The day I did a two hour RPM class

And now desperately want to sleep. It's 3.00pm, so not really a sleeping time.

This could be me...if I were a kitten...you know what I mean though

"How was the class?", I hear you ask.

It was massively sweaty. I was massively sweaty. The guy next to me was massively, massively sweaty. I'm talking HUGE puddle on the floor sweaty. Puddle so big it was running under my bike and onto the girl on the other side. Sorry, that's fairly gross, but I gotta report the facts.

The first part of the class was just a standard sort of RPM class - warm up, hills, intervals, racing, etc. After the first hour we moved onto a hard track, recovery track, repeat mode. I'm here to tell you that recovery tracks are still ridiculously hard and even more so the more you do. I will admit to not using as much resistance as I possibly could have throughout the class but I was focussed on making it to the end and worried I might burn out if I went too hard, too early.

Turns out it was a good call because I nearly died. I would have been just a little dead, however, dead none the less.

I made it to the end though (a few people pulled out early - is it wrong to thing I'm so much better than them?). I was so happy (and so tired) when it finished I did nearly have a little cry. Weird, right? I am a cryer though, so probably not so much. Crying is my body's way of expressing emotion. I channelled my crying into clapping, which we all did.

I am now enjoying an afternoon of listening to the Triple J Hottest 100 - it's practically compulsory if you're Australian - soon to be followed by a nanna nap and then some work (boo!). The sensible part of me is saying I need to do a pretty significant foam rolling session too (double boo!).

It's Wednesday and I ran

First run group was tonight and thankfully it was a little cooler today than it has been because I still nearly died. Yes, nearly died. I'm not exaggerating...much.

Tonight's session was intervals plus some technique drills. Reassuringly, I felt ill during the warm up! I pushed through, took walk breaks when I thought I was about to throw up (fabulous side effect of the heat for me) and ended up covering just over 5km for the night.

It's so frustrating that I struggled so much tonight when Sunday's run was longer and faster and nowhere near as hard.

Luckily, to detract from tonight's failure (because that's what it feels like), I have tomorrow's epic RPM session to look forward to.

Too much of a good thing?

Back to the gym today for RPM. Good class with lots of sweating involved - always ideal for a RPM class.

Tomorrow is running group - I can't wait!!

Then, I have signed up for RPM on Thursday too. But this is no ordinary class, it's an Australia Day special that goes for 2 hours. I seriously think it's too much but I'm doing it anyway. I can spend the rest of the day sleeping to recover if required - hooray for holidays!

What do you think? Crazy?

I don't like summer

Controversial, I know.

I don't like being sweaty when I've done nothing to warrant it. Sure, if I work out, sweat is perfect. If I'm doing nothing, sweat is wrong.

But, it's summer, so I really just have to suck it up.

And, on a completely unrelated note: I had lovely Maribyrnong River run this morning - hooray for not being in PNG anymore! I ended up doing a bridge to bridge loop with an end of run hairpin - 6km in total. Without paying any attention to my pace (which was super slow) I managed five very consistent kilometer splits, only 4 seconds difference between them. I'm pretty stoked about that.

I start running group again on Wednesday. The means 10 weeks until my nemesis run "Run for the Kids" is on. I drove the Domain Tunnel and Bolte Bridge section of the run today and reminded myself how long, steep and unshaded it is. Yay?

Sad Monday

Headed back to work today after a glorious two week break. Although today was a bit of a cheat as I spent the day flying and not really working. What's more, the internet wasn't working when we arrived so I couldn't even check my emails.

While the day was fairly cruisy, I did have to get up at 3.30 in the morning to catch my first flight.

As predicted, there was no exercise today. This makes me sad. Tomorrow is a new day and I hope will be more successful.

In addition to the lack of sleep and exercise, today is sad Monday as it marks the return of "professional hair". I am not ashamed to admit that over the holiday period, and despite the hot weather, I implemented a no brush/no wash system for my gym sweaty hair. I found that sweat worked as a sort of natural hairspray and assisted in keeping my hair out of my face and in a secure ponytail (please note, secure does not necessarily equal tidy). I feel this may be frowned upon in my professional services office.

