I'm Back...

Well we are 12 days into the new decade and my triathlon training has started up in full swing! Last week I was able to get in two treadmill runs, a spin bike ride, and two weightlifting sessions, and so far this week I ran on the treadmill yesterday and did a quick brick workout (35 minutes spin bike, 5 minute treadmill run) this afternoon. They have these really cool new spin bikes at my gym -- they have computer displays that allow you to specify the type of workout you want to do and then track your heart rate and cadence, as well as directing you on what to do (e.g., seated climb, seated flat, sprints, jumps) and for how long (kind of hard to describe in words, but trust me, VERY COOL). As always this time of the year I am carrying a few extra pounds, but the nice thing is thanks to running through the fall and winter, my overall fitness level is much higher than usual. One other thing -- the "New Year's Resolutionaries" are at the gym in full force, but given the fact I was fully expecting them, they are not annoying me as much as they normally do...

Attack Of The New Year Resolutionaries

Today I headed to the gym at 1:00 P.M. to ride (well, spin) for the first time since I started training again. Unfortunately I completely forgot that it is the fifth day of the New Year, which means gyms around the world are packed with New Year Resolutionaries. You know who these people are -- they make a New Year's resolution to lose weight/get washboard abs/bulk up/work out more often, and thus, gyms around the world are packed in January (and usually part of February as well). Inevitably their newfound commitment fades, and gym attendance returns to normal. Do not get me wrong -- I truly respect these people for at least trying (and suspect every year some number of them get hooked and start exercising regularly), but it does make working out this time of the year a pain.

Anyway, tangent over -- the entire reason for it was to explain why I ended up having to ride a recumbent bike for 40 minutes instead of a spin bike or something at least faintly resembling an actual bicycle. Given the fact it was the first ride of the year, I was perfectly fine using the recumbent. I wore my heart rate monitor strap and I was generally in the 115-120 bpm range for the entire workout, which quite frankly is probably right where I should be given the fact I have not been on a bicycle since August. So I guess the New Year Resolutionaries may have actually done me a favor...