Different gym

This morning I went to the next closest gym for my early workout. Some of the early morning crew from the other gym was there, but not everyone. Oh well!

Did 60 minutes on the elliptical machine.

Combination

This morning I did 22 min. on the treadmill for 1.66 miles, then 30 minutes on the elliptical. I'm dragging a little today, partly because I returned to work for a while after supper last night. I don't feel very refreshed today.

They're moving all the cardio and weight machines out of my gym today; only the pool will be available tomorrow, and at reduced hours. I'll decide on another place to work out in the morning.

Back to the elliptical

I did 65 minutes on the elliptical today, the longest I've stayed on there for quite a while. I can feel it in my legs! I plan to get back on the treadmill tomorrow.

Thursday will be the last day my gym is open. While it's not the best in town, I've got a lot of "sweat equity" there. Over the weekend I mentioned to George that I'm a little sad that it's closing, partly because of the convenience, but also because I've been through a lot there, pre and post-hospital, including a lot of early mornings. George chuckled, saying it sounded like the reason some people give for being sad over a human relationship breakup..."We've been through so much together!" I'll still have other decent places to do my early morning workout, so I won't fret. I wonder if the rest of the early morning crowd I've seen there will transfer over to the other branch of the gym.

Tired today

This morning I did 35 minutes on the elliptical, decided that was enough. I ended up doing a second workout yesterday, a hard 40 minutes on the elliptical at the Duke Fitness Center, on top of yesterday morning's 40-minute run. My body feels like it needs a rest today.

Progress on the Treadmill

Today I ran for 40 minutes on the treadmill, and surpassed the 3-mile mark, clocking 3.04 miles. It took a pretty good push for me to push past 3 miles in that time, so I have more training to do before I can run a 5K in under 40 minutes. I expect I'll be able to pull it off sometime this year, though.

I also played with the incline feature on the treadmill, going between .5% and 1%. The treadmill calculated vertical feet for my workout, 75 ft. today.

I tried to do the treadmill's "fit test" AFTER my workout, and could only go for three minutes before I aborted it. I'll try it again soon.

More running

This morning I spent 30 minutes running on the treadmill (2.21 mi), then 20 minutes on the elliptical. I can tell I've work out, but I don't feel as wiped out as I did after my 45-minute run a couple days ago. Guess I need to work my way back up to that time more slowly.

I've been checking out some half marathon training programs online, and the ones for running start with the premise that the person has been running 30 minutes 3-4 times a week for a while to buld the endurance base. Although I have a pretty decent endurance base with the elliptical work, I need to fine-tune it some more with the running, it sounds like.

Tired

I had a short workout this morning, only 15 minutes on the elliptical. I'm feeling especially tired today, both from yesterday's harder workout (I think) and getting to bed late several nights this week. Work has also been especially busy this week, to boot. At my check-in at the Rice Diet this morning, the nurse commented that I looked tired today. She suggested taking it a little easier on the exercise until I feel more rested. I need to get to bead at a decent time tonight!

Speaking of the Rice Diet, a couple of people returned this week who were there soon after I started. We recognized each other, and they were very complimentary and encouraging. That's helped perk me up! :)

New mark!

This morning I ran 45 minutes on the treadmill, for 3.30 miles! While I've run 45 + minutes on 5K race days, this is the first time I've run that far in training. 3.3 miles is the farthest I've run in over 20 years, to boot! I knkow, I know, it's not much farther than the 5Ks I've been doing the past year, but still, a nice mark for me to break. As I type, my leg muscles are kinda sore, and I bet I'll have a lighter workout tomorrow, but that's okay. Yippee! Now I really feel like I'm heading toward 10k races and beyond!

Elliptical and treadmill

This morning I did 25 minutes on the treadmill for 1.71 miles, and then 40 minutes on the elliptical. I felt strong througout the workout. Felt good being back at my normal morning gym for now, too. I have become a creature of routine in some ways!

