Category Archives: Plyo

Racing – Then and Now

February 17, 2014 Kim 1 Comment

I decided to do another burpee for my 44 today. I tried a new one – a burpee jack. Jump back to plank but jack your feet out as you do your push-up. Jump in and do a standing jack. Repeat x 44.

This was a great move for really getting my heart rate going!!!

I followed the burpees up with 100 jumping lunges for the February challenge with Taylor.

Then I did a 10-minute Solution DVD – Kickbox Bootcamp. I know that I haven’t been doing Michelle Bridges every day – it just works better for me to do it a few times a week!

I don’t race much anymore for a couple of reasons.

I have trained for a few marathons and every single time I ended up with a DNS because of a stress fracture.

The 2nd reason I don’t race much anymore is more because of the changes that have taken place in the past 20+ years since the time when I did race a lot.

During grad school and for a couple of years after, I raced all the time – mostly 10Ks but I did other distances, too. The longest was a half marathon.

I used to pick a race almost every week and just go run on the weekend. There was no true training, no taper, no fuel plan – just me and my running shoes!!

If you won (sometimes just 1st place, sometimes top 3) overall male or female you got a medal –

The top finishers in age groups usually got a ribbon –

I have a box of medals and ribbons from those days but that was never why I raced. I just did it because I loved competing and pushing myself to go faster each race.

I think we usually got a T-shirt as part of our entry fee – just a basic T (usually they were men’s – ugh).

The good news – I think that $20 was the most I ever paid for a race. Most of them were only $10-$15!!!

Now, I don’t think any race is under $30 and most are MUCH more!!

Truthfully, I enjoyed the act of racing and didn’t need any swag or even a medal at the end.

It has been interesting to watch the evolution of racing from what it was 20ish years ago to what it has become. Racing is very expensive and all finishers get an award.

I would still prefer to have races be relatively inexpensive and not receive a bunch of stuff just for signing up. And, I don’t need a medal just for running. (Don’t hate me – it’s just my personal thoughts!!)

I think I mentioned that Hunter wants to run a half marathon this spring since he is turning 13 in April. I’m all for him running (of course) but I asked him if he wants to just train and run the distance or run a race.

He wants to run a race so he gets a medal –

We are going to do a race because this is his thing but I don’t totally get the idea of running for a medal as opposed to just running to run. (BTW – I know that I’m in the minority and I’m not trying to stir anything up because this is just my personal running opinion and I’m not trying to judge anyone – just sharing my thoughts on racing.)

Why do you run?
Would your run a race if you knew that only the top finishers would get an award?

Happy Monday!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Plyo, Push-Ups, Running, Treadmill

What Would You Do?

February 13, 2014 Kim 1 Comment

Today’s 44 is thanks to Josie @ Yum Yucky. She did a twisted burpee which I’ve never done before so I had to fix that!!!

And since I did her move I’m going to share her video instead of making my own (plus it is parent-teacher conferences so the boys are out of school and still asleep!!).

Josie’s videos are way more fun than mine ever will be!!!

Pretty much anytime I do 44 burpees I feel like it is a good move!!! Oh, and I did the push-up on every rep!

I also did a nice easy run today – still working on increasing my overall run days and mileage!!!

I have a couple of situations that have come up and I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to handle them. I thought I would throw them out here and see what advice y’all have.

1. I met with a couple back in October who wanted to have their reception in our venue in March. They loved the venue and had a date picked which was available. I explained that a 50% deposit along with the contract holds the date and the balance is due 1 month prior to the event.

They came back in January for another look and said they still wanted the same date. I told them it was still available and again explained the procedure to book it. They have emailed a couple of times saying they will get the deposit to me the following week – which hasn’t happened.

Earlier this week I had a phone call from someone who wants to have a large shower at our venue on the same date (March 15).

I emailed the couple and told them that they still haven’t officially booked the date and if this other party completes a contract and pays me then they can have it.

The guy called me yesterday and said, “OH, no we are still planning on that date. We will meet you on Saturday to give you the deposit. Our invitations have already gone out with the date and address.” Seriously?!

What would you do?! I told him that I need the contract and not just a deposit but the entire amount since Saturday is a month prior.

2. The day after we closed on the venue (in August), we had a charity event that had been booked for months. It was actually free for them because they are a non-profit health agency that does a lot of great things.

About a month later the lady in charge of the event contacted me and said they loved our venue and asked if I would be interested in donating it for a few more of their upcoming events. She gave me the dates and I had them all available so I said, “Yes, I would be happy to. Let me know how you want things set-up and what all you need for each event.”

