Now on the surface, I am a bit disappointed when I say I only ran two laps, but in reality, I am glad that I ran even though it was only two laps. You see, a while ago, when I got busy doing something and wasn't ready to start my workout on time, I might have been inclined to simply skip it. I would have wondered at the value of only having a few minutes or only going a lap or two. The fact that it was suddenly 20 minutes after 6 and I hadn't left for my run yet would have been a deterrent. But now, I recognize that all activity is good and even better than the activity itself is maintaining a habit. If I allowed myself to skip the workout, then I might be more inclined to do it again the next day and progressively, I would get away from doing it all together. So, today I only did 2 laps at the track, but a total of 1.55 miles. It was good to get out. I need to get moving earlier so that I can fit in more in the future.
Yesterday, I was more successful - I did sprint intervals. I started with a one lap warm up run, did sprint intervals for 4 laps (1 mile) and then wrapped up with one lap cool down run. It felt great. I haven't had a chance to see how fast my sprint was, but I know that I was much slower on the walk between sprints - suggesting to me that I was going faster on my sprint. I really think that it is helping me with my overall speed and breath control. There is something about pushing yourself routinely that changes you.
Eating was a challenge yesterday. I did really good until we came home from the soccer game. I was feeling munchy and found some Cheddar Jack Cheez-It. Yum! Normally, I control myself and have just one small bowl of crackers. Last night, it was three! Not only that, but I had a glass of wine (a tall one, the bottle was almost out and I couldn't leave that little bit behind) with them. It was yummy and it is okay to have a treat on occasion.
Hoping that the eating is better controlled today. I don't think I can stay away from the Cheez-Its, but hopefully I can have just one bowl.
Showing posts with label sprints. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sprints. Show all posts
Friday, August 31, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Sprints!
When I headed up to the track this morning, it was on the edge of dark. This is going to be a challenge. I am going to have to find someone that I can meet at the track each day or I am going to simply run out of 'morning' time to run before work. I may have to return to running in the neighborhood if I want to still run. At least in the neighborhood there is random traffic, street lights, people walking dogs, getting their paper, etc. So, even if it is a bit pre-dawn out with only a glimmer of pink on the horizon, it seems less so.
I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do at the track today. Yesterday, I pushed myself to run the whole time and was able to get in 6 straight laps of running. Today, I started with a walk, not to mention my journey up was slower than normal. Part way around, I decided that I would match yesterday's run with sprint intervals. So, I wound up walking 1/2, doing 6 laps of sprint intervals, running 1/2 lap. I wound up doing 1/4 mile more in distance, but since I started the sprints in the middle of a lap, I didn't have a choice if I wanted to meet my goal. Here is my run chart:
You can't tell on this one, but when I run my mouse along the path in Runkeeper at the dips (the peak of my sprint) there were several where my pace was about a 6:35 minute mile and even one that went down to 6:27 minute mile. Awesome! When I just run, I tend to be between a 9:20 and 10:30 minute mile. The interesting thing is that overall, my pace is very similar, whether running the whole time or doing sprint intervals the whole time. My walking recovery between each sprint leg drags me down just the right amount to match a run.
The workout felt great.
I did okay with eating yesterday, until we went to my daughter's kindergarten picnic. There was pepperoni pizza and then there were ice cream sundaes. I couldn't help myself. I would like to say that I will be more focused today, but it is my son's birthday and he wants to go out for dinner. I will have to be conscientious and make sure that I make good decisions. Enjoy being out but make wise choices.
The scale simply chose not to respond yesterday. I keep thinking, if I had skipped the second piece of pizza or the sundae, it would have been a move in the right direction. I still am trying to recover back to the low.
I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do at the track today. Yesterday, I pushed myself to run the whole time and was able to get in 6 straight laps of running. Today, I started with a walk, not to mention my journey up was slower than normal. Part way around, I decided that I would match yesterday's run with sprint intervals. So, I wound up walking 1/2, doing 6 laps of sprint intervals, running 1/2 lap. I wound up doing 1/4 mile more in distance, but since I started the sprints in the middle of a lap, I didn't have a choice if I wanted to meet my goal. Here is my run chart:
The workout felt great.
I did okay with eating yesterday, until we went to my daughter's kindergarten picnic. There was pepperoni pizza and then there were ice cream sundaes. I couldn't help myself. I would like to say that I will be more focused today, but it is my son's birthday and he wants to go out for dinner. I will have to be conscientious and make sure that I make good decisions. Enjoy being out but make wise choices.
