Training Truths: Burning Calories

One thing I love about being a teacher is the flexibility I get during summer vacation. During the school year, my workouts are after school and I skip fitness classes during the week because my evenings are booked with family time and sporting events.

My stepdaughter has been home from college for over a month now and doing a 6 week summer fitness challenge. When she got her first check-in measurement results back, I was inspired to start whittling away some of the comfy pounds I put on this spring.

Last week I jumped into my new summer workout plan and I put my fitness gadgets to work tracking my calories burned. I strapped on my Polar FT40 heart rate monitor and got busy. Even though I take a lot of photos of my watches, I've never really thought about the data beyond that one workout.

Monday - 4 mile run. I was supposed to go to SurfSet, but class was cancelled because the AC was broken. (417 calories burned)

Tuesday -  Morning stretching and leg work. Went to Yoga (wildcard) class, but the instructor was stuck in traffic so instead we did a Strength class. (185 calories burned)

Wednesday - Started the day with a humid 4 mile run. It wasn't good. Loved my lunchtime Surf-n-Turf workout at TI Fitness. (853 calories burned)

Thursday - I took my morning workout to Strength In Balance NH for a Booty Barre class. There are three main parts to Booty Barre: killer arms, brutal legs, and lethal abs. It sounds deadly, but it's an awesome workout! The battery in my Polar died about 10 minutes into class, so I will have to wait until next time to see how many calories I burn doing this full body workout. (351 based on my last class)

Friday - 6 mile long run with mrC to start the day. (654 calories burned)

Saturday - 50 minute SurfSet class. There were a couple of new people in the class, so I think the instructor went a little easy on us. It was ok with me because my legs were tired from the week (357 calories burned - 28% fat!)

Sunday - Spent a rest day hanging out at the beach and taking a few walks.

My total calories burned for last week: 2817

I can't wait to see how I do this week! (although vacation will get in the way a little)

Do you track your calories burned during your workouts?

Friday Favorites & {a GIVEAWAY}

Happy Friday running friends!

It's time to share another round of Friday Favorites.

I've had my Nike GPS Sportwatch for about 5 years now, but just recently purchased the Polar Wearlink Heart Rate Monitor to link with it. The data nerd in me loves seeing how much effort I'm putting into my running.

Sometimes it is just REALLY cold. I hate wearing toboggans because I have thick hair and my ponytail is too short to hang out on my neck. I found Athleta's Polartec Beanie Visor that has a hole in the back for ponytails. I know there are toboggans that have ponytail holes too, but I liked the added visor on this one.

I recently tried some audio Treadmill Express workouts from Motion Traxx through an offer for FitFluential Ambassadors. For someone like me who doesn't like to run on the treadmill, these workouts make all the difference. I like knowing that I'm getting a good workout instead of just aimlessly running.

Speaking of FitFluential, have you joined yet? I joined in 2011 (before applying to become an ambassador) because they offered a network of fitness enthusiasts who were dedicated to motivating and inspiring others. Pretty soon, I was also enjoying perks like discounts on fitness gear, invites to Twitter chats, and opportunities to win free stuff in giveaways.

This year, FitFluential wants to hit the road and bring the events to US! The more people you get to sign up from your area, the more likely you are to be visited by FitFluential. Spread the word!

One of my all time favorite races is the ZOOMA Cape Cod Half Marathon. The ladies behind ZOOMA really know how to put on a great event in a fantastic locations. Runner's World Magazine has called it one of the best half marathon's in the US and recently Competitor Magazine ranked the Texas Half Marathon as "Best Women's Half" in the South.

Right now ZOOMA is looking to send a blogger and one lucky reader to run the ZOOMA Napa Half Marathon in June. I would love to add California to my list of places I have run a race, wouldn't you? All you need to do is VOTE! Everyday!

As usual I'm spending most of my non-running hours wearing these awesome recovery shoes around the house. I'm bringing them back today because Oofos wants YOU to have a pair to enjoy and has asked me to do another giveaway! Enter using the rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TrainingTruths: ZOOMA Week 1

For the first time I am feeling a little blah about my next half marathon training. It has nothing to do with the race or running. It's the weather and the bugs. The hot temperatures, high humidity, mosquitos, and deer flies are really taking the fun out of my runs. Running with a partner on humid days makes a huge difference on where my head is, but lately I've been whimping out and taking solo runs to the treadmill.

Monday - Instead of struggle with the high humidity and battle the deer flies, I took my run to the treadmill. My basement was a lot cooler and I could aim the fan on myself. This was also a chance for me to try my Mizuno Wave Sayonaras on a little longer run and on the 'mill. While my run felt good, I think my lower legs felt the effects of the lower heel drop afterwards. Nothing hurt, but my lower leg/ankle muscles were a little sore.

