Tangent Tuesday

Since I have already hit my strength goals (90 second plank and 20 regular pushups without a break) for June I decided to try a few new/altered exercises this week to switch things up and see if I can add some variety to my workout life.

Monday is generally my leg day.  Usually I run 3 miles and then lift the machines (curl, extension, press, and sometime calf raises) and then go on to core work.  Yesterday I did things a bit different:

             -1 mile warm up

             -Alternated between plie squats and walking lunges – both weighted

             -Plie squats holding a 25lb weight (20 reps = 1 set) 5 sets

             -Walking lunges with weighted bar on shoulders 20lbs (30 reps = 1 set) 4 sets

             -1 mile on incline

-Then I tried to lift the machines like normal.  Holy heck the legs were shot.  I had to reduce weight on everything.

Today – my quads are freakin sore!!!!!! Getting low at volleyball may be interesting tonight

Plan for the week:

Tuesday – run 4 miles and volleyball (1 match)

Wednesday – Gym (run 2-3 miles, lift arms and core) and volleyball (3 matches – I joined a second Wednesday team)

Thursday – Gym (run 2 miles, core work, spin class) and study

Friday – Rest Day - Study

Saturday – Jalapeño Half (goal – Sub 2).  Hopefully a 1:56/1:57.  I want to work on more consistent pacing. 

Sunday – Run 3 miles – recovery run. 

Also hope to take the bike out on Saturday and/or Sunday!

Something is better than Nothing

So this pretty little picture popped up on my facebook page today and it was perfect timing.  Last night I decided to skip the gym.  I have so much to do between last night and tonight that I decided something had to be sacrificed.  That doesn’t mean I didn’t fit in a short little workout J.

Biggest news of all: I held a plank for 90 seconds!!!!!

I decided to give it a try, set my little timer for a minute and a half, and just held on.  I also did another 60 second one and 45 second one.  Go me!!

The workout also consisted of sit-ups, push-ups, lunges, and squats.  It wasn’t my normal workout, but it was still something and WAY better than nothing!!

Hoping to be able to get to the gym tonight.  I really don’t want to miss spin class!!!!!

Redemption Run

Sunday was the Wounded Warrior half marathon and I was bound and determined to have a solid run.  Not a PR or anything, just a run that I was not disappointed in.  As stated the past two years were less than stellar.  So Saturday I did a 10K with Lauren and we ran together just chatting.  It was a crowded course and we were in no hurry.  Averaged around a 9:30 pace.  Saturday night I went to bed in hopes to get 7 hours of sleep.  I was close.

Wounded Warrior was slated to start at 6:45 AM to beat the summer heat.  When the alarm went off at 5:30 I woke up pretty easily.  I was tired because it was so early, but felt pretty good.  When I was getting ready I heard it, the sound of giant raindrops hitting my skylight.  So, I decide on a wardrobe change and grab an extra outfit to ride home.  By the time I get to the race site and get my packet it was  a downpour.  We are all hiding in the parking garage was the rain, lightning and thunder.  Mother Nature is doing her best to cancel this race.

The race ends up getting delayed over an hour.  The course is on a trail that runs by a river (that always floods), the dam was overflowing, so we had a slight detour up and over the dam.  It rained on us for the first several miles (7 or 8 for me), but we still got to run the race.  Temperature wise, it was the coolest Wounded Warrior to date.

I started off strong and was on track to be sub 1:50, but I kind of feel apart around mile 8.  At that point, I didn’t really care.  I was soaked to the bone, my shoes we holding about 2 lbs of water weight (slightly exaggerated, but you get the idea), and yet I was on track to finish with a respectable time.  So I just coasted in, ended up talking to a few fellow runners and finished in 1:55:46.  They changed the medal this year, which is nice because the last two years were very similar. 

Success – finally a Wounded Warrior I am not ashamed of my time!

Mile 8 - Steeplechase portion! - The river is only supposed to be on the right of the sidewalk, not the left!

Bling!

Side note: Yesterday at the gym, I did 15 regular pushups.  I thought my pushup goal was going to be harder than my plank goal, but I believe I thought wrong!

Planks –

One of the goals for June is to be able to hold a plank for 90s.  Wednesday I was able to hold it for 60s and it dang near killed me.  My whole body was shaking the last 5 seconds.  Thursday I decided to go for 60s again, and I did it TWICE.  Holy moly there was sweat dripping off my nose the second set. 

The good news – longest I had held a plank previously was 45s. 

The bad news – I still need to add another 30s onto it.  Ugg!

I didn’t try my pushups either day because I had lifted arms and they were pretty tired.  Maybe I will give them a try this weekend and see how many I can push out.

Today I am taking the day completely off, not even walking at lunch.  This weekend I am doing what I consider a mini Goofy.  10K Saturday followed by a half marathon Sunday.  The 10K is free thanks to my friend’s work, and I am just going to hang back with her the whole way.  Not push it and just get in the miles.  Sunday’s half marathon is one that has haunted me the past two years.  I have gotten a COMBINED total of 3 hours of sleep the night before this race.  I have run a 2:13 in 2011 dead tired after a late night volleyball tournament and a 2:09 in 2012 hungover after a baby shower getting zero minutes of sleep. 

Goal 1 – get at least 6 hours of sleep Saturday night.

Goal 2 – run under a 2:09. 

Neither of which should be difficult, but ya never know.

Already June?

May Results

~Miles: 80 –Nope: 73

~Gym Unicorn: 10 days – Nope: 8

~Sit-Ups: 2000- Check

~Push-Ups: 1000 - Check

~CPCU: All vocab typed and chapter 1 & 2 read. – Nope: But did make progress!

I did walk at lunch a total of 16 times, which is an additional 32 miles that is not being counted in my mileage!  Hopefully I can continue to do this in the summer heat.

Also, I made it to all 5 days of spin this month!  So happy to be back at that.  Two of the days there were subs, so I got a couple different types of bike workouts in.

I’m kind of over running right now, and by running, I mean anything over 5 miles.  My 3-5 mile days are still great, but I have found zero motivation to go for an 8-10 mile run.  I think it is because I am majorly bummed that Megan is moving away L.  So, I am doing my June goals a bit different.  Yes I will still be running and hitting the gym, but I am backing off higher mileage running this summer (until Marathon training starts) and focusing on strength goals.

June Goals

·        20 regular (no knees) push-ups without stopping.  I know I can do 10, so let’s see about doubling it.

·        Hold the plank for 1:30 – I know I can do 45 seconds, so again, let’s try and double it.

**Right now that is all I have for June goals, but I may add to the list as I come up with them!  June is already filling up quick.

June 8/9

·        Joe’s Run 10K

·        Wounded Warrior Half Marathon

June 15/16

·        Save the Boobies volleyball Tournament

June 22/23

·        Lake weekend

June 29/30

·        Jalapeno Half Marathon