Excercise and Fitness X-treme

[TheLoneliestMonk]

This thread really needs to keep going, because it's part of my plan to motivate myself to keep up with my new routine. Hopefully it's just as helpful for others as well.

2.33 miles today! I hit my goal 2.28, and decided to keep going. still running 7.0 mph.

Bale, I wish I was the same way about cardio. I just get so boooored. listening to the Kinks' greatest hits while running today took care of that pretty well though.

anyone know whether or not treadmill running is easier? it seems like it would be because I'm working against the spinning tread as opposed to actually fighting inertia to get my fat ass moving.

[Ser Barry]

anyone know whether or not treadmill running is easier? it seems like it would be because I'm working against the spinning tread as opposed to actually fighting inertia to get my fat ass moving.

Treadmill running is not quite the same. You bounce up and down as the treadmill moves under you rather than propel yourself forward. It is like a cross between skipping and running. You employ slightly different muscles, more calf and less bum. It can lead to problems in your achilles or calf which you should monitor if you do go for it. It is obviously still great exercise but given the option then actual running is the way to go.

[Aemon Stark]

I really need to make myself run three times a week at least. I'd like to start training for a half marathon, though if worse comes to worse I'll just do another ten (and hopefully faster). That won't be until May, though, so I have a lot of time.

My major problem is just the weather. The fall is too variable - warmer one day, colder the next - and I haven't ever done much winter running. Something to get into. Any suggestions for clothing for the winter? It tends to be a windy time of year which is another issue. I might end up trying an indoor track - don't like treadmills, though. I'd sooner use a stationary bike, but I'm just going to use mine through the snow in the winter.

[Liffguard]

I've heard that for treadmill running it's advisable to set the incline to 2% or so to better simulate the demands of running on a stationary surface. I think that running on a flat treadmill over-emphasises the hamstrings and raising the incline helps to engage the quads more. Don't overdo the incline though, since that can put a lot of strain on the achilles.

[Eponine]

Outdoor running is less boring too, since the scenery changes. Some people do a lot of treadmill running in the winter and still have competitive running fitness in the spring when the weather is better. The one thing that I'd warn against is monotony- doing every run at the same pace and same incline.

Aemon, if it's cold and windy, invest in a running jacket and pants- go to a running store and try some on. Honestly, if you don't want to invest a lot into running clothes, a normal long-sleeved cotton shirt under the jacket will be fine- but layering cotton on cotton is pretty miserable.

[cjfshaw]

I like a hat and gloves for winter running, also what I do is wear a few layers for my upper body but under armour for my lower body to keep warm.

[Vethnar]

I'm sorry, V! I didn't mean to make you feel bad.

I know you didn't, and I appreciate that you told me about it.

Although consider---gout can be better than plantar fasciitis because there are ways to control it through diet and medication.

Perhaps you're right. I don't really know much about gout, it just sounded scary at first.

I guess the swelling of the ankle was surprising to me.

The symptoms keep developing in new and unexpected ways. Since yesterday, there is hardly any pain at all, neither under the heel nor around the ankle. The only thing I feel is a slight tingling sensation on the top of the foot, as if it is very mildly asleep. My ankle is no longer swollen, but the top of the foot is. The color of the foot is normal, or perhaps very slightly paler than normal, so the swelling seems to be caused by some other fluid than blood.

This morning I risked a very short (about 20-30 meters) semi-sprint to catch a bus. It felt OK, and doesn't seem to have made my foot worse.

For me, today is the trapeze. My mantra is "confidence and certainty." I will make my catches. I will make my catches. I am working on a skill called the whip right now, but thinking I may get to try a pullover-shoot today if my whips look good. I can't wait.

Yes, convincing yourself that you can do it is often half the challenge.

How did it go?

[Vethnar]

This thread really needs to keep going, because it's part of my plan to motivate myself to keep up with my new routine. Hopefully it's just as helpful for others as well.

I feel the same way.

anyone know whether or not treadmill running is easier?

Unfortunately, treadmills don't always measure speeds and distances very accurately. A friend of mine once managed to beat the 10,000 meters world record on a treadmill. He was very fit at the time, but nowhere near that fit. :)

Personally I find treadmill running much harder, for purely psychological reasons. It's just so boring that I feel extremely tired almost immediately.

[Isis]

If I had to run indoors I don't think I'd bother at all - being outside (and not stuck inside with other people) is what makes it so enjoyable.

Of course if you live somewhere with Proper Winters where you have snow in the ground for months then maybe outdoor running isn't an option. I think in that case I'd have to switch from running to something else.

[seastarr]

Yes, convincing yourself that you can do it is often half the challenge.

How did it go?

Hmmmm. I was 1 for 3 on my catches. Not so great. I did get the OK to start working on pullover-shoot, which means my whip form is good. Pullover shoot is going to take me another week to figure out in my body though.

One of my problems with my catches is that I lack confidence--an old problem of mine I thought had gone away long ago, and that I am shy and I just feel extremely weird gazing my catcher in the eye as you MUST to make the catches work.

That's actually why I started the ballroom dance lessons, to work on getting over being shy and having to look my partners in the eye---so that I could get better at doing it on the trapeze where it really has to be instinctual and automatic. It makes me feel squirmy just thinking about it.