Tuesday - After noticing a new class time being offered at TI Fitness, mr. C and I decided to go to SurfSet. As usual we got our butts kicked by Christine. She really knows how to work the abs and squats on a surf board!

Wednesday - I convinced myself to run 5 solo miles in the morning to the Floating House. This is not my favorite route because there's a really big hill right in the middle, and the humidity only makes it more dreadful.  Later we went on a 3 mile hike to Purgatory Falls, although we didn't actually make it to the falls.

Thursday - It had been a while since I used my Polar HRM, so I decided to walk on the treadmill and just try to burn some fat calories. It still amazes me how inaccurate our treadmill calorie counter is.

Friday - A friend came to visit for the weekend, so mr. C and I got in an early 5 mile run. It was a repeat of Wed's run, but a little cooler. I don't think I would've gone out alone on this one, so I'm glad that he was available to run with me.

Sunday - After a busy weekend, I ran 7 miles after dinner on the treadmill. This was just one of those I can't get myself moving days. I almost didn't even get it done on the treadmill, but mr. C reminded me that I would feel better after I did it. He was right.

It turned out to be a good week. I ran a total of 22 miles (hitting my weekly goal of 20 for the first time since April!) and did a lot of cross training.

There's still time to enter to win a race entry to the Allstate 13.1 half marathon or 5K in Boston.

TrainingTruths: Fun Challenges

Last week my training coincided with the kick off of a couple of fun monthly challenges. Challenges are fun because you can find motivation, sometimes win prizes, but most importantly improve your overall fitness.

#TrainingTruth - If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you

This month I am hosting the Chilly Challenge with Janine from The Purple Giraffe and I want my team to win the prizes. I logged my first miles for Team Escapades with a 10K race on Tuesday. 

Shrinking Jeans has me motivated again with Fab Abs January. This 30 day challenge is meant to supplement your current fitness routine (like running) and build your strength by progressing each day. I did a couple last year with positive benefits to my running and overall fitness, so when I saw this one I had to do it. 

With temperatures at a feels like 8 degrees, I took my Thursday run indoors where I could wear my favorite Oiselle shorts. After logging another 10K on the treadmill, I cooled off in front of the fan - which just feels weird when it's so cold outside.

Temperatures warmed up to 29 degrees on Saturday, so it was time to head back outside. I layered up in my favorite Nike thermal top with built in mittens and mixed up some Cytomax to put in my Simple bottle. For the first three miles around the frozen lake I felt like I was overdressed, but the higher elevation and winds kept me cooler on the second half.

Last month I mentioned that I was learning how to use my Polar HRM. Mid-morning Sunday, I drank half a serving of FRS and then fired up the treadmill for a 30 minute walking workout determined to get in one day of cross training for the week. I listened to Grrl Power Vol. 2 from RockMyRun and watched the end of Legally Blond while treading out 1.77 miles.  

How was your first week of 2013?

Want to know more about how to join Team Escapades in the Chilly Challenge? Check out all the details here or skip right to the sign-up part and be sure to choose #TeamEscapades! Already a member? Don't forget to follow #ChillyChallenge on Twitter and join the Facebook group.

The Heart Doesn't Lie: Polar FT40 Review

When I first started running, I remember stepping onto the treadmill at my local YMCA and noticing the metal grips on the bar in front of me. After a few attempts, I figured out that if you grip the bar for about a minute you get a heart rate reading. I never knew the value of a heart rate monitor until now. 

Polar recently sent me the FT40 Heart Rate Monitor to try out and review. I have had no prior experience with HRMs, so this was my chance to learn the ins and outs of using one as well as what to do with the data it collected. 

Setting up the watch using the accompanied instruction booklet was simple. After personalizing the settings, there was an option to take a fitness test to determine my fitness level that I thought was pretty neat. All you have to do is lay down and relax for five minutes and the results are instant. 

Once you are ready to use the Polar HRM, moisten the electrodes on the strap then attach the connector by snapping it into place. The strap is worn around your chest just below the chest muscles. 

Being a data nerd, I love the information this monitor gives you. During the workout, the display can show your current heart rate, calories burned, or the time. You can also keep track of the effect of your training: fat burning or fitness. Afterwards you can see a summary of your workout.

If you are trying to lose weight, knowing your heart rate during exercise is important because you want to stay in the fat burning zone. You also want to know how many calories you are burning. I like that the Polar Heart Rate Monitor can tell you this information accurately. It's clear that my regular running watch merely estimates the number of calories I'm burning.

Overall, I like the the Polar Heart Rate Monitor. It is not a right-out-of-the-box and use it piece of gear. It does require some reading to figure out how the data is displayed on the watch during your workout, but it's manageable.

Do you use a HRM? What do you like most?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product to review without compensation as a FitFluential Ambassador. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”