Last week I realized that the first event was on the calendar for this week. I kept thinking I would hear from them. I was trying to plan out my week and actually my day because it was on a day that I was completely booked with appointments, other events and stuff for Hunter’s school.

Tuesday morning I emailed my contact and asked her what I needed to do to set up (the event was scheduled for Wednesday). I told her that I had some appointments Wednesday morning and would be tied up all morning so I needed to take care of it in advance since I had them scheduled for 12:30 on Wednesday!!!

She emailed me back at 10:50 on Wednesday (less than 2 hours prior to the original meeting time) and said that they had decided to cancel the event!

What would you do?! Now I am completely torn about the next 3 dates that I have marked off for them. I feel like I’m committed to still offer the dates but now instead of being happy to help this group out I feel like I’m only doing it because I can’t go back on my word.

I like that quote – maybe I should put that on my business website!!! (just kidding -sort of)

Feel free to share your advice – I’m still trying to figure out this whole “running a business” gig!!!

Happy Thursday!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Hamstrings, Lunges, Plyo, Quad, Running, Treadmill

500 Days of Activity!!!

January 28, 2014 Kim 99 Comments

Today’s 44 was a challenge!!! I did a back lunge – front kick – back lunge (all right leg) – jump lunge to switch sides and then repeated the moves on the left side for 1 rep. Between all 3 moves (lunges, kicks and jumps) I was definitely breathing hard!!!

I liked this move but 44 reps was a lot!!! Sometimes I don’t think these things through very well!! Oh, well – it’s good for me!

It was also a run day – 1.5% incline 7 miles (51:04) + an easy cool down mile.

I probably won’t run again until Friday – big run on tap!! I’m doing a virtual race as part of Kristen’s (Stuft Mama) STUFT Challenge for Run Sixty Feet. Kristen is raising money for Run Sixty Feet with her run on Friday (she’s running 37 miles since it is her 37th birthday – what a great way to celebrate a birthday!!). I’m planning to do the same (37 miles) on Friday in support of both Kristen and the cause (Run Sixty Feet).

Today is my 500th day of daily moves – 365 days of 43s and 135 days of 44s!!!

I started this adventure on September 16, 2012 when I turned 43 with a goal of doing some form of activity every single day. Using my age is a great (although sometimes not so great) way to have a set goal for each move.

After a year of Daily 43s I enjoyed it so much that I decided to continue with Daily 44s.

There are occasionally days that I’m not as motivated to do 44 reps of anything (so I usually pick something fairly easy and just get it done) but most days I love the challenge of doing something 44 times!!!

I plan to continue the rest of this year and when September rolls around again I will decide if a year of Daily 45s is on tap or if it is time to do something else. Who knows?! I might still be doing Daily _____ when I’m 75!!!!

Oh, and I guess this is also my 500th day in a row to write a blog post since that is sort-of part of my goal, too!!! At some point I might switch to weekly updates on the daily moves but for now I enjoy posting everyday so I’m just going to keep going!!!

Do you have any Daily Streaks?

Happy Tuesday!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Plyo, Running, Squats, Treadmill

All Unique yet Bound by Commonality

January 26, 2014 Kim 44 Comments

For the 44 today, I did a variation on a squat jump – a criss-cross squat jump.

(Not sure why I feel the need to post the video – I always look like a total goof!!! But, that’s pretty much me all the time so…..) Anyway, you can tell that the challenge of this move is to stay low while jumping your feet out then crossed – a quick move but also effective!

I did a nice easy 6 mile run today at 1.5% incline and 8:23 pace. 5 run days in 1 week!! This next week will have fewer days of running because I have a mega run on Friday!!!

I know we are all unique but sometimes that is more obvious than other times – at least in my world.

Because I’m a people watcher, yesterday at Day 1 of the Bridal Fair (fixing to head back for Day 2) it was so interesting to observe the differences in the brides.

The future brides were –

young (one couple that stopped at our both was around 18 or 19)
older
slim
round
happy
frazzled
organized
absolutely no clue what they were doing
pregnant
mothers
dressed up
wearing PJs (yep saw some that came out in lounge pants)

But watching all of them as they made their way through the masses, I truly think that no matter what they looked like or had on or who they had with them the thing that united all of them was the fact that they all have a special day coming up!

