#windtraining

[trikrisk]

The 25MPH winds were brutal, but got it done. #windtraining #kickmyarse #iwantanap @baseperformance @kmfperformance @team_zoot #baseperformance

[smithlakepaddleboards]

Someone is training hard for the 1 mile distance. 13 days until #PaddleattheRock! #smithlakepaddleboards #smithlake #yoloboard #sup #paddleboards #paddlefast #windtraining #raceday @yoloboard @visitnorthal @visithuntsvilleal @capture_cullman @birminghamevents @smithlake_ @smith_lake @getoutsidealabama @standuppaddlemagazine @standuppaddlesports @supthemag @outdoor.supply @igalabama

[livingtheactivelife]

Hot yoga and Windtraining

Like Aimee, I have a confession to make.  (No, I didn't abandon sea level for the mountains.  Though, I am envious of her trip to the Olympics.)  Like Eric, I've found myself spending an imbalanced amount of time inside.  Don't get me wrong; I'm not spending all my time inside.  I'm still getting outside for dog walks, run on the rims, hikes in the mountains and weekend urban adventure.  But, during the week, I've been logging quite a few hours inside as well.

There are two problems with this.  Number one, I'm not getting outside.  I'm staying active, I'm just being active inside.  It was only a couple posts ago that I was proclaiming the benefits of getting outside over going to the gym.  In fact, I was urging everyone to get outside.  I'm convinced that a brief walk outside is better for your overall mental, emotional and physical health than a gut-busting session on the elliptical machine.  It is for me, at least.  My mind is clearer and my body feels rejuvenated.  But number two, when it's your responsibility to write blog posts about going outside, you feel like a bit of a fraud when you don't.

It's not without reason however.  Of course there are the reasons we all have: too busy, work, family/significant others, injuries, colds, weddings, funerals, weather, short days.  And these are all incredibly valid.  Recently, I added a couple more reasons to that list: hot yoga and windtraining. 

First hot yoga.  I've been going every day.  The classes are inside in a room with no windows, and they turn the heat up to 100+ degrees.  Barf.  (No, literally, I did, the first day I went.  Please note that taking vitamins on an empty stomach is something we should never do but especially not before entering an incredibly hot room for 80 minutes.)  However, after that first less-than-ideal incident, I felt great!  Seriously, this was a Tony the Tiger kind of grrrrreat feeling. 

My neck didn't hurt or go out for a whole day.  So, I went again.  And again and again.  Each time, I get stronger and my endurance improves.  And each time, I sweat my socks off.  I am a sweater (which is a big reason why I love wool!), but I can say without a doubt that I have never sweat so much in my life (including time spent in steam rooms and saunas.)  This might turn some people off, but the reality is that we all do it, and it’s good for us.

For people who like new adventures, check it out.  Though, let me differentiate between hot yoga and other ‘trademarked hot yoga’.  I prefer ‘hot yoga.’  It’s less rigid and punitive.  I do not go to yoga to hate myself; I go to do the opposite.  I grew up doing yoga because when your mom is a yoga teacher, you grow up doing yoga.  So, for newbies, I always say, listen to your body and go at your own pace.  That means, if it hurts, stop.  Trademarked yoga will tell you that you should hurt.  I disagree.    

  Now, I’ll be honest and admit that I don’t wear wool during hot yoga.  But, I do during windtraining.  Specifically, I’ve been putting my socks to the test.  

Windtraining is nothing like it sounds.  My imagination conjures up an image of a cyclist decked out in aero gear, riding on the infinity pool equivalent of a treadmill made for a bicycle in a windtunnel.  

Not so!  The reality is that we blast internet radio and watch inspiring, epic race footage (the Tour, Ironman Kona, Great Divide Race, the Tour Divide Race, etc) while working through a warm-up and a warm-down with a lot of sprinting, cadence work, one leg drills, hill work, and timetrials in the middle.  This year, we’ve also added some quick sets of functional fitness exercises interspersed throughout the workout.

  We’re six weeks into training.  With each passing week, we get a little bit stronger and that much closer to riding outside.  Though, this winter, with temps sneaking into the 60s, I might be fitting in a road ride this weekend.  So, if you're still reading and didn't get lost in the rabbit hole of internet links, then, you probably get my drift: Simply put, get outside! (Oh, and don’t close yourself into a hot room on an empty stomach!

[livingtheactivelife]

#windtraining #cycling #smartwool #socks #samp (Taken with instagram)

[livingtheactivelife]

#Windtraining #cycling #smartwool #socks #samp (Taken with instagram)