Ooops, gym NOT closed

Found out today at the other gym that my close-by gym isn't closed yet, it just wasn't opened on time yesterday! It's a bit of a relief, and I'm looking forward to getting back over there in the morning. Meanwhile, I walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes today, for 1.60 miles, and then did 10 minutes on the elliptical.

Gym closed

It appears that the gym closest to me has closed. This morning, I got there about 7:30, and it wasn't unlocked as it usually is at 7:00. I'd heard that it was closing May 18, then that it was going to stay open a couple of weeks longer while the Chapel Hil location worked on its pool. WhenI asked the front desk staff earlier this week when they were closing, they said they didn't know. Today, nothing. No sign on the door or anything. (I don't know if it was open yesterday or not, as I worked out at the Duke Fitness Center yesterday.) *sigh* I'll miss the convenience and pretty decent hours of this gym that's closed.

I decided to hit the cross country trail instead this morning, and it was great to get some exercise outside. Did the 3-mile trail in 58 minutes. Nothing great, time-wise, but I didn't sleep well last night, and that probably factored in.

Longer on the treadmill!

This morning I did 35 minutes on the treadmill, for 2.40 miles. It was a good stretch for me! Afterward, I did 30 minutes on the elliptical. Good workout, though I'm kinda sore and tired now. Wish I could take a nap, but I need to keep on keepin' on.

Back to 60 Minutes

I did 60 minutes on the elliptical this morning, tried going backwards a little more this time.

Time at the Rice House has been interesting lately. I've been trying to move around a bit to sit with different people at meal time. It amazes me what people will say about what I eat, eventhough it's all on the program. One thing I hear a lot with newer people, as well as returning Ricers I'm meeting for the first time is, "You're eating THAT? For BREAKFAST?" To hear them, I may as well be a child getting caught eating a bag of potato chips and salsa for breakfast, when all it is is brown rice, TVP, chopped onions, a little wheat bran and balsamic vinegar. All mixed up, it tastes good to me, and is filling! (Of course, I have my fruit with the meal too, but don't mix that in.) Now some people I sit with are intrigued and say they'll have to try it (bit maybe for a different meal!). I just have to remember to be okay with doing my own healthy thing!

ANother half marathon to shoot for

I just learned about the Thunder Road Marathon and Half Marathon in Charlotte on December 8. The timing of this could be even better than the others I've been thinking about, as it gives me a little longer to train, as well as lose weight, and being the weekend after my birthday, it would be a great weekend away, as well as a nice way to celebrate turning another year older.

Wednesday Elliptical

This morning I did 30 minutes on the elliptical, back at my regular gym. Missed a longer workout, but set my alarm incorrectly. Thankfully, I woke up in time to get to the gym anyway! It did feel good to wake up fairly early naturally, even if it wasn't as early as I wanted.

Different location

This morning I decided to go to a different branch of my gym, and found several of my old early morning buddies there. I still do like the machines there as much, but I did do 30 minutes of cardio. First I did a 5-minute Fit Test on the treadmill (38/"good"), then another 5 minutes on the treadmill, followed by 20 minutes on the elliptical.

Short workout

This morning I felt out of sorts, tried the treamill but just couldn't get into it. I ended up doing 10 minutes on the elliptical, 5 minutes on the bike, 5 minutes on the elliptical again, and 10 minutes of strength training. Nothing like a little cross-training to shake things up.

More jogging

I jogged for 25 minutes on the treadmill this morning, for 1.70 miles. It feels great to be improving, both in time and in distance. Got the pace up to 4.2, a little over 14 minutes per mile, and a little faster pace than my last 5k. Can't wait to hit 3 miles on the treamill. In time, I'm increase the speed in addition to adding incline.

On the elliptical, I worked on going backwards for several minutes, interspersed with going forward. I didn't last very long in the backwards motion, a sign I need to build up my endurance and those muscles.

I tried to go to a different Peak Fitness branch this morning for a change of scenery at the gym, but it didn't open until 10 AM, and I wanted to go ahead and work out.

