels like I lost a quarter of an inch in circumference.
Tonight, speed work on the treadmill. I'm hoping that I can get that done super quick, so I can head home and squeeze in a relaxing run. It's a beautiful day, and I don't want to miss the chance to enjoy days like these.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Week in Review
Monday 7/16
Power
Cycling
I'm having a hard time in crossing past the mid 80's in the profiles when standing. It's actually easier to test my heart rate in a seated climb, than standing. Although we are supposedly in 3rd, it feels more like a standing run on the M3 bikes.
Tuesday 7/17
Speed Session
I completely punked out on this one. I ran two sets of one milers at 7.4 MPH. I covered a total of four miles, but I was hoping to get at least three sets in.
Thursday 7/19
I took a serving of a pre-work out supplement that was incredibly effective. I felt like a car spinning out of control - all sorts of kinetic energy unleashed, and I was having a hard time controlling my mind. It was the most intense work out I have ever had, but it was a little scary at the same time.
Tempo Run
Power
This week was a bit of a slow restart, but hopefully, this coming week will be better. I tried to go out for a distance run today, but it had failed miserably despite two attempts at covering some semblance of distance. The first try resulted in a pace that was slightly faster than 12 minutes per mile, and I had to turn around after two miles. Nothing felt right, and I really needed to pee. So after using the bathroom, I ditched my water belt (I think hearing the water swishing around my mid section made me think I needed to go more so than I actually did), and tried again. The pace was a bit faster, around 10:45 per mile during the first mile, but by the time I crossed over into the second mile, the special go, go, go feeling just wasn't there.
I am feeling a little discouraged and distressed. I'm tempted to give it up, and just live like a typical person without any real athletic commitments. I know that's not the sort of person that I am, but being this emotional wreck just isn't working out for me.
Power
Cycling
I'm having a hard time in crossing past the mid 80's in the profiles when standing. It's actually easier to test my heart rate in a seated climb, than standing. Although we are supposedly in 3rd, it feels more like a standing run on the M3 bikes.
Tuesday 7/17
Speed Session
I completely punked out on this one. I ran two sets of one milers at 7.4 MPH. I covered a total of four miles, but I was hoping to get at least three sets in.
Thursday 7/19
I took a serving of a pre-work out supplement that was incredibly effective. I felt like a car spinning out of control - all sorts of kinetic energy unleashed, and I was having a hard time controlling my mind. It was the most intense work out I have ever had, but it was a little scary at the same time.
Tempo Run
Power
This week was a bit of a slow restart, but hopefully, this coming week will be better. I tried to go out for a distance run today, but it had failed miserably despite two attempts at covering some semblance of distance. The first try resulted in a pace that was slightly faster than 12 minutes per mile, and I had to turn around after two miles. Nothing felt right, and I really needed to pee. So after using the bathroom, I ditched my water belt (I think hearing the water swishing around my mid section made me think I needed to go more so than I actually did), and tried again. The pace was a bit faster, around 10:45 per mile during the first mile, but by the time I crossed over into the second mile, the special go, go, go feeling just wasn't there.
I am feeling a little discouraged and distressed. I'm tempted to give it up, and just live like a typical person without any real athletic commitments. I know that's not the sort of person that I am, but being this emotional wreck just isn't working out for me.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Out of the Haze
I am pleased to announce that I am back, entirely. I didn’t realize that I was making a departure, but I found myself in a self induced haze brought on by a dietary supplement, the consumption of which was the result of a soul search down dark mental alleys. I will now elaborate on both components of my self induced haze.
Ironwil had described with great ease the burdensome personality traits of endurance athletes. Although I feel that I am far too much of a novice to be able to dignify myself as even an amateur endurance athlete, I do feel that I can uphold the label of endurance enthusiast. With this title, I can say without hesitation that I fit her description of the mentality of ther endurance sport enthusiasts.
