Strength aint bad.. Cardio is seriously worrying.

Morba said:
And you can't watch a tv while on treadmill?
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I find myself getting really nauseous if I try to watch the tv while running on a treadmill, it's something to do with the slight up and down motion when running. At my previous gym it was because they were fixed to the treadmills and, like BennyC said, you can't really watch them unless running at the back of the treadmill!
 
The only thing I found those screens good for was turning off and then watching my reflection bouncing up and down which was hypnotic enough to distract me from the boredom of running :p
 
I've been struggling with cardio too. I need to increase my fitness and stamina a lot so I don't struggle so much when playing basketball.

So as running isn't my thing and the weather has been rubbish I've been practicing my ball handling (behind the back, through the legs etc) and after 5 minutes I feel like I've been working out for hours. I'm doing 10 minutes a day at the moment to get me into the swing of things.
 
Orange Peel said:
I've been struggling with cardio too. I need to increase my fitness and stamina a lot so I don't struggle so much when playing basketball.

So as running isn't my thing and the weather has been rubbish I've been practicing my ball handling (behind the back, through the legs etc) and after 5 minutes I feel like I've been working out for hours. I'm doing 10 minutes a day at the moment to get me into the swing of things.
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lol running isn't your thing and you play basketball :p


If you can get half or a full court in the gym to use yourself set up a circuit to do for an hour. :) Only so many combinations you can put together before you get bored of doing it, well I found any way.
 
Azza said:
lol running isn't your thing and you play basketball :p


If you can get half or a full court in the gym to use yourself set up a circuit to do for an hour. :) Only so many combinations you can put together before you get bored of doing it, well I found any way.
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Sorry, long distance running. It bores me I get fed up after about 3k.

I'll have a look into doing circuits.
 
Best circuits I ever did were a combo of 30 second rounds on the bag with 30 seconds holding for a partner x 4 then rest 2/3 minutes and repeat 3 more times.

We also threw in some press ups after the rest period and dear jesus we weren't halfed gassed!

Going for it on the bag is possibly one of the most knackering things you can do, along with high volume squat sets.
 
nicktay2605 said:
I find myself getting really nauseous if I try to watch the tv while running on a treadmill, it's something to do with the slight up and down motion when running. At my previous gym it was because they were fixed to the treadmills and, like BennyC said, you can't really watch them unless running at the back of the treadmill!
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Pretty much the same with the gym I go to. I really, really wanted to become one of those guys who could rattle off 60 minutes on the treadmill four or five times a week but after two months of really putting the effort in, I just realised it was never going to reach a stage where I actually enjoyed it.

I even tried listening to audiobooks instead of music (either on the ipod or the TV in front) but I found I couldn't concentrate like someone else said, you start feeling funny about where your footing is going if you're not fully focused on the 'running.'

I'm starting to think myself, I should switch to a bike and see if I find more enjoyment with that after two months or so. Certainly most people here seem to think it's not as boring anyway.
 
I absolutely love running. Find it really to get into a rhythm, and after about 10-15 minutes it just becomes sort of autonomic, find a nice steady pace figure out a place to run to and just run there. Turn around and run home. :)
 
BennyC said:
The only thing I found those screens good for was turning off and then watching my reflection bouncing up and down which was hypnotic enough to distract me from the boredom of running :p
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:p

I found that interval training was the best way of keeping off the boredom, 5 minutes warm up then 1 minute sprint and 2-3 minutes jogging...but that can still get boring after 15-20 minutes.
 
I found running addictive when I took it up. I've been cycling for some time now and my fitness is better than it's ever been. I started running because some of the girls I work with run and I thought I'd join them, plus I didn't want to limit my exercise to cycling. We go out for a chat and a catch-up while we run.

I find it much easier to run with other people. With cycling, I'm generally cycling somewhere so there's a need to do it. With running, you're normally running a distance. I've started running the 7km from the station to home and it's easier than running a 7km circuit of the local streets, I find. It's also quite nice to take a pair of trainers with you when you go on holiday and just take an hour out to run round the place and see some local sights.
 
If you want to get better at a beep test then you need to practice running. Simples. I would mix up longish runs at a steady pace with interval type training and maybe a couple of hill sessions too. Do it outdoors to relieve the monotony of the treadmill if needs be.

If it's just general CV fitness then any of the above suggestions would do.
 
I did 30 mins at 60% difficulty on a hill setting, on a cycle today. Mid way was hard but my breathing and heartrate steadied. Quite enjoyed it.

Might introduce treadmill soon
 
If you want to be good at the bleep test you'll have to run more, like it or not. Cycling will improve it but its like taking up cycling to improve your swimming it won't work on its own.
 
Plus, if you only cycle you'll probably end up with an ITB injury when you run. Cycling barely excercises the ITB and it'll be much smaller then the rest of your leg muscles. That's why I do both.
 
Rowing is my favourite type of cardio. I say favourite, it's the type that I despise the least as I absolutely can't stand cardio.

10 minutes of HIIT, even 15/45 intervals, gets my panting like a dog. Combining it with watching family guy makes it just about bearable!
 
Can I ask a quick HIIT question save me starting a new thread, Can I substitue skipping for my running HIIT on days when its raining heavy outside (and keep the same intervals) or is it best to stick to one type for best results?
 
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