Okay, I am publicly coming to terms with what a wimp I am when it comes to the cold weather. I don't know what's happened to me. Last year at this time I ran in anything. I didn't care how cold, rainy, snowy or windy it was. Of course, back then I was nervously approaching the date of my first ever marathon and I wasn't going to miss any training opportunity. Now as I sit here knowing I can stay in my warm house and run on the treadmill, I ask myself why would I force my body through the pain and discomfort of running in 20 degree temperatures? That's how cold it was this morning. I am so not ready for this, seriously. I have got to get tougher, or learn to really love my treadmill!
Well, of course I wasn't about to completely miss a workout just because I'm cold. I started out once again on my handy, dandy elliptical, which is starting to fall apart, by the way. In our humble lifestyle it has been necessary for us to always purchase the low-end exercise equipment. Last year I said goodbye to my first treadmill when it completely broke down, the motor died and the belt shredded. It did have thousands of miles on it...a good, long life. I was lucky enough to have someone literally give me their newer treadmill, which was a step above the one I had and I am super grateful for it. But now my elliptical has been having major issues. For a while, the main bolt on one side that holds in the "pedal" slowly works it's way out as I'm using it. Lately the problem has gotten worse and I have to stop and get off the elliptical about every 10 - 15 minutes and screw the bolt back in or the pedal thing will completely fall off on the one side. My theory is that these (lower end and thus cheaply made) pieces of equipment were manufactured with the mentality that the majority of the people who buy them won't really use them that much - it's true. They can cheaply make these machines and sell them for an affordable price, therefore selling more of them, knowing that most of the time their faults will not be found. Maybe at the rate and intensity with which I pound on my exercise equipment I should save up and invest in something nicer. Right now I've got my eye on a spin bike....
Okay, I went totally off topic there. Anyway, I did 65 minutes on the elliptical with intervals of - yep, you guessed it - running up and down the stairs for another 15 minutes. I really love how much this gets my heart pumping and my sweat pouring. That means it's working me and that feels really good. After that, I got on the treadmill for a 4 mile run, and even threw in a few "sprint" intervals. Still hoping to get in that long run out on the road at some point before this week ends, but we'll see. It may not happen until Saturday.
A mother's journey from non-runner to marathoner. If I can do it, anyone can...so get out there and run!
My elliptical did the same thing. I gave it to someone who would use it less intensely. And now I'm lucky to have a gym membership.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny you mention last year being more willing. I was thinking this morning about my run in 50 mile an hour winds and I was like "I could have died" LOL. Maybe we were a little too hardcore for our own good, and our minds are thinking a little more realistically.
That workout was sure to warm your eternally cold bum!!!