Normally on a beautiful 70° spring day I would run outside, But I am trying to reach 36 gym visit in three months. I clearly work out this much, but I don't do every work out at my gym.
The deal when I joined was that if I visited 36 times in the first three months, I would be credited back my $180 sign-up fee. This credit can be applied to goods and services at the gym. That's at least two massages, if not three, when they have specials!!
Today's run was 45 minutes with a 10 minute warm-up (5 walking, 5 jogging) and then five repeats of four minutes in zone four with a two minute walk following. The last five minutes was spent walking.
I feel fine although I am incredibly hungry!!!
Monday, April 29, 2013
Unplanned joy ride! 4/29
I found myself with all my gear from camp this weekend (more on that in my next post) at a building in Hoffman Estates the better part of the day today. The building is located across the street from a Cook County Forest preserve with paved paths.
Despite no bike on my schedule today, I decided to just ride for pleasure over my lunch hour. I felt it was important to bring it back to what's important and just enjoy a bike ride. Albeit I did wear my heart rate monitor to ensure I did not work too hard and I kept track of the time. I wanted to make sure I was keeping low heart rate zones so I didn't overdo it (I really don't EVER over do it!!).
About 45 minutes of a nice sunny ride outside and I got back into my car to drive to my next appointment. Believe it or not I did the car change of clothes! Since there was a decent headwind I really wasn't stinky or sweaty and no one was the wiser!!
After work, I drove back downtown to check in at my gym. I am only 12 visits away from getting my sign-up fee returned. I am sure I will be able to do this before we leave for India!
Despite no bike on my schedule today, I decided to just ride for pleasure over my lunch hour. I felt it was important to bring it back to what's important and just enjoy a bike ride. Albeit I did wear my heart rate monitor to ensure I did not work too hard and I kept track of the time. I wanted to make sure I was keeping low heart rate zones so I didn't overdo it (I really don't EVER over do it!!).
About 45 minutes of a nice sunny ride outside and I got back into my car to drive to my next appointment. Believe it or not I did the car change of clothes! Since there was a decent headwind I really wasn't stinky or sweaty and no one was the wiser!!
After work, I drove back downtown to check in at my gym. I am only 12 visits away from getting my sign-up fee returned. I am sure I will be able to do this before we leave for India!
Thursday, April 25, 2013
4/25/13- Lunch run
Nice and easy and almost fun run today on the treadmill over lunch...
I hit up our building gym at 120 S LaSalle today for my hour run since I'm meeting up with Jackie and her family visiting this evening for dinner at Big Bowl this evening.
I listened to Endurance Nation's free podcast on the (4) pillars for a good Ironman. They really spoke to me and I found myself understanding more about myself and feeling like I'm truly preparing myself for this challenge. It also helped pass the time very quickly.
1) RACE DAY IS ABOUT EXECUTION, NOT FITNESS. All of this is about fitness, but race day I'll be prepared physically, I just need to put it all together. There will be a lot of very fit looking bodies, but 90% will not know how to complete an Ironman.
2) IT'S ALL ABOUT MILE 18 IN THE MARATHON, OR RATHER "THE LINE". The line is the point where your body and your mind are truly fighting each other... it's a deep, dark and painful place for which I really need to mentally prepare. The entire race leading up to the marathon, or to mile 18, or to my "line" and "the suck" is preparation for that moment and that's the moment when the race starts.
3) KEEP YOUR HEAD IN A "BOX" AND ONLY WORRY ABOUT YOUR OWN ACTIONS. Narrow your focus onto each small task and push out any and all actions by others. Don't fight to "win the hill", just worry about your race and your preparation. Everything else is superfluous.
4) KNOW WHY YOU ARE HERE. Work on your mental toughness in every long ride and run leading up to the race. Be able to recall what your reason is and bring it up when you reach "The Line". Don't use it before then, but keep your body moving when it hits.
Ironman is going to hurt. Ironman is a massive goal. It's a swim "all day long", bike "all day long" and run "all day long" pace put into one day with a clock. We can't control the temperatures, the crowds, the other participants, but you can control YOU and the dialogue between your body and your mind.
I'm really totally terrified and energized by pushing myself to do this. I am not special and I am not unique: I know many, many people who have done it (and no doubt have done it and will do it faster and "better" than I), but I am so proud of myself right in this moment for taking on this challenge. I really, really am.
I hit up our building gym at 120 S LaSalle today for my hour run since I'm meeting up with Jackie and her family visiting this evening for dinner at Big Bowl this evening.
I listened to Endurance Nation's free podcast on the (4) pillars for a good Ironman. They really spoke to me and I found myself understanding more about myself and feeling like I'm truly preparing myself for this challenge. It also helped pass the time very quickly.
1) RACE DAY IS ABOUT EXECUTION, NOT FITNESS. All of this is about fitness, but race day I'll be prepared physically, I just need to put it all together. There will be a lot of very fit looking bodies, but 90% will not know how to complete an Ironman.
