(Oh, come on, stop groaning)
I've had a pretty intense two days exercise wise so far, and I've found a new, slightly longer training route for the Ride to Conquer Cancer.
While I'm on holiday, and have a lot of free time up my sleeve, I've started planning out my days. Sometimes, I find that time slips away on me when I've got too much of it, and I waste it doing frivolous things. My timetable is flexible, for if something unexpected pops up and I have to reschedule, but I try to stick to it as best I can.
Yesterday I got back into regular exercise, and I hit the gym for an intense forty-five minute cardio workout, courtesy of Les Mills SH'BAM. I've wanted to try out a SH'BAM class for ages, but haven't had the time, so yesterday seemed like too good an opportunity to miss to try it.
For those who don't know, SH'BAM is a dance-based cardio workout, and it's the most fun I've ever had doing exercise. The warm-up, the cool-down, and everything in between is dance. We do everything from hip-hop, to contemporary, to jazz ballet, and it's one hell of a workout.
Now, I confess, I'm not a good dancer, I don't have much of a sense of rhythm. The class yesterday was small (only about six or seven people, because it's school holidays), and I took a spot up the front so I could see the instructor. For the few few tracks I felt like an elephant in a ballet studio, trying to get into the swing of things. The instructor kept saying 'less aerobics, more dance!', and I found it hard to get 'dancing' when I was supposed to be exercising. By the third or fourth track, though, I was starting to get into it and enjoy the class. I still had trouble with some of the moves, but I was less worried about that. It's not often I really get to let my hair down, and yesterday was definitely one of those times where I just let loose.
I would recommend SH'BAM to anyone wanting a fun, cardio-based workout. Don't worry if you can't dance, just go with it and, as the instructor said yesterday, 'feel the beat!'
I got home from SH'BAM and had some lunch, before having a shower and a nap. When I woke up, do you think I decided to sit down a relax? Of course not! I got on my cycling gear and headed out on a new, longer training ride for the Ride to Conquer Cancer.
My original ride was only just 4.0kms, and it was flat most of the way, with only one hill. This new route is 5.2kms, and has a mixture of flat and hills. Some of them are really subtle slopes too, which you don't realize you're riding up until you're half-way up and you have to change gears to keep going. I suspect I'll be dealing with a fair few of those when I do the Ride in October. Also, my new route goes in a circle it starts and ends at my house, where I actually had to turn around with my old route and go back the way I came to get back home again.
My new training route; 5.2kms
There's footpath the whole way, which is good, although parts of it are in very poor repair. It's not really a problem for me on my bike, but runners and power-walkers had better beware. Someone I know recently tripped on uneven footpath and ended up with nasty cuts and bruises to their face. They had horrible scab on their chin for weeks, and a scar is still visible on their nose where their glasses cut into it.
I went for another bike ride this morning, going the same route. I forgot to lower my gear from yesterday, and accidentally did the ride in third, rather than fourth, gear. This is interesting, as I found today's ride, along the same route in a lower gear, harder than yesterday. Perhaps simply because I'm more tired after my intense day yesterday.
As always, donations for my ride are much appreciated. Chip in here, and your contribution will immediately benefit Peter Mac.
Well, I'm off to have some lunch, and then I'm off to try on costumes for my fairytale and fantasy themed birthday party coming up soon.
~ Australian Kiwi
