Last fall, I was in a fabulous gym routine. M-Th I’d wake up at 4:15 and be at the gym when it opened at 5:00. I’d get my half hour of lifting and half hour of cardio done before the sun was even up. Yes – waking up that early in inhumane; yes – going to bed at 9 pm qualifies me as an old lady. But my workouts got done and I didn’t have time to talk myself out of them.
Then I took 6 weeks off. For no apparent reason. First it was the week of Christmas, and I said I was giving myself a present. Then it was readjusting to work. Then it was super stressful at work. Then it was readjusting to being only partially employed. Then I got sick. Then it was a changing work schedule; my shifts and hours change at a moment’s notice. I wasn’t sure how I could get into a routine when I didn’t even know if I needed to be at work until that morning, nor did I know what time I’d need to leave.
One excuse after another.
But I went into this week with a newly registered-for race and a plan to get in shape. I hit the gym around 8 on Monday morning – along with most of the area. Here I thought on a day off it wouldn’t be super crowded so early. WRONG O. I instantly missed my early morning workouts; the quiet, dimly lit gym, the normal crowd who’s patterns I knew, and getting it all done before 6 am.
I accepted the fact that the only way to guarantee getting my workouts done was to get up at 4:15am regardless. I know that going super early will never interfere with my work schedule. And sure, there are days I may end up getting back from the gym at 6 am only to not have to work at all – but that’s ok, because at least my workout will be done.
Tuesday I was the 2nd car in the lot after dragging myself out of bed at that God awful time of day. This being my first time back since New Years, I expected to see at least a few new faces. I scanned the gym and saw some familiar ones – that group of three guys who share equipment, the girl who I’m fairly sure has an eating disorder, the few middle-aged men who put me to shame, the old guy who wears pj pants and reads his kindle while biking quietly for 25 minutes and then starts doing these crazy arm-windmills for the last 5, that chick who goes insane on the elliptical, the big guy with the tats, the little guy who does this weird crab-walk/spiderman – walk around the gym floor (no joke.) There were a few people missing too, like the guy I thought was watching me (but probably wasn’t), and notably the super cute tall guy I kind of want to watch me (but probably isn’t.)
I decided to only do 15 minutes of cardio (after 35 minutes of strength) because Tuesday is my two-a-day day, and I knew I had a run planned after work. I hate doing it, but my only other option is running on the treadmill at the gym for a majority of my training runs, and I don’t want my body to get used to that. I much prefer training outside. Believe me – I realize what a bad idea it is but I want to do this right and I have no choice.
Anyway. Back to the bike.
So while doing my bit of cardio, I looked around and took in some of the newer faces. And then I saw them.
Two newbies for sure. Everything about them screamed rookie. A smiley happy couple, comprised of a boy and girl probably mid 20s, decked out in brand new, matchy-matchy workout clothes. They tentatively came over to the mats while I was stretching and started doing whatever exercise they could think of (I left after the girl started doing squats while the boy just watched).
It sounds kind of sweet, right? You’re all probably judging me for being too judgey. But I left out the most important detail.
As soon as they started their bike warm up, the chick whipped out her iPhone and TOOK A PICTURE OF THE BOY. AND PROCEEDED TO POST IT TO FACEBOOK.
Listen, newbs, Gym Etiquette 101: no pictures. At 5 am, we’re not here to be cute, we’re not here to post about it on facebook and gather up “likes” and get attention; we’re here to work out. One of my first thoughts was that this chick is probably a HLBlogger, or trying to be. So ridiculous.
Anyway. I did the afternoon run, and believe me when I say it sucked in a good way. Luckily there was no sign of the happy couple during my early morning workout on Wednesday. There WAS a sighting of super cute tall boy, which threw me as I wasn’t expecting him. I may/may not have adapted my workout to exclude anything involving the tough-guy weights area (where I was supposed to do two different exercises using barbells) and completed them on an ab bench with dumbbells, far far away from him.
Listen, I’m not one for matchy-matchy gym clothes, cute hair, or makeup at the gym. I’m in a dingy, baggy, 15 year old tee and the same pants I’ve worn all week. Not the ideal situation for meeting Mr. Right.
That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t welcome interaction between us.
Initiated by him, obviously.
I got home at 6 and still didn’t know what the deal with work was, and started debating going for my run (this week and next I have two-a-days Tues/Wed just while I try and get back into running; once my training plan starts they will only be on Tuesdays). I ultimately decided to hold out until I knew my schedule, and ended up going out a bit after 9 since I didn’t have to be in till noon.
Getting my butt out the door is difficult enough as it is. Doing so after an hour long workout? Basically impossible. Every muscle in my legs is still screaming at me but no worries – I’m really not overdoing it, I’m just really out of shape.
With the exception of this week and next, my plan is set and not nearly as running – intensive as I thought. Going off Amy (and Melissa)’s suggestions, I went with Hal Higdon’s Novice 15 k plan.
Up until now I’ve been aiming for 5 runs a week, but this plan only calls for 3. I was concerned at first but my brother looked it over and explained that all of the cross training will counteract the smaller number of runs, as it will work on my endurance but not break my body down by running more than its ready for. Good enough for me.
I tweaked it a bit, but my basic schedule is as follows:
Monday – 30 minutes strength, 30 minutes low-intensity elliptical (to burn fat not calories)
Tuesday – 30 minutes strength, 20-30 minutes low-intensity bike, outdoor run per training plan.
Wednesday – 30 minutes strength, 30 – 45 (depending on plan) minutes high intensity cardio on (what I believe is called) an Arc machine?
Thursday – 30 minutes strength, 30 ish minutes easy run on treadmill. (no time for afternoon run; need to get it in).
Friday – complete and total blissful rest. And carb loading. Two of my favorite things.
Saturday – long run per schedule
Sunday – 30-60 minute swim (per plan) and yoga.
The last one, Sunday, is what makes me the most nervous of all. Both are super new to me, at least at the gym. Obviously I’ve been swimming in pools my whole life, and I’ve done yoga on exercise tv and the like, but never taken a class. I have a few lingering questions for anyone who wants to give them a go…
1) Swim – do you wear a swim cap or is that a mark of a rookie (much like the id lanyard is the mark of the college freshman). And this is going to sound really stupid, but does your hair still get wet?
2) Yoga – never taken a class – I have a mat and the right kind of clothes, but what can I expect? How do these things usually go? How long do they last?
3) What else do I need to know? How can I avoid looking like the obvious newbie in the pool and at yoga?
Alright – I’ve rambled more than enough for the day. Sometimes these posts are well thought out and deep – I had one in mind for today, actually. But my horoscope told me “keep personal thoughts private for the time being” (or something like that) so I’m going to hold off. My posts can’t all be winners and sometimes they’re just boring thoughts and recaps. Like today. I normally wouldn’t explain myself but I’ve had some new readers this week (heyyyyyyyyyy everyone!) and I don’t want them thinking this is the norm around these parts. I do much better when I draft on weekends, which I didn’t this time around (obvs), so you get what you get.
Sorry. Maybe next week.













