I know you must be asking did she or didn’t she join the Y after my last post. Come on, it has kept you up at nights, right?

I did it. I joined.

And I have to say, this first week of working out at the Y has been quite successful.

Let’s begin with this: I enjoyed the treadmill more than I thought I would, and I did not fall off as the picture above shows.

I only did four miles, when normally on Friday I would do 5 or so, but I did 4 hard miles and it felt more like 7. I realized a few things that stand true for me about why, for me, the dreadmill is so difficult a run.

1. You go at the same pace, rather than running flexible speeds. Outside I may average a 9:22 or so, but I’m going from 8:45 to probably 10 minutes per mile at a time. I’m not doing  a straight 9:22. On the dreadmill, I’m running at a straight clip, so when I set it for 9:30 I wasn’t varying at all. And I was tired! I think it’s going to be a great way to really set a race pace, and to work on holding a pace for a longer time.
2. I am way more competitive with myself on the dreadmill. I stare at the clock, speed, and how far I have gone all the time. I even had headphones on and couldn’t stop staring at the damn machine! Someone help me!
3. I get really, really hot running inside. Even more hotter than I do outside on a humid day! Not sure what it is, because I”m pushing myself so hard staring at that damn clock?!

I tried a few classes. Not real impressed yet, but the one class I really heard rave things about, a boot camp style ab class (which will soon be followed up, by the same instructor, with a boot camp style lift class) was cancelled. I can’t wait to try that, or the yoga on Monday nights. The other classes I attempted didn’t work out for me. They were geared more toward the elderly, where 5 crunches was max and then it was rest time.

I love the pool, and the fact that my children have a fun place to go and play and watch tv (okay, I’m not crazy about the tv part since we are a family that really limits television watching – but hey, it’s beyond my control and you have to let some things go, right?) really makes me happy. I know when I’m working out, they are playing. It makes me a happier mommy to have gotten to sleep in an hour and a half longer a few days this week, and to workout in the early morning rather than at dawn.

I do have to say, though, I still love my early morning runs and they will continue. Sunday, Monday and Wednesday will be early morning runs. Thursday, an early morning bike around my hood. Tuesday will be swim at the Y, and I have several classes I’m planning to do throughout the week as well. All in all, a successful join, and I’m glad I did it.

Running Report: My mileage went down some this week. I think I’m going to stick around 24 until I get closer to race time. I am enjoying cross training, and my body feels like it worked hard this week with the added weights, ab work and yoga I did at the gym.