Hmmm, I hope I am not using the rain as an excuse, but I haven't ridden to work for a week now. And I didn't ride again today. I've been hitting the gym in the afternoons instead of the mornings, and I'm starting to get used to this new routine. This is not a good thing. I want to ride. In fact I miss riding to work - but the rain just hasn't stopped. More rain and storms forecast all this week. The crappy thing is that I COULD have made it to work in between showers this morning - but I guess one never knows when the rain will start.
I'm working an 8-4 shift now, which is SOOO much better. When I get to the gym at 4.05 there is hardly anyone there. By 5pm as the hordes come in, I'm already on the elliptical trainer. PLUS I still get to ride home in light. And getting lighter all the time!
I did 7km yesterday, still on a resistance of zero, but 7km nonetheless. 1km warm up, 5km as hard as I can, and 1km cool down. Managed to finish the lot in 40mins. I love it because I sweat heaps. I can feel it working. I always concentrate on stretching my calves afterwards, because that's what hurts the most once I cool down. Yesterday I sort of did things in the wrong order - the cardio and then weights. But I sat on the calf machine after the elliptical trainer and let the weight of the machine stretch my calves. It was so good, I might do that next time too.
I'm not going to wish the rain away, because we need it so desperately, but I do wish for a day to dawn clear and bright so I can jump on my bike and just enjoy the ride. It was so nice to pick up my bike from the bike shop after being serviced and ride home. It felt comfortable and very very familiar. Gosh I hope I'm not turning into a cyclist... I'm a runner! A RUNNER!!!!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Rain, rain, rain
It's been raining for the past week. This is great news for our dry west, but not so good for us cyclists. I've piked from riding to work the past couple of days. I don't mind getting wet once I've started my ride, and I don't even mind riding home in the rain - but the thought of riding TO work or the gym in the wet is not appealing to me.
I've been wanting to get my bike serviced because it's started squeaking a bit - probably from riding through all the rain (!) and having the oil washed off. I'm no mechanic and I need help in fixing the squeaks. But the bike shop doesn't service on the weekends, only during the week. Well, this is problematic since I ride to work before the bike shop is open and ride home after the bike shop is shut.
So - I am taking this voluntary break from riding to get my bike serviced! Sort of like killing two birds with one stone. Instead of having my bike sit at home, it can be at the bike shop! Of course I didn't think of this brilliant idea until today - but luckily there is rain forecast for tomorrow too! Sometimes I am sooooo clever...
I'm really digging the elliptical trainer at the gym. Kills the calves, but I sweat bucketloads. Yesterday (on my way to another 6km in 30mins) I checked my heart rate. 156. Oops - it is supposed to be between 120 and 130. I felt OK and I wanted to maintain my speed, so I decided to just keep an eye on my heart rate and see if it went up. (Not that 156 is low of course...) Anyway I found myself concentrating on my breathing instead of mindlessly watching the Lifestyle Channel (the sports channels had football, football and motor racing - yuck!). Suddenly my heart rate started going DOWN. What the?? I watched it drop to 140 and then it stayed there. The ONLY thing I can think of is that I concentrated on my breathing. I can't believe it would make that much difference - but it seemed to! (Jaykay, you asked what resistance I have it on. Resistance?? I press quick start and that's it. I'm guessing the resistance level is at the default - zero. You mean I could make it harder????)
By the way, my speedo reckons I've ridden over 800km on my bike since I got it. If that's right then I'm a legend!
I've been wanting to get my bike serviced because it's started squeaking a bit - probably from riding through all the rain (!) and having the oil washed off. I'm no mechanic and I need help in fixing the squeaks. But the bike shop doesn't service on the weekends, only during the week. Well, this is problematic since I ride to work before the bike shop is open and ride home after the bike shop is shut.
So - I am taking this voluntary break from riding to get my bike serviced! Sort of like killing two birds with one stone. Instead of having my bike sit at home, it can be at the bike shop! Of course I didn't think of this brilliant idea until today - but luckily there is rain forecast for tomorrow too! Sometimes I am sooooo clever...
