To Keep My Sanity...11-29-2011

Well...I was crazy busy at work starting first thing. It was a great day...I feel I made some progress with my success group! I also got alot of testing done, however, I did not get a break for 9 hours! AHHHHH...I crammed an apple while I was giving a test and was able to squeeze in my salad as my after school students were coming in the room. Uhhhh yeah...my brain and patients were on overload!! I was also a little grouchy because I couldn't eat...All I wanted to do when I got off of work was RUN! The nasty cold rain didn't help my mood on the way home either. Do I want to get wet and cold? Well, if I am a true runner, you run outside no matter what. So I cranked out 7 miles! It felt good!! I was in such a better mood! I was just able to hear silence and thats what I needed. I know alot of people go for treadmills in this weather but I just try to keep it outside. I guess this comes from years of college running where we were outside cranking out 800 repeats in a blizzard or in a freezing cold down pour. I also think treadmills do half of the work for you...you don't have to think you just move your legs; outside you are in control of moving your body and keeping the pace. Treadmills also seem to cause some short term injuries to me. I have such a long stride, and the treadmill messes me up. Am I saying don't use the treadmill? No. However, your better workout is outside but lets face it we don't always have the motivation to get out there and the treadill WILL get the job done.

On another note, Roudolf was on tonight. This is my all time favorite Christmas movie! Sometimes I myself feel like a misfit in this large world. My boy came over and we had a family night. Topped it off with Biggest Loser and my favorite show...Parenthood.

I am proud to see al of the people on my mothers fit page! She got outside and walked last night as well with my stepdad! Good for you! Happy Training:-)

Collegiate running days...Oh how I miss them!

Motivation...11-28-2011

First day back at school and not a bad day! No nervous breakdowns and no fights...this never happens! Felt pretty good about my day but had zero motivation to workout. It was cold rainy and I'm still pretty sore. I came home had supper and then I read my mothers blog... She was at the YMCA for two hours! Needless to say, I changed clothes and drove to the gym. I got to the gym and did 15 min moderate on the elliptical then went through the tough mudder workout twice with 30 seconds rest between each exercise. This took me 54 minutes. I then got back on the elliptical for 35 minutes alternating forwards and backwards. Felt pretty good tonight...my weight workout had me dripping sweat like no other. I am so glad I decided to workout it got me one step closer to reaching my goals. Body still feels pretty good. I am excited for a running day tomorrow!!

11-27-2011

Well I was wonderfully surprised to have my boyfriend as my alarm clock this morning! I got up and made protein pancakes and coffee for the family this morning. We all watched The Family Stone together. I love the Holidays and family time... It just makes me smile! I then went to church with the my family. There was a girl there who had been an orphan in China and contracted a blood disease which caused her femur not to grow. There is nothing that can be done right now to help her. She got up and sang a wonderful song about God being her healer. It was just touching and also humbling. I take a lot of my abilities for granted and also too seriously. My workouts do not need to control my life. I am slowly learning this.
Andrew and I later went to Newburgh to workout. I did a light day. I did stairs for 35 minutes. 10 min moderate then 20 minutes of level 17 for 2 minutes and then recovery at level 14 for 1 minute. I got a good sweat going then hit the weights.
3x12 alt. curls 30 seconds rest
3x15 skull rushers superset with 15 push ups 30 seconds rest
3x10 straight bar cable curls superset with leg raises
4x15-10 cable straight arm push downs went light heavy light heavy 30 seconds rest
EZ bar curls 15 w/35 10 w/40 8 w/45 5 w/50 10 w/40 10 w/ 35 about 15-30 seconds rest this burned the biceps!
Bosu abs 20 reg crunches 15 on each side of toe reaches and did this twice
Tricep kickbacks superset with 15 dips
Oblique crunches and back extensions on exercise ball
All in all...good workout now time to have dinner and a movie with my amazing boyfriend! We also put up our ginormous tree!

Another shutout to my mother! She started back today and killed it. 20 min treadmill...25 min weights...and 20 on the stepper! Go mom go! You can read about her journey to lose 35lbs at amyfit50.blogspot.com
Love you Mom!!

