Do you consider yourself to be physically fit?

1. 0

   icountthetimesposted 13 years ago

   Do you consider yourself to be physically fit AND what is your weekly fitness regimen?
   
   Right now, I run 2 miles 3 times a week. I don't really think that's enough to say that I'm really fit, but it's enough to keep me in reasonable shape for now. Ideally I'd do about double what I do now and lift weights twice a week. I'm coming back my injury though, and don't want to overdo it.

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2. 80

   CyclingFitnessposted 13 years ago

   At the momemt I consider myself relatively unfit however I'm not competing at the moment as it is the winter here in the UK.
   
   Over the last week I have cycled 200 miles on the road and also completed a 1 hour endurance weights workout in the local gym.
   
   To many that might seem as a bit 'hardcore' however when it hits the summer I'll be riding upwards of 250-300 miles a week or more

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3. 61

   bloggernotjoggerposted 13 years ago

   icountthetimes,
   
   This is not a criticism but, based on your ¨running¨ 2 miles 3 times a week, I would also say that your are not fit. Ask yourself this. Is your face flushed after your runs? If yes, then you are not fit. There are different levels of fitness, but you should aim for a 12 week base of 480 miles (or a 40 mile avg per week over a period of 12 weeks). You should run 5 or 6 days a week. This regularity will significantly decrease the risk of injury (the body doesn´t like change). And you should build up to this level slowly. It should take you a minimum of 6 months to build a solid B12. Finally, consider joining a running club (not a fitness club). They will help you tremendously.
   
   CyclingFitness,
   
   clearly you compete, so there are high and low points in your training. 200 cycling miles tranlates to 50 running miles which is a good amount during a recovery phase. It will keep you fresh for your upcoming season when you can pour it on.

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4. 51

   jcalesposted 13 years ago

   only Cardio? Uh oh. Being fit is not just cardiovascular exercises and not just resistance training. It is a component though. Don't be left in the dark.

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      bloggernotjoggerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      jcales,
      
      you´re drifting from the original question.
      
      I only mentioned running because the question was put forth that way.

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5. 67

   Melissa McClainposted 13 years ago

   Wow bloggernotjogger, I'd hate to be measured by your fitness standards.  Physically fit can mean a variety of things to different people so I don't believe that running 40 miles a week (or the equivalent thereof) is necessary to be fit.  When training for a marathon I ran about 40 - 50 miles a week but when training for shorter races I only do 20 - 30 miles a week but can add in more cross-training and strength training. I consider my self physically fit.
   
     I guess this all goes back to what do you think constitutes "physically fit".  I'm no expert but based off of polls I've seen via Runner's World, Women's Running and my fellow running club members the average recreational runner doesn't run 40 miles+ a week (unless they're training for a marathon). Note I said average as I realize that many runners do run more mileage than that. 
   
   jcales, I think your point is very valid as the questioner (icountthetimes) mentioned running and strength training and just asked what our weekly fitness regime is.
   But, that's just my two cents for what it's worth.

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      bloggernotjoggerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Melissa McClain, your opinion is a valid one.
      
      Btw, my standards are not all that high.
      
      Consider the Kenyans. They train 3 times a day for the world cross-country championships (a 14 mile tempo run in the morning, a hard 12 mile hill training session in the early afternoon and an easy 16 to 18 mile run in the early evening - most miles under 5 minutes). What I mentioned appears pedestrian.
      
      I´m just an ¨hobbiest¨ at best.

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6. 80

   CyclingFitnessposted 13 years ago

   bloggernotjogger- I think you need to consider that fitness is relative to a particular end goal. Running puts stresses on the body that many people cannot handle for 5-6 times per week. 
   
   The Kenyan's have to be fit for the purpose of their event just like yourself, I or anyone
   
   While many uneducated people equate 4 miles cycling to 1 mile running- the sports are totally different and I would never make such an assumption when it comes to training
   
   I would like to see where the figures you have picked out for the Kenyan's running the world cross country championships as from my experience of periodization of training such distances versus the race distances an pace of a world cross country championship would 1) entice a state of overtraining and 2) actually slow down athlete leg speed due to the extreme distances. I would expect an experienced runner to be integrating shorter speed work sessions at least as part of their training. I could go far into training programs for elite race performance however it would mean heading further from the point of 'Do you consider yourself to be physically fit?'- which you didn't actually answer!
   
   If you could quote some specific peer reviewed articles that show the Kenyan distance training regime it would greatly be appreciated

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7. 61

   musclequestposted 13 years ago

   Yeah I'm pretty fit,in the weight room and my cardiovascular system aswell

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      CyclingFitnessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      What do class as 'pretty fit' then muscle quest?

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