[ztemhead]

If I had to run indoors I don't think I'd bother at all - being outside (and not stuck inside with other people) is what makes it so enjoyable.

Of course if you live somewhere with Proper Winters where you have snow in the ground for months then maybe outdoor running isn't an option. I think in that case I'd have to switch from running to something else.

I agree. When I run outside in Arizona in the summer, I tell myself that we have soldiers in Iraq wearing full combat gear in 120 degree heat walking around all day, so my little run isn't so bad. When I lived in Plattsburgh, NY, I ran outside all winter, regardless of sub zero temperatures and snow and ice covering the ground. Ah, to be young and foolish again; these days I'd be worried I'd be fallen and can't get up!

[cjfshaw]

I live in Philly, so we have snow for a few months a year. When I'm running out there in the cold and every breath hurts my lungs I think about the Rocky movies, lol.

[TheLoneliestMonk]

the scenery does relieve the monotony when running outside, but it doesn't motivate me at all because I could see it just as well walking. the threat of being flung into the wall behind me on a treadmill does wonders for motivation though. I think once I hit 3 miles on the treadmill, I'll start alternating with running outside. it's cooling off pretty nicely so I'm sure it will be pleasant.

[seastarr]

My ashtanga teacher has left me. This is so depressing. He's gone into hermit mode and will not be teaching for a while. That leaves me having to practice on my own in the morning, which is fine, except that means no learning of the second series until teacher decides he can come out of his shell and teach again.

Also, given that I teach others so much, sometimes I really enjoy just being someone's student, offering myself up to instruction and guidance without much need for impetus on my part. Of course, gaining autonomy in the practice is part of my lesson, so I am sure my teacher is being a little deliberate in cutting me off right now. Still, I feel a little abandoned.

[seastarr]

In this economy????

(cue laugh.)

Seriously, seastarr - that sucks. I would see this as a karmic opportunity to find a new teacher. This means that there is someone better out there.

The ashtanga ones who practice the traditional way are hard to find! I know of some other teachers I would like to work with, but they are pretty far away and I don't have time for a commute of 45 minutes in the morning, especially when class begins at 6:30 am, and I start seeing clients at 9 am.

Besides, I am weirdly loyal to my teachers. Once I have a teacher, they are my teacher.

Well, anyway, I am committed to keeping my practice going on my own. He said I could call him when I needed to learn the second series. That means I'd better have the primary series looking exceptional before I call him.

Triskele, I am glad virabhadrasana 1 is helping your back. That posture is a nice stretch for the psoas muscle, and it brings your back into extension to a limited amount. Other kinds of supported extension/backbends will probably feel good, too. Maybe ask your yoga teacher to show you some ideas?

Aside: I just tried some awesome new tea--rooibus lavender. It's delicious, a good "have tea instead of dessert" tea.

[Fleeing Finn]

I think that running on a flat treadmill over-emphasises the hamstrings and raising the incline helps to engage the quads more.

Actually it does the opposite. I made post about this subject a few threads back. Let's hope this time I won't start a similar farce. Treadmill eliminates the pulling part of propelling the body forward because the belt pulls your leg back for you and thus you only need to push with the quads to stay on the machine. Running on the treadmill neglects the hamstrings which isn't a problem for most people but might in some cases result to knee pain due to imbalance between antagonist muscles.

Running outside during winter is such a pain in the ass because of the ice (and to some extent the cold searing your lungs). Years ago I did some interval training in the early morning no matter the weather. Sprinting downhill on an icy slope when it's still dark outside isn't too smart but certainly serves to wake you up. On a sidenote I wonder why people tend to be so stupid regarding their own training. Reflecting back on some of the things I've done it makes me cringe.

[cjfshaw]

Why is it that cold air hurts to breathe in? Is it just something to do with the way your body sense a fast temperature swing or something?

[Fleeing Finn]

Why is it that cold air hurts to breathe in? Is it just something to do with the way your body sense a fast temperature swing or something?

In addition to being cold (duh), cold air is also very dry. During exertion you breathe heavily because you need more oxygen. A few things happen here. First of all the cold air will cool down and also dry the airways of the respiratory system. This in turn causes the airways to contract making it more cumbersome to breathe. The cooling down, drying and contraction of the airways is of course magnified by the intense inhaling during exercise to the point where it starts to hurt.

[Isis]

Your lungs DO NOT like inspired gases to be dry and cold. It's not efficient.

I'm way too old and sensible to do anything insane like sprinting on icy surfaces. I'm one of those people who are incredibly paranoid about accidents - I see potential accidents everywhere I look!

[TheLoneliestMonk]

After a day off, I went back to the gym with a vengence this morning. 3x5 squats and standing press for 150 and 65 respectively, then a set of 5 deadlifts at 165.

Following that, I ran 2.4 miles at 7.0 mph on the treadmill. Im not to happy to find out that the treadmill emphasises my quads, since squats do too, and I dont do anything for my calves or ham strings really. oh well, hopefully it's better than not running at all.

Running afte squats still sucks, but I'm sticking with it at least till I fail at a run.

ETA: Also, I weighed myself after my workout, and I was 199. I think I'm going to start doing this every monday to make sure I'm not gaining or losing weight really fast.