Category Archives: Plank

Chest, Core, Fitness, Hamstrings, Plank, Push-Ups, Running, Treadmill

Running, running, running (8/17-8/23)

August 23, 2014 Kim 38 Comments

This week was all about running!!!!

Sunday 8/17 – 44 barbell clean and press with a row.

bring bar down by flipping it and keeping it close to your body

row - squeeze shoulders — row – squeeze shoulders

I liked this move because I felt like it worked pretty much every muscle in my body!!!

Monday 8/18 – 44 stair push-up with a jump.

This move was fun – it got my heart rate up and because of the angle of the push-ups I was sore for a few days!!!

This was the starting day of a long run streak:
10 miles in 79:41 + 1.5 miles easy.

Tuesday 8/19 – 44 stability ball single leg oblique punches with a dumbbell.

pull left knee in and punch with right hand

I did all 44 on one side and then switched sides for another set.

These were hard – the hardest part was keeping my balance – part of why the pictures are blurrier than normal!!!

And a shorter, faster run:
7 miles in 50:22 with an easy mile to finish.

Wednesday 8/20 – 44 plie squat jumps with a small band around my ankles and a lateral raise with dumbbells (5 pounds).

You can’t really tell that I jumped but I did!!!

Back to a double digit run at a slower pace:
10.5 miles in 86:50 + 0.7 miles

Thursday 8/21 – 44 triangle leg taps (this move is from Taylor @ Lifting Revolution – bodyweight workout for your lower body.

ready (I think I was supposed to have my legs a bit lower - oops!!) — ready (I think I was supposed to have my legs a bit lower – oops!!)

I counted a left & right tap as 1 rep. By the end of all 44 my hip flexors were dying!!!

A long run at a quicker pace:
11 miles in 86:56 + 0.6 miles

Friday 8/22 – 44 butt kicks in plank (also from Taylor and the bodyweight workout for your lower body).

I sort of kicked to my opposite side. And, when I went back to link to Taylor’s site I realized that I”m an idiot – she did them on her elbows – oh, well – a great move either way!!!

Another double digit run:
10 miles in 77:23 followed by 1.1 easy miles.

Saturday 8/23 – 44 squat pulses while standing on dumbbells.

(hard to take pictures of pulses without them being blurry!!)

Today I did a shorter run outside while Hunter had cross country practice – wish it would have been earlier since it was already close to 85 degrees!!!

4 easy miles and then 20+ minutes walking around waiting for Hunter and the other kids to get back to the school.

Overall it was a good week:
52.5 miles + 4.9 easy miles for a total of 57.4 miles.

I have a few more days of long runs planned and then I’m going to back off a bit. (Can you tell I have a race coming up????)

Happy Saturday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Plank, Running, Shoulders

Trying New Things (8/10-8/16)

August 16, 2014 Kim 42 Comments

As I’ve gotten older I’ve gotten more set in my ways. However, I still like to try new things. This morning I tried to make a GIF following the incredible instructions that Taylor (Lifting Revolution) shared earlier this week. (I haven’t mastered it yet!!!)

I also like to try new moves and workout programs as often as possible!!! I have a super fun new program to try next week!

Sunday 8/10 – 44 leg crunches while balancing on wobble disc.

I did keep my hands on the ground the entire time – otherwise I didn’t feel like I could work my abs or hip flexors at all because I just kept falling off!

Monday 8/11 – 44 sit-ups with feet elevated.

These are always hard for me!!!

I decided to switch my lifting program from Chalean Extreme to Les Mills Body Pump. I started with Pump & Burn and I was definitely feeling the burn by the end!!!

After lifting I ran.
8 miles in 59:20 followed by 0.35 to cool down (I was out of time!!!).

Tuesday 8/12 – 44 kneeling crunches.

This is one of those moves that isn’t big and you have to really focus on the crunch to feel it!!!

Another day of running – 10 miles in 76:54 followed by 1.8 easy miles.

Wednesday 8/13 – 44 alternating straight leg/arm dead bugs.

right leg down, right arm back — left leg down, right arm back

I tried to make this a fluid motion and not let my hands or feet touch the ground during the down part!! (Right leg extended, left leg extended = 1 rep)

Another day of lifting with Les Mills Body Pump – Pump & Shred. Not gonna lie – body pump always makes me sore and tired!!!

I wanted a little cardio but not a run so I did Turbo Jam – Cardio Party 2. Always a fun way to work out!!!

Thursday 8/14 – 44 extended plank with a wrist, elbow, shoulder touch. (Right hand touch left wrist, left hand to right wrist, right hand to left elbow…..for 1 rep!!!)

