Frustration

Grrr, I totally feel like quitting my step aerobics. It's frustrating. It takes me a few times to get the steps down. And I feel like a complete fool doing both the steps & the arms. No worries, I'm still gonna stick with it but geeze, I really feel like a fool. I think that's my problem. But I do like the situp & stretching we do at the end of class on a mat. It always makes my abs burn with joy!

Anyway, tonight was one of those nights. But it was a little different too. I wore my heart rate monitor! I got to watch my heart rate go up and up. Unfortunately, during some of the moves, the strap was dropping lower on my chest and I could tell because my heart rate number kept going lower and lower; almost down to resting! But yet, I was still moving on the step. So throughout the hour, I kept tugging at my sports bra. I'm sure that looked classy in the mirror. I think I need to make the strap just a bit tighter, if I can. I just put it on as it came out of the box and it seemed to fit fine. Yesterday during my run I didn't have a problem with it.

But my calories are still not working on this thing. So I have to find out how to make it work, if I can. I haven't read this article yet but it seems like one I want to read to learn more about it.

I also would like to mention this. The President's Challenge. How many people remember the President Physical Fitness test in grade school or high school? Well, this is like that but only for adults (though kids can sign up as well). You get awards along the way and you can join groups and compare your progress against other people in the same fitness. You can even go back in time up to 14 days. So I put in my runs & aerobics. Kinda interesting. It's one more thing to remember to fill out but it might be fun to see what I can "get." (BTW, I don't remember running the mile in grade or high school. But I do remember doing the stretch test and the pullups in grade school.)

Tomorrow after work, I'm heading to Rockford again to try on my new Nike's. They came in this week. I can't wait!! I hope they work for me!

Categories: heart rate, YMCA classes

Feel the burn

These Y classes are seriously kicking my @$$ but that's good since they should be!

Last night was my first Monday night in which I did everything that I scheduled myself to do.

Running. I got to the Y late so I only had about 25 minutes to hop on the treadmill. I could only pound out 2.75 miles. I did a quick 5 minute cooldown before heading to...

Spinning. I tried to stay with the class but when the instructor kept telling us that we're going to climb higher & higher, I decided to not up the resistance. Sometimes I would, sometimes not. Then I was able to eat a Luna bar and cool down before...

Pilates. I've taken the session before about 3 years ago. It's the same teacher but she's really good. I have a Pilates DVD and it was just like following that but I know that if I do it at home and not go to class then I'll never end up doing it!

Today while getting up from a stint of sitting at my desk, I could feel it in my glutes and my thighs. Tonight while doing the Step Aerobics, I was fine but when we did the floor part (abs mainly) I could feel it there in my stomach. Which is why I skipped the Get on the Ball class. But that's good. I'm supposed to feel it. Cross-training day. I told co-workers what I did yesterday and they all thought I was crazy. I was at the Y from 5p to 7:30p! Like I said, Gym and I are gonna be BFF!

I've been in a sad mood since Saturday evening and I have felt it in my energy levels a bit. Tomorrow I have speed work. I've been in a crying jag this evening. I'm definitely gonna feel it tomorrow in terms of motivation. I'll just need to keep driving right to the Y. I may not do the toning class after all and just do the run and that's it. When I'm happy, I want to run. When I'm sad, I don't want to and just curl up in bed and hide under the covers. Weird how that works. I hate speed work. Tempo runs I can do but speed work... not so much.

Categories: YMCA classes

Thum, thump. Thum, thump.

So I did in fact manage to go out to the YMCA and do my tempo run. .5 mi warm up in 5min, 3mi @ 8:57 pace in 26:53, .5mi cool in 5 min. I was supposed to do 1 mile warm up but I always feel like I waste my energy on them. At the end of the 3 mile tempo, I checked my pulse and it was 179. Wow, that's high.

Then tonight was another step class and we checked our pulses twice. 132 and 121. It was more difficult at the very beginning so I think I was stopping a lot more trying to follow the teacher. I almost got discouraged.

