Sadie vs. Elliptical Trainer - Episode 8

Episode 8 - Cheating or Progress?

I went to the gym Saturday morning at 7:00am. I knew the toddPod was low on power, so I started on the elliptical for as long as I could. Todd died after about 7 minutes. Ugh! I did not want to spend a long time in one place today, so I decided to finish 10 minutes on the elliptical and use it as a warmup to weights.

My weight routine today was a little different than normal. I had workout ADD, I guess. I started with the seated leg press and moved to the abductor/adductor machines. At that point I got inspired to follow the '30 minute workout' advertised by 24 hour fitness. You follow a set of blue and yellow machines doing approximately 15 'challenging' reps on each machine in a progression down the line. It sort of gives you a full body weight workout in a short time period. You do the progression of machines twice, so it is like doing 2 sets on each machine, but without a lot of rest between them. Usually these blue and yellow machines are occupied by 50+ year old folks. I have never seen anyone my age on them.

After my two passes through the line, I decide it is time for more cardio and some ab work. I have been trying to run a little every time I go to the gym, but I have not been able to do more than 3 minutes without feeling little twinges of pain. This morning felt a little different.

I decided to use the little track at the gym, and began by running 1 lap (1/10 mile). It felt okay, so I did 30 situps and tried another lap. Lap 2 felt okay, so I did 30 more situps and tried a third. During lap 3, I decided that my hip/sacrum was not feeling as bad as normal, and on the typical 1 to 10 pain scale was about a 1 or 2. My goal at that point was to run as many laps as possible with 30 reps of abs between each lap. At any point my hip felt above a pain level 2, I was prepared to quit.

I actually felt better as the laps progressed, and I am pleased to report that I accomplished running a mile at the gym. That also means I did just over 300 situps(or situp equivalents) to work on my future 6-pack.

Upon returning home, I decided to try to run on the road. At this point I knew that any extra pounding on my hips might set me back in my recovery. I just didn't care...I ran 2 miles with very minimal discomfort. This is WAY more than I have done in the last month. Way more.

I feel good about it. I don't feel sore after the fact. I am still continuing to think that I am on the way out of the woods on my injury.