I'm really digging the elliptical trainer at the gym. Kills the calves, but I sweat bucketloads. Yesterday (on my way to another 6km in 30mins) I checked my heart rate. 156. Oops - it is supposed to be between 120 and 130. I felt OK and I wanted to maintain my speed, so I decided to just keep an eye on my heart rate and see if it went up. (Not that 156 is low of course...) Anyway I found myself concentrating on my breathing instead of mindlessly watching the Lifestyle Channel (the sports channels had football, football and motor racing - yuck!). Suddenly my heart rate started going DOWN. What the?? I watched it drop to 140 and then it stayed there. The ONLY thing I can think of is that I concentrated on my breathing. I can't believe it would make that much difference - but it seemed to! (Jaykay, you asked what resistance I have it on. Resistance?? I press quick start and that's it. I'm guessing the resistance level is at the default - zero. You mean I could make it harder????)
By the way, my speedo reckons I've ridden over 800km on my bike since I got it. If that's right then I'm a legend!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Another workout
I just had the most fabulous workout at the gym. It is pouring with rain outside and I am happily sitting in one of the gym's cafes on the free internet. I had a crap day at work with one thing or another, plus I missed my workout this morning, so I just left work early and came straight here. Nothing like a bit of sweat to clear the mind. I did 6km on the eliptical trainer in a little over 30 minutes and I don't feel a niggle from my troublesome legs. I was feeling all lethargic and just wanting a nap - but now I feel pretty good. It still amazes me about this whole exercise thing. I'm just glad I now have the knowledge to come to the gym after a crap day instead of heading home to eat up big and go to bed!!
I think that also being at a fabulous gym helps. I had a lovely warm shower, gave my hair a blow dry and am now sitting down with a lovely drink. I'll wait here on the comfy couches for hubby to come and pick me up (I'm not riding home in this weather!). Right at this point in time I can't think of anywhere nicer. I've got that workout-contented feeling. Beautiful.
I think that also being at a fabulous gym helps. I had a lovely warm shower, gave my hair a blow dry and am now sitting down with a lovely drink. I'll wait here on the comfy couches for hubby to come and pick me up (I'm not riding home in this weather!). Right at this point in time I can't think of anywhere nicer. I've got that workout-contented feeling. Beautiful.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
A small victory
I'm so glad to read in the comments that 3 degrees actually IS cold! I don't feel so bad complaining about it, now. We're only heading to 20 as a top today, although I notice Melbourne is looking at something like 11. Yikes.
A small victory. When I ride in the mornings it's uphill. I have learnt what gear I should be in at what point, and even what is a good speed for certain sections. Sometimes I have little competitions with myself to maintain a certain speed or stay in a higher gear past the crack in the concrete where I usually change down. There is one bit where I try and stay at an average of 12km/h. I realise that is not fast, but it's uphill and I find it quite a challenge. Well I rode it and stayed at 13km/h for the whole section! A tiny victory but I was quite chuffed. I remember that same stretch when I was trying to maintain 11 and was chuffed at making 12. And now I have suddenly improved again! Now the challenge will be to keep it at 13 regularly along that section. And that's staying seated. If I stand up I can maintain 15km/h because I can stay in a higher gear. Hmmm... I wonder if I could maintain 15km/h and seated??? Something to work towards...
A small victory. When I ride in the mornings it's uphill. I have learnt what gear I should be in at what point, and even what is a good speed for certain sections. Sometimes I have little competitions with myself to maintain a certain speed or stay in a higher gear past the crack in the concrete where I usually change down. There is one bit where I try and stay at an average of 12km/h. I realise that is not fast, but it's uphill and I find it quite a challenge. Well I rode it and stayed at 13km/h for the whole section! A tiny victory but I was quite chuffed. I remember that same stretch when I was trying to maintain 11 and was chuffed at making 12. And now I have suddenly improved again! Now the challenge will be to keep it at 13 regularly along that section. And that's staying seated. If I stand up I can maintain 15km/h because I can stay in a higher gear. Hmmm... I wonder if I could maintain 15km/h and seated??? Something to work towards...
Monday, July 16, 2007
Box head!
OMG it was cold this morning!! I was all set to get up for an early ride to be at yoga at 6.15, but one little toe out of the covers at 5.30 convinced me to stay in bed! Guilt got the better of me however and I was out of the house by 6.30 - too late for yoga though. Man it was cold. Apparently it was 3 degrees which I am sure is warm for the Victorians! I was rugged up like the Michellin man. I had two pairs of pants, two shirts and a jacket, two pairs of gloves, a beanie and a scarf. My feet were cold with my lonely one pair of socks but the rest of me was OK. Or perhaps I was already numb - I'm not sure. I could see my breath through the scarf! I passed a couple of runners wearing only singlets and shorts - and I wondered if perhaps I had become a bit precious. At least there was no wind this morning.
