My Saturday started off a little different then normal. I didn’t get up and start taking energy chews, drinking my pre-workout drink, or get my body ready for a long run.
Instead I:
1. Took the dog for a short walk (it’s pouring here!)
2. Dropped the husband off at the gym to complete his last hard tempo long run before Chicago.
3. Plopped down at Starbucks to get some work done so I didn’t sit at home wishing I was running.
4. Ordered my favorite Starbucks drink (Iced Skinny Vanilla Latte)
There are positive and negatives obviously but that’s okay. I know my body needs this.
I have been looking at different types of cross training to incorporate into my workouts each week, and when I was reading my new issue of Shape Magazine I came across this.
Rowing.
I’ll be honest every time I have gone into the gym the rowing machine scares me. I think the only reason it does is because this is the only machine I have no idea how to use.
Call it fear of looking like an idiot, but I am pretty sure that is the best way to describe it.
This magazine gives a great workout that really looks like something I want to try PLUS it gives my legs a break. Win!
I think I will be trying this out sometime this week. Hopefully it will help me get over my fear 🙂
This post is all over the place, but one last thing some new songs I’ve been really loving lately:
1. “Gone, Gone, Gone” – Phillip Phillips
2. “Ride” – J. Rand ft. Flo Rida
3. “Give It 2 U” – Robin Thicke
4. “Applause” – Lady Gaga
Disclaimer: Some songs contain graphic language.
Have you ever tried rowing? Thoughts?
What are your favorite forms of cross training?
What are you favorite songs on your iPod right now?
One funny observation – not sure about you, but the rain wouldn’t stop me running, but messes me up otherwise in terms of not wanting to get stuck outside. Weird.
I did use the rowing machine at the gym during the time I couldn’t seem to get back into running a few years ago (after my thyroid quit), and I just asked someone. I think you hit a certain point and stop worrying about looking foolish – and I’d rather be foolish for asking than for getting hurt!
As for songs – I had to make a big playlist because my son couldn’t DJ for my wife at work due to marching band … and THIS is the song we were all singing (after the initial WTF from my kids) this morning getting ready: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxf2KCSyvgQ
Probably never heard it, well before your time … but good for a chuckle, and amazing that it was a ‘Top 10 hit’ in the 70s!
Excited for your husband! Really hope hit hits his goal time!
Thank you! I can’t wait to cheer him on no matter what lays ahead for me! 🙂
You sound like him though – rain won’t stop him. The only reason he was on the treadmill yesterday is because he was doing a 15 mile MP race to see if he was ready for 3 weeks from now and didn’t want to deal with soaking wet shoes 🙂
Hope the rowing machine goes easy on your legs. My wife cross trains with short spells on the rowing machine at our gym. I’ve tried joining her at times, but after a run, it seemed to suck too much out of my legs and I tired easily.
Yeah my husband said after I made that post “you know rowing uses your legs” – oops! Guess I won’t be doing that this week maybe because cross training I need to go a bit easier on my legs! I think this week all cross training will focus on upper body and core mostly!
Rowing uses your legs too- just differently than running! I love to use rowing sprints in workouts for my clients!! It’s definitely my favorite form of cross training!!
I can’t wait to try it, but for some reason I guess the thought that it uses your legs completely crossed my mind! I think I will focus on upper body and core this week if I can still not get back into running. I do want to try out rowing sometime soon and hopefully I will get the chance! It looks like such a great exercise!
Rowing is an amazing workout!!! I’ve only done it a few times, but each time I’m blown away by how hard it is! Careful, though, because it definitely does work your legs! My favorite cross-training is the elliptical, but that’s because I dilly dally away on my rest days and read magazines :). I think spinning or swimming are my favorite “real work out” cross training activities!
Haha yes my husband reminded me after I put up this post that running uses your legs – oops! 🙂
I am definitely going to get into swimming and working on upper body and core. I hopefully can get my gym membership back here soon so I can try out running in the pool too! I guess once I have some answers I can make up a game plan and see what is going on!