09 August 2012

The Ellimpics Update: A One-Woman Wrecking Crew

The upside of no one participating in your virtual event is that you win everything!!!!!

Of course when there is nothing tangible to win, there is less incentive to participate.

Me?

I don't need no stinkin' prizes. I compete with myself. Really. Otherwise, why on earth would I *race* on an elliptical with no one around (except for gawkers wondering what in f*ck I am doing)? There is no glory. There is no fame. There is just the satisfaction of knowing that I did something to the best of my ability...something that made my body feel good and strong. And that, my friends, is #winning.

As the lone XL-Landian competing in this year's Ellimpics, the governing body of sports for the country of XL-Land decreed I compete in a minimum of 3 events to justify the costs and bother of sending me to the Games. I asked to be entered in 4. Thus far, three have been completed...the half-marathon on Saturday, the 5K Tuesday, and... as poor event planning would have it... the 10K on Wednesday.

Having events on consecutive days was quite a challenge. I actually wasn't going to structure it that way...and being the race director, I had the option. But looking at the rest of the week, cranking out the 10K on Wednesday evening seemed to make the most sense. (I wanted to do it before I run Moeser Thursday which I want to do before a massage late in the morning which will be happening before I get my hip yanked later in the day...and by doing it Wednesday, I get to take Friday OFF in preparation for my possible elliptical marathon and 7-mile run this weekend).

I'm not going to lie...ellipticalling like a madwoman after a long day of momming is not easy. And yes, we did happen to go to the zoo today. I'll tell you all about it tomorrow...this post is about The Ellimpics.

I got to the gym around 6 p.m. and warmed up. After 10 minutes on the Stairmaster and a mile and a half on the elliptical, I was ready to let 'er rip. But only doo-doo machines were available. I was working with a time crunch...needing to be home in time to put the kids to bed. I stretched a little bit and extended my warm up for a couple more minutes, and thankfully someone got off one of the better machines.

I was so ready.

Mile 1 ... 6:21
Mile 2 ...12:35  (6:14)
Mile 3 ...18:35  (6:00)
5k  19:14
Mile 4 ...24:33  (5:58)
Mile 5 ...30:25  (5:52)
Mile 6 ...36:08  (5:43)

Mission accomplished:  6.2 miles ...37:11  (5:59 avg pace)

I felt really sluggish though was able to keep turning it over decently. I never hit that "O, please, o, please, o, please...just let me stop" place, so I guess I could have gone harder. Whatever. I didn't think I'd break 38:00 so I was pleased.

Another after-the-fact picture for you...


I really wish there were some other people doing this. Remember...The Ellimpics go through this Sunday and any kind of rehabby exercise is eligible for entry...even walking backwards on the treadmill! It's so much more fun to play with others that it is to play with myself. Wait. That didn't come out right...


It's time to stop lamenting that we cannot run very much for now and embrace the gifts we have, enjoy the outlets we can utilize, and celebrate what we can do.

19 comments:

  1. Hey, now, I was just about to leave for the gym to tackle an Elli 5k! Does my 13.1 spin bike ride from Tuesday count? (I make the men jealous in that class.... because I sweat so much more than they do!)

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  2. No....I will not join the Ellimpics. BUT for your great efforts and for your sick entertainment, I might let my husband video me on the elliptical so you can see JUST how awkward I look! I'm a mess on those things! :) I am SUPER impressed!

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  3. 29:27 Elliptical 5k (while watching Olympic soccer)- THEN I ran with the running club and finished a 5k outside in 27:00! I'm slower on machines, apparently. And, more people were jealous of the copious quantities of sweat. Or maybe horrified. Whatever.

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    1. I would have been jealous :) Nice job on the double 5K!

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  4. Aw, i feel bad...I like virtuals but don't have access to an elliptical. If whatever I've already done counts, I can report that in? Not sure of the exact rules for making it to the Ellimpics but on Saturday I ran a 4 mile race and WON for the women! (I might add they only had 30 participants...this was a very, very small race! ;-) I ran a 10k on Monday and on Wednesday and i've ridden 7 miles on the stationary bike. Today I did a Michelle Dozois "More Strength" dvd, which combines cardio and weights. Maybe some of this counts? By the way, i don't think i've ever even used an Elliptical...but don't tell that to the judges or they'll for sure throw me out of the Ellimpics!

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    1. Can you submit a video of you doing the dvd so that the judges can evaluate your form and degrees of difficulty? Then you could receive a proper score ;-) Any rehabby-type activity counts in the Ellimpics. It's the "limp" part that is important!

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  5. No. I'm competing. I promise. I just need documentation. This weekend maybe?

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    1. "Documentation"....sounds so official ;-) #PROOF

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  6. No, I will not join the Ellimpics. I'm allergic to the elliptical machine. And kind of grumpy generally about workouts right at the moment.

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    Replies
    1. you can compete at any sort of rehabby thing! It is not Elliptical Exclusive :) C'mon, Keith...

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  7. I haven't used the elliptical machine in probably close to a year - otherwise, I'd be in on your weird pseudo-olympic competition!

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  8. Me and elliptical machines don't play nice -- but I've enjoyed reading about your adventures on it! :)

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  9. AH bummmer!! I love virtuals. I just started following you and now its to late. Let me know if you do another one!!!

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  10. OK. It's posted. My ellimpic event!!!

    http://complicatedday.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-ellimpics-gymnastic-all-around.html

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  11. I am glad you won the virtual race hosted by you! Your time on the elliptical is out of this world!

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  12. Sounds like a gold medal to me!

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  13. Not so fast! Remember....I was out of town and away from my beloved recumbent friend.

    That all changed this a.m., when I did the One-Hour Recumbent Ride. I bet I'm the sole competitor, too--yay, gold medal! I even have a photo! That is, if I'm not disqualified for being late? Pretty please can it still be counted? If so, I'll try to write a recap later tonight or tomorrow (I'm at work until 9 p.m. and should probably do work (fancy that), but if I get it all done, I'll do the post).

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  14. I sent my results in, you didn't get them? I did a 10K elliptical sesh in 37:10. Gimme my loot.

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