I was staring out of my window at work, looking into Kings Park and there was a person wearing a big box over their head and arm holes cut in it. They were holding a sign and standing in front of traffic. I couldn't see the sign from where I am but it occured to me that you get all sorts in the city! There was no one else around this whacko, so I can only assume they were acting like that off their own back. Perhaps they were protesting something. But really, who wears a box? It was decorated with red tinsel so at least it was a fashionable box. Then they wandered off down the road and I lost sight of them.
I was staring out of my window at work, looking into Kings Park and there was a person wearing a big box over their head and arm holes cut in it. They were holding a sign and standing in front of traffic. I couldn't see the sign from where I am but it occured to me that you get all sorts in the city! There was no one else around this whacko, so I can only assume they were acting like that off their own back. Perhaps they were protesting something. But really, who wears a box? It was decorated with red tinsel so at least it was a fashionable box. Then they wandered off down the road and I lost sight of them.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
"Thoughts" about running
I have quite recovered from my bad mood - thanks! I have not, however, caught up on the work I had done before I lost it all. Oh well.
Exercise has been going well. (Read: cycling, gym and yoga.) I have convinced hubby to ride to work now too! He's only riding a couple of times a week, but it means we can meet up along the river and ride home together. It's good actually, because I can ride in his direction along the river and add an extra 7 or 8km to my ride home. I can recognise his flapping red arm warmers from some distance away and I know to turn around!!
I hope to "encourage" him to cycle daily - but it's still a chore for him.
This morning I didn't want to ride to work (I was snuggly and warm in bed), but I thought of the ride home and it was enough to convince me to suck it up and just go. Golly, my ears are getting cold just thinking about this morning's ride - weird.
I'm having "thoughts" about my running. A little voice is telling me that my five minutes on the treadmill is still too much while I am so overweight and that maybe I need to concentrate on losing weight first. The physio says it's not the impact but the load.
I saw some great photos on the Ausrun forum when the "girls" met up. One very quick glance at the photos tells me that I have less in common with the girls - weight wise - than I hoped. I read comments about people being overweight, and take comfort that we are fighting the same issues. But weight is a relative concept (as is speed). Skinny Morseyruns, Em, Jo and Jaykay think they're fat!! Joey and Kathryn you are both gorgeous! Deege, I could relate to your journey above all others, right from the start - but you are also travelling better than me.
Hmmm, this smacks of a negative post, but it is not meant to be. What I am saying, badly, is that I can't expect to be a runner while I do not have a runner's physique. Now running will help me get a runner's physique, but I can also enjoy lots of other exercise better suited to my current physique UNTIL I get there. So I do not need to be bitter about "missing out" on running - because I have plenty of options that will still get me to that point.
Exercise has been going well. (Read: cycling, gym and yoga.) I have convinced hubby to ride to work now too! He's only riding a couple of times a week, but it means we can meet up along the river and ride home together. It's good actually, because I can ride in his direction along the river and add an extra 7 or 8km to my ride home. I can recognise his flapping red arm warmers from some distance away and I know to turn around!!
I hope to "encourage" him to cycle daily - but it's still a chore for him.
This morning I didn't want to ride to work (I was snuggly and warm in bed), but I thought of the ride home and it was enough to convince me to suck it up and just go. Golly, my ears are getting cold just thinking about this morning's ride - weird.
I'm having "thoughts" about my running. A little voice is telling me that my five minutes on the treadmill is still too much while I am so overweight and that maybe I need to concentrate on losing weight first. The physio says it's not the impact but the load.
I saw some great photos on the Ausrun forum when the "girls" met up. One very quick glance at the photos tells me that I have less in common with the girls - weight wise - than I hoped. I read comments about people being overweight, and take comfort that we are fighting the same issues. But weight is a relative concept (as is speed). Skinny Morseyruns, Em, Jo and Jaykay think they're fat!! Joey and Kathryn you are both gorgeous! Deege, I could relate to your journey above all others, right from the start - but you are also travelling better than me.
Hmmm, this smacks of a negative post, but it is not meant to be. What I am saying, badly, is that I can't expect to be a runner while I do not have a runner's physique. Now running will help me get a runner's physique, but I can also enjoy lots of other exercise better suited to my current physique UNTIL I get there. So I do not need to be bitter about "missing out" on running - because I have plenty of options that will still get me to that point.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Bad Mood
I am in a VERY bad mood. I have just spent the morning developing a data base and I have lost the LOT. I am Cranky with a capital "C".
