2019 is upon us, so time for new fitness and exercise thread!
As before in previous threads, here is the place to share your fitness goals, routines, post questions etc.
No accomplishment too big or too small, these are usually enjoyable and encouraging, so please share what you’re up to!
When running, after maybe 40 minutes or 4 miles, I sometimes experience something strange: It’s as if my body was running on its own. I feel a muscle impulse jolt my legs and arms in the right direction but it feels like it’s being done as a reflex, like that knee-jerk medical test. My lower arms and neck feel independent of the rest of my body that’s on automatic mode; they can loosely swivel while the rest of my body feels hard/tense in a good/neutral way. I also feel very little tiredness. Does anyone else get that? What causes it?
What are the best ways not to run out of electrolytes during aerobic exercise, besides drinking high-sugar drinks like Gatorade?
As for sharing accomplishments: Today, I aimed to do 700 push-ups, 300 sit-ups and 100 chin-ups. I ended up doing 150 sit-ups and 25 chin-ups, largely because I couldn’t be bothered. I did do the push-ups though. I’ve been trying to improve pectorals so they don’t lag behind the shoulder and arm muscles. I wish I knew a way to exercise that muscle group thoroughly while still being able to watch a screen so if anyone has suggestions, I’d like to hear them.
How long did it take you to do 700 pushups?
As for a pec exercise that allows you to watch screen, I don’t know of any, although you could somehow support an iPad in front of a seated pec machine.
But, generally, most people don’t spend a lot of time working their pecs (on one particular exercise), so the machines aren’t set up for video.
It took me from about 8AM to 8PM, intermittently. I’d get done doing one thing then remember I hadn’t done push-ups in a while so I’d do some. At the end, I could only manage about 10 at a time. I wonder how sore I’ll be tomorrow.
If you haven’t done this recently, I’d say - pretty sore. Maybe even more sore on Monday.
Let us know…
ETA: Got to the gym today, and my buddy pointed to the ground and said “shoulder tap push-ups.”
That’s a plyometric exercise where you set up some weights on-end to act as a platform, then do pushups on them, touching each shoulder after each rep, then “hop” down between the weights and do the same thing, then push up to land back on the weights. Lather, rinse, repeat. We did 40 sets (which is 200 pushups total).
Unless you’re doing high mileage or your weather is unusually hot, you don’t need to worry. Dilute the Gatorade to half strength. I typically fill my Camelback with calorie-free drink mix with a bit of salt and use salt in my food.
As for pushups, try to lead with your pecs. There’s a natural tendency to push through the hands and that over-involves the shoulders and triceps. Focus on contracting the pecs first and push through the elbows. You can also try to squeeze the hands together as you push, this will also help focus on the pecs.
Love it! Off and “running” already 
Ok, started the thread but didn’t have time to sit and type my contribution.
So my big goal this year is to do a trail ultramarathon. I decided on that back in the late summer, so I’ve been working very slowly to get in shape specifically for that. I have two races I have my eye on; a 50k at a race I have done the 25k at several times, and my “Cool Impossible”, a 100k. I figure at least I’ll manage the 50k, and that will either be my achievement for the year or it will be a training race for 100k.
Apart from talking about it with my wife, this is the first I’ve put that 100k goal out there. I’m not at all sure that it’s do-able for me, and if I attempt it all I will be trying to do is beat the 23-hour cutoff.
I also just put my name in the lottery for the 50-mile option at the Dirty Kanza gravel grinder. My longest bike rides so far have been less than 25 miles, but I’m sure 50 will be do-able by June.
So my routine this winter has been much better than last winter. I used to love running in the cold, but for some reason don’t enjoy it much anymore. So last year that kept me inside and drastically hurt my fitness. So this fall in anticipation I got a membership to Planet Fitness. I’ve been using that to try to simulate a trail race; jogging, then cranking up the incline and power-hiking, then jogging some more, then hitting the stair climber for a while. Repeat and mix it up. I think it’s working rather well. I actually would love to run the trails, but they’ve been pretty consistently closed due to being wet for quite a while now.
I’d also like to drop about 20 pounds. I can do that and still be well within but at the low range of my healthy weight. Would be nice to not have to haul that around with me for miles, whether on foot on on wheels.
**Sicks Ate **-
Good luck with your Ultramarathon goal! My gym buddy runs 50Ks several times a year. He’s beginning to find them not challenging enough, and he is gunning for a 100mi race (!).
