The gym without time constraints is a rare joy.
Weekday workouts are tightly controlled. Before work, the window between sleep and commute is small and heavily weighted toward sleep. In the evening, the call of dinner is strong, putting strict limits on my motivation to exercise. Weekends are good for a long day of focused activity, but the pressure of errands wedged into the remainder of the day adds an element of tension to what should be a relaxed and carefree experience.
So when a work holiday gives me a weekday at the gym with no other constraints on my day, I revel in it.
This Friday, after a nice oatmeal breakfast, I rode my bike down to the gym. Arriving 30 minutes early to ensure I got a spot in the 9:15 spin class, I warmed up on the elliptical watching cable TV. Cable motivates, even old Nicolas Cage movies I've already seen, like on Friday, or re-runs of Matlock, a 6:00 am gym pleasure.
At 9:05, it was time to set up the bike. I always choose a bike in the front row so I can stare myself down during high-intensity intervals. I look blurry without my glasses, but I can imaging the dare in my eyes. Not being a daytime regular at the gym, I didn't know Friday's instructor. He did a little too much chatting for my tastes - I prefer to get right down to business - but he got my heart rate up. During our highest-intensity hill interval, he urged us along, encouraging us to think of why we were there. I visualized IRON and I thought about how far I've come over the years, and I pushed even harder up the hill. I got a little choked up by it all!
I put some good effort in for the 55-minute class, and stayed for the 30-minute core strength class directly after, leaving around 11:00 am. Over 2 hours working out - unheard of on a weekday! I left feeling tired, hungry, carefree, and satisfied. Couldn't ask for more!
Weekday workouts are tightly controlled. Before work, the window between sleep and commute is small and heavily weighted toward sleep. In the evening, the call of dinner is strong, putting strict limits on my motivation to exercise. Weekends are good for a long day of focused activity, but the pressure of errands wedged into the remainder of the day adds an element of tension to what should be a relaxed and carefree experience.
So when a work holiday gives me a weekday at the gym with no other constraints on my day, I revel in it.
This Friday, after a nice oatmeal breakfast, I rode my bike down to the gym. Arriving 30 minutes early to ensure I got a spot in the 9:15 spin class, I warmed up on the elliptical watching cable TV. Cable motivates, even old Nicolas Cage movies I've already seen, like on Friday, or re-runs of Matlock, a 6:00 am gym pleasure.
At 9:05, it was time to set up the bike. I always choose a bike in the front row so I can stare myself down during high-intensity intervals. I look blurry without my glasses, but I can imaging the dare in my eyes. Not being a daytime regular at the gym, I didn't know Friday's instructor. He did a little too much chatting for my tastes - I prefer to get right down to business - but he got my heart rate up. During our highest-intensity hill interval, he urged us along, encouraging us to think of why we were there. I visualized IRON and I thought about how far I've come over the years, and I pushed even harder up the hill. I got a little choked up by it all!
I put some good effort in for the 55-minute class, and stayed for the 30-minute core strength class directly after, leaving around 11:00 am. Over 2 hours working out - unheard of on a weekday! I left feeling tired, hungry, carefree, and satisfied. Couldn't ask for more!
Week 2 Mileage
Tuesday, 11/20 Extra rest day (shhhh) Wednesday, 11/21 Spin - 55 minutes Thursday, 11/22 Nitro Turkey Trot - 6.2 miles, 54 minutes Friday, 11/23 Spin - 55 minutes Core - 30 minutes Saturday, 11/24 Swim - 55 minutes Run - 5.5 miles, 55 minutes Sunday, 11/25 Cycle - 2 hours, 30 minutes, 35 miles | Totals: Swim: 55 minutes Bike: 4 hours, 20 minutes (35 miles) Run: 1 hour, 50 minutes (11.7 miles) Core: 30 minutes |