Today’s 43 worked a muscle group that I rarely spend much time on – my calves.  I guess I just assume that running and plyo work is enough for them.  (Weird, cause I use to always add in calf work.)

Anyway – I did calf raises on my bottom step (on a separate note – I really need to vacuum the stairs!).  I held 15 pound dumbbells for added weight and tried to work all angles of my calves.  I did a set of 43 just straight up and down:

I really tried to focus on holding not just the drop portion but the raised portion of each rep.

Then I turned my toes out for a set of 43.

A third set of 43 with my toes in.

Then I thought I might as well go ahead and really work my calves to fatigue by doing each leg by separately.  (For these, I held one 15 pound dumbbell in the hand on the same side as the leg I was working.)

43 on the left leg.

Final 43 on the right leg.

Yikes!!  I really should start doing these more often.  I think it would help my problem Achilles a lot!!  The hold at the top of each rep is where the true burn comes in!!

Today was a Les Mills Combat day – HIIT Power.  30 minutes of high intensity strength and plyo moves.  There was a brief moment during the last segment where I questioned why I was putting myself through such torture pain an intense work-out.  Then I remembered – I LOVE IT!!!!

Since the work-out was short, I decided to get in some extra cardio – Hello, treadmill!!!

Today was maybe the best run I’ve had since sometime last summer.  Not because of the speed or distance – it just felt so great!!  I felt like I was running simply because I LOVE it.  

Such a great feeling!!  I ran 6 miles (41:38) and then did and easy 1.5 to finish an hour of running.  I don’t know what was different today but I will take it – Pure, 100% joy from the run!!!This babies expression sums it up beautifully!!!

Happy Tuesday – I hope your day has a great deal of true joy!!!

Kim