June 21, 2011

Note to Self: Don't run in tornadoes...

After months of dealing with a jacked up IT band, I finally was able to see a physical therapist today after jumping through all of my insurance's crazy hoops.  Yay!  Unfortunately, physical therapy is NOT a magic wand that fixes any injury immediately.  Darn!  Wouldn't that be nice?  In my case, it's mostly going to be about learning some good stretches and strengthening exercises...and actually DOING THEM!  I'll go back to see the PT a few more times, but the work is going to be up to me.  I'm a good stretcher, but hate hate hate strength training... The PT wants me to hit the leg machines at the gym 2-3 times a week, and do strengthening exercises on my own at home every day.  Annnd...I am COMMITTING TO FOLLOWING THROUGH!  Every week I "plan" to do strength training...and every week I skip it.  As the PT said, I'm putting my legs through a beating, and I need to make sure they're strong enough to take it!

Confession: I am incredibly intimidated by the weight machine section of the gym.  Even walking through it to get to the yoga studio intimidates me...guess I will have to put my big girl pants on and suck it up!

After leaving PT, I noticed that a pretty nasty storm was brewing, but faced with the option between a rainy run and a treadmill run, I decided to gamble on the rain.  I had 4.5 miles on the schedule, but after 2.5 a campus security officer from the community college I was running near informed me over their loudspeaker that we were in a tornado warning!  Yikes!!!  I hadn't planned on a speedy run, but I booked it home after that!!  Just in time too--the sirens started the second I reached my front lawn!  Luckily everything seems to have blown over.  Phew!  Thank goodness I wasn't further away!

Note to self: check weather forecast BEFORE starting out on a run...

Do you like strength training?  Are you ever intimidated at the gym?

7 comments:

  1. I am always too intimidated to use the machines at the gym. I always feel like everyone is watching me and knows I have no clue what I'm doing. I realize this is ridiculous, but I can't help it!

    Good luck with your strength & stretching! I am horrible at those things too.

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  2. I actually really enjoy strength training but find it really difficult to get motivated for it!! ahhh I really want to get better. stretching is a long and hard battle for me as well but with similar IT issues...I am kind of in the same boat. Ummm you are insanely hard core for running in a tornado warning!!!

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  3. I don't mind strength training but I have never joined a gym (and really don't plan to). I'm a do-it-at-home with videos kinda gal :)

    I really like the FIRM workouts because they give you a mix of cardio and strength training.

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  4. Yikes how scary! I am glad you made it home in time. I actually really enjoy strength training. I try to do it first thing before cardio and I am actually starting to look forward to it.

    I used to hate it so this is a big step for me. This may sound mean but I seriously just ignore people at the gym. I am there to workout and not make friends so who really cares what people think right?

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  5. I love strength training - mainly because I love the results and how strong I feel after a few weeks of doing it. You need to remember to compete against yourself (amount of weight and reps). It doesn't matter what the others think. You are doing this to be HEALTHY. Ok, I'll stop yelling.

    My suggestion - set up an appointment with a rep from the gym to learn about the equipment and to gain confidence in yourself that you are using the machine correctly. That will go a long way towards alleviating your fears of what "everyone else" thinks.

    And besides, what would you tell a young lady in your classroom who let a bunch of boys intimidate her into stopping something she enjoyed doing. (Sorry, couldn't resist).

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  6. If you ever need a weather consultation, I'm your guy! haha

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  7. I'm intimidated by EVERYTHING at the gym :) That's why I do my pilates/stretching at home!

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