Not Every Race Can Be Your Best!!!

October 3, 2013 Kim 58 Comments

Thanks to Nellie (Brooklyn Active Mama) for another great Thursday 44. Today I did arabesque raises (single leg airplanes!).

I started with my left leg as the balancing leg –

From the start position, I hinged forward and lifted my arms to the sides.

I tried to make the moves very slow and not just fall out of the position. (some times weren’t as successful as others!) After completing 44 with my left leg as the supporting leg, I switched sides.

I decided not to use weights for the second set. Even though I just used 5 pound DBs, I knew that if I tried to do 44 more with them, my form would really suffer.

This was a fun move – balance, core, control, hamstrings, butt, lats – all kinds of work being done!!!

Today we did the 100s Bootcamp. The goal is to do 100 reps of 10 different moves – we did 90 today which is an improvement from the 80 we did last time we did this workout!!! I told the ladies – next time we will get 100!!! (time constraint is part of the problem)

OK – so maybe I’m not talking about horses – but, anyone who runs knows – NOT ALL RUNS ARE GREAT!!! And – NOT EVERY RACE WILL BE YOUR BEST RACE!!!

Hunter learned that lesson the hard way on Tuesday. His final cross country meet of the season and he went in with high expectations of himself. Their coach had them doing sprints for 15 minutes before the race (and it was 90 degrees) – not sure why they did so many but….

The gun went off and Hunter took off – he shot straight to the front. He has never tried that strategy and I was worried (with good reason). There was a point a little before the half-way that we could see the runners again and he was still running strong near the front.

I told him to settle in for a couple minutes and then push hard at the end.

I ran down to a spot about 200m from the finish chute so that I could tell him to go for his final kick. When I saw him I could tell that he was done. Usually when I tell him to pick it up and kick in he really increases his speed. Not this time – he had nothing left.

He was so disappointed at the end!!!

I told him that he tried a new strategy and he just needed to work on it – it’s a fine line between going out too fast and hard and being able to finish strong.

He still ran a consistent time for what he has been running this season but not the race he hoped for and he was completely bummed for the night.

It was a good learning experience – I told him that every single runner has races like that and you have to deal with the disappointment and move on.

One of my worst races ever was the Regional track meet my junior year in high school. I was running the 2 mile which I had won in every race all season. I started off in the lead but went out way too hard – in the end I was 3rd (only the top 2 advanced to the State meet). I was crushed because I knew that if I had run a smart race I could have won and qualified for State.

Thankfully, Hunter is 12 and bounces back quickly!!! Now he is looking forward to wrestling, basketball and track – fun stuff ahead!!!

What was your most disappointing experience (racing or otherwise)?

Happy Thursday!!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Plyo, Running, Treadmill

“It’s Against the Law”

October 2, 2013 Kim 70 Comments

Today for my 44 I tried a new to me move – a football stomp with an axe jump (plyo jack). The football stomp is basically fast feet for about 5 seconds and then you do a plyo jack.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGgOsnw0Zdo’]

(Still can’t figure out why all the early morning videos are so yellow – better do some playing around with my camera!) This was a fun 44 and it went really quickly!

I haven’t been running a lot lately (mental block & babying my Achilles) but thought I should get in a few more runs in the next week and a half so that’s what I did this morning.

The run was great – I did 6 miles at a quick pace and then an easy 1.75 miles for 61:00 total minutes of running. (1.5% incline) Hopefully another couple of runs will happen in the next week and then it will be time to see what I’m made of!!!

I rarely have any type of controversial post and political stuff isn’t a big topic for me. However, I couldn’t totally let this whole government thing go.

As you all know, Chris is a pilot for the United States Air Force – he is in the Kansas Air National Guard. For 27 years he has served our country.

Now, thanks to a very unsettled government, there are many military and other government people who are being furloughed and are looking at a few days, weeks, whatever the time period ends up being, of not getting paid.

The way I see it, if the government is shutting down, Congress should definitely not be getting paid – all of them not just the few who have offered to waive their pay.

And, with a shut- down there should at least be some extra days off.

Here was the conversation between Chris and I last night:

Kim: I think the US military should stage a walk-out if they aren’t going to get paid.
Chris: That’s against the law.
Kim: The law made by the same government that is now not paying you?! Oh – well that seem’s ~~fair~~ completely RIDICULOUS!!!

Obviously I tend to exaggerate things a little since (supposedly) the military will still get paid.

So – yesterday I said I was thankful that Chris still had a job – and I am. However, I’m not thankful for the way things are being handled in our country right now. Just my very un-educated point of view on the matter!!!

And, for the record, I think that all government employees should stage a walk-out!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

Butt, Cardio, Fitness, Lunges, Plyo

Thankful Tuesday

October 1, 2013 Kim 70 Comments

The 44 today is my least favorite move ever – jumping lunges!!! And, because sometimes I feel the need to challenge myself, I held 12 pound dumbbells while I jumped – FUN TIMES!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g-fst927SM’]

I counted a right lunge and a left lunge as 1 rep so I really had to jump 88 times to complete my 44.

Garage boot camp today was the 5-4-3-2-1 Workout. I had to make a few modifications to this one since we were in the garage and driveway but it worked out fine and was a great workout!!! Teaching boot camp has been nice because it is the only time I workout with a group anymore – I am really enjoying it!!!

I feel like I have had more than a few negative days lately and it comes out on my blog. I try to stay positive here but I also try to be completely real and real life sometimes is exhausting and trying and just plain hard!!!

Today I thought I would just share some of the things that I’m thankful for – sometimes I forget to stop and think about how very much I have to be grateful for. I’m always glad that the amazing Jody @ Truth2BeingFit reminds us to start each Monday with gratitude!!!

Today I’m thankful that my family is all healthy!!!

I’m thankful for the great cross country season that Hunter has had!!! Today we will go to Manhattan for his final meet of the year! I’m very happy and thankful that he has learned to really enjoy running!!!I’m thankful that Jordan had a good experience last night at his first debate practice rounds. Even though he was nervous he did a good job and like he said he will just continue to get better.

I’m thankful that even though the US Government is making some ridiculous decisions these days, Chris still has a job!!

I’m thankful that the fall weather has been so incredible lately!!! We are supposed to get to almost 90 for the next few days – love the sunshine and warmth!!!

I’m thankful that we have WIFI at our new venue now so I can get some work done while I’m waiting on the electrician and other stuff today!!! (small stuff is pretty important!)

I’m thankful for all of the great friends I’ve made through blogging!!!!