What a great challenge!
This is the first online challenge I have done since I started my weight loss journey almost a year ago. Originally, I was going to use the StairMaster at the local rec center. But, when I realized that I had never gone an hour or more at the maximum level on my home elliptical machine, I changed my mind. I paid a lot for that elliptical machine back in 2001 and it has saved my rear three times.
You see, I was dumb enough to get trapped in the yo-yo diet cycle. To get out of the latest "yo", I have had to lose about 90 pounds. I started on 5/3/09 and dusted off the elliptical machine. I know both of you like going to the gym. As a matter of fact, so do I. But for me, I cannot tell you how I would have made it to where I am without my elliptical machine at home. I still haven't run out of workouts that I can do on that machine.
So, I had to "honor" it by using it for this challenge. This HAS to be the end of my yo-yo's.
I maxed out the level and set the timer for 61 minutes. The extra minute was ceremonial but I knew that I had never done an hour at maximum resistance. When I started, I wasn't sure how hard I was going to try to go. After about 15 minutes I noticed I was feeling pretty good. I checked my distance and determined that I had a shot of cracking the 10 mile barrier. Then, I kicked it in gear. As I approached 60 minutes, I noticed that I had a chance of breaking the 10 mile mark in just under 60 minutes. In fact, at 60 minutes, I had covered 10.1 miles. At the end of 61 minutes, I had covered 10.3 miles.
I realize that elliptical machine miles are not the equivalent of miles you cover when you run. But, this is definitely a personal best for me and I can honestly say I left it all on the machine today.
Since I am training for a 10K at the end of May that I hope to finish in less than 60 minutes, this was a perfect workout. Completing a 10K (regardless of time) will be a HUGE milestone for me.
I do not have the courage that each of you have. So, I have not attached pictures of myself -- but, I am a sweaty mess. Instead, I did attach a picture of the screen on my elliptical machine showing 61 minutes completed and another picture showing 10.3 miles completed.
I believe I signed up for this challenge on both of your blogs before I realized you were both trying to recruit people. Please count me however you like. Also, I believe one of you is doing a drawing for a Polar watch. If my name comes up, please donate the watch to charity or pass it on to someone else. I feel blessed enough today.
Anti-Jared, you are right. My favorite sentence is now "I will take those jeans in a size 31 and that shirt in medium".
I hope you both reach your recruiting goals for this challenge and I hope you crush your own 99 minute workouts.
Cheers.
David
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