WORKOUT -
Elliptical – 60 mins
Do you think one type of elliptical is any harder than another one?
I used the stair stepper-looking elliptical today at the gym and I swear it’s harder than the “regular” one…
Today’s a day off from running because tomorrow Ragnar Vegas Ultra starts! We leave tonight to drive out there and then our race start time is 1:30pm. Watch out cuz we have a fast team… without a name.
{Courtesy of Sarah’s amaze photoshop skills; it’s a wonder she still has a job with how much time this thing must have took. Check out her blog for some good relay packing tips}
Seriously, we don’t have a name and never registered one, but who really needs a name when you got ProCom behind you?!
{Pro Compression and Compex – our two Ragnar sponsors}
THREE THINGS
1. Remember last month when I ran the ZOOMA Great Lakes half marathon?
Dimity from Another Mother Runner made this video from the day:
Go over to ZOOMArun and answer the question, Why do you run? and you’ll be entered to win some sweet prizes.
I run to start the day off right, to feel a sense of control and a bigger sense of accomplishment. And of course, to fit into my skinny jeans. Those suckers be tight…
{I call these Rock & Republic animal print pants from this post my compression jeans, they’re so tight}
2. Talking about videos, wanna make one and win some big money?
Aspaeris Pivot Shorts (compression shorts) is holding a video contest and the winner receives $500.
Check out the official rules here.
3. And one last “Hey, remember that race I ran…”
Reader Amy sent me this picture from the Paso Robles newspaper that came out on Monday after the race. The young guy in the grey shirt in the front ended up winning.
The girl in the orange socks ended up chafing her underarm flap. true story. dang sun.
If you’ve done a running relay, what was the best thing you packed?
Dumbest/worst thing?
We had so much food in our van last time, like 13 dozen bagels, and I brought a bunch of gross energy bars that I don’t like to begin with so that was pretty dumb.
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{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
totally agree on the elip! Good luck w/ the race!
I also agree about that elliptical! And if you don’t watch out, it turns into a stair master or something! Good luck!!
I agree…very cool photoshopping skills!
B/c I am so quick to think your name should be a combo of your first initials…SMEL`KS…which pretty much sounds like “smell us”…b/c I am thinking with all that sweat and no showers the van must smell lovely…hahaha! (ok…I have had too much coffee this morning…)
I loved the recap and pictures from last year’s race…can’t wait to hear all about it this year too…have fun and good luck! Repeat #1 right!!
omg that stairstepping elliptical machine is awful. i lasted like 3 minutes on that thing before i gave up and went to a normal elliptical. running a marathon is easier than 3 minutes on that sucker.
Yes the stair step/elliptical machine is hard! But I love it – it’s more interesting than the elliptical and I become obsessed with watching the stride dial swing back and forth
That kind of elliptical is definitely harder, you’re not crazy! I am also scared to take my hands off the handles when I use it for fear that I might die, or at least make a fool of myself. Guess I’m just not that coordinated.
Good luck in your relay!
The relay pic of your unnamed team looks awesome! A force to be reckoned with, for sure! I love the Paso Robles newspaper pic,
too. Three of those guys in the front appear to be wearing the same shoes. They must be pretty good.
Actually, the first one is called an AMT machine. and yes, it’s harder than the elliptical!! I love using the AMT when I want a cardio work out but taking a day off from actually running.
That eliptical is WAY harder. You burn a lot of calories on that thing and for some reason I prefer it even though it’s harder…
I have never done a relay, but I am FAMOUS for always having food with me. And more food than anyone would need. The funniest I remember is trying to get my nectarines into Cancun, Mexico. They wouldn’t let me and I couldn’t just throw them away, so I ate them while standing in the Customs/Immigration line.
The Kidless Kronicles
I got on the stair stepper elliptical the other day after my treadmill workout and I thought I was going to die. I think I lasted all of 5 minutes before I said this is stupid and did an ab workout. Plus, I was terrified that I might fall off of the thing if I let go of the handles.