The timing of her post could not have been better because I was in the midst of what I perceived to be a great struggle. My training schedule had become oppressive, and difficult to answer. The misstep between total energy expended against the amount of calories consumed had triggered weight and body fat difficulties. I wasn’t meeting the mileage and speeds mandated by the schedule, and I wasn’t happy with my body composition and measurements.
As a means to contend with my body composition issues, I started to take an appetite suppressant that also functioned as a fat burner. This is a very effective and exceedingly potent supplement, but it made me feel tired. It felt like there was a perpetual cloud in my head that made my thoughts fuzzy and unclear. I had started to trim down in less than a week while taking these pills, but I was also very sluggish and unable to finish my workout sessions.
That was when the internal berating started. I questioned why I should even bother doing what I’m doing. Why can’t I just be like the other women at the gym who show up for their one hour sessions and be pleased with herself? Why can’t I just be satisfied in maintaining a low carb, low cal diet and have the lean and cut body that can’t handle anything more than two hours worth of work?
The answer to these question is actually quite simple – because I want to be an athlete. I want to be able to say that I am an athlete without being shy about it. I want to be able to say that I am, more specifically, an endurance athlete. I want to be able to validate that statement by providing a litany of events that I’ve COMPLETED. There is pride and confidence in being such a thing, and not just because of the competition of the events, but really all the training (emotional, mental and physical training) it took to get there.
With that in mind, I stopped taking the supplements, and I’m reevaluating my training schedule. In addition to chucking the goal of qualifying for the Boston this year, I’m just going to do what I want to do – be an athlete. I’m not quite sure what the means yet, and I know I still have to do the strength training and speed work, but I need to find that joy again. The joy for running, and the joy for exercise in general. I remember when it didn't seem like any sort of obligation as it is as of late. There was a time not too long ago when three hours of intense work would fly by unnoticed if not simply for the feeling of being content. I want that joy back, and I will be an athlete once again.
Ironwil had described with great ease the burdensome personality traits of endurance athletes. Although I feel that I am far too much of a novice to be able to dignify myself as even an amateur endurance athlete, I do feel that I can uphold the label of endurance enthusiast. With this title, I can say without hesitation that I fit her description of the mentality of ther endurance sport enthusiasts.
The timing of her post could not have been better because I was in the midst of what I perceived to be a great struggle. My training schedule had become oppressive, and difficult to answer. The misstep between total energy expended against the amount of calories consumed had triggered weight and body fat difficulties. I wasn’t meeting the mileage and speeds mandated by the schedule, and I wasn’t happy with my body composition and measurements.
As a means to contend with my body composition issues, I started to take an appetite suppressant that also functioned as a fat burner. This is a very effective and exceedingly potent supplement, but it made me feel tired. It felt like there was a perpetual cloud in my head that made my thoughts fuzzy and unclear. I had started to trim down in less than a week while taking these pills, but I was also very sluggish and unable to finish my workout sessions.
That was when the internal berating started. I questioned why I should even bother doing what I’m doing. Why can’t I just be like the other women at the gym who show up for their one hour sessions and be pleased with herself? Why can’t I just be satisfied in maintaining a low carb, low cal diet and have the lean and cut body that can’t handle anything more than two hours worth of work?
The answer to these question is actually quite simple – because I want to be an athlete. I want to be able to say that I am an athlete without being shy about it. I want to be able to say that I am, more specifically, an endurance athlete. I want to be able to validate that statement by providing a litany of events that I’ve COMPLETED. There is pride and confidence in being such a thing, and not just because of the competition of the events, but really all the training (emotional, mental and physical training) it took to get there.
With that in mind, I stopped taking the supplements, and I’m reevaluating my training schedule. In addition to chucking the goal of qualifying for the Boston this year, I’m just going to do what I want to do – be an athlete. I’m not quite sure what the means yet, and I know I still have to do the strength training and speed work, but I need to find that joy again. The joy for running, and the joy for exercise in general. I remember when it didn't seem like any sort of obligation as it is as of late. There was a time not too long ago when three hours of intense work would fly by unnoticed if not simply for the feeling of being content. I want that joy back, and I will be an athlete once again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)