The scale simply chose not to respond yesterday. I keep thinking, if I had skipped the second piece of pizza or the sundae, it would have been a move in the right direction. I still am trying to recover back to the low.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Wednesday & Thursday
Well, well, here it is Thursday already. The time seems to go so fast. I always feel like I have a lot I want to accomplish but never seem to have the time to actually make it a reality. Of course, some times, I am my own worse enemy when it comes to time. I have this ability to get lost in something and realize that what I had meant to do for a few minutes turned into a lot more.
Wednesday when I woke up, I was thinking to myself, I need to mix it up. I thought, you know I have heard that interval training is more effective at losing weight and burning fat. I decided that since I have been plateauing for a couple of weeks now that I needed to find something to make a difference. I headed up to the track and formulated a plan. I decided that rather than running the whole time, I would walk some. Then, I decided that I would walk, but I would do sprints intermixed with it. By the time I arrived, I had a plan. I decided that I would alternate a lap of running with a lap that I alternated Sprint-Walk-Sprint-Walk. I was at the track for a total of 6 laps. I was able to 'make up' enough time in my sprints that even with walking, my pace was the same for the total outing as when I run the duration. And, it felt GOOD! I can't remember the last time that I ran all out. There was something about feeling the wind in my face and feeling my legs strive to make it down the straight away, that was amazing. By the time I was done with the 6 laps, I was spent. It was great. Scientifically, I can't demonstrate that the workout was better or worse, but it sure felt like I burnt more calories.
Eating wasn't bad yesterday. I had sushi for lunch, it was yummy, but more calories than I normally eat for lunch. It also left me hungry and mid-afternoon, I had a snack of cheese and crackers (fortunately I had a meeting with a snack break). This of course, was also out of character and suddenly, it was dinner time and I had not as many calories available. We were grilling out, so I went with a hot dog with no bun for my main dish. It saved me 110 calories over a burger, saved me the 90 calories of cheese and the 140 calories of bun - 340 calories saved.
Wednesday was a recovery day for me on the 30 Day Ab Challenge, because I am off by a day. I think that I might have tweaked a pectoral muscle the day before doing the plank with a grab a ball move. It was sore (still is), so it was probably best that I had the day off.
Thursday I woke up at 1:30 am in the morning to the sound of rain and thunder. I got up at my normal time and was planning to work out at home, but when I checked the weather and it was not supposed to rain for a while, I decided I should get out. Since it was 77 and VERY humid, I went with a walk for today. I think this was wise, I was splashing my leg with the water that was on the track.
The scale did respond to my workout yesterday (at least that is what I will claim). After a couple weeks of plateaus, I was down 1/2# since last time I recorded my weight - but 2# from yesterday.
Wednesday when I woke up, I was thinking to myself, I need to mix it up. I thought, you know I have heard that interval training is more effective at losing weight and burning fat. I decided that since I have been plateauing for a couple of weeks now that I needed to find something to make a difference. I headed up to the track and formulated a plan. I decided that rather than running the whole time, I would walk some. Then, I decided that I would walk, but I would do sprints intermixed with it. By the time I arrived, I had a plan. I decided that I would alternate a lap of running with a lap that I alternated Sprint-Walk-Sprint-Walk. I was at the track for a total of 6 laps. I was able to 'make up' enough time in my sprints that even with walking, my pace was the same for the total outing as when I run the duration. And, it felt GOOD! I can't remember the last time that I ran all out. There was something about feeling the wind in my face and feeling my legs strive to make it down the straight away, that was amazing. By the time I was done with the 6 laps, I was spent. It was great. Scientifically, I can't demonstrate that the workout was better or worse, but it sure felt like I burnt more calories.
Eating wasn't bad yesterday. I had sushi for lunch, it was yummy, but more calories than I normally eat for lunch. It also left me hungry and mid-afternoon, I had a snack of cheese and crackers (fortunately I had a meeting with a snack break). This of course, was also out of character and suddenly, it was dinner time and I had not as many calories available. We were grilling out, so I went with a hot dog with no bun for my main dish. It saved me 110 calories over a burger, saved me the 90 calories of cheese and the 140 calories of bun - 340 calories saved.
Wednesday was a recovery day for me on the 30 Day Ab Challenge, because I am off by a day. I think that I might have tweaked a pectoral muscle the day before doing the plank with a grab a ball move. It was sore (still is), so it was probably best that I had the day off.
Thursday I woke up at 1:30 am in the morning to the sound of rain and thunder. I got up at my normal time and was planning to work out at home, but when I checked the weather and it was not supposed to rain for a while, I decided I should get out. Since it was 77 and VERY humid, I went with a walk for today. I think this was wise, I was splashing my leg with the water that was on the track.
The scale did respond to my workout yesterday (at least that is what I will claim). After a couple weeks of plateaus, I was down 1/2# since last time I recorded my weight - but 2# from yesterday.
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