Well, I’m fully in my winter workout mode and quite honestly, it was a great week.
This is what winter workout mode means for me:
Longer Pure Barre workouts. I knew very well that once winter weather hit, I would naturally return to the longer Pure Barre workouts. The best part is that I had taken quite a hiatus from regular 45 minute Pure Barre workouts so there are a lot of new workouts to choose from in the Pure Barre On Demand menu. Plus, even the workouts I’ve done before, feel new to me again. I love having the Pure Barre On Demand option from home — it makes the winter mornings that much easier on me as I don’t have to leave the house.
Quality over Quantity. I think that I’ve been focused on quality over quality when it comes to my workouts, and especially running, for basically two years now. However, it’s even more important of a focus in the winter. I do not like to run outdoors in the cold weather and I don’t like to run easy on the treadmill just to get in miles. So, right now, it’s all about running strong workouts on the treadmill a couple of times a week, even it means a lot less running.
Cross-training in the gym. I’m totally fine and happy to use the elliptical in place of an easy run, and I’m super fine with walking on the treadmill too. Gotta switch things up when I can’t get outdoors, you know?
Walk outside when I can. I really do love a good walk outdoors. I’m still focused on getting outside, it just may not happen first thing in the morning as it’s just too cold for me. By midday, I am more tolerant, the sun is brighter, and then the temperature usually rises just a bit to make me more comfortable. If I have a goal at all for this winter (we know I am not the goal-setting type), it’s to try to get outside for a walk when I can during the day, even if only 20 minutes.
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Monday – 45 Min Pure Barre
Tuesday – 45 Min Pure Barre
Sure, I could have walked over to the gym in the few inches of snow but I didn’t want to so I chose another Pure Barre workout. Today’s workout was hard in a great way! We used weights basically the entire time – talk about a full-body workout. Pure Barre is really always full-body but when you add holding weights the whole time, it’s extra intense.
Wednesday – 35 Min Treadmill Workout
I was short on time so I made the decision to run a really strong treadmill workout this morning. Lately, I do a lot of interval workouts so instead for today, I decided to hold my pace in the comfortably hard range. Laura told me this is what she calls cruise intervals. Here’s roughly what I did:
- 5 min easy /5 min 30 seconds hard/30 seconds easy < – favorite warm-up when running on the treadmill.
- 10 minutes holding between 7.5 – 7.7
- 2 minutes easy (at 6.3)
- 8 minutes holding between 7.5- 7.8
- 2 minutes easy (at 6.3)
- 3 minutes to finish things up between 7.6 – 7.8
There’s something about holding steady that definitely works me harder as the minutes tick by. Also, I laughed that this was my half marathon pace. Did I really hold this pace for 13.1 miles a few times? Very funny.
Thursday – 35 Min Elliptical
I think I said recently how I am finding myself much faster on the elliptical? Not sure why, but I cover more distance in less time than I used to in previous years on the elliptical. 4 miles today right at 35-minute mark.
We went to the Islanders game tonight and since we were early, I found myself looping the concourse. I decided I can count this as my walk for the day so I took a picture as to not forget to mention it.
Friday – 45 Min Pure Barre
Saturday – 45 Min Treadmill Workout
I love going into every treadmill run thinking I will run for 30 minutes because almost every time, I extend the run beyond the original plan. Today’s treadmill workout was an interval workout, which I really enjoyed.
- 10-minute warm-up (5 min easy/5 min 30 seconds hard/30 seconds easy)
- 15 minutes alternating 1 min hard/1 min easy
- 20 minutes alternating 2 min hard/1 min easy
Finished 5.50 miles right over the 45-minute mark.
I find the gym in my community less crowded than it used to be although I go later in the morning than I used to in previous years. It works to my benefit as I really don’t ever have to wonder if I will get a treadmill.
Sunday – Off
