2015 Exercise Log/Challenge

[Crankin]

OK, last night we laid out all of our bike clothes, chemical heaters, and all other gear one needs for riding in temperatures of around 25. I kind of knew I wouldn't actually do it, but...
DH went out to see if he could fit both of our bikes in the back of his SUV without putting the rack on this morning and we kind of lost our will. It was 17 at the time, predicted to be 24 at ride start. We both felt better making the decision to hike. Five people actually rode and 11 of us hiked, about 5.5 miles. Nothing hard, and I was cold, even hiking. I think I needed a different mid layer and definitely did not have the right stuff on my hands. But, I felt like I got a good work out. Got back and had a very small piece of veggie lasagna and some hot cider. The cyclists were just getting back when we were leaving. It seemed like a very long time for 30 miles, but perhaps they stopped. I made the right decision.
However, I will admit only here that we bought some battery heated cycling gloves last night. I've been watching the sales and the price, while crazy, was considerably less (almost half off) that unusual. I was really worried about my hands in the cold, because riding with thicker gloves or lobster gloves impairs my ability to shift. Now I will have no excuse, because I am reasonably happy in the cold with all the other parts of my body.
Happy New Year, Catrin!

[Catrin]

The hike sounds like it was a lot more fun in those temps anyway, heated gloves or not! I wonder what slowed down the riders? Perhaps a hot cup of coffee was part of the ride

Rest day today, though I am tempted to play with some of my kettlebells at home. Still in healing mode though, competition is Feb 7 and I don't need to risk re-injuring at this date. I've plans the next 3-4 days in a row so I need to be smart. If you can believe that I am actually listening to my body and thinking ahead...it is about time!

[Crankin]

Went for a hike in the Delaney Reservation, in Stow, MA. It's a public land trust for water management/wildlife reservation, about 2.5 miles from my old house. This is where I made my first sorry attempts at mountain biking! Also done a little paddling and x country skiing here. Not a long hike, about 3 miles, but we had a brisk pace, so it felt like a work out. A beautiful day and less windy in the woods. I will now go and do some core work. Definitely will not be getting up for boot camp tomorrow, but may hit some other class, or even ride if it's just a bit warmer.

[Crankin]

I slept until 8:30 this morning, after going out to our favorite secret pub last night, to celebrate my son getting a new job, that comes with a big promotion. I love this place, but I really can't go there more than 4-5 times a year! Had fish tacos and one beer, and awoke this morning kind of allergy like and stiff from the hiking of the past 2 days. So, I went to a good gentle type yoga class (with the exception of the crowded room), came home, ate lunch and then just did a 3 mile very brisk walk on the road with DH. Feeling much better. A little lost without snow to round out my fitness schedule in the winter, but I have no control over that.

[Catrin]

Had a nice 40 minute cardio session at the gym today. Did kettlebells yesterday and have comp training tomorrow so I had to do something different today. My coach strongly suggests I don't stay more than 10 minutes on the same machine - that keeps me from turning it into an internal competition He IS right - and he is prone to doing the same thing himself so it is easier to take the restriction from him. The competition is 5 weeks from tomorrow :-)

[Catrin]

Good competition training session this morning. We had a new person which meant that we took close to 40 minutes stretching so our coach could instruct her...but we ran longer and he proceeded to kick my butt with comp lifts. The shoulders have come right along since I stopped rowing! Apparently I can row for distance, or focus on kettlebell sport, but not both at the same time. My coach said rest days the next two days since I've worked hard the last three.

[Crankin]

Sick of hiking, no classes at the gym, and my trainer is not set up yet. No snow, either, but an impending little storm that will turn to rain by 10:30 PM. We went out to breakfast and then grocery shopping. Finally, at 2:30 I got into my exercise clothes and went up to my exercise room. I did a 6 minute warm up of running in place, jump roping, and jacks 2X and then did the Cycle-Core Functional Fitness DVD. All in all, about 35 minutes. I could have made it longer by doing more cardio in between the sets, but, I wanted to take it easier.
The dry roads make me long for my bike, but it was 25 and breezy, gray skies, and just freezing today. Tomorrow is going to be 56, but rainy. If there's any window at all, I'll be outside after spin class at 7:30 AM. Because after that, it's going down to like 0 F on Thursday.

[Crankin]

Well, when I got up at 6:30 AM, it was 32 out and freezing rain, and it seemed a bit icy to risk it just for spin class. I ended up doing an experiment, trying something I read in my Bicycling training journal. I ran up all the stairs in my house (not the lower level, which is carpeted) for 20 minutes. I ran up and walked down, according to the plan. There's about 30 steps, in total.
I liked it! True intervals, and I was able to alternate my starting foot, so that alleviated any issues I might have with my body. So, with a warm up and stretching afterwards, it was 30 minutes.
Need to set up my trainer tomorrow. Any riding I do outside will be on my Guru and my new bike will be on the trainer.

[Crankin]

Yesterday, when I got to the gym, the guy who is supposed to open never arrived. Our instructor does not have the key. So, at 5:35 she knocked on all of the car windows of the class members, and said we would start outside. Thankfully, the cold front was just starting to move in, so it wasn't that cold, about 37 and a full moon. I had my packable down jacket on and gloves, but no hat. Anyway, we did that for about 15-20 minutes until someone who works there showed up with the key. It was funny to see the people who clearly never exercise outside in the cold. Lots of complaints.
I was exhausted yesterday, mostly from sleeping poorly Sunday night. When I got home at 7, I got in my pjs, ate dinner, and got into bed. I am resting today, although I may do some yoga when I get home. Now I have to decide if tomorrow I go hiking with my bike group (in a not so exciting area around Walden Pond)/go to lunch or go to a very hard step and sculpt class at the gym. Given the temperatures outside and the fact the hikers are slow, I think I made my decision. My weight is really up, so it will help with that.