Last week I stumbled across a website called Tribesport. It was advertised down the right side of my Facebook page. Being in advertising myself and having created a few hundred Facebook ads in my time I often disregard the advertising... especially as the hot favourite targetting me seems to be about body fat at the moment. I am incensed!
But the Tribesport ad was funky and begged me to click on it. So I did and ended up at the most incredible website. It's a community for like-minded people wanting to be and get fit. There's a lot of hard core fitness people on there and where once that would have been intimidating for me I am finding it inspirational. Especially since everyone there is positive and encouraging.
So, I have now signed up for five challenges - the easier one's while I am still nursing injuries. But they're a start - beginning with squats, crunches and improved balance (which my physio will approve of!). I'll let you know how I go. Wish me luck!
Showing posts with label running outdoors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running outdoors. Show all posts
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Friday, December 3, 2010
5K Roadblock
Last Sunday we finally conquered the 5km roadblock.
Normally we run around 4.7km on our regular run from home but it's so hilly that we have to slow to a walk on at least two of the hills. I have named the three big hills 'K2, Everest and the Mattahorn'. We have managed to scale K2 all the way but we are still struggling with the other two and so haven't managed a 5km run without slowing down yet.
But after the walk around Croydon athletics track for Relay for Life we decided to try running around the track to see if we could improve our running form.
And we did.
Athletic tracks are 400m around the inside lane, and according to various info on the net, the lanes are approximately 8m longer for each subsequent lane. So we calculated we would need to run 12 laps non-stop to conquer the mystical 5km roadblock.
So we went with the frame of mind to pace ourselves and simply get to the end of 5km without stopping. Around lap 8 I got the mother of all stitches but I pushed on, despite the severe head wind around the south side of the track, and at lap 10 suddenly got a second wind that enabled me to struggle in to the end and over the line with barely enough energy to really call it running. But I did it. Whether you would call it jogging or running doesn't matter. I didn't slow to a walk and although my red face factor broke all records I ran my first ever 5km.
Stats: heart rate = 177av, 186max, 32mins, 5km. Red face factor = 11.
Normally we run around 4.7km on our regular run from home but it's so hilly that we have to slow to a walk on at least two of the hills. I have named the three big hills 'K2, Everest and the Mattahorn'. We have managed to scale K2 all the way but we are still struggling with the other two and so haven't managed a 5km run without slowing down yet.
But after the walk around Croydon athletics track for Relay for Life we decided to try running around the track to see if we could improve our running form.
And we did.
Athletic tracks are 400m around the inside lane, and according to various info on the net, the lanes are approximately 8m longer for each subsequent lane. So we calculated we would need to run 12 laps non-stop to conquer the mystical 5km roadblock.
So we went with the frame of mind to pace ourselves and simply get to the end of 5km without stopping. Around lap 8 I got the mother of all stitches but I pushed on, despite the severe head wind around the south side of the track, and at lap 10 suddenly got a second wind that enabled me to struggle in to the end and over the line with barely enough energy to really call it running. But I did it. Whether you would call it jogging or running doesn't matter. I didn't slow to a walk and although my red face factor broke all records I ran my first ever 5km.
Stats: heart rate = 177av, 186max, 32mins, 5km. Red face factor = 11.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
X Trainer
Tonight when I got home it was too dark and wet to go running on my own, since my JP was off to a work Christmas dinner (already, and it's still only Nov!). I was disappointed at the thought of not getting out to run since we haven't been out since Sunday so I geared up and got on the cross trainer. After all I love my cross trainer... it has all the stats I need - speed, distance, calories, time; heart rate monitor (which doesn't work so well so I have to wear my wrist one anyway), a 3 speed fan, and best of all... and ipod dock with speakers!
BUT...
As I worked through the half hour I remembered why I can always find excuses to not use it. It's B O R I N G. I watched the screen to monitor my stats, I checked my heart rate monitor, I found 3 cobwebs on the ceiling, I studied the new cooling vent in the roof above me, I ran without my arms on the bars, I put the fan on, I increased the incline, I decreased the incline, I sped up the fan, rinse repeat. I eventually found myself gazing at the golden circle of reflected light in the wardrobe door. I contemplated what it would be like if I had a special talent whereby I could run super fast and wondered how quickly I could then run a kilometer in. I tried to lift my feet off the foot pads and wondered if I could actually fall off but decided my big wide shoe soles, made specially for flat footed duck feet such as I have, would probably prevent me from falling and injuring myself so I kept it up for another minute.
25 minutes to go. Oh boy this is going to need super powers of willpower to get through the tedium.
Now I understand part of the attraction of running outdoors. There's more to look at. There's more to puff about. The hills make it challenging - even despite the sweat I worked up as I notched up the incline on the trainer it just wasn't the same. And my feet. They hurt. I don't know if it was the new socks or the fact that your feet don't actually lift off the pads on a cross trainer (except for the above three minutes).
So of course when I got off I Googled cross trainers versus treadmills. We don't have a treadmill but maybe I should get one if the evidence suggests it is better. Surely it's more interesting than a cross trainer. Reports though are positive for both, with special emphasis on the non-impact nature of the trainer. I think it's back to outdoors for the next run and the beast that is the cross trainer can slumber till the next dark, rainy night.
Stats tonight: heart rate 165av, 187max, 332kcal, 30min. Red face factor: 8/10.
.
BUT...
As I worked through the half hour I remembered why I can always find excuses to not use it. It's B O R I N G. I watched the screen to monitor my stats, I checked my heart rate monitor, I found 3 cobwebs on the ceiling, I studied the new cooling vent in the roof above me, I ran without my arms on the bars, I put the fan on, I increased the incline, I decreased the incline, I sped up the fan, rinse repeat. I eventually found myself gazing at the golden circle of reflected light in the wardrobe door. I contemplated what it would be like if I had a special talent whereby I could run super fast and wondered how quickly I could then run a kilometer in. I tried to lift my feet off the foot pads and wondered if I could actually fall off but decided my big wide shoe soles, made specially for flat footed duck feet such as I have, would probably prevent me from falling and injuring myself so I kept it up for another minute.
25 minutes to go. Oh boy this is going to need super powers of willpower to get through the tedium.
Now I understand part of the attraction of running outdoors. There's more to look at. There's more to puff about. The hills make it challenging - even despite the sweat I worked up as I notched up the incline on the trainer it just wasn't the same. And my feet. They hurt. I don't know if it was the new socks or the fact that your feet don't actually lift off the pads on a cross trainer (except for the above three minutes).
So of course when I got off I Googled cross trainers versus treadmills. We don't have a treadmill but maybe I should get one if the evidence suggests it is better. Surely it's more interesting than a cross trainer. Reports though are positive for both, with special emphasis on the non-impact nature of the trainer. I think it's back to outdoors for the next run and the beast that is the cross trainer can slumber till the next dark, rainy night.
Stats tonight: heart rate 165av, 187max, 332kcal, 30min. Red face factor: 8/10.
.
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