Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Wednesday Workout Update

I'm mixing things up a bit with my workouts this year, and so far I'm enjoying the new additions.  I'm biking a couple days a week using my new (to me) exercise bike - right now I've been doing 20 minutes at a fairly fast speed.  I figure that breathing heavy will help with my running, and even though I'm using the same legs for biking as I do for running, it feels like my muscles are getting a different workout, which is good.  An additional bonus is that the iPad covers the readout screen, so I don't keep looking at it to see how much time has elapsed.  And?  I'm getting to watch some TV shows that I haven't seen (currently watching Go On).  The only downside to the bike is that Paco loses it when I start pedaling - barking, whining, yipping - needless to day, he now gets to spend some time locked in his crate while I bike.

Another thing I've added to my workouts are planks - my friend Wendy is hosting a Planks-A-Lot challenge for January, and I figured this would be good for me.  Monday was the first day and she had a 15 second plank on the schedule...easy-peasy, right?  I've held planks for much longer than that!  But as I discovered, it's been a while since I've done them, and my abs let me know they weren't in tip-top shape.  Glad she suggested doing this - I definitely need them!  Here's the cute schedule she and her daughter put together:
I added my running and biking schedule to it, just to keep me organized.

As for running, it's going well.  Last Thursday Erica and I increased our distance by a little over half a mile, to run 2.6 miles.  We started at 5:50 am and it was literally freezing.  As much as I complain about running in the heat, I have to say, it's hard to get out there in that kind of cold weather, and takes a while to get warmed up once we start running.  There seems to not be a lot of happy mediums when it comes to getting some decent running weather in Texas...sigh.

On Saturday, we ran 5 miles with quite a few people from our running club - we met at our local running store, as the owners had offered to do a training program for the upcoming Armadillo Dash half marathon, which is two months away.  We weren't sure what to expect and I was a little concerned that a bunch of young, speedy runners would be there and I'd be the doddering old person lumbering after them - seriously, in this college town, it's a real possibility - but it turns out there was a nice assortment of runners and it was a good run.  Well, until the last half mile, when it started raining.  It was already cold; add the rain and brrr!  Glad I packed dry clothes to change into afterward!  Anyway, we ran doing 2:1 intervals and I felt great...so good, in fact, that I willingly changed my schedule because of forecasted heavy thunderstorms, and got up super early on Monday to run - who am I, making sure I get my runs in?!?

This coming Saturday we have 7 miles on the schedule, and I'm looking forward to it; at this point, the intervals seem to be working with both the physical and mental aspect of the long run, and I'll take it.

P.S.  In case you missed it, I have another book giveaway going on - this one is about doing what you love to do for exercise...you know I can get behind that!  Click here to enter...winner will be announced on Friday.

20 comments:

  1. I suck at planks and am impressed you are doing them. I like the new variation you've added to your running.

    The interval parts during runs help me so much. It's such a different if you know you have to run 60 minutes straight or 6 x 10 minutes. Those 10 minutes you know you can do it. The 60 minutes can play dirty trick with the mind.

    Have fun next Saturday, keep my fingers crossed for dry, not to cold weather.

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    1. You are so right about those dirty mind tricks that come with running!

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  2. I thinki should start planks. I did the same on the bike with my iPad.

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  3. We planked until we were almost puking last night at Muay Thai. Still it's probably my favorite core strengthening exercise. Much rather plank than sit up any day. You'll be surprised at how strong they make you.

    Glad to hear those intervals are working. Speaking of Texas rain, they actually mentioned College Station on my LOCAL newscast this morning in regards to the rain!

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    1. "Plank until you Puke" - good thing Brad never heard that one!

      How funny that we were on your news - anything I need to know? I didn't leave the house yesterday...too rainy. ;)

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  4. You give me hope that I will become an exercise junkie!

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    1. Go for it - although I am no exercise junkie, believe me...

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  5. I just added the planks to my calendar! Thank you for sharing!

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  6. I need to add planks to my routine - what a great idea - it's so good for the core muscles.

    You are doing great with your running - so happy for you!!

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    1. Borrow Wendy's plank schedule - at least she eases you into it slowly!

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  7. My friend is doing a plank schedule that she set up for the month after we did the squat a thon. I totally forgot to get with it but I might joing this one!

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  8. Biking really does use different leg muscles. You will have quads of steel between the biking and running! I think biking works the hammies a little more, too.

    Ever since I sprained my shoulder, I have struggled with planks and pushups. Maybe I need to practice single arm planks :D

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    1. I might try a single arm (on my elbow) plank...I'll let you know how quickly I smash my face onto the ground!

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  9. Just when I think I'm exercising really hard you go and raise the bar! I swear when I don't have a race, I just stop running. I need to go pick out some springtime 5ks. Planks are still so fun to me. I made it up to 3 minutes for a while but I averaage 2 minutes. My trainer and I always seem to talk about food while we plank ;)I'm so inspired as always!

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    1. Interesting that you don't run unless you have a race...I don't even consider stopping. Was that an option? ;)

      LOLing at you and your trainer talking about food while you plank - I remember lots of food talk while I used to do those group workouts. Torture upon torture?

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