Christie (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} karayzieho) wrote,@ 2008-04-11 12:41:00 |
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Unathleticism
I am probably the most unathletic athlete around. I have confidence, passion and discipline, and a knack for activities that require coordination like darts, skiing, tennis, and motorcycling, but when it comes down to raw athleticism I come up shorter than short shorts on an oompa loompa (wow, mega dumb analogy).
I only mean to compare myself to athletes because I'm in relatively good shape compared to the general population. But take, for example, where I was at when I was in my best shape ever: a 30 minute, 3 mile run would have my heart rate at 150 by at least a few minutes into it, 160 ten minutes into it, and 170 twenty minutes into it. The whole time I'd be sweaty and generally unable to talk, and at the end of the run I'd usually be feeling nauseated (yet also elated at having just kicked my own ass), with a heart rate around 180.
A heart rate training guide I read recently seemed to encourage athletes to work up to a point where they could keep their heart rate at this kind of level for an extended period of time. I'm doing it, already, only the quantity of work it takes me to get to that level is minuscule compared to most. Although, I feel like I could keep my own high heart rate all day long. Like when my spin class instructor talked about training at a 140 bpm heart rate for one hour, I was like, psssshaw, no problem. Only I'd be left in the dust if I were in an actual bicycle race with people.
Does this mean I need to do more cardio, or do my muscles need to be stronger so that the work isn't as hard? I'd like to improve my athleticism so I could potentially be more competitive in a group bicycle ride.
I am probably the most unathletic athlete around. I have confidence, passion and discipline, and a knack for activities that require coordination like darts, skiing, tennis, and motorcycling, but when it comes down to raw athleticism I come up shorter than short shorts on an oompa loompa (wow, mega dumb analogy).
I only mean to compare myself to athletes because I'm in relatively good shape compared to the general population. But take, for example, where I was at when I was in my best shape ever: a 30 minute, 3 mile run would have my heart rate at 150 by at least a few minutes into it, 160 ten minutes into it, and 170 twenty minutes into it. The whole time I'd be sweaty and generally unable to talk, and at the end of the run I'd usually be feeling nauseated (yet also elated at having just kicked my own ass), with a heart rate around 180.
A heart rate training guide I read recently seemed to encourage athletes to work up to a point where they could keep their heart rate at this kind of level for an extended period of time. I'm doing it, already, only the quantity of work it takes me to get to that level is minuscule compared to most. Although, I feel like I could keep my own high heart rate all day long. Like when my spin class instructor talked about training at a 140 bpm heart rate for one hour, I was like, psssshaw, no problem. Only I'd be left in the dust if I were in an actual bicycle race with people.
Does this mean I need to do more cardio, or do my muscles need to be stronger so that the work isn't as hard? I'd like to improve my athleticism so I could potentially be more competitive in a group bicycle ride.
