Back in August the husband and I had a garage sale to make an attempt to clear out some of the clutter. In the sale pile was my fitness ball that I hadn’t used in ages and couldn’t figure out how to pump up. I sold my fitness ball that day for a whopping $0.50 along with a set of wine charms to a couple who assumed the wine charms were jewellery and not for alcoholic beverages (since they asked me what the heck they were after they paid me for them). I’ll be honest, I’m kind of sad that ball is gone now even though it was flatter than heck.
I really want to incorporate strength training on a regular basis as I get back to things. In fact, strength training is taking the place of where I probably would have fit swimming in. I have a membership to the gym in the basement of my office and they have a 45 minute 6:30 am strength class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I have been to three classes so far and it has been a different instructor every time. This Tuesday the regular instructor was back to teaching.
She has this signature workout that involves using a stability ball.
image via duraBallYou start off nice and easy, sitting on the ball. Then you start bouncing on the ball. Bounce, stand up. Bounce, stand up. Lather, rinse, repeat. Fast. 15 seconds in and my legs are on fire. Where has all of my leg strength gone? This bouncing – reverse squat routine goes on for the entire duration of a Lady Gaga song. The instructor is grinning and bouncing on her ball and I just want to sit on my ball and whimper. I left class feeling a little dejected, like I hadn’t given my workout my all because of this whole bouncy ball routine.
I have made it my goal to get this. I know this is good for me! And given that if I reach any kind of uphill on a run outside and my legs just die I know I need to get my leg strength back. Between regular strength training classes and getting back on the bike I’ll get there.
Oh, and speaking of this running/spinning/strength training plan thing I’m working on, I decided to check out Training Peaks for the first time. I lost my entire online log when the Buckeye Outdoors server went down sometime in the past year so it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal to try a new log out now. Did you know that you can a 3 month premium membership via Trinero for $24 ($49 value) right now? There is a freebie option for Training Peaks, but I thought this would be a good opportunity to see what going premium gets you. As for what this training plan is or is for…you’ll just have to wait for that one!
My exercise ball is more of a toy for my kids then anything else…
Just tell yourself that the ball you sold was worn out or broken anyways. Then you can justify a new one if you want it.
I prefer beginner triathlete to log my workouts, but never gave training peaks a really good chance. I hear ya about the strength training, although for me it’s lack of core strength… Big time lack of core strength. I nearly died at a class on Monday night and it sill hurts to laugh!
Will have to try that fitball workout after baby! Sounds like a good (painful) one!
wahhh you lost a whole year of training…now I’m totally terrified! I like Logyourrun which can track all different workouts and free is my favorite word