RE: AF Biggest Loser/Fitness Challenge-May 3 to Whenever We're Not Fat Anymore
May 19, 2017 at 5:43 pm
(This post was last modified: May 19, 2017 at 5:43 pm by pocaracas.)
I haven't been too active on this thread... this is when the results don't come so quickly...
On some days, I do manage to go to work and back, most of the way using the bike's highest gear.... it is a grind in places, but totally doable.
Today, I felt the wind on my face and made it through anyway... so I suppose that's progress!
Most days I come across people that are coming the opposite way or slow-pokes heading where I'm heading which, given the narrowness of the path in some places, force me to slow down, gear down and once that's done, it's not so easy to pick up the pace again.
But on those days when I have it all to myself, it's been 8th (max) gear all the way!
I've found three tricks to get some more juice for little or no extra effort:
- Lean to the side of the leg that's pushing down - extra upper body workout! If it wasn't for this, i couldn't go uphill in 8th gear. Just couldn't.
- Use your feet wisely. The front of the foot goes on the pedal, not the middle of the foot, not the toes. Also, you can use your ankle, so your foot follows more of the circle of the pedal's motion. This second thing requires quite a bit of concentration for me, so I mostly ignore it.
- Breathe.... keep breathing with a good rhythm. It doesn't have to be synchronized with the pedaling, but try to not break the rhythm. This also takes some concentration, so it also gets lost sometimes.... it's mostly useful when going uphill... but, once there and on flat terrain, it's also required!
So, how's Tibs one mile daily jog coming along?
When I run, I tend to forget breathing... and it's oh so important not to forget that.
On some days, I do manage to go to work and back, most of the way using the bike's highest gear.... it is a grind in places, but totally doable.
Today, I felt the wind on my face and made it through anyway... so I suppose that's progress!
Most days I come across people that are coming the opposite way or slow-pokes heading where I'm heading which, given the narrowness of the path in some places, force me to slow down, gear down and once that's done, it's not so easy to pick up the pace again.
But on those days when I have it all to myself, it's been 8th (max) gear all the way!
I've found three tricks to get some more juice for little or no extra effort:
- Lean to the side of the leg that's pushing down - extra upper body workout! If it wasn't for this, i couldn't go uphill in 8th gear. Just couldn't.
- Use your feet wisely. The front of the foot goes on the pedal, not the middle of the foot, not the toes. Also, you can use your ankle, so your foot follows more of the circle of the pedal's motion. This second thing requires quite a bit of concentration for me, so I mostly ignore it.
- Breathe.... keep breathing with a good rhythm. It doesn't have to be synchronized with the pedaling, but try to not break the rhythm. This also takes some concentration, so it also gets lost sometimes.... it's mostly useful when going uphill... but, once there and on flat terrain, it's also required!
So, how's Tibs one mile daily jog coming along?
When I run, I tend to forget breathing... and it's oh so important not to forget that.