Pushing Through the Pain 11-26-2011

Man Oh Man! I woke up...SORE! My whole back...whoa! Legs were just fatigued and on top of that I have a cold and can't breath! Ok...enough complaining...I am not the only one who feels this way; just keep pushing! To be honest, I layed around most of the day trying to update this blog and just trying to get rid of this cold. Then, my boyfriend texts me to let me know he ran an hour today! I was so proud of him because I know distance running is not his favorite thing to do...especially alone. So this motivated me to get out there. I went at dark and it felt amazing out! It rained a little, but that doesn't bother me. I was so tired but I finally found my rhythm. I kept it pretty relaxed, about a 7:50ish pace. I ended up pushing through 7 miles and ended up with a huge blister on my foot...OUCH! However, I felt good and accomplished when finished. I now get to relax the rest of the evening with my family watching Christmas movies...wishing my boyfriend could be with me...these 24 hour shifts aren't always fun!
For those of you who read my blog, I have made it to keep myself on track and also motivated. For anyone who would like to join in on the Tough Mudder 2012 let me know! I would love to add more people to our group! If you are doing it, let me know what your training is like!
"Top results are reached only through pain. But eventually you like this pain.You'll find the more difficulties you have on the way, the more you will enjoy your success." -Juha Vaatainen

11-25-2011

Ready to work off those meals!! Body doesn't feel sore or tired; this surprises me since I pushed it yesterday. I just see it as... My body is ready to go harder!! I am still sticking to my plan of not running consecutive days and no speed work til the first of the year. I wanted to run so bad today because it was gorgeous out. Instead, I wiped the dust off of my bike and went out for a super windy 31 mile ride! I was happy with my average as windy as it was! Then I came home and just relaxed on the couched! No black Friday for me!! I then met up with my wonderful boyfriend and we hit the gym. We decided to do one set of the tough mudder workout... It consists of 16 exercises. You do each for a minute and your only rest is switching to the next exercise... They are:
Warm up...
Tough mudder push up...with dumbbells push up and then bring weight up and twist to side... I used 10Lbs.
I arm kettle bell swings each arm is done for a minute... I used 30 lbs.
Scissor kick... Lunge and jump and switch
Rows... 1 min each arm
Dumbbell side lunge... 10 lbs in each arm; I went light because of my knees
Push up row...20 lb. dumbbells
Squat to press... 15- lb. dumbbells
Decline push up
Mountain climbers
Pull ups...added assisted weight as needed... Never added more than 20 lb. started with none did these for 2 min bc of the time it took to switch weight
Plank
Side plank
Dips...40 free weight dips on bench woo burn
Tough squat...held 10 lb plate weight in front and squatted... Shoulder burn!!!
This took about 25 min...while Andrew went and finished up with back I decided to do it again...I went through the second time even stronger! Talk about a killer workout day!

We then spent the night hanging out with his family with thanksgiving leftovers:) We are so blessed to have so many great people in our lives!

11-24-2011

Happy Thanksgiving!! I am thankful for so much!! My family, boyfriend,friends, a job, my health and all the support and love in my life. I got up early this morning and headed downtown to run the 5k I have only missed it once in 6 years, and that was due to injury. This one is always competitive and loads of fun. I haven't been doing any workouts just normal runs so I wasn't expecting anything fast. I took off and felt great. Ran with a current usi runner and our pace just clicked. Mile 1: 6:00 went through 2 miles in 12:00 and finished 5k at 18:51. I got a little weak a half mile to go but got it back. I ended up in second by 3 seconds. I am happy with it though, still a long way to go but it's progress. No pain is what I'm happiest about. Did a little over a mile warm up and then did an up paced 2.5 mile cool down. Now it's time to feast!! Thanksgiving at my moms side at noon then fire station at 4:00. Great day!!!

11-23-2011

Yay! Day off! Did breakfast with my boyfriend and then we cleaned house then ran errands. Fell asleep this afternoon on accident...therefore had to hop on the elliptical for an hour. Really easy session...I think I am going to do the turkey day 5k in the morning... I just have to swallow my pride bc I am not in the best running shape. Hung out with the family in Haubstadt this evening. I love the holiday season!

11-22-2011

Yay!! Thanksgiving break!!! Came straight home and got in 7 miles! Legs were a little lead like, but I maintained a decent pace. Came back and boyfriend was still lifting so I did a trx workout.
3x15 rows,curls,and Y's no rest
3x 15 captain Morgan's, and 1 arm rows no rest
3x 15 T's w/ oblique crunches
3x 10 tucks,pikes,and side side twist
Good workout!

