Depends on the quality of lycra clad ladies in the class

Seriously, depends a bit on the instructor. The lady who takes my Monday class is pretty serious but it's a top notch work out. Wednesday's class is just mad - try laughing whilst sprinting yourself into the ground. Friday is a mix of the two.

 

Depends if your there just to 'look' or have a chance of getting any action

Classes are OK, but I still say you should get out in the fresh air. The different weather conditions and the uneven terrain will give you a far better workout (and get you fitter quicker) than any set class.

I did a 13-miler yesterday (all cross country) and not only did it give my CV system a good workout, it also gave my legs, arms and stomach muscles and very hard workout too. The same time spent on a treadmill would never be the same and I don't have to worry about breathing in tons of stale air and a few unplanned sprints being chased out a field by a bull or along the road by someone's dog helps with the Fartlek training

Machines are good for building some core CV and I suppose the structure can be good, but they'll never trully duplicate the real thing IMHO.

Stefan

 

Just to emphasise Franx advice. You don't need to be a serious athlete, but your diet plays the key role in your exercise and recovery.

Your body is just a machine, so you need to fuel it properly. The biggest impact you'll feel is through your blood sugar levels. You need to eat things that keep your sugar levels balanced. Avoid fizzy drinks and simple sugars like chocolate. They send your levels soaring, before crashing down around you @rse soon after.

There's nothing worse than feeling great out on a run, then minutes later feeling like you've hit a wall and you can hardly lift your legs. Get it wrong and you may find yourself having to walk back home.

Obviously athlete's need to be aware of this, but I'd say it's more important for beginners. If they don't eat right, their exercise will always feel cr@p and may put them off before they start to see the real benefits. It's gonna always mean hard work, but you don't want to make things even harder on yourself.

Drink plenty of water, reduce the cr@p with sugar in it and try some energy drinks before and after your run (Lucozade Sports works for me). It'll make all the difference.

Stefan

[Edited by ozzy - 12/8/2003 4:04:39 PM]

 

Apparently, the best thing when using sports drinks, is to down it all within about 2 minutes, not just to sip it, as it absorbs a whole lot faster. Sip it, & it'll be far less effective.
That's what my former coach told me anyway, & he was doing a PhD about absorption of sports drinks...
500ml before &500ml after.

Tis the best way, I hear

 

There's those two words again....Lucozade Sport!!!! Damn I need a fix. LOL

Stephan you gonna come out here with that suitcase full you promised me?

 

Has anyone mentioned Atkins yet??

 

Atkins....?

bugger that

I'd rather go to a 3 hour spinning class..

 

If you start to take up a sport ie running take it easy at first,stretch before and after and let your muscles develop abit.I,ve always been into running but i,ve always been on the flat, I started doing cross country and got quite good until my achilles went because i thought i was fit enough,but my tendons were being overstretched as they were not used to it now i,ve been off work for a month.
And don,t be a weekend warrior! exercise through the week!!!!

 

Take a large Sharp Knife and just cut off the offending rolls of fat . . . worked for me !

 

Oh no wait ...
It was the Atkins diet I think ...
Hmmmm....

 

cheers boys i kind of forgot last night and fell asleep so i never went plus it is fekin cald in abz.At home their is plenty of countryside to run about in but in Aberdeen i have to run around streets which is pretty ****e. Well roll on tonight so i can get going again.

Im going to do 10 min good run every night this week and then 15 all next week and so on till i run a marthon every night.

cheers lads and lasses il keep in touch and keep u up to date day by day!

ciaran

[Edited by Ciaran - 12/9/2003 2:26:41 PM]

 

buy yer missus a very unreliable old banger and then help her to push start it every mornin!!

 

she can buy her own car and push it herself!

 

Have you tried doing Pilates ?

 

well its gone a bit to pot got permenant shin splines so i can hardly walk.
iv just realised i am pretty unfit for being 20!