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Phew, That Was Intense!

12/3/2014

12 Comments

 
I bailed on my run this morning due to a mixture of the cold weather and my own laziness. Today, my bed won and I stayed put. So, instead, I chose to do the following workout later on, courtesy of Meg at Meg Go Run (thanks Meg and thanks Kristina for the link the other day!):

http://meggorun.blogspot.com/2014/11/oh-no-it-snowed-workout.html

This was an intense workout! Especially all the burpees. Ahhh, burpees - you never get any easier! I had sweat dripping in my eyeballs mid-way through this workout, and my heart rate was most definitely up as I huffed and puffed away. Give this one a try if the weather where you are is putting you off stepping foot outside: it is a great alternative to a run. Actually, I was feeling quite unfit at the end, thinking, how can I run 106km over 3 days (recently, in early November) but I can't do 20 good burpees in a row? I will definitely be giving this workout another go soon. Just not too soon.


Yesterday was a stay-indoors-and-eat-lots-of-stodge-and-sandwiches-while-watching-House-of-Cards kind of afternoon, so I bailed on any sort of exercise then, albeit a couple of quick walks in the -14 degree weather. However, the morning before (when it was -15 and morning was just about to break, that glorious first light part of the day) I did manage to get out there for the coldest run I have ever experienced. To do so, I had on: 2 pairs of running leggings, a pair of shorts, 2 pairs of socks, 3 tops, 2 sports bras, 2 pairs of gloves, a face scarf/wrap thing, a hat, a running jacket. My body wasn't cold (just my face), nor did I overheat shortly into the run, so I think I had just enough layers on for the weather. However, I made the mistake of taking my gloves off one hand while trying to adjust my face wrap/bandana thing (which annoyingly kept freezing solid due to my nose running and my breathing on it, thus it would then fall, frozen and with no elasticity anymore, around my chin, kinda uncomfortable). Ok, that was painful! My hand started to burn and sting with the cold straight away, so no more removing any part of my outfit. The run was pretty good, and I actually felt a lot faster than on previous days, and felt like the cold weather was helping my pace. The only negative part was my face was freezing as the face wrap did not stay put, so I'll need to invest in a proper face mask, and a proper beanie and ear covering too methinks. Then there'll be no excuse for staying put in my warm, cosy bed!

The weather is still faarkin cold today, but this is apparently nothing and will get a lot colder pretty soon. Hmm, can't wait for that! Still, it is quite beautiful with the frost covering the trees and plants. No snow yet, but plenty of frozen water from their sprinkler systems in the park nearby:


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12 Comments
Kristina link
12/4/2014 12:21:32 am

I was planning to do meg's workout tonight since it's a running rest day for me but now I'm scared!

Those icicles are really pretty, but I am in shock that it's so cold there! WOW! I would be skipping runs too, I think. I mean, how could you pry yourself out from under the warm covers to voluntarily go out running in that weather?!

Reply
Lou link
12/6/2014 12:32:18 pm

Do it Kristina! It's loads of (painful/sweaty/breathless) fun! Took me about 40 minutes, so it is over before you know it!
Yeah, the cold weather is hard, but I feel extra good when I come back from a cold run. :)

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Running schlub link
12/4/2014 01:44:19 am

Can you say COLD...geez I can't imagine running in that type of cold. I wear a jacket and gloves in 50* weather lol

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Lou link
12/6/2014 12:33:45 pm

This is certainly the coldest weather I have ever experienced! And just when I think I've got it sorted and can handle these -15 degree days, I check the weather forecast for the month ahead and its going to drop down to minus 20 soon! I don't know where I could possibly add more layers??

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Kim link
12/4/2014 02:05:52 am

All of that ice is amazing - beautiful to see but I have zero interest in being out in it - way too cold. You are awesome to get out there and run!!!
Burpees are always hard!!

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Lou link
12/6/2014 12:34:50 pm

Yes they are! I am rubbish at them! They puff me after the first 3 or 4.. Oh well, they must be effective then??

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Amy link
12/4/2014 07:05:29 am

Yikes! I remember those days of Harbin winters. I went to the gym everyday! I do not think I ever really ran outside between October and April in Harbin. Time for a gym membership!?

Reply
Lou link
12/6/2014 12:36:16 pm

Yeah, we're in the process of tracking down the gym (hopefully we'll go and join up sometime this week). I think I'm going to try and run and cycle outdoors for as long as possible though. I mean, if it doesn't kill me it'll make me stronger right?? :)

Reply
Megan @ Meg Go Run link
12/4/2014 06:57:24 pm

Thanks for trying my workout! It is pretty tiring! Burpees are those special evil little things that I swear just don't get any easier....

Reply
Lou link
12/6/2014 12:37:59 pm

Thanks for posting it! Actually, due to the Great Fire-wall of China, I couldn't view the video, but thank you so much for the list of moves underneath, as I used this as my guideline and did four sets of these moves (hope I got them all right). Yes, burpees are exhausting! Which must mean they are great for us to do! Thanks Meg! :)

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karen link
12/8/2014 08:49:48 pm

Megan's workout is hardcore. You know i feel the same way when I start running up stairs, I think I can run 13 miles, yet going up a few flights will wind me to no end, it's weird. I need to add more stairs in my daily life lol I can't get over that cold, the ice is amazingly beautiful, but good grief that's a lot of layers and it's scary to think that you can feel stinging in your skin just being exposed. You do need a indoor retreat sometimes. I am glad you can blog and share your posts through the great fire wall, it's always so interesting to see what you have going on :)

Reply
Lou link
12/14/2014 06:21:41 am

You know? I have been missing the stairs workouts that I could do in the last town we lived in (lived on 5th floor of a 7 storey building)! Now the only stairs I have are one storey up in our tiny apartment/house here on campus. Think I would need to do hundreds of reps to get the same number of stairs in and that just sounds demoralising and no fun... However, you're right, do need an indoor retreat and home gym too, as I am reluctant to join the gym here for some reason (so strange hey, as I used to LOVE the gym, but not anymore...) Thanks Karen! Glad you enjoy my posts, and I will continue to ramble on on here whenever the internet allows! :)

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