On Wednesday, I planned to swim, but Mother Nature had different plans. Torrential downpours and lightning tend to close public pools, so I didn't even bother to stop to see if they were open. Instead, I went to my apartment gym and tried the new elliptical's "Complete Body Workout" or whatever it was called, which changes what you're doing on the machine every minute or so, with the following options: lift toes, lift heels, bend knees, push bars, pull bars, forward stride, reverse stride, stationary (feet on sides). So, a certain combination of those is presented on the screen of the elliptical and you follow along. I watched the season four finale of Oz and changed up my cross training for the day. It was pretty fun, and I did feel a little sore the next day - a sure sign it did something! lol.
Treadmill run on Tuesday during my lunch break at work - I varied the speed between 6.6 and 6.8 mph. I definitely noticed the difference, which is strange because it is so small of a measurement, but I guess I can tell. I went for 50 minutes. I wanted to go for more, because I missed last week's endurance run, but I was not feeling at the top of my game, and Marathoning for Mortals advises you not to "make up" missed workouts...so there you go.
On Wednesday, I planned to swim, but Mother Nature had different plans. Torrential downpours and lightning tend to close public pools, so I didn't even bother to stop to see if they were open. Instead, I went to my apartment gym and tried the new elliptical's "Complete Body Workout" or whatever it was called, which changes what you're doing on the machine every minute or so, with the following options: lift toes, lift heels, bend knees, push bars, pull bars, forward stride, reverse stride, stationary (feet on sides). So, a certain combination of those is presented on the screen of the elliptical and you follow along. I watched the season four finale of Oz and changed up my cross training for the day. It was pretty fun, and I did feel a little sore the next day - a sure sign it did something! lol.
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It's been raining a lot here lately, but that was good on Tuesday because it cooled the atmosphere down. It was 75 degrees at 7pm, so I decided to take advantage of it. I was "scheduled" to run for 40 minutes, so instead of doing my normal loop and doubling back, I just headed out and turned around at 22 minutes, running back the same way (i.e. "there and back"). Because I've been pushing it on the treadmill - up to 6.7 mph - I made a conscious effort to keep my pace up. This effort turned out to be successful. I ran 4.69 miles in 42:56 - with a little math, I figured out that was 9:13 per mile, which is about 6.6 mph. Woot woot! Much better than my normal road pace of 6 mph (10 min per mile). And today I was on the elliptical for 40 minutes. ;)
earlier in the evening and was slightly cooler - the sun had set at this point - so I was able to finish the run behind the scenes on the service roads. Not the best option, but it was kind of fun to pretend to be in Entertainment. I sometimes see the dancers here at the park running along the service road as part of their training/job/healthiness...and now I got to feel special too.
The next night, it happened all over again, but I was prepared with the sheet that said the gym closes at 9pm! The security guard checked with her supervisor and let me stay. But my dinner break (which I use to work out) was interrupted by work, so I had to cut the elliptical short. It was 10pm by the time I was home, and I had to work at 6am the next day, so I decided to sleep instead and finished that workout the next day, which is technically a rest day, but this sentence is going to run on and that makes everything okay, doesn't it? Today, I ran for 40 minutes at 6.5 mph - my legs felt a little tight today, so I took it "easy." I finished the workout with a set of sprints on the treadmill - I maxxed it out (10 mph). After my cooldown walk, I did four sets of 30 sec sprint + 1 min walk. I feel great, and will continue to do the sprints post-run every Thursday as prescribed by Marathoning for Mortals. I had forgotten to do them that last four weeks...oops. I ran on the treadmill after work on Friday for 30 minutes at 6.7 mph. I felt pretty good, but I've been tired all week. I got on the elliptical for 30 minutes after work on Saturday - still at Level 2. Blah blah blah. I've just done the work-outs this week, but I have to say I'm looking forward to my first weekend in 12 days. This afternoon I was itching to run and didn't want to wait for nightfall for it to be "cooler" so I hit the gym at my apartment complex. They have swanky new equipment including a treadmill with an iPod dock and a fan that blows at your stomach - didn't do much good for me. My arms were dripping sweat all over the arms of the treadmill...yuck. I was able to run 2 miles at 7 mph, which I know is pushing it, but I was doing alight. But then I was a good Samaritan and let someone into the gym (security card access) and that threw my rhythm off. I walked about half a mile of the remaining 3 miles and varied the pace between 6 and 6.6 mph. I am going to just say this week was off because of the 12 day work week and leave it at that. Yesterday, I did 30 minutes on the elliptical at the gym after work. Today, I planned on getting up at 8 am and running, but decided to sleep in instead. I got up at 10:30 am and was planning on going to my apartment gym, but when I got outside, it seemed so nice, I decided to run the loop. Kind of a mistake. I misjudged the temperature and let's just say, it was challenging to fnish the run. I did, however - 35:46 for 3.6 miles. It was about 85 degrees when I finished. I was rather sweaty and it took me about 20 minutes in the A/C before I felt normal. And like 3 glasses of water. Lesson learned - get up earlier, lazy bones! So...I've been very busy this week. I am the Fundraising Chair for the Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers and besides coordinating the smaller fundraisers, it means I'm in charge of the big one - Bowling for Rhinos (BFR) - and it was yesterday. Despite my work schedule and getting prepped for BFR, I managed to maintain my Week 1 training. No excuses! Thursday was a rest day, and I rested the hell out of it. Well, I had a dinner date, but I rested before and after. The resting went better than the date. One more episode of Downton Abbey: Season Three to go. I ran about 3 miles on Friday - on the treadmill at the work gym during lunch. Again. This is only going to work on these short distances...I'm going to have to get up early eventually. And finally, today. After a dramatic accident at work involving a riding mower, I was a little banged up (scrapes on my wrist and forearm, and some raspberries on my back and butt), but okay. Thankfully. I had two thoughts: 'I'm glad I'm okay' and 'No excuses!' It's probably better to keep moving anyway and not allow my body to tighten up. So, when I got home, after checking on the five dogs I'm currently dog-sitting, I went 30 minutes on the elliptical at my apartment's newly-renovated gym. Pretty nice. Tonight, I had some vanilla ice cream (give me a break!) with Kahlua (there it is!) at a friend's house whilst sitting in her hot tub. And now, I'm back to relaxing at my other friend's house with her five dogs. The three chihuahuas will be my heat packs for the night. Ready for sleep! Thirty minutes on the elliptical - I worked out at 'Level 2' today - ooooh! I had only done 'Level 1' before, which is the easiest one. I stepped it up a bit because this is Week 1 of the 14 week pre-half marathon program and I feel like challenging myself even on the shorter workouts - I was definitely breathing harder, but I did it. I had the cardio room all to myself, and am enjoying Season 4 of Oz on my iPod.
On my way to run errands, I realized I forgot my phone at the gym. However, I turned that lemon into a big ole glass of lemonade! When I went back to work, I printed out my utility bill (a requirement of residence) and stopped by Copeland Park (of the Tampa Parks & Recreation Department) and signed up for and purchased a rec card, which once it comes in, I can use to swim laps in the pools. I won't have to bike or shimmy on the elliptical for cross-training all the time. Woot woot! |
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