So I am taking a break to let my blood pressure settle. Thankfully my hormones are normal at the moment or I would be in tears.
And my day started off so well too. I managed to cycle to yoga this morning which started at 6.15. Then an hour of weights and cardio, a lovely shower and I was at work 15 minutes early.
I definitely have need of yoga - this is the second class of my week and is held at the gym. I was the only one in the class (again) who can't hold the downward dog longer than about 5 seconds. The instructor says hold for five breaths! I don't have a hope. She says that the sooner I can learn not to hold my breath, the easier it will become. I'm also the only person in the class who needs to do the "variation" on the poses - because the beginner poses are too hard!! However I don't mind. I have no shame. I figure the more I improve the more dramatically everyone else will notice!! A fairly busy class, surprisingly, at that time of morning but most left after the class. There were only a few who went on to do weights.
I felt good to start the day - until about 15 minutes ago.
Actually I feel a bit better now, just by thinking about my early morning!
So I am taking a break to let my blood pressure settle. Thankfully my hormones are normal at the moment or I would be in tears.
And my day started off so well too. I managed to cycle to yoga this morning which started at 6.15. Then an hour of weights and cardio, a lovely shower and I was at work 15 minutes early.
I definitely have need of yoga - this is the second class of my week and is held at the gym. I was the only one in the class (again) who can't hold the downward dog longer than about 5 seconds. The instructor says hold for five breaths! I don't have a hope. She says that the sooner I can learn not to hold my breath, the easier it will become. I'm also the only person in the class who needs to do the "variation" on the poses - because the beginner poses are too hard!! However I don't mind. I have no shame. I figure the more I improve the more dramatically everyone else will notice!! A fairly busy class, surprisingly, at that time of morning but most left after the class. There were only a few who went on to do weights.
I felt good to start the day - until about 15 minutes ago.
Actually I feel a bit better now, just by thinking about my early morning!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Routine
I seem to be easily falling into the routine of going to the gym before work - but now I find it difficult to go after work. Go figure. The gym has introduced more classes in the mornings, which is a good thing, so I should be able to fit in a few more classes.
Having said it is harder for me to get to the gym in the afternoons - I managed to make it yesterday. It was full, as usual, and kind of reinforced to me why I may well be subliminally avoiding afternoon sessions. I did my weights then went hunting for a cardio machine. No treadmills, no cross trainers, no bikes, one free rower (sigh - OK then), but wait! A stepper! I jumped on the stepper and quickly jumped off again as a treadmill freed up. Yay! A treadmill!
I did my five minutes and then thought I'd be extra daring and add on another minute. All up SIX minutes running. Woo Hoo!
I had an early start at work today - so may hit the gym in the afternoon again. Two afternoons in a row.
Thanks to everyone for all your wonderful birthday wishes!!! I got an iPod - a pink one. Just a little shuffle, but suits me wonderfully. I'm not game enough to use it on the bike, but I will use it at the gym!
Having said it is harder for me to get to the gym in the afternoons - I managed to make it yesterday. It was full, as usual, and kind of reinforced to me why I may well be subliminally avoiding afternoon sessions. I did my weights then went hunting for a cardio machine. No treadmills, no cross trainers, no bikes, one free rower (sigh - OK then), but wait! A stepper! I jumped on the stepper and quickly jumped off again as a treadmill freed up. Yay! A treadmill!
I did my five minutes and then thought I'd be extra daring and add on another minute. All up SIX minutes running. Woo Hoo!
I had an early start at work today - so may hit the gym in the afternoon again. Two afternoons in a row.
Thanks to everyone for all your wonderful birthday wishes!!! I got an iPod - a pink one. Just a little shuffle, but suits me wonderfully. I'm not game enough to use it on the bike, but I will use it at the gym!
Monday, July 02, 2007
Happy Birthday!!
It's my birthday! Happy birthday to me!
I have a company car for a few days while the boss is away so I got to drive to work. I missed my ride!!! But at the same time it was quite a novelty because it is pouring down with rain and I got to park in the basement without getting wet!
Plus I could bring in a cheescake for morning tea without difficulty....
I have a company car for a few days while the boss is away so I got to drive to work. I missed my ride!!! But at the same time it was quite a novelty because it is pouring down with rain and I got to park in the basement without getting wet!
Plus I could bring in a cheescake for morning tea without difficulty....
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