This move I got from Monique (Burpees to Bubbly) the other day as part of her 7 minute body weight upper body burner. 44 of these was a little ambitious but it was a great challenge!!!

And, 11 miles of running in 81:25 followed by 0.4 miles easy.

Friday 8/15 – 44 carwash sweeps while in plank on elbow.

I tried to keep my body as level as possible while sweeping my arms around!! (a right sweep and left sweep = 1 rep)

I needed a little break from body pump so I did Jillian Michaels KickBox Fast Fix – love working out with Jillian!!!

Saturday 8/16 – 44 straight leg crunches with feet on a stability ball.

Today was another day of running (gotta keep my miles up a little longer!!!).
12 miles in 85:45 followed by 1.25 easy miles.

41 hard miles plus 3.8 easy miles for a close to 50 mile week. Probably need to bump that up next week but the whole time factor gets in my way!!

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Back, Core, Fitness, Hamstrings, Plank, Plyo, Running

Mixing Things Up While On Vacation (7/13-7/19)

July 19, 2014 Kim 59 Comments

Even though I was on a little vacation this past week, I still wanted to get in a good week of workouts. It was fun to just mix things up and do a variety of things using what I had available!!!

Sunday 7/13 – 44 cat-cow with a crunch.

Not sure why I don’t do this move more often – it was nice especially after spending a chunk of the day cleaning the venue!!!

Monday 7/14 – 44 Jumping Jacks with tucks.

This was a great way to get my heart rate way up!!! And, since I had to get a lot done before leaving for my trip, I only did my lifting workout – Chalean Extreme Push Circuit 2.

Tuesday 7/15 – 44 incline sit-ups and 44 incline crunches. The fitness center at the hotel had one of my favorite pieces of equipment from years ago so I made good use of it!!!

all the way up - touch feet — all the way up – touch feet

Personally, I think the full sit-ups are easier than the crunches!!

up just to the point that you can feel your abs contracting — up just to the point that you can still feel your abs contracting

Stacy and I did a nice 7 mile run – LOTS of hills!!! I also did a bunch of push-ups on the incline bench and a long squat series with 2, 30 pound dumbbells.

Wednesday 7/16 – 44 hill repeats. During our run Tuesday, we had to run up this killer hill to get to a gorgeous park. I decided that it would make a great 44 to run up and down it!!

Umm…this was a tough workout!!! (Stacy decided to do her own indoor workout inside of running up and down the hill.)

Not super fast but that’s because there was no possible way to get up that hill fast!!! Even on the downhill part, my heart rate never fully recovered! Not sure I would repeat this exact workout!!!

Thursday 7/17 – 44 decline plank with alternate shoulder taps (right-left = 1 rep).

ready - feet on bench — ready – feet on bench

So, you can tell that I’m sweaty and we are in our hotel room – I actually did this after our run!!

We just did an easy run – both of us were sore from our previous workouts!!! 3 miles up the hill from yesterday and around a gorgeous park followed by 3 miles of walking — it was great to just walk for a change!!!

Friday 7/18 – 44 alternating hamstring curls.

I did these Friday night but Chris took the pictures for me this morning – I figure it still counts as keeping up with my daily moves even if I don’t get it done until 10:00 pm!!!!

Saturday 7/19 – 44 back extensions with ball pass.

bring arms behind and hand ball off to other hand

I only did 44 total but I did reverse the direction of the ball pass so that I did 22 each way. I know my low back is an area I don’t work often enough!!

And, I did my favorite lifting program – Chalean Extreme Push Circuit 3.

Overall it was a decent week of working out – a little lighter than normal in some ways but fun to do some different things!!!

Happy Saturday!!

Kim

Fitness, Hamstrings, Lunges, Plank, Running

Bodyweight Moves Are Awesome!!! (6/29-7/5)

July 5, 2014 Kim 45 Comments

You know I love all of my fun fitness “toys” but I also love doing bodyweight moves!! There are so many options and moves that work every single muscle group!!!

Sunday 6/29 – 44 alternating star jumps (right – left = 1 rep).

This move was super fun!!! I will definitely add these in to other workouts!!

Monday 6/30 – 44 Y squats (squat while keeping arms in a “Y”).

Keeping my arms up made this squat a challenge!!!

I’m still loving my current weight lifting program – Chalean Extreme – Push Circuit 3.

And, I ran – shorter than some of my runs last week!!
6 miles in 41:50 + 2 easy miles.

Tuesday 7/1 – 44 push-ups with cross body mountain climbers.

This was a fun way to jazz up push-ups!!!