11-21-2011

Finally, an 8 hour day compared to the usual 10. I was ready for a sweaty cardio session but wasn't expecting to push as hard as I did. I got on the stairmill and went easy for 5 and then uptempo for 5 at about level 12.Then did 10 min of 1 min on 30 sec off. The ons were a sprint at 18 and my off stayed uptempo at 12, then went up tempo for another 5 min. After that, I did 5 min of 30 seconds fast 15 moderate at same level then went back to 5 moderate then easy for 5. I kept it at about 10 for the next 10 min then did the last 15 min off 1 min on 90 seconds moderate at same level! Heart rate was up and I was drenched when this was over! I think the gym was a little warm; I felt I may have overheated a bit. Cooled down easy on the arc trainer then did 5x 15 push ups/ 20 dips/ and 20 rev crunches in a circuit without rest; real easy but got a little strength in! I'm tired and happy... Really missed having my companion there to watch :-) life is good! God has blessed me with a good job, great family, and my soulmate!

11-20-2011

Functional workout with my boyfriend... We hit it really hard. Very minimal rest it consisted
Of... Towel pushes, lunges, med ball, burpees, scissors, trx, wallsits and the list continues!!! Fun stuff! All in all... Good training week;,knee was a little weak but everything else feels good!

11-19-2011

Had breakfast and coffee with my mother! Did a short warm up and cool down with a 5k tempo (20:58)it was very relaxed but it was windy.I should have gone a little quicker but it got the job done and I have to learn to do tempos on workout days not race. Went shopping with Lexie, started Christmas shopping:)

Later on this evening I went for another 4 miles easy! Great weather and cleared my mind! Movie night with the family, while boyfriend had to work!

11-18-2011

Whoa... Breaking Dawn was awesome but I only got two hours of sleep!! It was a great day at school, but I was exhausted. Andrew had coffee made for me when I got home... He is the best! Chugged two cups of coffee and we headed out on our run. Did 6 miles, actually it was probably more.pace was quick... At the end I was going probably sub 7 pace.

11-17-2011

Rest day= Premier of Breaking Dawn!!! Took a nap and then mom and I headed to the midnight premier! It was awesome and I only got 2.5 hours of sleep! Boooo thank goodness for that pre nap I had before we left!

11-16-2011

Whoa... What a day at work... Broke up 5 punching fights and several other minimal fights. It is getting out of control. I just can't put my hand around all of the meanness. Therefore, I was exhausted going into this workout, and also sore. I met Andrew at the gym and decided to just go outside and run. It was chilly but once I got going I felt awesome. I went 7 miles and felt great...didn't want to stop! However, I have told myself no runs longer than 7 miles until after the first of the year due to my previous 2 years of multiple injuries. I'm feeling too good now to get injured! Anyway, after the run I did 5x20 leg ext with 15 sec rest and the same with prone hamstring curls, and adductor machine. I was pretty tired, so I stopped there and finished with some core work on the bosu ball.

11-15-2011

35 min sprint workout on stairmill...SWEATING!
50 pull ups... No rest but added assisted weight as needed
2min plank
100 Kettlebell swing 20lbs
50 rows on each arm w/20lb Kettlebell
2 min of mountain climbers
50 1 arm Kettlebell swing on each arm
50 Squat to press w/ 15lb dumbbells
Side planks...1 min each side
50 reverse grip rows... Lightweight 30lbs
30 min on elliptical reversing every 6 minutes

All of this was done back to back with no rest. My nobly rest was walking to the next station.

Whoop! I am on this... Missed having my boyfriend at the gym with me!

Training begins...11-14-2011

Well... Andrew decided we were going to do tough mudders March 17, 2012 in Attica, Indiana. It is a 12 mile course with 29 killer obstacles... You even get shocked!! The water ones are going to be what bothers me the most. This is definitely a challenge and that excites me! And Andrew said he'd do a half marathon with me if I did this...so...training begins now! We started our morning watching YouTube clips and searching training plans. We then went out on a 6.75 mile trail run... Felt like I was flying... It was a great run. We refueled and then hit the gym... My workout was...
Push up walk down long side of gym and lunges to the opposite side 1 lap
Burpees with weights/towel pushes all the way down gym/wall sit with curlsx25/1 min plank all this three times... No rest
Pulled 180 lbs toward me with rope 4 times minimal rest if any
Kettlebell swing jump across gym and back/lunges down and back... Did this twice knee felt a little week so I cut this set short
1 leg dead lift w/ Kettlebell 10 each side/squat in outsx25...did this 3 times
9x30seconds on rope with 30 seconds rest...woof!
Trx pushup to pikex10/oblique crunches/tricep push up balancing on med ballx10... Did this 3 times
2x4pull ups
I was beat...good start!