I was a wellness director for a while before having a baby and we put the AMT’s in our facility when they first came out. The AMT is much harder and more efficient because you have to use your strength to move it where as the elliptical will propel you once you get started. That’s why most people get nothing out of the elliptical because they have no resistance on the momentum of the machine is what’s moving them. If you were to suddenly jump off the AMT it would immediately stop, do the same on the elliptical and the pedals keep moving. Sorry for the nerdy post but AMT really is the best!!
Best Relay Gear- mini snickers bars, foam roller and wet wipes!
Unused gear- we also had way too many uneaten bagels!!!
Good Luck!
That one you labeled harder is WAY harder than the other. It goes in tons of directions, and I realized I’m not very consistent while running. I kept finding myself doing a stair workout when I really wanted to be running, and then it just felt like I was running backwards
I really like the TRUE eliptical machines at my Y…they tell me I can run multiple 6-minute miles. I know that’s really not the case, but I do like thinking I can!
http://www.westmedics.com/true-csx-total-body-elliptical-MFT1071.html (this is the one we have; I can’t find it on TRUE’s site)
http://shop.truefitness.com/ellipticals/tsxa.html
Best thing is a new set of clothes for every leg. We are not the crazies you are and doubling up, so I’ll be doing 6 legs. 6 legs, 6 outfits. And 6 plastic bags for sweaty, stinky clothes!
Go team no-name!
Holy wow, I’m tired from just reading about your relay band of bad asses. Love your new blog header, too! Good luck, SR!
I’ve noticed that the stair stepper version at my gym is always empty but there’s always a line for the normal one’s… makes sense now
I find the elliptical SO.HARD.
It’s insane how much I struggle! And, I agree with you, that left looking thingy is definitely harder!
Good luck with the girls this weekend!
I think that elliptical is really hard too. I think its because you actually have to swing your feet / push to not just be stair climbing.
Good luck at Ragnar LV!
Team name should be “Sofa King Amazing”
I feel the same way about ellipticals! The one at my gym isn’t so bad, but when I work out at the gym when I go home to visit my parents it’s 100 times harder. Weird?
Yes, that elliptical is WAY harder! Especially if you do the full range
I completely agree with u about the elliptical. I used the stair one the other day for the first time and was dying. Good luck on your relay! Your team is soooo speedy!!!
Good luck this weekend girls!!! You should be named “Those Fast Girls”, you all have very speedy PR times!
I think you’re right, regarding the elliptical. I think some of them (like the stepper one) match your stride, which is more challenging somehow. This is what the dude at the YMCA told me the other day! The ones at my gym have those yellow-colored foot pedals and they kick my ass!
I ran Ragnar Napa Valley in September for the second year – so we were better prepared food wise. We brought and loved cheese/crackers/salami. It was quick and easy to grab from the ice chest for any runner at any time. Also mini bagels with single cream cheese servings. Fresh fruit (we over did it) the grapes were the hit of the apples, oranges and grapes. We were not an Ultra Team so while Van 2 was running we grabbed a Subway Sandwich! Enjoy your race!!!!!
Can’t wait to hear all about your relay!!!
The dumbest thing I did on my relay this summer was NOT bring enough food. Also wish I had a tarp as they had us sleep in a cactus patch =(
I tried one of the harder ellipticals at a hotel gym once. I got off in 10 minutes. I’m such a wimp.
The elliptical is now my BFF since I can’t run (even walking up the stairs is difficult!) for the next 3-5 months.
Thanks for the shout out to aspaeris!
Hope you guys have a great race. I’m a little too chicken and a lot too OCD to do a Ragnar. I think that’s too much time dirty in a van for me.
Best thing packed for Ragnar…full loaf of PB&J sandwiches. Put them under the van seat, forgot about them and then found them when I was starving. Best food ever.
RRGreatRiver, someone thought tuna and hard boiled eggs was a good idea. We threw it in the trash when they were running their leg. I brought PBJ and a pizza somewhere along the route