Monday, May 23, 2011

Still Learning Lessons

Yesterday I spent an hour on that treadmill.  It's getting easier, but not much more fun. 

After getting my Target errands and then grocery shopping done, I headed home so Pete and I could hit the gym.  I was determined.  I set the treadmill at 60 minutes and started in.  At the end of the 6 minutes I texted Pete the following:    595 cal, 1 hr, 3.75 mi.  In other words, I burned 595 calories in 1 hour and went 3.75 miles.  On the way home I remarked how I had not only jogged for 3 minute intervals, but pushed myself to run at a 5.5 for a minute.

That's when Pete unknowingly told me my day's lesson:  It's not fun, it sometimes hurts, but you have to push yourself.  I realized he's right.  I spend my time on the treadmill thinking that I'm accomplishing a lot and pushing myself because I run or jog a few intervals.  Yet when he said that I realized that I could certainly push myself harder.  Much harder.

That  minute at 5.5 was hard.  But I did it.  Now I wonder if I can do a minute at 6?  I can jog 3 minutes at 4.1, but can I do more?  I can run a minute and and half at a 5, but can I do 2 minutes?  What I'm doing certainly hurts at times, but it doesn't leave me exhausted.  It doesn't leave my legs shaky and knowing that they worked hard.  I know, deep in my exercising soul, that I have been cheating myself lately.  I need to push harder and see what happens.  I need to do the random minute a t a 6, 7 or 8 to believe in myself and my ability to work hard. 

I can't wait for the gym tonight.

2 comments:

  1. My advice is to go for slower, longer. Those quick bursts will take much longer to turn into consistent running than slower jogging, for longer and eventually increasing time and speed!! Although - 5 minutes of slow jogging is much more uncomfortable and difficult than 1 minute of sprinting. Especially mentally. Push yourself!! You can do it!!

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  2. Keep going! I pushed myself on the treadmill this morning and was amazed at what I could do. My legs did feel like jelly when I was done though.

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