Speed Work Sucks Donkey Butt

Last night after work I joined my brother Sky in his apartment gym.

I hadn't done speed work since before the ultramarathon. And, with Camp Pendleton looming just over a month away, I knew I needed to get faster.

So, speed work.



Let me tell you, I haven't run on a treadmill in a long time. And my hat is off to all of you who do it on a regular basis. Just warming up on that puppy was killing me. Oh man. It was SO HARD. (that's what she said)

Anyway, this is how it went down:

Warm up: 10 minutes, starting at 3mph, working up to 6mph

60 seconds @ 11mph
a few minutes of 3mph while trying not to vomit
60 seconds @ 10mph
a few minutes at 3mph wheezing and complaining
45 seconds @ 11mph
a few minutes of 3mph while trying not to vomit
45 seconds @ 10mph
Cool down + ample complaining

Oh man.

OH MAN.



I forgot how awful my chest could feel.

My legs? Totally cool. They LOVED sprinting at 11mph.

My lungs felt like I had swallowed scorpions and fire ants and needles.

Oh man.

Which tells me one major thing: I need to do this more often.

My legs are champions. They can go and go.

My lungs are stupid. They need to be worked harder and more frequently. (that's what she said)

You can tell that my smile doesn't reach my eyes.



I need to have a conversation with my treadmill at home, and convince it not to try to kill me, so I can do speed work at home. I'd do it on the streets, but I'm still scared of falling. I still have scars on my elbow from this.

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So, my brother is getting rid of everything he owns and traveling the world. Which means, after we ran he tried to pawn some stuff off on me. I ended up taking a stack of Tin Tin books, a weird painted hat, and boxing gloves.

Ooooooh, boxing gloves.

I had a flash back to earlier in the week, when I had seen a punching bag at the thrift store. For $30.

So, boxing gloves in car, I headed over.

And score, it was still there. Boom-pow.

At 70lbs, I declined all offers of help to get it to the car. I threw it over my shoulder (okay, that part was a little slow and a little awkward, but I got it where it needed to be) and carried it out. The cashier made a "Million Dollar Baby" comment as I left. I think this means she wants to smother me in my sleep.

So, I have boxing gear. I'm going to con my brother into figuring out how to hang it before he leaves.

BOOM.



Mama's Gunna Knock You Out.

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Have you ever scored cheap/free exercise equipment?



What kind of gear do you have to work out at home?



I have a treadmill, an 18lb kettle bell, two 10lb weighs, two 15lb weights, and an exercise ball. Not much, but I get my work out on at the gym most of the time. UNTIL NOW!