I'm also sad that I can no longer go to midday classes and that I've had to create a schedule to fit in my running and gymming once I return to normality.

To avoid this post being a total whinge session, I will finish on a positive note and be happy about the Internet coming back on while we were out getting dinner AND be happy because there were six different vegetables being served at dinner, which is awesome! I love lots of vegetables, especially when two of them are brussell sprouts and yellow squash.

Two for Sunday

100 days challengeDay 8 of the 100 days challenge is completed with a Body Pump class. I swear I'm going to be in some serious pain tomorrow. I really liked today's instructor - she did a lot of position demonstrations to make sure everyone was doing the moves correctly. Plus we did triceps and shoulders (unlike the other classes I've done where it's been either or).

I'm not sure how I'm going to go with exercise tomorrow though. My first flight is at 6.00am and I don't arrive until 5.30pm. I won't have time to fit anything in before the club closes and therefore any chance of food and I'm not sure that it's safe to go out after. I might see about doing a few rounds of the airport in-between flights. 30 minutes of intentional movement is all I need to meet the challenge.

The risks of living room dance parties
I was feeling a bit flat yesterday so I put my living room dance party mix on to pick me up. On the train on my way to the gym this morning I put on my iPod (mostly to distract me from the very drunk guys in the carriage) and the living room dance party mix was still playing. The distraction method worked quite well and two songs in I caught myself mid-dance...still on the train. I'm sure I impressed the non-drunk passengers with my amazing moves.

Lesson learned - the living room dance party mix is for at home only and should not be used in public. I think the very drunk guys probably kept most of the attention off me so it's unlikely that I need to move house due to the humiliation.

And she ran!

The alarm went of at 5.30am. I got up at 8.00am and felt sure it was too late to go out. There's a forecast of 31 degrees today and that's 20 degrees warmer than I like.

Plus, when it's later there's more people and as I feel like a fraud when I run, I don't really like being out with others.

Bet I said yesterday I'd run. And, let's be honest, I've been slack for far too long and the longer I go without running the less likely I am to run (don't ask me why it works that way, it just does).

So, before the doubting voice in my head could take control I threw on some running gear and headed out the door.

I suggest that you ensure that you're sitting down before you read the next bit...ready?

I was fine.

Yes, it was hot and I resemble a cartoon character with how red my face is. Yes, there were lots of other people out. Yes, I struggled a lot and ran exceptionally slow. But nobody pointed and laughed and I didn't die from heatstroke.

I did 6km (3km out and back), with some walk breaks, mostly on the way back. After uploading my Garmin data I can see why - it's pretty much downhill on the way out and therefore uphill on the way back.

It's nice to see I wasn't just imagining it

I'm booked in for Body Pump tomorrow and then I head to PNG for 12 days. I'm hopeful of keeping moving on the non-travel days. Given the limited amount of room I have in my bag, I'd better make sure I use my running gear!! I'm getting much better at packing but it still takes me a couple of goes to get everything in and the suitcase closed!

Late night living room dance party

That was Thursday.

RPM today. Not quite as exciting but definitely more sweaty.

Days 5 & 6 - done.

Tomorrow is think a run will be on the cards.

Trying new things

The hot spell in Melbourne has finally broken and I can return to my regular routine. After four hot nights in a row I am feeling seriously sleep deprived.

Weather whinging now over.

Today I tried my first pilates reformer class.

This is something I've wanted to do for a while but was always too scared to try. I mean, if you look at that thing, it's certainly got a look of medieval torture instrument to it.

I enjoyed the class and suspect I will feel it tomorrow. I don't think I got all the moves down right (I'm pretty sure that my hip joints are not suposed to make the noises that they did) and I felt how weak I am in a number of areas. Looks like I've got another class to add to the list.


