I'm gonna feel that tomorrow.

I took yesterday off to rest up before trying to match Beth's speed. After getting about 4 hours of sleep, and spending 3 hours walking around Chelsea Market and the meatpacking district with Beth, eating samples of like 9 different foods, I figured it would be the perfect time to run 4 miles faster than I ever have before, because, hey, what better time to run than when you're tired and full?

Side note: if you've never been to Chelsea Market, on the west side of 9th Ave between 15th and 16th, go check it out some time. Some guy bought the building 10 years ago when the area was a dump and gave really cheap 20 year leases to a bunch of independent retailer/wholesalers, and now they all have really good food for really good prices, and I believe most, if not all of them, are open 24/7. Unfortunately, the landlord sold it to a group more interested in profit, so it's not going to last forever.

Anyway, after the tour, we got to the gym, got ready, did our warmups, and kicked it up to 6.1 mph for the first 2 miles, then 6.3 for a mile, then 6.5 until we sprinted from 7 to 8 mph in the last quarter mile, hitting 4 miles a little north of 38 minutes. I actually thought I might have to stop in the first quarter mile, because I had gotten that shooting pain in the back of my ankle that I've mentioned a couple times, on the right side. I should probably find out what that is, but after a 5 or 10 seconds, it passed and I had no trouble. After that we did some crunches and assisted pull-ups, and then headed out.

So, the important thing to take out of all this is that I matched Beth's speed over 4 miles, and it only took a month.

Ludicrous speed!

Beth's going to be in New York City this weekend (her boyfriend lives in Brooklyn), so on Saturday we're meeting up and doing a food tour of Chelsea Market and the meatpacking district. If you've never done a food tour and you like touristy stuff, I recommend it. You walk around for 3 hours, learn a little about the history of the area, and taste a sample of the food of about half a dozen local restaurants and food shops.

Anyway, after the tour, we're going to head over to a nearby New York Sports Club and, with my membership and a guest pass, we're going to run, and I think we're both just kind of assuming it'll be a race. And, knowing that she usually runs faster than me, I figured tonight would be a good time to try kicking it up a notch. So I did something that I don't think I've ever done (outside of the final sprint of a run). I raised my treadmill speed above 6.0 mph. That's right. For 4 miles, I went all the way up to the stunningly fast speed of.......wait for it.......

6.1 mph.

That shaved about 9 or 10 seconds off each mile, and with the sprint at the end, I finished in just over 39 minutes.

So, in the past 2 days, I've biked over 10 miles, ran 4, and spent about half an hour doing miscellaneous exercises. Meanwhile, in the same amount of time, Beth has done....hang on, let's add it all up carefully....carry the 1....oh, right. Beth has done no exercise and, instead, has skipped the gym to eat and drink.

I'm not saying that for any particular reason. Just thought I'd mention it.

Congratulations Bar exam takers

Beth was yakking throughout the work day that she was going to run 5 miles tonight, whereas I canceled my spot in a spin class to get a beer with my friend that had just finished the Bar exam. The beer was as much for me as it was for her - she caused me more stress by studying for her test than I had studying for it myself last July. Since I was pretty set on trying the spin class at the new gym, when I canceled, I was even thinking about skipping the gym entirely. When I mentioned that to Beth, of course, she pointed out that relentless Jews for Jogging mockery would ensue.

But, after the beer, I caught the 7:01 express back to Long Island and headed over to the gym to at least do a bike ride. I set it for half an hour of random hills, but unfortunately had to cut it about 3 minutes short because of a shooting pain in the back of my right ankle (which usually happens in my left ankle, about once or twice a month, in the first quarter mile of a jog, but has now happened in my right leg towards the end of the past two times I've ridden an exercise bike). After that I did a few random exercises - crunches, push ups, something you lean on so you're kind of doing an upside-down sit up (it works your lower back), and a pull-down bar.

Meanwhile, as for Beth's 5 mile run? Here's what she texted me when I asked how far she jogged: "Instead of going to the gym I am going downtown to eat and drink with my bro." I don't think I even need to go through the effort of mocking her. That just speaks for itself. Pretty sure I take the gold medal for today.

