So, I've been getting bored with my cardio which is usually 30 minutes on the Elliptical. I decided to try running a little. I usually do intervals....Run 4, walk 2, etc. Yesterday, I ran for 10 minutes without stopping! then I walked for 3, ran 7, walked 2, and ran 3 more! Today I did the 5K loop option on the treadmill. I did it in 42 minutes in a run/walk combo! When walking I did 3.0 mph and when running I did 5.4. I ran 1.25 miles without stopping(about 13 minutes). When I did walk, it was just 1 lap/.25 miles. My goal is to shave that time down. I think it helps that our treadmills have tvs I can plug my headphones into. I find something good and focus on it and the time flies by!
Congrats! It's a great feeling isn't it? Join us in the Cool Runners thread - lots of new and not-so-new runners there who'd love to hear how you progress!
Watching TV while working out definitely helps me - otherwise I just stare at the countdown time and wish for it to go faster! Putting a towel over it does not help me either... I just keep pushing it aside to check how I'm doing
I know. they say not to watch tv/read while you do cardio. But as much as I love music, it doesn't help me take my mind off the ticking clock! Yesterday it was a special on the Travel Channel about Disney World and today I caught up on some trashy MTV reality. Who knows what I'll do tomorrow? Maybe Oprah?
they say not to watch tv/read while you do cardio.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeatherAngel
Really?? WHY?!
Because they say it distracts you from doing higher intensity and you slack off by reading or watching TV... But if you set the speed on a treadmill and you watch the tube, you get your intensity no matter what... IMHO ....
I think reading is different to watching the telly on this one. There's no way I can do proper work on the treadmill while flipping through a magazine. TV is probably ok (although when I'm exercising at a high level of intensity, I tend to see only red and can't focus much on anything). I see one of my colleagues at the gym *grading essays* while using the recumbent bike! My suspicion is that neither the exercise nor the grading can possibly get done properly like this! But I do read magazines on the elliptical. Whatever gets you exercising.
If my NordicTrack were by a television, I know it would get a lot more use than it does (which is not at all at this point). Besides, if I used the NordicTrack, my dog wouldn't get to go for a run!!! Now I have to go see my parents in two weeks. There's going to be snow up in SLC and I don't know if I'll be able to get out and run (and who wants to run sans dog!). So I'm thinking I might use their treadmill (if it still works) and if I do, I'm sure I'll be doing it with the TV on!!
I used to try and read magazines while on the Elliptical, but the up and down movement made it difficult. The TV is much easier! I just get absorbed and keep on trucking!