Some of them don’t know yet when that day will be and others have set dates that are years away (not kidding – a couple of the brides aren’t getting married for several years) but they all have the excitement of knowing that there is someone special in their life who wants to build a future with them.

You can see that it was rather crowded – this was the case for big chunks of the day.

So, today we will head back and there will be more people watching and appreciating the uniqueness of each bride that we talk to – each story will be different but all of them will include LOVE!!!

Are you a people watcher?

Happy Sunday!!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Lunges, Plyo, Push-Ups, Quad

Sunday Deserves Some Sunshine

January 5, 2014 Kim 49 Comments

Today’s 44 took one of my favorite moves (burpees) and added in one of my least favorite (jumping lunges) for a great challenge!!!

The move – a burpee (don’t forget he push-up!) jump up and immediately do 2 lunge jumps.

(FYI – the burpees in the demo actually make # 45, 46 & 47!)

Last night Hunter was trying to give me some more ideas for my 44s and he suggested a burpee with a tuck jump. I told him I did those this summer on the beach in Florida!!! He didn’t believe me so I had to find the video to prove it!!!

While we were looking at YouTube, we came across this video –

44 (must be fate!) of the best burpee exercises ever!!! I can’t wait to try more of these!!!

Mona @ Moxie-Dude was super sweet and nominated me for a sunshine award.

I decided that this bitterly cold and snowy Sunday would be the perfect day to share some sunshine!!!!

I know there are supposed to be rules to these things but I pretty much suck at following them!! I decided to start by answering Mona’s questions and then go from there.

1. If the internet suddenly disappeared and you couldn’t blog anymore, what would you choose as a “release” for your writing and creativity?
Well, I don’t know that I am super creative in my writing anyway – I would probably just spend the extra time on my treadmill!!!

2. What’s a perfect Saturday morning to you?
I would say it is a day that I sleep in but that doesn’t really happen. I do like the mornings when I don’t have to set an alarm and jump out of bed first thing. I would take my time getting up, do my workout, have Chris and both boys home and not have to spend the day running all over the place or doing any errands – in other words LAZY!!

3. Where do you see yourself and your blog in 3 years from now?
I will be 47 so I guess if I can stick with it that long, I will be doing daily 47s!!! As for blogging, I hope to have met in person some of the incredible people that I have met online!!!

4. Is your family supportive of your blogging?
Yes, they are 100% supportive. Chris reads my post every single day (and usually texts me after to make a comment of some sort so I know he read it). The boys don’t seem to mind being part of my blog on many occasions and are more than willing to help me out with pictures/videos!!

5. What’s you fav quick, easy and delicious dinner recipe? (this one made me laugh – if you haven’t read Mona’s blog, you really should check it out!!!)
My favorite easy meal is going to involve the crock-pot for sure!!! Hard to pick just one! I’m going to go with French Dip because it is so easy!!!

Put a frozen roast in the crock pot. Mix 2 c water, 1/2 c soy sauce (we use low-sodium), a bay leaf, some garlic powder, a few peppercorns, rosemary & thyme (just sprinkle some in). Cook on low all day. Shred. Serve on Kaiser rolls with swiss cheese and use the juice to dip.

6. Where is your favorite place to write?
This could read where is your favorite place to ___________? No matter what is in the blank, my answer is the same!!! THE BEACH!!!

7. If you had to start your blog all over, what changes would you make?
I think that I would have started commenting on other blogs sooner. I was a complete newbie in the blog world and didn’t have a clue what I was doing for months!!!

What would you keep?
This one is easy – I would keep all of the bloggy friends I have made because they (y’all) are the best part of blogging!!

8. Vacation…with or without kids?
With!! When the boys were younger I liked it when Chris and I could get away by ourselves. Now, the boys are fun to have on vacation and that is part of the experience. I’m hoping that even when they leave the nest they will still take vacations with us and one day that their spouses and kids will come, too!!

9. What’s your best advice for overcoming writer’s block?
Since I’m not really a writer, I don’t truly deal with this!!! I just make up some random stuff and move on!

And, like I said at the beginning – I’m not good at these the traditional way. So I’m not making up 9 or 10 or 12 new questions and tag people – I can’t tag people because I think it supposed to be just a few and I would want to tag at least 100 people!!!

Instead – I will make up one question.

How do you spread sunshine? What is the temperature where you are?

So I lied and asked 2 questions!!! We are actually at 10 degrees with about 4-5 inches of snow so I guess I can’t complain (but I will!) compared to all y’all even further north!

Happy Sunday!!

Kim

Day With KT