So, I went to the gym today and I decided to do a step class. Firstly, I walked in and the instructor was fatter than I was. This is not a good sign. Now for those of you who know me, know I am pretty uncoordinated. The instructor starts off by asking if anyone is brand new, and I raise my hand along with like 3 other people. The instructor starts going off about how this is an intermediate class and we shouldnt use risers on the step, so I took mine off. She pointed out we would get lost cause we dont know the names of the things. She was right.

I spent the entire class being lost and occasionally I would just stop and look at the other people. The girl in front of me was way too into it, and she was flailing her arms and just altogether way too bouncy, it was funny to watch. However, what wasnt so funny were her tight pants. She was wearing tight black pants with ass cleavage. And what made it even grosser was the fact her ass was noticably sweating through the pants, it basically made me nauseous. Looks like no more step for me for a while.

Those were good wings.

First of all, let me just say this: I am protecting the world from a potential chicken overpopulation disaster, one wing at a time. Beth may have saved one life, but I'm saving everyone. You're all welcome.

Now, on to the 4.5 mile workout. I must say, having something to run for, like, say, an attractive blonde exercising on the machines right in front of you, can really be a great motivator. But there were times I had my doubts that I would go that far. For example, you know that stitch that shows up to the right of your stomach, and you look down at it, and you could swear it says to you, "Hey, there. I'm Steve, and I'm here to mess up your run for the next twenty minutes or so"? Yeah, that happened about a mile in. But it never got too bad, and once I pushed past 5k, it was pretty much a done deal.

So, admittedly, I did it on an incline of 0, and I know Beth bumped it up to, I believe, 1% on her run last night, and I'm sure that, at 6.0 mph with a sprint at the end, I did it slower than her. Still, she has to be a little nervous that I kicked off 2009 with a handful of runs where I couldn't even break through about 1.5 miles, and less than a month later, I'm almost up to where she is. Between that and keeping humanity safe from the devastation that would accompany a chicken rampage, I'm pretty sure that bumps me up to "slightly better person than Beth."

Last I heard, they're already up to 700 chickens per person in Slower Lower Delaware. I'm just saying, we have to be careful.

the retards who work out at my gym

So, today I went to the gym. Moser suggested I increase the incline and see how it feels, and I hate to say it, but he was right it was harder. But, I still did 4.5 miles at a 1% incline. Oh, also I gave blood today after my work out. It was my first time and I am scared of needles but I figured it is a good thing to do. So, I dont know how many of you read Moser's blog entry, but while he was feeding his face with wings, I was saving a life. I dont know if that makes me a "better" person than him, because thats a very subjective term. But objectively, looking at the facts I saved a life today and exercised, and Moser...ate wings. You decide...

Anyways, onwards and upwards. So, I was at the gym today and there was a treadmill with no power going to it. The screen was blank. So, I approached it and saw the screen was blank, and walked away. I was on a treadmill behind it. In the hour I was running I saw at least a dozen people approach it, clearly see there was nothing on he screen, and then proceed to get on it and start pushing buttons. Now, I am sure a bunch of you have used the elypitcal and realize that sometimes to start that you need to be moving to start the power. Now, if any of you have used a treadmill, you know that you need power to make it go. It shocked me that at least 12 people got on this thing and proceeded to push the buttons, idiots. This is the future of America.

A day off

I took today off from working out, because I needed to make sure I had plenty of room for 25 cent wings. I think it's important to use rest days to gorge yourself on as much food as humanly possible.

But, I never wrote what I did yesterday, and since a large point of this blog was to track my workouts, I figured I should put that in. I got home from Florida pretty early and after picking up the dog at the vet, I headed over to the gym. After doing the 4 miles outside on Saturday, I felt really good about running, and wanted to do it again, but since I don't like doing the same workout two days in a row, I shortened the distance and added inclines. I ended up doing about 2.5 miles on the Alpine Pass program, which ranged between 1 and 5% incline. Solid workout, but I didn't feel like I had done quite enough, so I did some crunches/pushups/pulldowns/etc. for a little bit before leaving.

Tomorrow I hit the treadmill for at least 4 miles, and I'm aiming for 4.5. And hey, who knows, maybe Beth actually worked out today and will come up with a post of her own...