This was another running day!!
12 miles – 92:02 + 2.25 easy miles.

Wednesday 7/2 – 44 alternating cross-over lunges (right-left = 1 rep).

I really enjoyed this move – it was great for toning and also good cardio!!!

This was a lifting day – Chalean Extreme – Push Circuit 1 and the Ab Burner workout – fun!!!

Thursday 7/3 – 44 “waiter” single leg dead lifts. (Keep one arm behind your back while doing dead lifts on opposite leg.)

This was a fairly light day of workouts because I chose not to get up super early!!!

Tae-Bo Ab Boot Camp – since I haven’t done this in awhile I feel sure that I will be sore in the next day or two – score!!!

Friday 7/4 – 44 plank forward walks. Starting in plank walk right hand front, left hand front, right hand back, left hand back then switch lead hands for 1 rep.

This was hard – a lot of time spent in plank!!

Then, the boys and I did the 6 mile race around the lake!!!

For some reason, I struggled through the entire 6 miles!!!
My time was 44:50 which should not have felt as hard as it did – 3rd female finisher.
Hunter finished in 52:40 – he did awesome and loved the race!!!
Jordan’s time was 53:57 – he had a rough time near the end but still did a super job!!!

Saturday 7/5 – 44 prisoner lateral lunges (alternating).

A right and a left counted as 1 rep. This was another fun move – I enjoyed the body weight moves a lot this week!

This was sort of a lighter week of workouts but I think I needed it based on how I felt during the race yesterday and most of the rest of the day after running!!!

Happy Saturday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Plank, Running

Focus on the Core (6/15-6/21)

June 21, 2014 Kim 36 Comments

This week I decided to make the daily 44 all about core work!!! I try to do some core work every week but this week I hit it even harder.

Sunday 6/15 – 44 oblique crunches with a leg lift.

I liked this move!!! I counted a left-right as 1 rep so it turned into a total of 88 crunches!!

Monday 6/16 – 44 alternating leg kicks while in a V-sit position.

This move required a lot of balance which is even more of a core bonus!! (I counted a right-left kick as 1 rep)

Still trying to lift weights consistently so it was Chalean Extreme Burn Circuit 3 (lots of shoulder work).

I also got in a nice hard run!!!
9 miles in 57:49 (6:26 pace) followed by 1.75 easy miles. I haven’t been running hard much lately but I still try to occasionally push my pace just to make sure I still can.

Tuesday 6/17 – 44 plank hold with a double knee tap.

I must be holding my breath in the bottom picture because my face is really red – oops!!!

I decided to follow Monday’s hard run with an easier run.
10 miles in 80:07 + 1 super easy mile.

Wednesday 6/18 – 44 “rope climbs” with legs extended.

This was a great move for keeping constant tension on the abs!

Lifting day – Chalean Extreme Burn Circuit 1 (last time through this circuit – next week I will start the Push Circuit!!).

I wanted a little more after lifting so I did The Firm – Skills, Drills & Thrills. This is a nice workout with a mix of cardio and toning using the wobble disc –

Thursday 6/19 – 44 plank with elbows on the wobble disc – step out with right leg, back in then pull the right knee in – repeat on left side for 1 rep.

I should have timed how long I had to hold plank while doing this – oh, well!!

And, I’m still trying to bump my running miles up so it was another day of running.
13 miles in 1:42.13 + 1.4 easier miles.

Friday 6/20 – 44 knee crunches while holding boat pose on wobble disc.

Can you tell how hard it was to balance? My arms were flailing the entire time just trying to keep me from falling over!!!

The only workout for the day was Chalean Extreme – Burn Circuit 2 (all about biceps and triceps) – I can finally do all of the tricep push-ups on my toes!!!

I knew that I had a long day of cleaning, moving furniture and ironing ahead (8 hours is what it ended up taking) so I didn’t do any cardio after the lifting!!! That ended up being a good choice!!!

Saturday 6/21 – 44 grab & crunch with medicine ball!! This was a fun new move. Start by laying on your back with your knees at 90 and a medicine ball (I used an 8 pound ball) resting on your legs –

Crunch up and grab the medicine ball –

Take the ball with you and extend arms over head –

Crunch up and place ball back on legs to complete 1 rep –

Not only did this work my abs/core – I felt this in my hip flexors a lot!!!!

I had planned to run again but woke up with a stabbing pain in my eye (gotta love sinuses!!!) so I decided to skip the run for now.

I just realized that my total mileage for the year (hard and easy miles) is just over 900. That is more than I had for all of 2013 – maybe learning to run easier is paying off!!!

Happy Saturday!

Kim