Me, I’m just hoping to complete the Spartan Super (10 mi) with him without dying.
My accomplishments are a bit smaller.
I carried 20 kg of water bottles about 100m from the car to the house. Probably could not have done it last year.
Did a 75 minutes minutes vinyasa flow yoga class. A flow class involves moving quickly between poses, so it’s a cardio workout as well As flexibility.
Gatorade G2 has ½ the calories & Powerade Zero has, you guessed it, 0 calories. Also, as running coach stated, you shouldn’t need it for normal, everyday runs.
It’s tough, but doable. The trick is to keep going thru the night.
I did it Saturday. Sunday, I wasn’t that sore which usually indicates that Day 3 will be very sore and it’s definitely the case today.
Thanks.
I’m not doing much mileage now but when spring comes, I plan to. After about how much distance does replacing electrolytes and such become a factor?
I’ll try leading with the pecs next time. Not today, not tomorrow but maybe Friday.
I didn’t know they had a zero calorie one. That will be useful, thanks.
I mastered the 6 ft lache yesterday! So my goal now is to get the 8 ft lache.
That works well, I can feel exertion in my pectorals before I do in other muscle groups, thanks.
With the 700 push-ups being done on Day 1, soreness peaked on Day 3, was still present on Day 4 and minor in Day 5. I think I took 7 or 8 days before doing push-ups again out of patience/laziness.
I’d like to increase my squat to over 600 pounds and Deadlift to over 650 (they are both within 50lbs if that current). My shoulder is trash so bench press is out.
But same goals as every other year: bigger, leaner, stronger.
I have small potatoes compared to some of you. I do a lot of cycling year round, but in the winter I have a bicycle on a trainer indoors so I can ride during inclement weather or when it’s too dark during the week before or after work (yes, I know about lighting, but why risk it). I could go to the gym, but don’t.
Anyway, this winter I had been doing daily 60-min indoor rides and decided to mix-up the riding with some weights, so brought-in a pair of 20 lb dumbells, to break-up the ride. I started with just simple curls, then overhead lifts, and behind the head lifts. At first I was barely able to lift them from behind my head, but now can freely do that. I also added planks - I read somewhere a fit guy should be able to hold a plank for 2 minutes, so set that as a goal. At first I could barely last 30 seconds, but now I can hold it for 2+ minutes. So, the indoor ride now includes a couple minutes of dumbells (2x) and a couple of 2 minutes planks during the hour. It is encouraging when you can see your progress from a starting point.
My main goal for this year is to remain active, and improve my core strength. I am also looking to get back into running after a 2-year break, but will start small there.
I am going to add some pushups, and incorporate running coach’s tip for pecs.
Excellent video on why you shouldn’t press behind the neck.
You can damage the rotator cuff muscles.
Pressing to the front is fine.
I’m trying to get in shape for a 60K near Bryce Canyon in May but there have been few sub-75 weekends this winter in Florida to get long runs in on. I did a 14 mile loop this weekend but it was starting to get warmish by the end. My highest so far this season is 37 which is exactly 60K (but less than 500’ elevation change and at sea level) in 9 1/2 hours.
Acclimation won’t be an issue (even though overall performance at height will be), and I hope to impress myself again by repeating my run up Guadalupe Peak, the nearest at-height place to visit coming from Florida, first thing on my vacation, and afterward will give myself at least another week at > 5K and I should be good to go for at least 25 miles during the race. We’ll see about the rest.
Had no luck in my 6th Western States 100 lottery in December, so that goal will have to wait for another year (perhaps 2020??!!)
For now, I’m registered for two 100K’s and a 50K. And i’ll likely do an event I did last year called “Last Runner Standing” where you have 1 hour to complete a 4.1 mile loop on trails (with 700-800ft of gain). Then the next hour a new loop starts if you’re there to start it. The event lasts until there’s one person left! Last year I was treating it as a training day for my 100 mile race so I decided to stop after 12 hours (50 miles), this year I’ve made a promise to myself that I’m going to keep going until I miss a cutoff.
I got knocked off a bit after my lay off in November, but boot camp is back on so I’m back to getting up at 4:30a three days a week, plus a double class on Saturday of Pound and Body Pump. I’ve slacked off of my Fri 5:30a Body Pump but I’m going to get back into it.
At this point I’m maintaining. I’m in damn good shape for my age and I especially notice it when I squat down. I don’t have to grunt and grab on to things to heave myself back up…my shapely quads to that just fine. 