matoatoa’s BodyBlog

Didnt train yesterday but I ran like a dog tonignt…not sure what breed though. I went to the gym and did a hard back workout, chin ups, rows etc then I thought I’d test the ankle so jumped on one of the high tech new treadmills with TV screen, kms/miles, time passed/time remaining, colour graphics of tracks, hills, dulating, incline, media centre gadgets, nice auto-stop-clip on thingy…and I ran like a dog. That is huffing and puffing. I ran for 30 mins at around 5.52 mins per km. It was a hot run in this part of the gym; if I use the treadmill it is usually in the cardio cinema where it is better air conditioned. The run felt pretty good overall . I don’t think I could manage that pace on the pavement. I had a decent stretch afterward then walked home. The ankle seems fine…

Tonight I couldn’t squeeze my training into my two hour window of opportunity because my wife has gone to a 3 hour long Chekov play called Three Sisters. It’s being performed in Russian…three hours!!! I did get a small consolation prize though for babysitting. Her friend bought me a copy of Muscle and Fitness magazine because she knew I was missing my gym training time. She laughed as she apologised and gave it to me…it was a nice gesture all the same.

I was better today so I went to the gym and worked out the shoulders. I am erring on the side of caution despite my promises to start running again. So after weights I pedalled at fat burn mode for 45 mins and then came home. I can’t believe that I can burn fat at only 120 bpm ….. I think I got slimmer while I was sick though…so that is good. I have a round up next week of this months efforts so I am keen to see whether I have progressed.

I have been laid out by some kind of stomach virus…so no training, no food, no fun, no nothing the last two days. I couldn’t even use the computer last night. With the end of the month looming next week I am hoping its not a write off in terms of weight loss and fitness. The hulk boy went for a run last night with a friend so I was happy for a minute or two…he needs to keep it going.

i went on a light run on the advice of Rosie (many thanks) and the leg was okay. I did a short route of shallow and short slope climbs right in my neighborhood for around 20-25 mins. it felt okay…if I feel good tomorrow I might do it again. just to test it. I drank a gallon of coke today left over from pizza night. I know its bad but it tasted real good. A great American invention, I used to drink three cans a day at work about a year ago, and then drink even more in the evening. When we had blood tests at work for cholesterol and diabetes I thought I would have syrupy sugar blood, but i was clear. The mediacal guy who tested me said my habit was nothing. The nurses at the hospital he worked at drank all day from 1.5 liter bottles. Still I think i have dropped a fair bit around the belly from eliminating coke calories from my work day. I drink water now…like camel. I only drink Coke on Friday nights and Saturdays….coke is life!

I was on the stationary bike for about 50 mins tonight and travelled 13.4 miles (21.6kms). This not far but I cranked up the settings and pedalled and sweat and lost some fat. I didn’t do any weights as the gym closes early on friday nights. It was pizza night when I got home but I refrained for an hour or so then put some of the calories back on. oh well…thats family life…

Tonight I rowed for 12.6 kms. The session was 60 mins in duration. My HR perminute was between 130 and 140 bpm. It was difficult to maintain a higher intensity for long. I need to keep the effort and time duration high so I don’t lose too much of the endurance base I was developing through running. I hope this works. I will persist with this until mid next week.

I worked out the chest tonight then rowed nowhere for 35 minutes…can’t wait to run again. They turn the video off in the cardio cinema 15 minutes before the gym closes just so you will feel pressured to get out. This makes the last 15 minutes more difficult and the time passes slow. I want to avoid the elliptical if I can, the rowing will do my back good and perhaps help my conditioning for chin-ups.

I jumped on the rowing machine and clocked up 8 kms at a slow pace over about 40 mins. This didn’t seem to cause any pain in my achillies. My HR rate seldom rose over 130bpm except toward the end. Hopefully I got a gooodish fat burn in. I also worked my bi’s and tri’s hard as I could.

I do need a new pair of shoes, so I will plot how to get them over the next few days then sneak out and acquire…on the weekend.

I went to the gym and worked the shoulders out. Also did chin ups. After this I jumped on the treadmill and ran for 25 minutes to check the achillies. It was a bit stiff and painful. I think I will have a road run tomorrow night and assess the reaction. If it is not good, I may need to hit the rowing machine for a week to rest it. It is either that or the stationary bike, although I think the bike will over engage the achillies…I almost kvetched when I got home.