Hooray for day 4 of the 100 days challenge being done too!

12 goals for 2012

Before I get into the goals for 2012, today marked a successful day 3 of the 100 days challenge. I made it to RPM, with only a brief consideration of skipping it. So glad, as always, that I didn't. Great class with a different instructor tonight. She usually takes the Monday night class, so once I get past the crazy busy season at work I might add that class to my gym repertoire.

Now, onto the plans for the year ahead.

I've gone with 12 goals, which semi-equates to one goal per month. Some goals will take longer than one month or won't fit easily into a one a month but I think that makes it more manageable. Plus 12 for 2012 sort of fit (not that I think I'll be going 13 for 2013, etc).

1. Exercise every day for 100 days (100 days challenge)
I've already mentioned this one. Keep moving for at least 30 minutes for 100 days. Three days down, 97 to go!

2. Stretch & Strengthen
This goal is a continuation of something I tried to work on in 2011. To keep running and keep moving injury free, I need to stretch and do my physio exercises. I will start work on this on my return from my work trip later this month.

3. Complete three half marathons
2011 was the year of 10kms. 2012 will be the year of half marathons. First one is scheduled for July - Run Melbourne here I come.

4. Stay connected
With all my moving around the countryside, I've got friends scattered left, right and centre. And I don't keep in touch with them quite as much as I could. I will work on changing this.

5. No waste month
For a single gal who lives alone, I manage to generate a lot of rubbish. So for one month (probably May) I will work towards generating as little waste as possible.

6. Compliment someone and myself every day for a month
June will be my compliment month. This goal is about recognising my strengths and increasing positivity (is that actually a word?) in my world.

7. Nutrition revision
I am the first one to admit, my diet is RUBBISH. This will take a major effort to fix, so to start off I will choose one area to improve each month, starting in March. I'm realistic enough to know that the work hours and travel in January and February won't be conducive to success.

8. Declutter and keep tidy
I have too much stuff and not enough room to store it all. When my home is disorganised, I can't concentrate and have insufficient room to do the things I want to do (for example, goal 2). In 2012 I will ensure I completely tidy once a week and will declutter one "storage area" a month.

9. Climb the 1000 steps
This is an easy one to do. There's a walk in Melbourne called the 1000 steps. The name essentially says what it is. It's a bit of hike from my house but worth the effort. A great work out in beautiful scenery.

10. Superannuation
Because I don't want to have to live on rice and beans when I'm old.
Part one - consolidate super
Part two - any payrise for the year (fingers crossed!) goes directly to superannuation

11. Go to the ballet
I said I wanted to do this I don't know how many times last year. This year, it will happen.

12. Pay out car loan
This goal is likely to be a challenge. I bought a new car last year and borrowed pretty much the full amount. I don't like being in debt for something that doesn't hold its value so I would love to get this paid off.

There you go. It's a lot on my plate and the majority will be a challenge for me. Plus they all need some work to be SMART (and thereby increase they're liklihood of success). But what are goals if they don't push against the status quo?

Chris is...

• RPMing
• Body Pumping
• walking

not running :(

Absolutely loving having leave. The freedom I have with my time has been a welcome break and given me the opportunity to get back into regular movement. Over the past week I've been doing plenty of things but not actually running.

As much as getting in some hot weather running is one of my goals, our current temps have just been too much for me. Thursday is looking good with a minimum of 13, which is a distinct improvement on today's max of 40. Phew.

To keep myself on track for keeping moving, I've registered for a 100 days challenge. This will be a real test when I'm back in Papua New Guinea next week. My goal is to get up around sunrise and do a couple of laps of the residential loop where we stay. It may not be interesting but it's safe.

Yesterday, on another ridiculously hot day, I went to see sand sculptures down on the Bay. They were pretty cool.

The theme is toy based and all of the usual suspects were there. The best part was that when you took a second look you discovered so much more than you saw the first time.

Coming soon, my list of things to do in 2012.