Nothing Like a Little PA to Cure the Tuesday Blues
Posted by Alicia Leeds on Tue, May 29, 2012 @ 10:54 AM
When the alarm goes off on Tuesday morning after a long weekend, all I want to do is pull the covers over my head and go back to sleep. But a busy day awaits and I have to get up early to get my training in before it starts. I could press snooze and squeeze in the workout later... but I know this is a dangerous move and that decision will put the whole training schedule at risk. So it's up and out I go.
I am fortunate to live in a beautiful building in NYC which features a hotel sized gym. A couple of treadmills, a couple of arc trainers and bikes, a small weight machine. It's cool in there, not crowded, and the morning TV shows are on when I arrive ready to do my first 2/2 walk/run workout.
I have been training for my second half marathon for two weeks now - easy does it. The race is October 7 so I have plenty of time to prepare. I have also hired Full Life's own Personal TriAthlon Coach and Trainer, Leslie Meyers, who is coaching me step by step, checking in with my energy levels, my rest days and my other physical activities to make sure I don't burn out or injure myself.
(Please email me at fulllife@earthlink.net if you are interested in following our work together on Training Peaks!)
I put on my ipod, fire up the treadmill and here I go. A smooth five minute walking warmup followed by 2 minutes running at a slow pace 5.5. Back to walk at 3.5 for two minutes. I alternate in this way for 30 minutes, cool down for ten. Then yoga and stretch for 15. TOTAL workout - 60 minutes, 3+ miles and over 300 calories burned.
Feels good.
Upstairs, I blend up my morning smoothie, banana, mango, orange, soy, ginger and a few almonds... and realize there's a pep in my step I didn't have an hour ago. I am in a good mood!
They say PA is more effective in treating depression than most drugs on the market. And unlike antidepressants which tend to cause weight gain, a little daily PA goes a long way toward helping you manage your weight.
I have a long way to go - I only ran for a total of 16 minutes, and just have to trust in my coach that day by day, step by step, I am getting closer to being able to run 13.1 miles. It's going to be a long, hot summer. But I don't need to think about all that now. My coach will do the thinking for me - I just have to do what's on the schedule for this morning. And I did!
So I don't know if it's the endorphins, the sweat, or sense of accomplishment - but I do know that feeling energized and proud of myself isn't something I can get from a few more hits of the snooze button.
How about you?
Alicia Leeds Meyers is a Personal Healthy Lifestyle Coach who walks the talk and helps her clients uncover their own path to a healthier lifestyle.