It's Friday AND the first day of Summer! Yay! I hope everyone enjoys it. For some reason, I ended up at the gym instead of a lovely first-day-of-summer run outdoors. It was a bit muggy and Dallas wanted to run on the treadmill, so I relented and decided to make the most of my long run and enjoy zoning-out while running. I love the lake pond view and watching the ripples in the water and the reflection of the clouds.
So I was thinking (by now you should know this usually means a ramble...) about why THIS scares me so much:
The free weights area. I have no idea what my dealio is, but I keep SAYING I'm going to cross train and do some lifting and then I don't. A few reasons, I think. The first and most obvious is that I'm obsessed with running. I try to schedule cross training days, put myself in old sports bras and bad socks (trying to deter myself from running) and still end up running instead of cross training. I KNOW I need to do it and that it will better my running in the long run, but I just don't wanna!
*said in my best pout/whiny voice*
The second reason would be that I prefer the weight machines. For some reason these are less intimidating. I feel like walking over to that area and grabbing free weights puts me on display somehow. I like my corner on the treadmill, facing out to the lake where I feel totally alone and can pretend no one else is watching. Does anyone else feel this way? Sigh. I just need to schedule the days and DO IT. *shudder*
So! Despite all my thinking, it was a fantastic run this morning. I wanted to get a longer run in before my weekend got crazybusy with petsitting. I pushed just a bit to speed up my pace. I did 5 miles in 53 minutes, which I think is one of my fastest 5 mile runs. Felt fantastic! I had to clean up my mess afterwards, I dripped sweat all over the place. Yep. I took a picture! LOL
am I the only person that sweats profusely? I was seriously completely soaked. I came home and enjoyed a big glass of chocolate almond milk. YUMMY!
Now I'm ready for the weekend, which means work...but it involves all sorts of furry-lovey-snuggly-pets, so I'm looking forward to it! I love my job.
I hope everyone has a fantastic jump into Summer and a great weekend. Any special Summery plans?
Do you have trouble making yourself cross train? Any suggestions? What's your favorite cross training activity?
I am SOOO bad at cross training. I always say I will, but it ends up being a few sets of push ups and sit ups. I used to love doing the 30 Day Shred, but that was because I needed a big fitness boost in general. The free weights area at the gym scare me. I just feel like I'm doing it all wrong and I just feel awkward. :)
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I'm not the only one! LOL! I've heard of the 30 Day Shred, but haven't looked into it so I don't know what it entails.
DeleteIt's one of Jillian Michaels' DVD programs. She was/is a trainer on the Biggest Loser. I really like the program because it has a bit of everything- strength and cardio. You use free weights, but they can be pretty light (I use 5 lbs). It's non-stop for 20 minutes and kicks my butt every time. I think it's the alternation between the different moves that really help. Check out youtube to try it out. :)
DeleteDoes she yell at you?!?! LOL. I have to admit, her personality was a bit abrasive the last time I saw her. 20 minute butt-kicking sounds nice though...and fast! I'll look into it, thanks!
DeleteLOL. She doesn't yell at you like a drill sergeant, but she offers strong encouragement. It's great that it doesn't take up a lot of time. Perfect for the mornings when I'm too lazy to get out and run. ;)
DeleteI cannot stand the machines and free weights at the gym I always feel like a lost child lol! For cross training, I like a trainer telling me what to do, but I also do not want to pay for one, so that's why I use workout DVD's :) They are great!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your long run today, you killed it!!
Chocolate almond milk is so awesome, most people look at me with disgusted faces when I tell them I drink almond milk LOL
Ha! Another almond milk drinker! I use regular for my coffee as well. I should look into some DVD's, but I kind of like leaving the house to do my running/workouts, so I'm not sure how that would work. We do have some weights that the boys use, I could at least do THAT...but yet I don't. LOL
DeleteFor some reason facing out the window makes me feel MORE on display than facing the room. I think because when I'm facing the room I can see that everyone is doing their own thing and don't really care about me but when I have my back to the room I just can't help but IMAGINE that people are looking at me and judging. It took me a few times forcing myself to face the room to realize this though so perhaps after you just do it a couple of times you won't be as intimidated by it. Fake it till you make it! LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure, I'm ok when I'm on the elliptical facing out, so it is probably just a thing about not wanting to look like I don't know what I'm doing with the weights. LOL. They just intimidate me for some reason!
DeleteI have trouble with the gym and machines in general because I feel totally on display. well that and a treadmill accident last year...
ReplyDeletei envy the fact that you can get on the treadmill and just go. the heat index is up over 90 in the cooler parts of the day here... i could really use a treadmill and AC to help motivate me to train... but all that running to get nowhere... my mind just doesnt like it.
going to schedule in some xtraining too. i have a hard enough time motivating to run these days xtraining just feels like another "have to" instead of a "want to."
