Coach W10D1 - Aphrodite (Standard)

 Aphrodite (S): *00:31:32 

I got back from the beach to spend my last holiday week in the city. In my absence, the summer soccer team I'm playing in won and managed to get to the semi-finals, which we played and won on Tuesday 24 (February). We then played the final on Thursday 26. We knew from the start it was going to be an extremely hard game. The team we played against had 3 (semi)professional players on it. Unfortunately this particular summer amateur league allows a maximum of 3 pros per team, so it was all according to the rules... It was a tough game, and we evidently took quite a beating (can't remember the score but it was something like 8-0). We lost the game but were proud because we were the best non-pro team there. 

In other news, according to my "tradition", once I go into soccer break I try to donate blood, that way I can be well recovered once the matches start again. I did that first thing on Friday because I hadn't donated for a wile. I'm young, I'm healthy, I'm not afraid of needles; there's no reason why I shouldn't donate so I try to do it at least once a year (ideally two). You never know in life when you're going to end up needing a hand back of any sort...

With the two very important games and the blood draw I ended up not training that week at all, so I pushed off week #10. I know I shouldn't have, but it was just what I had to do; it allowed me a couple of days to recover well. I got back to work (*sad face*) on Monday, March 2nd and did my first week 10 training session that same night. It was good old Aphrodite!

I used to "hate" Aphrodite but now I cherish every time I have to do this workout because I'm very familiar with it, I know well when I can push harder, when I'm slacking off and I think it's the best workout for me to see improvements from time to time. I was feeling very good and motivated. I took very few and short breaks during the burpees. I usually "need" to lay around to catch my breath every 10 reps or so. I'm realizing more and more it's a mental thing rather than an actual physical need... This time, I flew, and it showed! In two weeks I lowered my time in about 4 minutes and I'm getting closer and closer to my old PB (the one I have my doubts about...). It took me a while, but it feels damn great to be here again!!! #trainforit

Cardio&Strength - W1D3

 Aphrodite: *00:28:09 

It's day #3 of my first week with Freeletics' Cardio&Strength Guide. Exactly a week ago I donated blood and this is what my arm looks like today:

It looked way worse a couple of days ago, but I didn't want to be too gore and show it to you all then. The thing is I want to prove a point by showing you that you CAN donate blood (of course, it's better if you don't get a bruised arm but it's a risk that you have to embrace) AND still workout just fine Other than the first couple of days, I haven't felt much weaker or anything... Not even during soccer! Well, maybe just a little bit more out of breath, but it's completely manageable... so thumbs up to donating blood for good causes and still exercising!

Today I finished Aphrodite in 28 minutes, 9 seconds. I'm a bit upset that I haven't been able to get below the 27 minute mark but I'll keep working and going at it!

Remember to check out the Freeletics website were you can find the free 5 week training guide and the 15 week guides!

Cardio&Strength - W1D1

 Aphrodite: *00:31:55 

What do you do when you finish the 5 week free program? 

You see some results but not quite so many. You know you can do better. You know your times can still go down. You know you can get in so much better shape...

...so you get a Freeletics guide and start the next 15 weeks of your life!
Depending on your goals there are tree types of guides with instructions for 15 weeks of training: Cardio, Cardio+Strength and Strenght. I got the Cardio and Strength guide because, as I have previously explained, I'm looking for a balanced workout to gain endurance and also some strength (abs and back please!) We'll see how I do with this one, and who knows, maybe I can move to the Strength guide afterwards ;-)

The thing is, yesterday I donated blood. I know, it wasn't my brightest idea but well, it's done. I've donated quite few times before, and this is the first time I almost fainted while having my blood drawn >.< It was a bit scary but the nurse was super nice and calm and we got through it. I wasn't supposed to do any exercise, so yesterday I only went to yoga and skipped my Freeletics workout. Today was Aphrodite time -yet again- and boy did I miss those 400 mL of blood! I felt somewhat like I did when I first started training. Very dizzy in some points, like I was going to puke, breathless, just wanting to give up. I missed those red blood cells and the oxygen they were not carrying to my muscles! But, as usual, I kept in mind that we never quit, so I kept going, and I finished the workout in a decent time (31 mins, 55 secs), considering the circumstances.

Hopefully it will not take 3 months (the time I'll get back those missing cells) to regain my previous aerobic condition. I'm a bit scared for Saturday's soccer match...

You can check the detailed description of each guide at the Freeletics website (I've left a permanent link to the page by clicking on the Freeletics colorful logo in the sidebar). I'll keep telling you as much as I can from my workouts but I will not be providing detailed descriptions of the exercises anymore,