Afterwards, I went down to do the workout express circuit. Then I walked by another workout room and I saw the same teacher lady doing another step workout! She's crazy insane!!

But I've been thinking more and more of my heart rate lately. As I mentioned a few posts ago, I'm thinking of getting the Garmin Heart Rate strap. So I checked my heart rate numbers today.
Resting heart rate is 54. I did it twice just to make sure that it was that really low.
Max heart rate is 192.
LT (tempo run) should be at 85% of 192 = 172. So I was a bit on the higher side the other day.
Here's an Excel spreadsheet that you can plug in the numbers. (Let's hope it works)

Check it out and try it out. I hope the heart rate thing will help with Tempo Runs. Check out this blog for more information.

Categories: heart rate, YMCA classes

Corner Kick, Double Knee, Ham, Saddle Stride

Those are all terms I learned tonight in my Step & Strength class. There was a VERY HIGH learning curve for the step portion. Mainly cause the teacher would just launch right into the step and then I would stumble about and after watching her do it a few times, I could pick it up. Then she would start a new step. Luckily, I used to to the Belvidere YMCA with my mother in the late 80's and watch her do Step Aerobics so I kinda knew what to expect.

However, we started right into a warm-up and I immediately regretted attending. I wanted a workout buddy so bad at that point in time! So I could look at her for comfort or roll my eyes at her or laugh, something! I didn't move my arms as much as everyone else did cause I just felt silly. Our instructor had a bandanna wrapped around her forehead. I was waiting for Olivia Newton John to come out in a thong leotard with leg warmers.

We learned the easy basic stuff first and did a routine of that. Then after that routine all together, then we learned of other steps and put that into a routine and then we put those 2 routines together. Then we learned a few more steps and made a routine out of them. Added that to the other 2 routines. And finally did one more set of steps and a routine for a total of 4 routines all together. My head was spinning towards the end but I only missed out on a few steps mainly cause my mind wandered a bit thinking about other things.

I was the only one in the class in her 20's and probably near her 30's. I'm not kidding. The teacher herself was quite something else. She was in shape for her age, I'll give her that. She still had the "Mom" butt but her waist was kicking. And hell, she remembered all the moves. Doing this has got to help her memory (even though she had her set taped on the mirror).

Oh yea, that's right, the whole thing was in front of a mirror. However, I never glanced once in the mirror. I was watching the lady's feet the whole time. At the end of the step portion, she said that I caught on fast. It was OK, though a few of the steps I didn't quite get. Mainly those that straddled the step box.

I did have to admit that my right knee started to give me a little bit of pain. Which is why I didn't get the risers underneath the box itself. But not the normal under the knee thing, just the patella itself. I think it's still bruised from my time at the City Museum in St. Louis. I did notice that my forearms are still bruised and I do have one under my right knee.

We took 2 heart rate measures. Which is good since I was thinking during the first part, this is soooo NOT getting my heart rate up to where I want it to go. It's not like running where I have a constant high heart rate. At the first one, I had a heart rate of 144. Then the second time was 120 (which is weird since we were doing more complicated moves by that time). I did sweat a little but not drenching like a run would make me. I think that after the 15th, I'm gonna get me one of those Garmin Heart Rate Monitor thingies. I'll be interesting to see my heart rate even while running! I know when I'll have a horrible run because my heart rate will skyrocket even though I'll only go 3 miles or a TERRIFIC run cause I would have gone 10 miles and only crest 130 or so. I can feel it physically but I can't see it.

After the step portion was over, we took a mat and a stretch tube with handles and worked with that for a little bit on our legs and then we did sit-ups. Oh how I lurve sit-ups!!

I'll probably stick with it though. As much as I feel so totally silly, I have to remember that this still beats sitting at home and NOT doing anything. Plus, it's a "cross-training" day. Not a RUNNING day. I didn't stick around for the toning class at 6:15. I had a half hour to kill but my stomach was growling so I had to go home & eat.

