Tag Archives: stability ball

Biceps, Core, Fitness, Quad, Running, Thighs, Treadmill

I’m Not Ready to Give Up

January 12, 2014 Kim 60 Comments

Today’s 44 was one that I saw Tara do (Family Sport Life). I didn’t totally master it but it was still very effective. To start, you balance yourself on a stability ball (knees on it) and then you do the actual move – bicep curls.

If you look closely you can see that I had to tap my toes (more than keep them up actually) to keep from falling on my face. I’m going to keep working on the balance aspect!!!

Besides working my biceps (10 pound dumbbells), this move was good for my core (balance) and my quads were burning by the end!!!!

And then I ran again – 2 days in a row!!! Yesterday I got in 6 miles and today I ran 6 at just under 8 minute/mile pace and did another 1.75 miles to cool down.

So, you might remember that back in October I attempted my first 50 mile race and it did not go well.

I made a lot of mistakes but I also learned a lot. And, way down deep I know that I can run a 50 (and maybe even a 100 miler!!!).

Yesterday morning I was scrolling through FaceBook and saw a post from the Heartland 100/50 (the race I did last year) saying that they are changing the 50 and making it a day race!!!! (Last year it was at night – pitch black on a rocky road, cold, lonely…….)

Then this happened –

In May, I’m going to try again to complete a 50 mile race!!!!

Actually I’m going to do more than try!!!! I’m going to take the things I learned last fall and apply them and this 50 mile race is going to be a great experience!!!!

In October, I wasn’t mentally tough enough to push through the pain and other factors that were involved.

This time, my head will be in the right place and there will be no giving up!!!

I’m excited to get another chance to fulfill my goal of competing in an ultra!!!!

Happy Sunday!!

Kim

Fitness, Foam Roller, Push-Ups

The Best Part of Christmas

December 26, 2013 Kim 57 Comments

Today’s 44 was nearly a fail!!! Not long ago I did push-ups using my foam roller for the 44 of the day. The wonderful and super fit Jody suggested trying the same move but with my feet on a stability ball. Well – I’m always up for a new way to challenge myself so today I tried it!

I could not even hold the pose with my toes on the ball so I just went with the tops of my feet and still struggled!!!

This move was beyond HARD!!! I struggled and by the end my push-ups were barely going down – I’m going to have to work on this move for sure!!!

My neighbor’s daughter (she is a few years younger than me!) is still in town and she came over to workout again this morning – so much fun!! Today we did Cathe XTrain – Tabatacise!!! This is definitely a great workout. After we were done Erin asked about a challenge move (since we did the plank hold last time) so we did 10 Manmakers.

(This video clearly wasn’t today since I had blond hair!)

Yesterday we hosted our first annual Governor’s Row House Christmas Day Open House.

We had no idea if any one would come or if it would be just the 4 of us hanging out over there.

It turned out to be a really fun day. Some great friends came and hung out most of the day!

kid's playing HeadBandz — kid’s playing HeadBandz

The boys (Chris, Jordan and Hunter) played trumpet and cello tunes for us! Plenty of food (lunch and dinner!) and fun!!!

Last week I put fliers in our 3 tenants mail boxes and 2 of them came down for awhile (the 3rd, a young couple, had gone home to Chicago!).

Kelvin lives on the 3rd floor by himself (he is going to be 65 next month) and called me around 5 to see if we were still there. He came down, brought Champagne to share (nice!), ate and visited until we started packing up around 8.

He had been by himself (other than his cat) all day and would have spent the entire day that way if he hadn’t joined us. After a couple of hours he said he felt like he had an adopted family!! That comment made my day because all along, my whole goal had been to help make someone’s Christmas better than it might have been otherwise. When he got ready to go back up to his apartment he hugged me and said it had turned into a wonderful Christmas for him!

And, the best part – on the way home Jordan rode with me (I had gone earlier to clean since we had an event Christmas Eve, too) and he talked about how glad he was that we had done the Open House!!! This is big because when I first mentioned it to Jordan he did not want any part in it.

After seeing how much it meant to Kelvin, he realized that sometimes taking the time to be available to someone is the best gift you can give. (Plus he had a good time all day!!)

Happy Thursday!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

There’s No Cheating in 44s!!

