2/22/10

Spinning! It's basically indoor, stationary biking. You vary your workouts by turning a knob on the bike to increase resistance (yep, it's futile) and sometimes get out of the saddle for that extra push. Here's what we did:

Warm-up
Sprint 1 minute, rest 1 minute (x4)
Sprint 30 seconds (harder), rest 1 minute (x6)
Hills

It doesn't sound like much, but boy I'll tell ya that it was intense. One thing I really like about spinning is that you can manage yourself according to how you feel. If you're not quite feeling it one day, you can ease up while still getting your heart pumping. If, on the other hand, you feel great and want to go after it, spinning allows you to do that. It's kind of like how a runner can choose to run downhill, flat, or uphill. Even if you're all at the same cadence (strides/cycles per minute), the workouts are varied depending on your skill and comfort level. Yesterday I felt good. During the sprints, my heart rate was around 190, and hills it was 170ish. I pushed myself and actually started getting a little nauseous and light-headed, so backed off a tiny bit but it felt amazing. Jannalynn continues complimenting me on my form which is good, but I do need to work on strength from the core and relaxing my elbows.

2/19/10

Run

3 laps around Huntsman Center (3/4 mile) warm-up
hop up stairs w/ two legs, walking when necessary, trying 1 leg occasionally, run down x 2
sprint relay across bridge x 8

2/18/10

Swim

400 warm-up
5 x 50 fingertip drag and reach / swim fast
10 x 50 reach, focusing on forearm power / swim slow, controlled
200 cool-down

Introduction

I'm a naturally unathletic person. Everyone has talents in certain areas... let's just say that I'm anti-talented in athleticism (and dating, but that's beside the point). I am fighting the literally uphill battle against my unathletic predispositions. I am becoming an athlete, not for weight loss or to fit into social norms, but for me; a stronger, healthier human being. Hurrah!

A bit of history: I started training for a triathlon with my mom last year right after a rather unpleasant heartbreak. We're continuing our early saga of MWF class from 6:30-7:30 a.m. and we have improved INCREDIBLY. No one would guess by looking at us that we're athletic, but the muscles and endurance prove both our efforts and our ability.

I have gotten to the point that I crave exercise. I want a hard workout. Right now a big challenge is holding back so I don't injure myself- finding and pushing myself to my limit, but not beyond. I must progress as a tortoise, not a hare. My win will not be finishing a race first, but completing a race. After that, my win will be beating my own time, not beating others. After that, my win will be completing a harder race, and so on.

My mantra is simple: I am strong.