Tag Archives: cardio

Rash Decisions

This has been a tough week for my body because I am currently in exams and I have been more sedentary than I have been in a long time. Lots of time sitting at a desk experiencing terrible cravings for obscene amounts of Starbucks, popcorn, and pizza. I made some decisions I am not proud of. Followed by strong urges for cardio. Sitting still for long periods of time is not conducive to getting jacked and I have already lost a few pounds of muscle. Two days until I get back to my normal workout schedule!

I feel like my body is a tower of Jenga blocks teetering in an awkwardly balanced state. With a face rash.

Flashback to high school and I’m  standing in a pharmacy with my dad trying to figure out how I got a red rashy face and how to fix it. Turns out my skin doesn’t get along well with salicylic acid. Go figure my face doesn’t like acid. If you need a good scare then read the ingredients in your face wash. And then wonder why you don’t have a face rash.

Under normal circumstances it is good advice to try new things but read the labels first.

On Thursday I went to see a woman who specializes in biomechanics and movement re-patterning desperately trying not to scratch the blatant overuse of makeup off my face. I was, of course, quick to point out the rash. I always seem to do that when I’m uncomfortable about something, as if the fact that I acknowledge it makes it much more acceptable or easier to look at. In a way it must be a good strategy because how can someone hold a flaw against you if you are already laughing about it. Not to say that upon meeting someone you should immediately air your dirty laundry or greet them with a “Hey, ask me about my rash”, but there is some logic in there somewhere. Good decisions, right?

First impressions are overrated.

Anyways, this woman was extremely intelligent and really quick to pick up on all the way that my body likes to move. After her assessment I have realised that my ankles are my pride and joy because those are about all that are functioning in any sort of logical, fluid way. I am really looking forward to seeing what kind of shape she can whip me into! I can hardly imagine operating a body that could squat and run without the inevitable Jenga tower collapse.

Since I was told to take a break from running, I seem to have boycotted all forms of cardio just to make my displeasure clear. It is about time that I get some cardio in after all this sitting and studying. I will get back to cardio tomorrow, 5 days until movement re-patterning again, and 10 days until the knee surgeon!

treerash

 

Advertisement
Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Olympic State of Mind

I just read an article about how us average folk are hitting the gym with an extra oomph to our workouts as we watch the Olympics and decide to train like Olympians ourselves. Although it was well written and it justified the author’s opinion, I disagree.

I am not even joking that I was going to blog about my surprise at the lack of energy in the gym during the Olympics. Athletes are displaying phenomenal strengths and skills on screens throughout the gym as members intently watch their own reflections doing bodyweight calf raises.

This article is concerned that people can’t train like Olympians and will get hurt. First of all, where are these people? Secondly, without intending to be rude, let me just say that the average person does not know how Olympians train and Google can only help them so much. Unless you don’t work and have access to an extremely talented (enter sport here) coach then you are out of luck. Unless someone brings their hockey stick to practise their wrist shot, or sings the national anthem before they start, I don’t think we should panic. Safety in the gym is always a concern but enthusiasm translating into intensity sounds good to me.

Let’s talk about something that is much more dangerous: watching the Olympics while doing cardio. I felt good, had new music on my iPod, and after 45 minutes of weights, I headed to the treadmill for a 20 minute run.

Some things you I would like to share about myself: I have a background in dance, a little bit in figure skating, and I’m a spaz when I’m excited.

And I turned on the Olympics just in time to watch the ice dance finals. You know how when you’re talking to someone who is shocked and your face makes a shocked face too? I did the body language version of this. In public. While trying to run. My limbs were completely out of control and I was careening around as much as the treadmill would let me. By the time I was ready to get off, I wasn’t sure if my increased heart rate was from the run or from the nerves of competing in the ice dance against the TV.

If anything, we should be concerned for the people who are training while watching and not those channeling their Olympic state of mind into their workouts. Treadmills should be off limits for the gold medal hockey game …

hurdle

Tagged , , , , , , , ,

One Year + One Week + One Day

Today my roots of running resurfaced as I set a new PB for my leg workout. The same death defying workout (not actually but my quads will say otherwise) from last week, except I heaved to completion in almost fifteen minutes less time. In theory, it seems like less time means less pain however that assumption would be incorrect, as I tested this morning.

Cardio strength training is making a re-appearance to my program (unbelievably, no this was not it yet) so I have scheduled myself in with another trainer, R, tomorrow to workout. I am really focused on learning all that I can and so far this year, I can proudly say I have already soaked up so much more about fitness, training, and nutrition. Luckily, I have some co-workers who are dedicated, selfless promoters of all things fitness and I feel like I am standing on the shoulders of giants.

Side note: If anyone has any suggestions how to thank a person for sharing daily life-altering wisdom, I would love to hear it. All I have got so far is the priceless stuff… as in, actually priceless, like high fives and shouts across the gym such as: “YOU DA MAN”!

I am getting excited to start running again to see what a difference my strength makes. I already notice a substantial difference in my strength and in my body composition which feels rewarding enough. Well, I guess not enough, because I am still charging ahead.

There are 14 weeks until I race again.

If I needed a good omen then I found it: this race- to be exact- will be one year, one week, and one day after my surgery.

Let’s do this, PB.

change

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,
%d bloggers like this: