Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Wednesday Workout Update - Ahhh Edition

Much, much better update this week!

Monday: When I woke up and saw how nice of a day it was, I told Jeff "watch, Linda will have us doing the jump rope outside today" and sure enough, we did - do I know my girl or what?!? Jump rope, mountain climbers and something else that I can't remember (I really should take notes!) - all done outside. It was pretty humid and warm at 8:00 am, but I survived it because...are you ready for this...I wore shorts! And nobody fainted at the sight of my jiggly legs! Amazing how much of a difference that made - glad I finally was able to break that barrier. We did some weight circuits in the gym - among them, deadlifts and thrusters, which are really hard! Also did "hug a tree" with the cable/weight machine - I'm sure both the exercise and the machine have a real name but I can't think of either at the moment. I like doing the "hug a tree" because it feels good to do AND it reminds me to appreciate nature, lol!

Tuesday: Went for a run in my neighborhood all by myself (cue sad lonely music). It sure took a while to psych myself up to do it. At 9:15 am it was 78% humidity but only 70 degrees, so I didn't think it would feel that bad. I was wrong. Sweating beyond any reasonable means. Wonder if I should run with a towel to keep wiping my face down? Side note: finally remembered to take my cell phone with me (safety issue) - put it in the pocket of my gray shorts and never noticed it, so that was good. Side note #2: Gray shorts show butt crack sweat. What was I thinking, buying that color? Oh yeah, that it would look good with my pink shirts. I am such a fashion maven! Distance: Mentally a 10K (was thinking ahead to the duathlon); actually 2 miles.

Wednesday: We did an old-fashioned kind of workout in the gym, with donkey kicks and other things that reminded me of Jazzercise, circa 1992. Concentrated on certain muscle groups - looked easier than it was. But it didn't kill me, and for that I'm grateful, as I have the duathlon this Saturday and already am a little concerned (read: freaking out) about doing two 5K's.

In cardio one person was on the rower, and they had to keep the RPMs at 850 or above until they reached 80 calories, while the rest of us were on machines. Brad got a new spinner bike, which I tried out - it's really nice! Ashley ended up on it while I rode the older one...it was kind of like we were in a race to nowhere, riding side-by-side. Kathleen was on the treadmill and Jenny got the rower (lucky her!). Any time the rower dropped below 850 RPMs, we all had to get off our machines and do 20 squats and 20 push ups. Let me just say that it is really hard to keep that thing going at a certain RPM - I am all over the place with it when I row. Anyway, there were a couple of times when it dropped, but I didn't mind, because doing the squats and push ups gave me a little break from the bike! Later we switched machines for another round, and luckily I never had to do the rower for that game. I will say that someone (and I'm not naming names but it wasn't me) got to sign Brad's famous "puke stick" - if you throw up during a workout, there is a special PVC pipe that will be waiting for your signature. Apparently too much sugar, after a person has been eating really clean, doesn't sit right anymore.

So why is this the WWU - Ahhh Edition? Because I didn't die during this morning's workout. Why? Well, because I didn't go to my Tuesday afternoon workout. Why? (Geez, it's like having a two-year-old around here!) Because my knees were sore, and my calves were sore, and I didn't want to wear my body out too much since I have that duathlon on Saturday. So I chose to stay home, and you know what? I'm glad I did. I had one of the best Wednesday workouts ever, and while I know that it wasn't a killer (read: 20 minutes of burpees) workout, it was hard - but I wasn't worn out before I even started it. So I'm happy with my decision to end the Tuesday workouts. And hey, it's not like I didn't do anything on Tuesday - I did go for a run!

My plan for the rest of the week is REST. I'm not sure why my legs are so sore - too much running? I ran last Tuesday, Friday, Sunday and Tuesday. Maybe that's more than my legs can take - it was quite an increase in miles. I'm just going to do some stretching over the next couple of days, take some Motrin, and wish I had one of these or these. Or a masseuse.

Finally, here's a picture of my running inspiration board - pictures of me, my running buddies, the ad for an upcoming race...all kinds of things that remind me of how much fun I have running - something that I never thought I would be doing!
Love the "before" and "after" of the race pictures - I can see the fear on my face in the "befores" and the absolute joy and relief in the "afters"!

24 comments:

  1. Love your board :)

    You are one ass-kicker, you know that?

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  2. I know right! (about the shorts) I never used to wear shorts but then I started running and I live in the south. Last May when I finally broke down and bought shorts to run in, I wanted to scream from the mountain tops how awesome shorts are. (Um, duh, that's why every other human wears them)

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  3. You rock Shelley! Love your board and that you are running and enjoying it.

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  4. Shelley - I loved reading this post! I am so glad you took a rest day - especially with your weekend coming up.

    I love your board! I need to make one for myself too.

    And is it weird that I laughed at the part about your sweaty butt crack showing in grey shorts??!!

    Hugs!

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  5. Maybe I need a running inspiration board :) nice idea!

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  6. I just love your enthuisasm with your workouts and especially your running.
    I think your being smart to take a rest before your race. Try not to increase milage more than 10% per week to avoid injury and being over tired:(
    Love your running board very cool idea!

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  7. I love the idea of an inspiration board - I think I will need to whip one up!

    Keeping the rowing machine above 850 sounds like hell!

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  8. Ok...despite a sore throat the last two days, I'm going to suit up and go for a run. It won't be pretty, but it'll be some activity.

    You always find some way to inspire me...or is it shame me in my "slugness" when I read what workouts you do.

    Wow and wow! You rock it!

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  9. Only black shorts. Ever. Doesn't show butt crack sweat - or pee!! Plus, black makes you look slimmer and goes with everything :-)

    Rule to increase mileage: no more than 10% at a time. So if you run 20 miles one week, don't run more than 22 the next. It works and keeps you from getting injured.

    I think no Tuesday is fine - you did run and that's a workout.

    You're becoming my workout hero Shelley, for reals.

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  10. The bike/pushup combo sounds pretty neat, actually. I always ride my bike straight and never thought to break it up with something like.

    Shorts!! You did it!

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  11. You've inspired me to join a gym! I found one that's cheap and has a pool! Anyhow, someone above said you were one awesome ass-kicker...I agree.

    You HAVE to invest in one of those foam rollers. OMG. It hurts like Hades while you're doing it until you get to the point where you realize your muscles like you again. Seriously, one of the best things you can invest in!

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  12. As several people have mentioned, the inspiration board is a good idea.

    I might need to throw an inspiration something together.

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  13. Yeah, when I think of "Fitness Maven" you are her. I really admire you for all of the physical challenges that you embrace.

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  14. great work Shelly. I love the inspiration board but what I love more is that you love running :-)

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  15. I found your blog through Kat's blog roll on FitMindBodySpirt. Your comment on the gray shorts made me laugh out loud. As I runner I wear only black shorts for that reason and in case I heaven forbid pee my pants. Looking forward to following your journey.

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  16. LOVE the board. and might need to tweak my vision board a bit as a result.

    this stuck in my mind:

    Maybe that's more than my legs can take
    ---
    the importance of remembering we are all so freakin different.
    I know what my legs can take and be maxed out is miles less than most of my friends.

    I overtrain quickly.

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  17. You've been busy this week! Wowsers!!!! :) Good luck!!!

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  18. I love your board Shelley! What a great reminder of how far you have come!

    You rock!

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  19. Nobody knows you better then you! Glad that you feel good about your Tuesday workout. Sounds like it was the way to go.

    Have a great Thursday!

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  20. I'm glad you are liking your new routine. And I agree with you about the legs. I just took Noah for another WALK, well I jogged a tiny bit. But that is all I've felt up to doing for a while, and I was wondering what was up with that. But I just try to pay attention to what my body can do, and keep on doing something.

    Hey, good luck on your race. I can hardly wait for the report.

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  21. I love your running board! I put all my medals on a wall where I see them every day to remind me of my achievements!

    I know what you mean about your run, you've already read it on my blog, I had the same conditions.
    I always run alone, I love it, it's me time where I can think about things or just let go of it.
    And I always bring my phone, you never know if something happens and I'm always running outside my village where there are not much people. Got to take pics of that sometimes.

    Good luck tomorrow, I'll be thinking of you and cheer for you from Holland.

    xxx

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