Today’s 44 was a fun push up move – using 2 small wobble balls and a medicine ball.
I flipped them over today
I put my hands on the small balls (out sort-of wide) and both feet on 1 medicine ball –
ready – hard to hold this position!down
The daily challenge for #happyfitmarch was to do as many push-ups as you could in 2 minutes. I decided to combine my 44 with the challenge. I did a total of 58 push-ups in the 2 minutes!
Today is a day full of cello for Hunter.
He has his Philharmonic Orchestra concert this afternoon. This is a full orchestra made up of mostly middle school kids in Topeka and surrounding areas. Hunter has enjoyed this even though it is a big time commitment on top of his cello lessons, cello group and sports at school.
Philharmonic
Tonight is the final for the Topeka Young Musician Awards. Hunter had to submit a video to enter this contest. He is one of four 7th grade stringed instruments competing in his category. (I’m not sure how many submitted videos but only 4 advanced to tonight’s performance.)
This will be Hunter’s first solo in front of a large group and I know he is nervous but he will do great. He has practiced and is ready!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAFhvJ32ElY
(Hunter’s submission video.)
Good luck, Hunter!!! I know that you will be awesome!!!
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!!!
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?
Yesterday Chris and I went to Dick’s to get a new pull-up bar since ours was worn out. (The boys, especially Hunter use it a LOT and the handles had lost all padding – good problem to have!!) Anyway, while we were there, I saw a box with these 4 balance balls –
looks how fun these are
and felt like I NEEDED them!!!
I decided to use them this morning for my 44. I thought push-ups with each hand and foot on one would be a great move!!!
readydown
This was definitely a challenge!! I can’t wait to incorporate these fun little gems into more moves!!!
And, the 44 push-ups this morning put me at a nice round 450 push-ups for the week for Taylor’s February challenge. The goal this week was 400 push-ups and in 6 days I did 450!!! Glad that we are going back to lunges next week – lunge jumps actually!!!
I also did a quick Turbo Jam workout – 3T (Totally Tubular Turbo). This is toning with a resistance band – I can tell I haven’t done much with bands lately!!!
I’ve written about the Olympics a couple of times in the past week because I love watching them!!!
However, I have to say that the 2014 Olympics have not been my favorite and I think it is because of how very little is being shown on TV. I think that NBC has done an awful job with the coverage this year.
Clearly, I’m not the only person who feels this way!!!
Just yesterday, the entire morning on NBC Sports Network was devoted to hockey. It was fine during the United States vs Russia game (way to go U.S.!) but then they kept showing other teams. Why didn’t they use any of the time to show the other events that are going on?
Then during the prime time coverage on NBC, the first 30 minutes were devoted to a replay of the last part of the hockey game after the announcers already told us exactly what had taken place.
And, I’m disappointed that we aren’t getting to see any medal ceremonies. I have had the Olympics on a LOT in the past week and I think I’ve seen 1 medal ceremony. I love watching the athletes receive their medals and sing along to whatever their National Anthem is.
Have you been watching the Olympics?
Are you disappointed with the coverage?
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!!!
Today’s 44 was a stupid choice an elevated push-up with a clap. I used a chair for the elevation.
Clearly these are hard for me!! I think the fact that yesterday was also chest day in the Michelle Bridges program didn’t help!! I only did half (22) on my toes then I dropped to my knees so I could actually still do a push-up (without bending my body so much).
And, even though it’s only day 2, I think it’s safe to say that this Michelle Bridges 12 week program is going to be good for me. The soreness I’m feeling today is rare for me!!!
I am going to have to play around some to try and figure out how to do my daily 44, the February challenge with Taylor (which I’m very excited about!), this new program and plenty of solid running miles!!!
Yesterday the weather forecast for today looked something like the above predictions. The snow was supposed to start falling after midnight and by 6:00 am it was supposed to be coming down at the rate of 1.5″ per hour or more.
8:00 am
Instead, it looks like this outside. The backyard isn’t even covered and the snow on the ground is actually from late Friday night/early Saturday morning.
a view of our street
Barely covering the street and again most of it is because they did not plow on Saturday and we have just been driving on snow the past couple of days.
out the front
Even now, no snow is falling at all.
The over-reaction might have happened last night!!!
By dinner time we knew that school was cancelled for today. And, Chris actually got the day off because all Government offices had announced they would be closed today.
Now, don’t get me wrong, if school is going to be cancelled, I prefer to know the night before so that we don’t have to set alarms. However, if we don’t get any snow I think that maybe we could have had school today.
I guess we will just take our bonus day and enjoy it!!!
And, I’m definitely not complaining about the lack of snow – if we only end up with what is on the ground right now then I will be HAPPY!!!
Do you think the decision to cancel school should be made based on a weather prediction or what till it actually happens?
Is it a snow day for you?
Happy Tuesday!!!
An update on the snow –
Noon
noon5:30 pm5:30 pm
Kim
PS – Please keep my sister-in-law (Dina – she is married to Tim, my twin) and her family in your thoughts today and tomorrow – she is saying her final goodbyes to her Mom.
