Sunday, December 6, 2020

Weekly Sweat: Hanging with the Cool Kids

22.5 miles of running this week and SO MANY THINGS to talk about!

  • I became the Last Person on Earth to try the Peloton app.
  • On a related note, I got a wake up call that slacking on strength training and stretching has not been great for my body.
  • We had our first winter storm of the season.

I'm linking up with the Weekly Run Down, please head over to Kim and Deborah to check it out.

Let's start with Peloton, the app that you have heard about even if you live under a rock like me.  I have zero interest in spin bikes, but even I had picked up that that Peloton is much more than biking.  It's what all of the cool kids are doing for fitness.

I've been kind of at a loose end with fitness lately.  I've had to cut back on running, partly because I'm burned out and partly because it's December and the weather is not in my favor for outdoor fitness.  Toward the end of last week it dawned on me that there were about 30 days left in the year and the free trial for the Peloton app is 30 days so...it seemed like now is the time to try it.  I was specifically after strength workouts, but also thought that the treadmill workouts would be useful as I transition back to treadmill running.

Revelations after one week of Peloton membership:

  • I've taken at least one class a day without even meaning to.  A class is anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour, so this isn't a high bar.
  • I like the strength classes.  My goal is only to do strength twice a week, but I did three this week.  Although I've kept up with a basic body weight routine, I haven't touched a dumbbell in months so I've had to go very slow, with very light weights, and with much modification of movement (more about that in a minute).
  • I tried a treadmill class and it was a dud.  I didn't understand the instructions and watching someone else run on a treadmill while I run on a treadmill...well, let's just say I don't see it as being a good fit for me at this time.  But I also picked a 45 minute class at a time when I can barely run on a treadmill for 45 minutes, so I think it's a case of me biting off more than I can chew.  Once my "treadmill legs" are further along I plan to try a shorter class.
  • I came for the strength and the treadmill classes, but what's got me is the...yoga???  According to this blog's search bar, this is the first time I have used the word "yoga".  I'm naturally pretty flexible, ex: not only can I touch my toes I can put my palms on the floor while doing so, so yoga always felt pretty pointless.
  • ^^Oh hold the phone.  I used to be pretty flexible and I used to be able to touch my toes.  At some point recently I casually bent forward and found my hands dangling above my ankles.  I didn't think much more of it than huh, and yes my legs are often stiff from running ==>nice try but no.  I'm not stiff, my range of motion has gotten more limited.  The number of strength moves that I had to modify due to not having full range of motion in my legs was eye opening and not in a good way.   I mean, who knew that between being 45, making my living by sitting in front of a computer, running 1000+ miles a year, and eschewing strength training and doing minimal stretching would lead to this, total shocker right?

So at any rate, I started with some of the stretching classes but found that the yoga classes are really good and just what the doctor ordered.  I don't think that anything is wrong that won't be fixed now that I'm aware of it and working on it.  Special shoutout to Aditi Shah 10 minute focus flow hamstrings class from Dec 1st.  I feel like my body is in a better place today than it was at this time last week, and I can't ask for more than that.  My prediction is that our monthly expenses will be going up by $12.95 a month in January.

Now let's talk about the weather.  Have you heard that snow days are a thing of the past now that schools have Zoom?  Not true.  We had a snow storm this week that was so bad that school was cancelled before one flake of snow hit the ground.  The kids have a staggered schedule where they alternate in person/remote days.  But the teachers are in school full time, so they weren't ready to go remote at a moment's notice so that's why we had the "old school" snow day.  Apart from the foot of snow, there was so much ice that our dog could barely maintain traction on our walks.  Indoors was the only viable fitness option this week. 

BREAKING NEWS: looks like our snow day might be the last one in existence after all.  Over the weekend an emergency decision was made to switch over to 100% remote learning for the rest of 2020 due to rising COVID cases in the schools (actual cases plus the number of kids in quarantine due to exposure).  We had a good stretch of "normal life but with masks", now it's time for "hunker down until the vaccine gets here".

Anyway, here's what I did for workouts this week:

Monday: Runner's strength workout followed by a 4 mile treadmill run (1.5 miles with a class, 2.5 miles on my own with good ol' TV).

Tuesday: 4 mile treadmill run, assorted stretching workouts later that night.

Wednesday: unplanned strength workout because why not, more stretching.

Thursday: 4 mile treadmill run, gold star for being my best treadmill run lately.  Using the word "best" loosely.  I did a quickie stretching workout afterwards and my legs felt like glass that was going to break (lesson learned, stretching right after a run does not work for me).  After lunch I found 10 minutes for yoga (the hamstring focus with Aditi Shah) that proved to be a miracle cure for my body

Friday: an off day.  We forgot to set our alarm and barely woke up in time to get the kids on the bus and the morning was a scramble from then on.  I did a strength workout at lunch and the idea of running just seemed unbearable.  So I didn't.  Yoga at night.

Saturday: the first day of the week where going outside was feasible.  I seized on it and got 6.25 miles.  The first three were incredibly difficult with a strong headwind.  I felt more like myself on the back half of the run (uphill but mostly tailwind).  Yoga at night.

Sunday: planned rest day...but another storm is rolling in tonight so I changed my plans and got a 4.25 mile run.  All signs point to more yoga tonight.


