I went to my second BodyPump class on Saturday. I still can't believe I get up at 7:30am on a Saturday to go to this class! It seriously kicks my butt, in such a good way. I increased my weight on the backs and biceps sections (I didn't have enough weight on in my first class, but it was hard to judge what was proper having never done the class before), and decreased the weight on the lunges section so I could focus on form. By that point, my legs are already tired and a little wobbly from the squats section and last time I was having a really hard time keeping my balance. I'm not as sore as I was last time. I was actually able to walk on Sunday without limping and complaining every time! Adam came with me and did his own thing at the gym. I think we're going to try to make early Saturday workouts a regular thing. It gets the gym thing out of the way early, plus gives us an incentive not to eat too much junk, drink too much, or stay up too late on Friday nights.
Getting up early for a workout even carried over to today! I want to get in more strength training and yoga, so I'm going to try to do two, shorter sessions at the gym instead of one long one. I'm still focusing on increasing my 5k speed, up until the point where I need to start my half-marathon training, so I am going all out for a half hour but then I haven't been doing much else at the gym. My plan for the next few weeks is to rotate elliptical, yoga and weight training in the mornings and get in my 5k run at night. The elliptical felt good for getting that blood pumping through my legs and getting the last of the soreness out, and I did some extra stretching this morning.
January 23: Body Pump class at the *real* gym.
January 25 (morning): 40 minute elliptical plus stretching
The past few days I've done a variety of workouts, rather than my old treadmill and weight training defaults...
January 16: I took a BodyPump class at the real gym with my friend Sarah. I really liked this class and am going to try to go every Saturday when I'm in town. I still can't believe I got up earlier for a class at the gym on a Saturday than I do for work most days, but I think it's going to be worth it. It was a hard workout. I can't believe how weak my lower body is! I didn't have too much trouble with the upper body portions of the workout; sure, I got tired by the end of each segment and I was sore the following day, but that was nothing compare to my legs. I have neglected strength training my legs lately because I make the excuse that I just finished running, or I have a long run the next day. I've just been going through the motions when I do work out my legs, without really pushing it. Well, I sure paid for it! I could hardly walk on Sunday! I'm hoping that doing more strength workouts with my legs will help me increase my speed and stamina for running. Seems pretty logical to me!
January 17: There was no way I could run Sunday after Saturday's BodyPump class, so I did an easy hour on the elliptical instead. I didn't push myself very hard, but my goals was just to get some blood moving in my legs and start getting over the soreness.
January 18: My legs were still sore, so I did a flexibility yoga DVD to give them a good stretch. We also went to a friend's house for dinner last night, so I didn't have time for too long of a workout.
January 19: Another three mile run. I'm trying to increase my speed each time I do it so hopefully I can keep up with my friend Carolyn when she runs her first 5K next month. I'd hate to be the 5K veteran and not even be able to run with her through her first race! I remember how nervous I was for my first 5K and how nice it was to have someone running with me. Today's three mile run was in 30:30, with each of the last two miles at 9:45.
While I haven't updated my workouts for the past week, I have actually been working out. (Unlike when I took a break from posting my workouts last time.) I've been doing a steady diet of 3 mile runs. Pretty boring, but I'm focusing on increasing my speed right now. And it seems to be working!
January 9: 3 miles in 32:45
January 11:3 miles in 31:41
January 12: weight training
January 14: 3 miles in 31:32
I'm not sure whether I'm going to work out tomorrow or not. On Saturday morning, I'm planning on getting up early to go to a BODYPUMP class at the real gym (i.e., not the gym in our apartment building). Adam and I are also planning on signing up for this VIP club through our local running store so we get automatic entry into their entire series of races for the year. It's not cheap, but we calculated it out and we'd basically spend the same amount of money on those races we were definitely planning on running if we signed up for them individually, but now we happen to get entered into a few new races, get a jacket and a backpack, and also get perks at a lot of the races. I'll probably be the slowest person ever in the VIP club.
January 4: Intervals in the treadmill. Did quarter mile laps, alternating between walking (4.0) and running (7.0-7.5). Finished 3 miles of intervals in 33:40, then walked another half mile.
January 5: weight training and abs
Follow via RSS
Follow via Google Reader
Follow via Twitter