Monday, May 7: 25 min elliptical, upper body weights routine. Upped bench press machine to 70 lbs!
Tuesday, May 8: Nothing
Wednesday, May 9: Ran just under 4 miles in 38 minutes. Speed!
Ran just over 4 miles today, because of the gorgeous weather, but discovered there was quite a headwind for about a third of my route.
Then 60 minutes of back and biceps routine at the gym in the village, surrounded by guys lifting after work. Not even one other woman in the free weight area.
And a gorgeous day after leaving the gym. The breeze is scattering petals from the crab apples and magnolias all over the green lawns.
60 minutes Stairmaster stepmill, resistance at seven, aerobic intervals, in a hard sweat
15 minute Pilates routine and also some stretching
Even more gorgeous outside, enough so that I'm thinking of going for a walk a little bit later. With binoculars around my neck, of course, though it will be late in the day to look at warblers.
Luther (12 year old black lab) and I went for a gentle ramble in our local ravine. He is a good boy and stays on the trails with me. We admired some wild trilliums, Ontario's provincial flower and official symbol. And saw a couple of small yellow and black birds - goldfinches? I also did some yoga this morning. Off to visit Lola my cousin's bulldog - mayabe a walk there as well.
leaving today for dd's graduation and won't return until Monday night. I packed exercise clothes and shoes, but I'm not sure how much, if any exercise I'll get in. Crossing my fingers that I can get some in at least.
Totals:
9 days
530 minutes
May 10: none
May 11: 30 minutes elliptical, 20 minutes weights at hotel gym in Spokane. Eating way too much! Glad I got one workout in.
15 minutes Stairmaster step mill, aerobic intervals, resistance at eight, for a warmup
60 minutes shoulders, biceps and triceps routine
45 minutes arc trainer, hill intervals, resistance at nine
Late to the gym after making a batch of muffins for my mother. (The recipe was unfortunately an epic failure: The muffins turned out hard, dry & inedible, mostly due to my adding grated pecorino romano, rather than cheddar.) I figured that my sore muscles would warm up a little while working out, but no. I am still moving like Oz's tinman before he'd been oiled.
45 minutes spin class, working on steady rate endurance
15 minutes Pilates routine afterward
I felt powerful today, and nearly ache-free, except for a slight gnawing in my right calf. Still, spin class humbled me.
And I am looking at the gym differently. After hearing of a death early this morning, I looked at the people all working out on machines at the gym & thought of us all putting in our time there, trying to do something for our health. Usually, I think of athletic achievement, and my appearance, and finally, of my health, but this morning I was thinking about our very precious lives.
Friday, May 11: Terrible 2 mile jog, body fought me the whole way
Saturday, May 12: -
Sunday, May 13: -
Monday, May 14: 15 min elliptical, arms/shoulders/back lifting routine, 5 min on treadmill at 7 mph
15 minutes Stairmaster stepper, aerobic intervals, resistance at eight
60 minutes chest, triceps and biceps routine
45 minutes Stairmaster stepper, aerobic intervals, dropping resistance to seven
When I was benchpressing, an older guy came over to me and said, "Just want you to know ... if you need a spotter, I'd be glad to do it."
I said, "Thanks. I don't do very heavy weights, though." (I do the Olympic bar, and had loaded on about 10 pounds. So I think that's 55 pounds total.)
He said, "But you do a lot of reps."
"Yes, I do." I try for 17. I was surprised he'd noticed. Anyway, I thanked him for offering.
Generally, as the only woman in the weight section in this particular gym, I feel both conspicuous and invisible. It's a strange sensation to feel that I have actually been noticed. But I am thankful for the offer.
45 minute spin class with a distracted instructor, who didn't push us as hard and curtailed class by a few minutes. Apparently I like to be challenged. Well, tomorrow is the 90-minute endurance class, so it may be good to rest up
15 minute Pilates routine, with me feeling awkward and heavy due to time of month. The fluid retention came on late, but it's definitely happened now.
90 minute endurance spin class, with different kinds of sprints and climbs, jumps, "holds," changes in position. This class, which started at 5:30 AM, was very small: Me, a guy who does lots of distance rides on the weekends and a woman training for triathlons, and I kept pushing myself to keep up. No matter how much better my conditioning gets, it seems I have a long, long way to go.
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