25 comments:

  1. I haven't tried Peloton so you're not the last. Check into your insurance -- my gym reimbursement now includes Peloton and friends so it might be an option for you. Glad you have found something that wroks for you
    Not a parent but fun watching parents debate on whether they need to do the spoon under the pillow snow day dance

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  2. I'm glad that you started the Peloton app this week! I do like the variety of classes, and the different length of time for the classes too. I really like all of the strength instructors but Adrian and Jess are probably my favorite. I totally feel you on the treadmill runs - I've done a few 45 and 60 min runs but mainly I stick to the 20 and 30 minute runs.

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    1. I had to check it out after hearing so much about it! I still have many instructors to try. So far I've done one Jess strength class.

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  3. Welcome to Peloton and yes it's quite addictive. I love the yoga and stretch classes as well as the strength training. Have fun with it and your snow storm. :)

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    1. You kept telling me! I never ever would have dreamed that yoga would turn out to by my thing.

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  4. I can't believe you have that much snow already! I heard someone from another school district say that even with remote learning they would still give snowdays because we have taken so many other things from kids this year, we should still let them have that. I could see doing 1 real snow day and then any other days when the weather is bad doing remote learning.

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    1. Exactly, the schools should just take "personal days" every once in a while for the good of both the staff and the students. It doesn't need to be any more frequent than the number of naturally occurring snow days.

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  5. Yay on taking the Peloton plunge! Definitely try shorter treadmill workouts - 20 or 30 minutes are my favorites. I love Jess Sims for strength BUT I prefer Chase or Adrian or Matt Wilpers for the treadmill - their classes make more sense than her “listening games” in case that’s what through you off. I also take a 10 min yoga class instead of stretching once in a while. Good stuff!

    Sorry to hear about the school situation. Hopefully community spread will get under control before the vaccine is rolled out, because I think that is going to take a while.

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    1. I can't wait to take a Matt class, I've heard so much about him. There's so much out there to learn about, even with "a class a day" I've barely gotten started.

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  6. Awesome on the Peloton classes! Glad you are liking the classes.

    I am not ready for snow at all. I hate it.

    Still virtual here for school. Teachers might go back next year in January but who knows.

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    1. In a perfect world we'd have one big snow storm on Christmas Eve and it would be gone by New Year's. Sigh, no such luck.

      In person school was pretty much a non-negotiable for our state. Whether it was the right thing to do or not...who knows. Our rates were fairly low until recently but the same can be said for just about everywhere else.

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  7. No, dear friend, you're not the last to do Peloton, that would be me LOL I've had invites from friends, and heard so many awesome reviews from others...but just have not had the opportunity (or, rather, MADE the opportunity) to give it a try. Now that I have the indoor bike up & moving, I'm exploring some options for rides/classes with that. Stay tuned....

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    1. But you're also way better about doing workouts on your own, and getting in so much variety in your workouts, which I am not so it really helps to have an app "tell" me what to do. But I also think Peloton is one of those things that really is that good...and especially if you have a bike you have an extra incentive to try it out.

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  8. You are so not the last to try Peloton. No sign of it here. I'm glad you decided to diversify your workouts because yes, all running all the time does a real number on the body. Yikes on the snow. For the last couple of years, our school snow days have become "e-learning" days so I think we've seen the last of the good old days when you could just head out and play.

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    1. Oh wow, Chicago was ahead of the curve on eliminating snow days.

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  9. I already tried the few trial (but I cold do it again with another email address). I don't own any weight and indoor equipment. I used for their runs and I liked it but even if you download in advance, it still uses data. I don't have unlimited so it's a drain.

    If I do get a treadmill or stationary bike, I will defintely subscribe.

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    1. I'm not sure if I will try an outdoor run with the app, data would be a deal breaker for sure. They have a lot of body weight and no-equipment cardio workouts as well.

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  10. I still haven't tried Peloton. I just don't stick with at-home classes, no matter how great they are.

    We don't get snow days here, but the surrounding counties did have a hurricane day last month. Of course, none of that hits virtual school, so it was business as usual for us.

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  11. Welcome to Peloton! I think 45-minutes of watching someone else run on a treadmill would through me over the edge. As other have suggested, shorter classes are better. So glad you're enjoying the strength and yoga classes - so much content to explore. Enjoy!

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    1. So far I even feel like the 10-20 minute strength and yoga classes have been better than the 30 minute ones. But there's so much more to look at.

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  12. Too funny about your flexibility. I can barely touch my shins. SO SAD. But I was told that stretching isn't good for my hamstring issue so I never push it. I do find the selection of classes a bit overwhelming on Peloton, but also very happy that they have a little bit of everything!

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    1. I've heard that a lack of flexibility isn't a bad thing for runners, but I also know that doing that 10 minute yoga video made my legs feel so much better. Who knows? For sure it feels wrong to stretch or lift weights right after a run, so that's something that I never do.

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  13. Correction: you're the next to the last person on earth to try the Peloton app because I haven't tried it yet. ;-)

    Our Covid numbers are going up as well and the county is threatening to go back to all virtual from hybrid, but so far they haven't quite met the metrics for making the switch...

    Hope you're having a great week!

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  14. Yes, but you do your cross training and weights so you don't need the app;-)

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