Weekend workout

Although I work out every weekend, I don't always have time to blog on the weekends. (too, my home computer doesn't work.) Today I find myself in front of the computer for a few minutes.

I spent 65 minutes on the elliptical this morning. Was hoping to run outside today, but it ws rainy outside. Truth be told, I was a little relieved, as I'm drooping today. Had a tiring week.

More treadmill

This morning I did 20 minutes on the treadmill for 1.28 miles, then 40 miles on the elliptical. The treadmill time felt surprisingly okay, so I'm looking forward to building my time and mileage slowly. I'm a little sore now, but not too bad.

I probably won't do the race in Greensboro tomorrow. I caught up on a little sleep last night, but I'm still a bit on the tired side. Plus, I've got plenty to do around here. I'm looking toward the Race for the Cure on June 9.

More sleep

I got some more sleep last night, but not quite enough. I had a Junior League meeting last night and didn't get home til nearly 10. Not much time to unwind before crawling into bed.

I did do 45 minutes on the elliptical machine this morning.

Short workout

I didn't get to bed until midnight last night, so I had a short workout this morning, only 20 minutes....15 minutes on the elliptical and 5 minutes on the treadmill. I'll get to bed earlier tonight by default, though I do have a Junior League meeting to do tonight.

I'm thinking about doing a 5K on Saturday in Greensboro.

Back on the elliptical

I got back on the elliptical this morning for 60 minutes. Soon, the early morning gym I've been going to will close. I'll miss the convenience, but I'll make it work with another nearby gym.

I took a couple of big trashbags of too-big clothes to the Rice House this morning, for a clothing drive going on there. Good feeling!!

Running on the Treadmill

This morning I actually ran on the treadmill for 15 minutes, did 0.91 miles. It's a start, but I still have a long way to go toward 13.1 miles! I actually enjoyed the treadmill this morning, though, much to my surprise. It's been the "dreadmill" to me, haven're enjoyed it much in the past. Would've gone further, but my stomach was a little unsettled this morning, so Nature called. I hope to get some walking in around campus today.


Yesterday afternoon I picked up a copy of Marathoning for Mortals, by John Bingham and Jenny Hadfield. (Bingham does a monthly column in "Runner's World" that I enjoy alot. He also wrote a book called No Need for Speed: A Beginner's Guide to the Joy of Running, that my sister gave me for Christmas.) I really like Bingham's writing style and approach to running. Think it'll be a good book for me to read as I wrap my head around the thought of doing a half marathon.

Weekend workouts

Yesterday I did 65 minutes on the elliptical, then 5 minutes of stregth training. This morning I did another 65 minutes on the elliptical. (Dud over 7000 steps and burned over 700 calories, plus I went 5.1 miles! Really pushed it this morning!) Glad it's a Sunday. I've just finished breakfast at the Rice House. I think I'm going to play hookie from church this morning, and instead go home and curl up with a good book, maybe take a nap. I'm a little tired.

More exercise

Last evening, for the second in a row, I went around the East Campus wall. I jogged most of it, probably 80%. Took me 30 minutes. My next goal is to jog all the way around once. Then I'll add on.

This morning I did 50 minutes on the elliptical. Still a little sore from the extra evening exercise.

Half Marathon?

I'm thinking about working toward the Rex Healthcare Half-Marathon in Raleigh in November! Can I be ready? If I try for it, I can certainly get in better shape than I am now. Nothing to lose but weight, right? I don't want to overdo it, though. Race info says I'd need to finish in 3.5 hours.

Back to an Hour

Did 60 minutes on the elliptical, felt good!

Yesterday I got 2 15-minute walks in during the workday, then a 30 minute walk around the East Campus Wall.

Short workout again

Beack to 30 minutes on the elliptical this morning. I overslept, and I must admit, it was tempting to keep sleeping for that extra half an hour, but I'm glad now that I got up and made it to the gym. Gotta go to bed early tonight, though!

Tuesday workout

This morning I did 45 mintues on the elliptical this morning. Hope to walk another 15 minutes around campus today. The weather here is beautiful this week!