2) IT'S ALL ABOUT MILE 18 IN THE MARATHON, OR RATHER "THE LINE". The line is the point where your body and your mind are truly fighting each other... it's a deep, dark and painful place for which I really need to mentally prepare. The entire race leading up to the marathon, or to mile 18, or to my "line" and "the suck" is preparation for that moment and that's the moment when the race starts.
3) KEEP YOUR HEAD IN A "BOX" AND ONLY WORRY ABOUT YOUR OWN ACTIONS. Narrow your focus onto each small task and push out any and all actions by others. Don't fight to "win the hill", just worry about your race and your preparation. Everything else is superfluous.
4) KNOW WHY YOU ARE HERE. Work on your mental toughness in every long ride and run leading up to the race. Be able to recall what your reason is and bring it up when you reach "The Line". Don't use it before then, but keep your body moving when it hits.
Ironman is going to hurt. Ironman is a massive goal. It's a swim "all day long", bike "all day long" and run "all day long" pace put into one day with a clock. We can't control the temperatures, the crowds, the other participants, but you can control YOU and the dialogue between your body and your mind.
I'm really totally terrified and energized by pushing myself to do this. I am not special and I am not unique: I know many, many people who have done it (and no doubt have done it and will do it faster and "better" than I), but I am so proud of myself right in this moment for taking on this challenge. I really, really am.
Wed 4/24/13 EARLY swim. Wow. Really early.
I had an annual internist exam at 8am on Wednesday, so I went to swim before that. I had to fast from midnight until my appointment, so that was a bit challenging starting out the morning.
I got on the bus to the gym in the Gold Coast around 5:15am and started swimming by 6am. I swam for an hour and almost, almost finished the workout, but I had to shower, dry my hair and get to Northwestern in Streeterville by 8am. At least it was an easy swim...
I had my annual check up with Dr. Grauer, who unfortunately approved this stupid low carb diet that Coach McGee put me on for the next 6 weeks. I was really hoping he would say it was a bad idea. Instead he told me to "eat like a Greek" (which coincidentally made me think that all the Greeks are totally poor right now, so that's really a diet!) and that he'd been doing it and had lost 25lbs. Boo Dr. Grauer. Boo.
Then he sent me across the street for some blood tests, urine sample, and an EKG.
I'm still alive! That's all I know so far. Aside from the fact that he suggested that I also set up a mammogram. Next thought? Wow. I'm old.
I got on the bus to the gym in the Gold Coast around 5:15am and started swimming by 6am. I swam for an hour and almost, almost finished the workout, but I had to shower, dry my hair and get to Northwestern in Streeterville by 8am. At least it was an easy swim...
I had my annual check up with Dr. Grauer, who unfortunately approved this stupid low carb diet that Coach McGee put me on for the next 6 weeks. I was really hoping he would say it was a bad idea. Instead he told me to "eat like a Greek" (which coincidentally made me think that all the Greeks are totally poor right now, so that's really a diet!) and that he'd been doing it and had lost 25lbs. Boo Dr. Grauer. Boo.
Then he sent me across the street for some blood tests, urine sample, and an EKG.
I'm still alive! That's all I know so far. Aside from the fact that he suggested that I also set up a mammogram. Next thought? Wow. I'm old.
Tuesday, 4/23/13
Tuesday, was a yoga/ride combo!
I made it to Om on the Range for Beth's 60 minute vinyasa at the end of the workday and it was much needed! She had some really inventive transitions that I hope to jot down and teach in my own classes at some point again in the near future... (runner's lunge with a ton of add-ons/variations to opposite leg Vasisthasana (side plank) to high/low/high to pigeon, for example) My legs were shaking!!! At one point we also went from 4 staffed pose to some crazy foot in the elbow thing (greyhound?!) that I have never tried before. I really loved it. It was all almost virtually impossible, but fun.
Then I went home, stuffed my face and jumped on my bike trainer for a relatively easy ride. Michael came home after me, had dinner himself and then we watched TV "together". I was on my bike and he was on the couch with Ferra! I guess you've got to work with what you can! :)
I made it to Om on the Range for Beth's 60 minute vinyasa at the end of the workday and it was much needed! She had some really inventive transitions that I hope to jot down and teach in my own classes at some point again in the near future... (runner's lunge with a ton of add-ons/variations to opposite leg Vasisthasana (side plank) to high/low/high to pigeon, for example) My legs were shaking!!! At one point we also went from 4 staffed pose to some crazy foot in the elbow thing (greyhound?!) that I have never tried before. I really loved it. It was all almost virtually impossible, but fun.
(Unfortunately, I didn't have on leg warmers while I was attempting this!)
Monday REST DAY 4/22
I couldn't bear the thought of working out after getting up at 3:30am for my flight from Austin, TX to Chicago (and directly to the office...), so I swapped my rest day with Wednesday.
I came home, unpacked and did laundry. I also caught up a LOT on this blog! :)
I came home, unpacked and did laundry. I also caught up a LOT on this blog! :)
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