Class Aerobic Activities

Tuesday
Chuck's Ships and Sailors was definitely not something I would use for kids older than 12, just because people don't like to try awkward, dorky games like that:P As for Alaskan/Siberian kickball, it got the heart working. It was a nice variation of standard kickball. I actually played a rousing game of kickball over Spring Break... and my heart rate wasn't nearly as high then as it was during class. I might change the rule about kicking it behind you though.....

I have to be honest about Thursday's salsa dancing... I was not going to show up. But my overwhelming urge to please the masses, and not to throw off the guy to girl ratio, I came against my better judgement.

It wasn't so bad.

Adam was a good sport, but Shawn was an even better sport. I bet my heart rate was increased just from laughing so much at our mad dipping skills. I can't believe we made it to the dance-off!!! Haha... we probably looked like complete nerds, but it was fun nevertheless. Maybe we'll have to take a dance class later on!

This blog is getting kinda tedious... *frowns*

So this weekend has been fun-filled with excursions through muddy terrain and the only hills in the FM area. I went frolfing. It was a long, exhausting wait through winter, but I made it. And you know, I still have some od my mad skills. Too bad we can't take everyone frolfing for the aerobic activity, although it doesn't get your heart pumping too hard. Yesterday was also my long run day. I had planned on mapping it out so it'd be exactly 8 miles, but then I realized running through the city of Fargo has its detours, so I just went for an hour and 15 minutes. I wish I had a heart rate monitor!!!! You know, to see the progress, if any. I'm sure there is... to be honest, I don't get tired any more when I run long distances, it's just the fact that my legs start to hurt, muscles and tendons and all. But I'm sure that's normal...

We also had our first intramural volleyball game tonight. We got our asses kicked. Well, kind of... we lost all three games but didn't lose our spirits! I'm sure once we get a game plan strategized and teach the boys some of the techniques, we'll be better.

Frolfing in Moorhead +5
1 hour 25 minutes
Apprx HR: 130

8M run
1 hour 15 minutes
Apprx HR: 170

Volleyball
45 minutes
Apprx HR: 180 during the intense rallies, generally around 150 I'd say. It was ungodly hot in the BSA tonight, and if you ask me, someone should really do something about that.

Have a good night!

P.S. I may practice for my advanced spanish grammar class by writing these in Spanish as well, just to spice it up;) We will see....

And by the way....

It kills my soul when the day is full of school and work and I can't enjoy being outside. Lucky you I guess.

Monday
Workout at the Wellness Center
Treadmill: 30 minutes, 6 mph
1% incline 5 minutes, 5% incline 5 minutes alternating
Since my HR monitor is broken, I would have to estimate it was around 170 during 1% and 190 during 5%.
Lifted upper body
Chest Flies, Declined Bench, Biceps, Triceps, Lat Pulldown, Seated Row
Abs 10 minutes

Tuesday
Workout at the Wellness Center
3 mile 25 minutes around loop
HR probably around 170
Lifted lower body
Deadlifts, Leg Press, Lunges, Leg Curl/Extension, 4 Hip Machine, Lower Back
Abs 15 minutes

Wednesday
First run outside of the year in Fargo
Athletic Loop, Admin Loop, and Wellness Loop 4 miles
I felt really good. Not even winded. But there is something going wrong with my right leg. If only I was in Anatomy and knew all the muscles, then I could describe it. Hopefully it goes away soon.

Anyway, until next time.

Spring Break

So home isn't as glorious as it once was. My friends and family have moved away and Bismarck just isn't the same anymore. I think I've finally made my decision about this summer. I didn't want to stay in Fargo, mainly because I've grown to love the summers in Bismarck. For those of you who have grown up near neither a river nor lake you may not understand. If you grew up by the Red River you will NEVER understand. One can actually swim and lay on sand on the Missouri River near Bismarck. I know the city inside and out - the best bike paths, parks, and pretty much everything there is to do. Fargo just seems so....... flat. I don't want to succumb to summer school and a job in Fargo, but that is where my life is headed. Somehow I feel like I'm giving up.

