Day 3 - The wrong motivation, but the right result

I know that you all are on the edge of your seat waiting for what I chose to do yesterday.  Or maybe you aren't but, hey,  I'm trying to create some suspense here!

The results are in and I chose the Gin.  I will say that not caring that much about having a couple Gin drinks really felt like my cheat day.  However, it also motivated me to get my lazy, sore, achy butt out of bed at 5:00 AM to get to my Orange Theory class. 

I also feel a bit relieved!  I'm not perfect and I don't need to be perfect.  What I need is to be strong!  Strong enough to bounce back, and keep doing the right thing day after day.  Was Gin the greatest thing for me, probably not,  but I'm convinced that I have redemption in the 60 minutes I dedicated to tearing it up on the treadmill this morning with a peek heart rate of 191.  

I'm not going to lie here, It was brutal!  My legs hurt so bad that every step was like someone was stabbing me with a knife.  In addition, I was in the red-zone a lot this morning.  At one point the coach came over and gently put his hand on my back, as I was running full speed, and said.  "Are you okay?  You might want to walk it off a little bit."  and all I could blurt out in response was "legs hurt".  I didn't want to quit though,  I wanted to finish the 45 seconds in the "Push Zone" and then I got 90 seconds to walk it off.  So that is exactly what I did! 

So just to fill you in on some Orange Theory mechanics.  There is a base zone,  a push zone and an all out zone.   Base for a runner is a run speed of 3.5 - 4.5,  and a push zone is +1-2 to that and a all out zone is, i think, a +1-2 to the push zone.  So when I was doing a push I was running at a speed of 5.5.   I really have no clue what it actually means.  It isn't miles per hour,  but I will say it is a significant difference going up 1 point.   Going from 4.5 to 5.5 puts me in the red-zone and I feel like the lady in the picture to the top right.

However, driving to work this morning was pure bliss!  I rolled down the window and I had just come out of my workout.  The chill this morning filled my car and it just felt so nice.  I really love Seattle / Redmond or really just Washington in general.  It is gorgeous here and I really found some reward in how refreshing just that moment was.  I earned it, I worked hard,  and I am now hungry as all hell.  LOL.  But really, I'm also very motivated.  I'm motivated to keep going, I'm even feeling a bit motivated to do some really great work today at my Job. 

I think back to just last night, having a couple drinks with some great friends.  I did cheat a little,  but wow I feel more motivated now than on Day 1.  Maybe it's just a little reward for doing a lot of work, or maybe I am just getting into the zone.  Either way,  this wrong motivation feels so right.

Today's Result!  Kickin' Ass!

41 Splat points, Heavy red-zone endurance day at Orange Theory.  I burned a crazy good 933 calories.  My average heart rate was actually down a few points and I feel like that is a good sign.  However, look at that peek heart rate!  191, I was working super hard!

I just know that I'm doing great things for my body!  I don't know if it is all in my head, or if I just am really feeling a bit better.  Despite all the pain, all the struggle I am starting to feel great! 

Today's a great day!  Party on!