By late afternoon I got home and decided to go to the local gym and use the hill climbing machine. I couldn't get to the spa as the roads were still closed to Darlington, so I got ready and went to the gym ready to try and push myself as much as I could. No aches or pains arrived as far as my shoulders or upper body were concerned and this gave me a little confidence that maybe I can push myself a bit more than I usually would. You see, I suffer horrendously from DOMS, always have, and there is always the fear that I might push too much and hurt myself.
I got to the gym and headed straight for the hill climbing machine. I put it on the lowest setting (which I always put it on... I find it hard enough without going up in levels) and began what I hoped would amount to 30 minutes. The days session is supposed to be 45 minutes, but having not used this machine for months, I thought that that was maybe a little too ambitious.
I also used the arm part of the exercise. I always avoid this as I find I can't breathe it is so knackering and have previously convinced myself the leg part was the bit I needed anyway! After only 2 or 3 minutes I was already tired! I started looking around the gym at other people. One woman was on an elliptical machine next to me. She wore so much makeup I thought she had put it on with a trowell. A bloke behind me was on the treadmill and he held onto the handrails looking like he was on the verge of passing out. He was a big bloke with huge muscles. I wondered if today was his "cardio" day... one of the least favourite sessions for a power lifter. A woman just in front of me was getting advice from a very pretty skinny girl with the word "COACH" emblazoned across her back. The woman was on the rowing machine and smiled a lot as she warmed up.
Ten minutes passed and the heavily made up lady moved over to the step machine. She hardly moved on it and I wondered what was the point of going to a gym unless you're going to do some work! Two ladies next to me walked on their treadmills and laughed and chatted as I worked harder and harder and sweated more and more. I was sweating so much it was dripping all over the machine and the floor. Blokes who were there doing weights looked at me like I was an unattractive freak of nature and everyone around me remained sweat free, chatty, smiley and (in my humble opinion) unworked!
30 minutes came by fairly quickly. I was still using the arm part of the machine which was working my heart harder than it has worked for a very long time. I decided to stay on until 45 minutes was done. 'People watching' soon became impossible as I pushed on and when I reached 45 minutes I realised I'd gone further in distance on there than I've ever done before... even when I have done an hour!!! I was very pleased, but my legs were really stiff when I got off to get the stuff to clean the machine.
After a recovery drink and a nice bath I went up to do my squats. They didn't go quite so well and I really struggled. Squats are probably the only exercise I'm not improving quickly on. Maybe I should lift less weight next week with higher reps and get myself back to it slowly?
Today I'm not aching at all again, so I'm pleased as well as surprised! It's a rest day today and I should be at the spa having a sauna but I had to work late, so, if I can drag myself up there, I may pop into the infra red sauna instead!
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