December 21, 2013 Kim 46 Comments

Today’s 44 was hard because there was so much balance (or lack of) involved. I did an elbow to knee crunch while on the stability ball.

The set-up wasn’t too bad –

The actual move was much harder – especially to try and get pictures!!

I counted a right-left crunch as one rep. There was a LOT of wobbling by the time I completed all 44 today!!!

And – I ran!!!! :Overjoy:

I did a treadmill run at 1.5% incline. I wasn’t sure how far I would go so I just started at an easy pace and ended up doing 5 miles in 37:00 plus 2 more easy miles to make a nice 7 mile run.

So, while Chris was taking pictures of me trying to do my 44, he was totally entertained. He kept laughing at my attempts to hold the crunch long enough for a picture.

There were more than a few shots that looked like this –

And Chris would just laugh and laugh.

So, I made him try. And I am so sad that I didn’t video his attempts!! He literally rolled off the side of the ball – TWICE!!! (then he quit trying)

Then he said, “Why don’t you just prop a dumbbell on the side of the ball to hold it in place.”

What?! The whole challenge is to use your core strength to keep the ball steady and keep yourself from falling off.

He said, “Well, just for the pictures.”

No!!! I can’t cheat for the pictures. I have to do the move the way it is supposed to be – wobbles and all.

And….that is what I did!

Happy Saturday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Plank, Running, Shoulders

Sore not Hurt!!!

November 23, 2013 Kim 44 Comments

Today’s 44 was one of those that seemed like a great idea until I did about 10 – then it was just HARD!!! I used a stability ball and got into the plank position (feet on ball). Then I alternated bringing my knee to my elbow (a right and left was 1 rep).

The last 20ish were rough – I had a hard time staying in plank because the ball kept rolling around (maybe I wasn’t holding my core tight enough)!!! Fun times!!!

This week I’ve actually been doing a little experiment with my running – and it has been great!!!

3 mornings – Monday, Wednesday and Friday – after my first workout and getting the boys to school I have hopped on the treadmill to log some miles. I have forced myself to slow my pace so that I can increase my mileage.

I’ve mentioned many times that I can’t run every day anymore because of the many injuries (mostly stress fractures) that I’ve had over the past few years. Chris always says that the problem isn’t just running but that I tend to run too hard.

So, this week, I just ran!
Monday – 12 miles
Wednesday – 10.5 miles
Friday – 16.5 miles
Week total – 39 miles!!

I think that running on semi-tired legs is going to help me later (if I decide to try another ultra!!!).

The best part about my experiment?! My legs were a bit sore after each run (part of why I’ve forced myself to stretch this week!) but I completed all of my runs without any pain!!!!

Maybe Chris has been right all along – just don’t tell him!!! :Wink:

Happy Saturday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Triceps

Workout Tools

October 27, 2013 Kim 34 Comments

Today I decided to work my triceps with the 44 – I did skull crushers using my stability ball.

The nice thing about this move on the ball is that I also had to work to hold my hips level so I got a little core work!!!! I just used 8 pound dumbbells because I knew that after about 20, my form would suffer with anything heavier – ended up being the perfect choice for all 44 – I definitely felt them but could perform all the reps with proper form.

I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorite workout tools since I keep using different ones for my daily 44.

Resistance bands: These are awesome especially when you travel since they don’t weigh much or take up much space. They are great as an alternative to weights and actually sometimes make moves feel harder than using dumbbells because of the constant tension.

Bowflex Select Tech Weights: I love these when I’m doing a weight workout. Since I store all of my workout equipment in one room and move it to another to work out, this makes it easier to move!! These weights adjust from 5 pounds each up to 50 pounds each!!! On moves that you just want a light weight they are a bit bulky but otherwise I love them!

Stability Balls: I love the extra challenge you can add to so many different moves by using a stability ball. Today I used one to keep my hips up. The other day I used one to do push-ups. So many options!!!

BOSU: This might be my all time favorite piece of equipment. It can be used like a step for an entire cardio + toning workout and it is also great to add a balance challenge to any move!! I love trying new moves on the BOSU – some are successful and others don’t really workout!!

Treadmill: I’m pretty sure that everyone knows by now that I actually prefer running on my treadmill these days!! Years of having no choice (babies and a traveling husband) helped with turning me into a treadmill runner. And, occasionally I try to use my treadmill for things other than running – not always a great idea but sometimes it works!