heart rate monitor

I bought a polar heart rate monitor last night and tried it out. Its pretty dang cool!

I tried to cycle and keep my heart rate % at around 60-65% but I had a hard time keeping it below 70%. I guess you just have to go really easy. Of course I have yet to determine what my max heart rate is, so 70% is just based off of the info i gave, such as my age height and weight.

There is a book that I have seen a couple of times on heart rate monitors that I am wanting to get. Hopefully that will help me get setup more, as the manual that comes with the monitor is basically crap. Apparently I can upload the data from the monitor to my pc through my microphone input and then send the data to polar's web-site. I was too tired after my biking last night to do that. Tonight I will try it.

But as for the biking itself, I wanted to see how easy it was to keep my heart rate at a steady pace, which I mostly did. But then I wanted to see how my heart rate will vary, so I used an interval setting on the stationary bike. That sure did the trick! during the middle of the intervals I was really hurting and @ one point my heart rate monitor reported I maxed out @ 87%. Not sure what exact number that is but I will check tonight.

Also about the book, I am hoping it will tell you how to train @ certain heart rate zones to improve your heart rate and your conditioning. We will find out.

But so far, the heart rate monitor is definately a good purchase.

indoors again

just felt like working out tonight....wierd, a strange sense of motivation...so i took it

did 40 mins on the stationary bike @ a constant low intensity level, then the same walk run as last night.

i have been reading that doing an endurance workout @ 60% or lower than your max heart rate will have your body use mostly fat as fuel rather than carbohydrate glycogen stored in your muscles. However, what is 60% of my max heart rate?

I guess that means that I will need to go buy a heart rate monitor, which is something that I have been wanting to do for a few seasons now.

Also, I need some new running shows. I feel like my current ones looks like the one's Forrest Gump wore AFTER his trek across the US 3.5 times.

indoors today

nothing special tonight

20 mins on level 1 on the stationary bike

then 30 mins on the dreadmill....5 min walk, 2 min walk/1.5 min run alternate, 5 min walk

just something to get going again and to keep me moving and to stop feeling so lethargic

a little too warm today actually

The weatherman was correct today, it was in fact in the low 60's with sunshine, and oh what a wonderful day it was. Muddy @ times, but glorious!

Actually this is the kinda weather where you can't tell how much clothing you will need. This is because when you are out in the open sun you feel warm wearing a short sleave with maybe arm tights. But as soon as you head down hill into a shaded corner you freeze to death. I took the benefit of the doubt and wore too much, but in such a way that I can adjust it while riding.

Here is my route for today.

Not super long, but it has enough hills in it to make a bit more challenging of a 23.5 mile route. I definately felt my legs today after a few of those hills. In fact by the end of the ride I could feel the lower left side of my back was pretty sore from the climbing. At least thats a sign that I did some damage today. Slow progress is @ least progress.

I have done this ride a few times but have always been intimidated by the ride just because of the number of hills in it. They aren't bad when singled out, but after one after the other adds up, it does a number on your legs. But I now deem this ride to be a great hill ride. Plus, the roads on this ride are usually in good condition with little traffice and plenty of opportunities to extend the ride.

Not sure when I will get back outside. I am dreading that the work that I put in this past weekend and today might be for nothing if I can't stay outside on a consistent basis. Riding indoors on a stationary doesn't quite keep the conditioning up that get from the outside.

Pray for warmer days....in January....right....

warm weekend in january

I actually got out twice on the bike this past weekend. As long as its 40+ outside (wind permitting) I can go outside; I need to bundle up, but I can get out @ least.

On saturday I did a short ride considering its been forever since I was out on the bike. I did my usual loop minus the 2nd half. I could feel it by the end but wanted to save my legs for sunday which was the warmer of the two days.

So on Sunday I did my usual 20 mile loop with the steep hill @ the end. I am now calling this "Beemer Hill" because I always see a BMW on this one mile hill. I guess looking out for a BMW is just a way to keep my mind preoccupied from the constract cry that my legs give out while climbing this hill.

My legs overall felt great and didnt really feel any pain or soreness today. Hopefully the weather will hold out for a few more days and I can get out for some longer rides.

its REALLY been awhile

As this blog basically died, so did the workouts along with it....i have noticed a trend:

The more motivated I am, the more I work out.
The more I work out the more I will blog about it.
The more I blog about it means that my condition is improving.

So I see that the last entry was October 9th....3 months off thereabouts. I have no regrets. I see that as a healthy time to not only let my body take a breath, but mostly my mind. When I start to dread working out, I know its time to quit for awhile. Plus it gives me more time to get mad at myself for slacking off and gives me motivation to start up again but more disciplined.

So the hiatus is over, and now its time to start the season new.

Tonight was on the bike @ the easiest setting for 20 mins and on the dreadmill for 30 mins of walk and run. Oh, its back to the coolrunnings.com couch to 5K program again. I am starting on week 2 this time cuz week one is too much of a walk in the park. Believe it or not in 8 weeks it will already be the beginning of march and hopefully by then I will be running 3 miles again and I can take it outside before the dreadmill kills all of my motivation for wanting to work out. We will deal with that when that time comes I guess.

Im still not swimming. I need to get to the Y ASAP. Its right next door! No excuses are valid. I have just been lazy.

Because this is the beginning of the season, my usual mentality is to get super motivated and go crazy right outa the start gate. I need to tell myself that it really is "OK!" to not have to work out 5 days a week right @ the beginning. In fact not doing that will keep my motivation longer through out the season and I wont injure myself.

So hears to a new season, and to cutting back on the beer. Oh I love it, but its gotta go for awhile.

I bought a scale before christmas. In the morning when I wake up and do my usualy morning business, I have been coming in @ around 170. Im 5" 6"....I think I am very healthy looking. Imagine if I dropped 10 pounds. I would be riding up a hill @ 160 pounds. Then I add a 10 pound weight to my bike. Thats what it was like riding last summer @ 170. Then I take the 10 pound weight off. I wonder how fast Im gonna accelerate? Wow, thats gonna be cool if I can make that a reality.

Anyways, to a new season!

Been awhile...

Yeah its been abote 10 days since I posted last, but I have been working out in the meantime, though not as much. So the day after the last post (which was a saturday), I actually went on a bike ride (sept 30th). I did my usual 20 mile route with the short but steep uphill ending before the quick 1 mile downhill. That ride was awesome. I hadnt been on my bike for about a month but it really didnt feel like I was off it at all. I think that running has kep my heart and breathing in shape and somewhat my muscles to keep me running smooth on the bike.

Then I didnt do crap for a few days until last thursday (oct 4th) I ran on the treadmill, uh i mean DREADMILL. Man those things suck. If I dont have a good show on tv to watch, game over. I did about 20 mins until i got a horrific side cramp and had to walk for a bit, then I ran for another 4 mins and said forget it. I guess its just a state of mind that I have to get myself into.

Then this past saturday (oct 7th), because we have been getting summer weather in october, i went for a run and completed my three mile run in 27:30, a new record for me, except I took a wrong turn and did the route the easy way where you run down hill more than up hill. Whatever, it was on a map 3 miles.

So then this brings me to this morning. Again, cuz of the weather its still great to get out in the morning as long as I can get up. This morning hurt because I am totally off schedule and not running on a consistent basis. This mornings run was one of those runs where you think your hurt is going to pop and explode out the front of your chest. It sucked but I got through it and was glad that I finished. 28:07 . Not bad.

My goal this weekend is to get back on the bike.

And its also time to start thinking about getting into the water and swimming.