But anyway, aside from THAT sob story, I have another that is more of interest to this class. I have been training here (in Bismarck) over break and I have forgotten what hills feel like on the body! Back during my recovery after ACL surgery I made the transition from home to Fargo, where then I did all my physical therapy exercises pretty much on my own. So about 8 months after the injury, I was back to running on the treadmill. Then about a year later, I actually got to run outside again (thank goodness! That god forsaken treadmill will be the end of me someday!) and hills were the most miserable thing on the knee. I had forgotten completely to integrate them into my treadmill workout. Now I know better. But running in Bismarck has been trying, because I don't think I ever properly recovered my running uphill muscles. This will be my goal for the next ten weeks or so.

On the brighter side of things... I got some new running shoes today. Hopefully the hundred I put out for them is well worth it. Only time will tell.

Oregon trail.... and their scientific heart rate monitors

So I forgot to mention Saturday on my long run... at about the 1.5 mile marker, the batteries in my MP3 player died, which always sucks. Then, on top of THAT, about 4 miles in my heart rate monitor watch display goes crazy and now every display option is displayed and it doesn't work anymore. Hopefully the Varsity Mart exchanges it or I'm gonna be pissed. If they don't, I'll have to send it in to the company and get it fixed which could take months. So I'm gonna have to just make some estimates for the time being.

*I wrote that on Monday. Turns out the Varsity Mart won't take anything back after 30 days. So... I have to ship it out. I'm wondering if I should just buy another one for the time being, and take it back in 30 days when I get my new replacement.

Also, on the HR monitor topic. I was ridiculed quite outrageously the other day by my fellow co-workers at the Wellness Center about my resting heart rate while sitting around being around 95 bpm. When they found out the were like, "Well that's why! Check this out guys (to a random work-outer) she has a heart rate monitor from the VARRRSITY MART! Yeah, I have a resting heart rate of 200 but what's your point!?" blah blah blah. I was heartbroken to say the least:P Tell me.... is it my heart rate monitor that is giving me crappy readings, or do I just have a higher heart beat than most people?

Maybe I will try the manual method later.

Workout in front of the tv screen!

So here it is. One of the best workouts known to in the video gaming world.

NINTENDO Track and Field

These are a few pictures of me on the official "Power Pad". As you can see, I'm really in the zone. This game includes the 100 meter dash, 110 meter hurdles, long jump, and the triple jump. Granted that the "Power Pad" came out in 1987, and this one was probably purchased around... 1990, it's a little worn out. But there is the Olympics where you can compete with your friends in all four events and even a tournament where you compete against computer athletes like "Turtle" "Rabbit" "Bobcat" or even "Cheetah". If you think you're bad at Dance Dance Revolution because your eye-foot coordination isn't quite up to par, try this game because it doesn't require much of that, but does require quick feet. My friends like to cheat on the jumping events though, just jump off the pad while the player's in mid-air. I don't know if you can see it in the screen shots, but in the long jump I had 14.27 meters... which means I'm pretty much superhuman. That's not even my best!:P A friend of mine just ordered Track and Field II off EBay so the games have just begun! Plus, Dance Aerobics after Spring Break:) If only I had enough "Power Pads" for the whole class!

http://www.planetnintendo.com/thewarpzone/powerpad.html

Here's a link to show you more about Nintendo's "Power Pad" games. Read about its history... Apparently there was a version invented first in Europe because parents were worried their kids were getting out of shape from Nintendo!

In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Here are the workouts for this past week.

Monday
Warm-up: 10 minutes elliptical
Ran a 4 mile Fartlek (ohhh Chuck, don't worry, I knew what a Fartlek was long ago...)
36 minutes. I would say about an hour directly after this I came down with the worst cold I've had in the past five years or so. All I wanted to do was sleep, but with a month's homework, projects, and tests of online statistics class due on Friday, I didn't really have time for that sort of thing with classes and work. HR 170
Cool down and abs

Thursday
Warm up: 15 minutes bike
Ran 3 miles, 24 minutes. HR 165
Cool down, abs, squat, calf raisers. Still feeling sick by this time.

Saturday
One of those "ab classes" at the Wellness center. And just a thought, but I'm pretty sure no one goes to those classes to lose weight (*spot reduction). They go to get a six pack. You know, "Six Pack Abs" is the name of the class:P I have to shadow some of those, so today was the day.
Warm up: 10 minutes elliptical
Ran 6 miles, 49 minutes. HR 175
Cool down, although I think I might have strained a groin muscle... Feeling a little better now. Can breathe out of both nostrils already!:)

So here is my conclusion. I know nothing about anaerobic threshold, but I'm guessing my 8 minute mile is around it? It's the place I'm most comfortable running at this point in time.