Strength training, 60 mins

After a relatively quiet non-active weekend of lolling about, drinking beer around a campfire, shopping outlet stores, and eating cheese, I was back in the gym this morning doing the usual strength training routine. I think the days off were good for me as everything felt relatively easy this morning.

strength workout #2

Strength workout #2

It was quiet in the gym today so it was easy to access equipment. It's always the same people in the gym and it is a nice community feel in there in the mornings.

Also, I'm noticing real differences in my body these days, with more definition everywhere.

elliptical with macleans

45 mins, elliptical, reverse intervals, level 9

Today was just a short workout because I had to make a salad before going to work today for a beach BBQ this evening. Still, it was sweaty and good (the workout, not the salad). I would have liked to have gone longer though.

playing with the boys

Yesterday, strength training, Day 1 from Kristina.

I'm back into the co-ed side of the gym now, feeling like a mini little girl next to all the juice monkeys. Still, I have to admit to feeling a bit badass pushing a barbell up and over my head like I know what I'm doing, with nary another woman in sight.

three day road

45 mins, stairmill, avg level 6.8
10 mins, treadmill, increasing incline, 6.5

I'm totally absorbed by the novel, Three Day Road, so it was a great workout with me reading on the stairmill and sweating profusely (in a good, exercise way of course!).

meeting with Kristina

Monday morning, I met with Kristina and she gave me two new workouts. We basically ran through one set of each of the workouts so that we could get it all done at once and I don't have to visit her again for another month or so. I am sore today so when I do them properly, they will no doubt be effective. She said she was impressed with my strength and balance gains, which I am sure she says at least partially to help her clients maintain motivation, but it made me feel good about all this work I have been putting in.

step aerobics

Yesterday:

1hr, Pam's step aerobics class

Then some biking to and fro around the city. Today was my rest day.

gym rat

50 mins strength training
5 mins rowing machine

I'm turning into a gym rat, having been at the gym pretty much every week day for the last three weeks, plus a few additional weekend days. I am noticing changes in my body. Today was a standard day, plus the rowing machine. My left shoulder is giving me problems though because of my mousing at work.

Kits Pool opens in the mornings soon!

stairmill and bike

45 mins, stairmill, level 6.9
10 mins, stationary bike,

It was just cardio for me. A friend joined me at the gym but I have to confess I'm not a huge fan of working out with somebody because I like to focus on what I'm doing rather than making conversation. Plus, on cardio days, I like to get my Macleans magazine reading in and I couldn't do it today because was talking the whole time. Still, it was a good workout and I was drenched at the end. Also, I've worn shorts on the bike ride to and from the gym because it's finally warm enough. Hooray!

strength training

50 mins, strength training
20 mins, treadmill, level 7, to an incline of 3.5

I ran ten minutes on the flat (0.5), then increased by 0.5 every minute to 3.5 while maintaining speed, and then five minute cooldown.

I am feeling good these days. However, I may be starting to plateau with the strength training so I'm seeing Kristina next Monday for a couple of new routines. I'll also be starting her Monday morning boot camp sessions, which begin at the end of the month.

stairmill intervals

Yesterday:
30 mins, stairmill, steady, level 6
30 mins, stairmill, intervals, level 6-10

I was dripping by the end of my hour of cardio.

easy workout

60 mins Strength training

I skimped a bit today after the very tiring day I had yesterday. I only did strength training, and skipped a few of the reps I would normally do. I've had an intense few weeks with all the cycling added on to the usual workouts, so I think I deserve at least a week of taking it easy.

marathon day

Today was marathon day and I led the full men's marathon in the pouring rain. I accidentally changed my bike computer settings a few minutes before the race so I couldn't keep track of distance covered, but I probably clocked over 80km. I did the full course (42 km), and then did the patrol after, clearing the half-marathon course up Prospect Point, then over Burrard Bridge out to Point Grey and back and forth several times checking on the stragglers. It was an amazing day, leading the lead male runners on my own for almost the entire time. I am now tired and sore (riding home into a headwind sucked), especially my neck from looking back to check my positioin relative to the men.

cardio tiredness

45 mins stairmill, 6.2
Cooldown and stretching

Tonight, I'll ride short commuting distances. I am so tired from all this activity of late. This morning I was so groggy getting dressed and on my bike that I was halfway to the gym before I realized that I wasn't wearing my helmet. I think its a hint for me to take a rest day and sleep more hours. Tomorrow I get a sleep-in day.

tired today

60 mins strength training

It was hard to get up this morning, although I do usually feel revived after the workout. I think I need another rest day where I can actually sleep in. I've been pretty disciplined over the last three weeks working out. My arms are definitely showing real definition, which pleases me, and I think I may actually have lost a bit of weight (not trying to lose weight but it's encouraging to see).

Tonight I'll be out with the marathon cycle escorts for our last practice before marathon day on Sunday. I love my new bike computer! I can't wait to see how many kilometers I cover on Sunday.

Bike: 30kms

boring cardio

21 mins, elliptical, reverse intervals
25 mins, treadmill (6.5)
Abs, then stretching

Today was a boring cardio day, made even more boring by the fact I found the book I was reading to be boring (plus the font was too small). I finally gave up in favour of staring out the window.

leg tiredness

Monday was a rest day for me after something like seven straight days of exercise. Yesterday, however:
60 mins strength training
20 mins treadmill (6.5)

In the evening, I cycled the 22km half-course with the marathon escort cyclists. I was excited to learn that I will be leading the men's full marathon this year.

marathon practice

I was up early on Sunday morning, meeting the rest of the marathon cycle escort team at the Plaza of Nations at 7am. We did the entire marathon route (42kms), at a painfully slow pace of 18 kms/hr. We go at that pace to match what the runners will actually be doing next week. It isn't quite a cardio workout but I figure anytime anybody cycles 42kms, it should be considered a workout. It was nice to be home by noon after having a post-cycle breakfast downtown.

In the afternoon, we went for another short walk and then I went shopping at Metrotown Superstore, which should be considered a tactical and challenging sport in and of itself.

saturday step class

75 mins step class (Saturday)

Woke up early and rode my bike in the pissing rain down to the gym for a Saturday morning step aerobics class. The usual instructor was away and I almost left the class when I saw she wasn't there, but it turned out that the replacement was equally good. Her choreography was not as complex but she made us do intervals of high intensity so I felt it was overall as good of a workout.

Then in the afternoon we probably spent 2-3 hours walking around Kitsilano, which was nice. I passed out on the couch at about 9:30pm.