The TFP Health Club

the_jazz, that's quick. I am happy doing 5k in 30mins.

 

I'm the first to acknowledge that I have a different concept of speed than most people. There are days like this morning where I feel like I doing exactly what my body was designed to do - being fast without any effort at all. I just didn't realize how fast until I did the math, which I honestly try not to do.

Just to nerd out for a second - if someone wants to get faster, they need to switch to the African training model. Run faster whenever physically possible - the long, slow distance thing will get you in shape but it won't make you very fast.

 

I use a topo map program and am amazed on how much different the distances are, compared to Google maps. Good luck on the 5k.

 

Given that the first measurement was via a car odometer and that I'm running on city streets, there shouldn't be any serious differences in distance. Google maps is able to track the park paths that I run on as well. Kind of helps being in a big city sometimes.

 

Yeah, that Bruce Lee thing where you do a five miler with wind sprints is totally the best way I've found to pick up run times for races.

 

Woot. Third day of squatting and worked my way up to 2 sets of 5 with 315. Felt almost too easy. Considering I worked my benching up to 2 sets of 5 with 320, I guess it should have been easy. Now for some iced tea and ibuprofen.

 

I'm in the market for Kettlebells. Some places sell them by the pound.

 

I'm lucky enough to live near the headquarters and warehouse for Rogue Fitness, so I've bought quite a few items from them - including 3 kettlebells (2 were wedding gifts, haha), a speed rope, liquid grip, aaaaand something else I can't think of. Their stuff is fantastic!

 

I just watched the kettleball workout that DamnitAll posted. That looks pretty intense. I need to find a place that has them and try them out.

 

With the cost of shipping, I might have to find someplace close. They do have a huge selection. I thought they were just a ball of metal with a handle, but it seems you can get several different versions of the above.

 

Yeah, large/heavy pieces of exercise/weight equipment should always be a local purchase. You can find a truckload of fantastic, near-new stuff on find-it-local used gear sites like Craigslist. Most people are far more motivated with their wallet than their ass and thus you can save a ton of cash on a set of _whatever_ that has done little more than sat in the closet for a year. All this current-fad Crossfit stuff can be had for half price simply by cashing in on someone's New Year's resolution failure.

Always avoid buying new stuff. And never buy heavy shit on the Web. It's better to drive to a big box store and buy the stuff. The higher price is often offset by not having to buy the massive shipping charges.

/Captain Obvious

 

I'm looking a Craigslist as we type. Fortunately, my ass is more motivated than my wallet. I got a great deal on my TRX setup from a shop going out of business.

 

Me and my knees are at war with each other. It is a war no one can win. I might have to stop going all out on the daily commute.

 

Two words: Amazon Prime.

 

This would be a mistake. 1.) lower body resistance will improve your upper-body development and 2.) cardio won't make you that much stronger in the legs.

You're short-changing the largest muscles in your body. I think putting those under resistance also increases testosterone production, but maybe the bookworm and the grunt could elaborate on this point. I'm tired.

 

I second this ^^^. If only because at some point, you might look in the mirror and notice that your upper body looks like Stallone and your lower body looks like you run marathons.

I'm in the same upper-body-lifting-lower-body-biking boat, though. The fitness center in my apartment building is heavily upper body focused. I've recently started doing bodyweight leg exercises in between sets, but I recognize that these are more 'better than doing nothing' exercises than anything else.

 

Really, the only piece of equipment you need to do legs with is a squat rack w/ a bar and some plates.

Do some nice deep squats with the bar. Work your way up to your body weight. More as form allows.

It is a no-joke way to get your lower body in the kind of shape that causes people to walk into doors.

Also: You can also use the bar on the rack to do calf raises as well as work on your trapz. Super useful.