I'm trying to decide what to do about tomorrow. I have a tempo run schedule which I can't wait to do. Been ages for one of those! However, I'm really looking forward to getting my new shoes. I have a $100 Nike shoe gift certificate for a local running store in Rockford. I have ordered the Nike Moto+. They supposedly have more cushioning which is what I hope I need. But the shoe store is only open until 5p so I have to kick some major butt to get up there on time immediately after work. I guess I could go up there, get my shoes and then take them out for a test run around 7p, hopefully when the Y will be less crowded. I think that's what I'll do! YAY!!

Categories: shoes, YMCA classes

Running is my boyfriend

A few years back, there was an image I saw on the interwebs that said "Music is my boyfriend." Back in 2006/2007, I changed that to "Running is my boyfriend" and it became my mantra. Well, I'm back to repeating it again as I have lost the latter. Or maybe not Running but more like "Gym (aka Jim) is my boyfriend" as I plan on spending a lot of time there.

Since I have signed up for an April (hilly) marathon, I have decided to use this opportunity to get into the best damn shape of my life (besides just running).

Running 3 days a week; Monday, Wednesday & long run Saturday. I'm gonna loosely follow Runner's World running guide. But @keeponrunning suggested that since I'm already in shape from marathon training, I should just do 10-13 mile weekly long run, throw in a 15 miler and then and 3 weeks before a marathon do an 18-20 miler and then a taper. Sounds like a plan to me. I will probably follow the Runner's World training plan for during the week.

YMCA Classes. I found a ton of free classes that I am dying to take. Unfortunately, a lot of them are late at night which means I won't get home until well after 7pm. So we'll see how much I stick with it but I'm gonna try!
Monday: Pilates & Stretch 6:30-7:20p. I really want to take this one, I think the stretching will help me out loads. However it's at 6:30p. I did running tonight and then a circuit training loop and still got done at 5:45p. So I might also take the Toning class immediately before that one 6-6:30p.
Tuesday: Get on the Ball 6:15-6:45p. I hope this is an ab workout with the big huge ball. I love those!!
Tuesday/Thursday: Step & Strengthen 4:30-5:40p. I'm not really sure what this is about but it sounds good and I could use the step to get my thighs and ankles in shape. I know it's not Aerobics as they already have a class for that. This class is right at 4:30p so I'll have to hustle to get over to the Y on those days.
Wednesday: Toning 6-6:30p. Depending on the quality of the class I just may take both nights!
Thursday: Cardio Cycling (aka Spinning) 6:55-7:40p. Wow, it is QUITE the workout and it will KICK your BUTT. I even sweat on the back of my hands. LOVE IT!

Tonight I went running at the Y. I couldn't find a spot in the parking lot and it was nearly 4:30p. I thought I would be safe getting there before 5p! I then walked in and immediately checked out the treadmills. It was all full. Luckily, the lady behind the counter said I could sign up early so I signed up for an empty 4:45p slot and then got changed in the locker room. I could only sign up for 30 minutes at a time so I had to book it. I got 3.27 miles in 30 minutes. The person in front of me left early so I actually got on the treadmill with time to spare so I used that extra time for a quick walk cool down. Then I did the weight training express circuit. It works all the right muscles and since it's express you can only do one set at a time so you're never waiting too long or interrupting someone's workout.

As much as I love winter, I'm really not liking this below freezing weather we've had lately. I don't think I can run outside with it being that cold. So I have to do my runs inside. Unfortunately, since it's after New Years when all the New Years Resolutions people have come out in droves. So they take up all the treadmills. I can't wait until Feb/March when they realise that they fail and go home & give up. Then real dedicated people like me, can have their machines back. Harsh maybe but it's the truth. I can't stand the gym in January. Also, they don't turn on the AC either. I have never sweated so much running a measly 3 miles before but only in the summer! It was really hard to breathe too. But I'm gonna stick with the Y during the week and hopefully suck it up for my long runs on Saturdays.

Categories: running is my boyfriend, weight training, YMCA classes