Yep, I just don't really have the motivation for the cross training because I don't love it like I do running. I have to have music when I'm on the treadmill, but occasionally I actually like to just zone out and go nowhere. Now, talk to me again in the middle of the winter when I'm having to do 10 miles on those things instead of out in the ice and I might have a different opinion! LOL
DeleteHey Karen,
ReplyDeleteI have actually been faithful to the weight training lately and quite happy with myself---and of course that is because of my injuries. It has made my doctors soooooo happy with me! And I was distinctively told NO MACHINES---they are unnatural, make your body do movements you wouldn't normally do, and can cause more strees to your joints than they are worth. And now that I'm back to running, I am only restricted by my breathing and cardiac conditioning----NOTHING HURTS when I run now (never thought I'd say that)---I'm just out of shape ;-)
WHO CARES what people think??? (I know, I do too. lol) but get in that mentality. You are ROCKING it running, don't run the risk of causing an injury because you aren't strength training. You were afraid of running and so worked up about your first 'real' 10K, right? You did fine, you will do fine with this too. Learn what you can about what you should do and go from there.
Message me if you need any info ;-)
Sharon
Sharon! I am SO HAPPY for you! It put a huge smile on my face to see that you are running with no pain. :) WTG on the training! I think my biggest problem is that I don't love it and I DO love running, so I blow it off so I can run. LOL. I need to just go on a rest day and get to the strength training!
DeleteOK, who among us LOVES squats and lunges and steps ups??? HATE THEM!!! as I think most women do :-( but they are excellent, simple moves that do nothing but strengthen the muscles needed for strong knees and stabilized running. Truly nothing advanced or intimidating about the most basic ones. You can do it, I bet if you found a program you like, you'd end up LOVING (ok, maybe 'not hating' is the right term :-o ) strength training too. I hate it before I do it, then I get on this high after I lift that "wow, look at me, I'm STRONG" :-)
DeleteSo here's my peer pressure for the day "come on, do it, EVERYONE else is; you know you want to. . . " (lol)
Ok! Ok! LOL. I know I can do it, I just have to commit to the time and I think I have a hard time committing to more than one thing at a time...and right now I'm committed to running. Dallas and I talked today about adding more gym days so we can do some cross training, so hopefully he'll help motivate me!
DeleteThat's how the treadmill looks when I'm finished, too. The only way I will lift weights is in my weights class. Without it, I will not do strength on my own!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one who drips all over the TM Rachel! LOL! I'm so not motivated to do it, I keep pouring all my energy into my running.
DeleteYUP! Can't get myself to commit to it...I have every opportunity to, I just avoid it like the plague. AND the kicker is I used to do the weights and such...not consistently but still more than what is happening now.
ReplyDeleteI can't figure out why other than possible laziness plus the same reason as you, I just would rather run!
I hope you have a blast with your furry clients this weekend!! Great job on that run too!! Keep up the awesome work!!
Thanks Meg! I need to just DO IT. Yep. It's not like it even takes that long! Yep, I'm gonna. Hold me to it! LOL
DeleteYou cracked me up with the old sports bra and bad socks comment! I do the exact same thing and still end up sneaking in at least a little running on my cross training days. And YUM to the dark chocolate almond milk. I started drinking it because my baby is lactose intolerant and I couldn't have dairy and now that he's weaned two years later, I can't stand the taste of regular milk any more.
ReplyDeleteTo your actual point, the best cross training I've managed is by signing up for a circuit training class. If your gym offers one AND you like the instructor, I'd highly recommend it. I've tried to recreate the sessions on my own when I can't make class and the workout is less effective and I have that weird random wandering around the gym feeling. The classes are incredibly hard but really effective and strangely fun!
Girl I know exactly how you feel! There's many aspects about the gym that intimidate me! Hope you have a great week! :0)
ReplyDeleteWeight training is so useful - and it helps to make you look great too! :p
ReplyDeleteCan you try doing a few personal training sessions? My gym offers free personal training so I was able to make a program with the trainers and then they showed me how to do every move. And they should be able to help you figure out a plan that doesn't interfere with running (like giving your legs a break before your long run!) and helps to improve it (strong core!)
If you switch from the machines to free weights, you can really feel the difference and see how much the machines let you slack off.
Thanks! Personal training session is probably not in the budget right now, but I do KNOW what I need to do, it's more of a motivation to DO IT that I lack! I'm headed to cross train this morning though, so step in the right direction!
DeleteI really enjoyed weight lifting more than any other cross training activity I've done. I would use the free weights, not the weight machines, because the proper range of motion is so much better.
ReplyDeleteAt first I was intimidated by going into the weight room with all the guys in there. But to be honest, they don't even pay attention to you. If anything, they give you props for being in there and working with the free weights. I never had any issues and always kept to myself and just did my own thing.
The best part? It helped my endurance with my cardio workouts. The muscles could take a beating longer and recover faster. Weight lifting is GREAT for runners!
I know it will just make my running better to cross train, so I just have to make myself do it! I'm headed to the gym this morning and I am going to brave the weights instead of the machines!
DeleteHow did it go?
DeleteLOL...uh...I ran instead. *hangs head in shame*
DeleteI have an awful aversion of weights as well! I am not really sure why but it's there...
ReplyDeleteWe even have some that I could use here at home. I think it's that I find them a bit boring? I did Body For Life quite a few years ago which is a 12 week program with lifting, so I know how to do it, I think I just burned myself out on it or something. It's hard to do something consistently when you don't LOVE it...at least for me!
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