Category Archives: Running

Butt, Fitness, Hamstrings, Running, Treadmill

Workout Options – Videos, Pinterest, Machines, Classes, Wing-It

January 16, 2014 Kim 84 Comments

Today’s 44 came from Nellie (Brooklyn Active Mama) and her Weekly Wednesday Workout. The move was a butt bench raise – looks fairly simple but after a few you will definitely feel it.

Lay on your back with your feet on a bench at about 90 degrees –

Squeeze and lift your butt off the ground –

The last 10-15 were hard – my butt and hamstrings were burning!!!

Today was also another running day – 1.5% incline – 8 miles in 62:47 + 1.5 easy cool down miles. After almost 30 years of running I’ve finally learned that slowing down and just logging the miles is a better choice if I want to run more often and higher mileage!!!

Workout Options: How do you choose?

There are so many different workout options available and all of them are a little different. How do you choose what to do?!

my fitness DVDs – I’ve been adding to this collection for years!!!

Workout videos are always an option!! I love using DVDs especially at 5:00 am (or for years 4:30 am) because I can get a great workout without having to think a lot. Funny that I can move around and push my body early in the morning but it takes my mind a bit longer to get going.

Pinterest is a great source of workouts or a perfect place to store all the great ones that you find through blogs or other places. My workout board grows every single day!!

There are always options like treadmills (LOVE) and ellipticals (HATE)!! And if you go to a real gym, not just my basement, you have so many other great options!!!

Another option is the many classes available. I think that DVDs are similar except you don’t get the social benefit and for some people a class can be far more motivating because you have the encouragement of an instructor and the other participants.

Or, you could just wing it. This option doesn’t work for me (it goes back to the early morning thing and having to think!!!) but might be great for others to just show up and make something up as they go.

Of course, there is always the completely natural – walk or RUN outside!!!!!

What other workout options are there? What is your favorite?

Happy Thursday!!!

Kim

Cardio, Core, Fitness, Quad, Running, Shoulders, Treadmill

My Biggest Failure – Friendships

January 14, 2014 Kim 119 Comments

Today I did a box plank jump that Taylor (Lifting Revolution) demoed (along with some other great moves I can’t wait to try!).

To do the move, get in plank with your feet on the box (or stool if you don’t have a box). Hop your feet down in front of the stool and back up.

Not gonna lie – this move sort of scared me. It took me several practice hops to feel like I had any sort of rhythm. Talk about a great all-over body move – TRY IT!!!

And – another running day!!! 1.5% incline – 8 miles – 59:51 plus 1 more mile nice and easy to cool down.

Sometimes I look at my life and wonder if I’m a complete failure at friendship!!!

The past few years have really made me question my ability to truly form relationships with others.

Chris has heard me question this characteristic a few times (way more often than he prefers probably!!).

I just can’t figure out why I seem to fail at friendships!!! I’m not talking about the acquaintance type of friendship but the close relationships – the type of friendship where there are no secrets and no need for pretending. The friendships that you think are the forever kind.

I have always been very independent and able to fend for myself so I’m not really a “needy” friend.

Sometimes I wonder if the fact that I don’t even have a functional relationship with my mom plays a role in the whole friendship thing.

I completely understand that people change over time but I also think that true friendship is stronger than those changes. However, I’ve learned (been told) otherwise in the past couple of years.

I don’t think friends have to talk every day or even every week – I think that true friends just pick up where they left off. Until one day they don’t.

This past fall has been a huge time of transition for me. I don’t know the first thing about owning a business and between trying to figure it out and keep it running (without hiring anyone), working out, blogging and most importantly, keeping up with my family, I haven’t done much with anyone and that has cost me at least one friendship.

I don’t really know what to do to change any of this. I just know that I feel completely inadequate as a true friend at this point in my life. Part of this is my own feeling and part of this is based on the demise of a friendship that I thought was one of those “till the end of time” ones.

Sorry that this is such a depressing post – just something that has been on my mind a lot lately!!!

Happy Tuesday!

Kim

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

Core, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

Sleep-Overs: Love Them or Hate Them?

January 11, 2014 Kim 52 Comments

Today I worked my core with the 44. I did side leg drops (a pilates move).

Start on your back with your legs at 90 degrees and knees glued together –

Slowly drop your legs to the right while keeping your upper body flat on the ground –

Bring your legs back up and slowly drop to the left –

This move is supposed to be slow and controlled and is a nice stretch for your core. After just a few back and forth reps you will start to feel this in your abs (especially in the obliques!).

I’m fixing to head down and hop on my treadmill – nothing major just a nice run to get my legs moving again after a few relatively low key days!! Trying to keep my mileage building!

Did you know that boys do sleep-overs, too? (They would never call it a slumber party or anything but…)

A typical male sleep-over involves food (lots of it), games (usually of the X-Box variety) and movies!! At least those are the things usually involved at our house.

I’m not a super fan!!! I love the boys to have their friends over but the sleep-over thing usually just results in OVER TIRED boys!!!!

Even when I was growing up I didn’t really like sleep-overs. I don’t think I ever had anyone sleep-over at my house (for a variety of reasons) but I didn’t really enjoy sleeping at other’s homes either.

I’ve mentioned a time (or 20) that I have sleep issues!!! I think sleep-overs only make it worse – something about the added responsibility maybe?! Even when my boys are at someone else’s house it makes my sleep worse. (I know – ISSUES!!!)

All that being said – our boys do still have sleep-overs – sometimes here and sometimes at other people’s homes. I just have to get over my many issues and deal!!!!

So, sleep-overs – do you love them or hate them?

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim

Butt, Calves, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

You’ve Never Been Where?!

January 8, 2014 Kim 96 Comments

Today for my 44 I did rocking squat – it was every bit as awkward as it sounds!!

Start in a squat position –

More than anything this is a nice way to warm-up your shins and calves – and get a little burn from holding the squat!!!

And, it was another happy day on the treadmill!!! I did 8 miles at a fairly steady pace – just a few seconds under an hour or right at 7:30 pace and then another 1.15 miles super easy. I’m hoping to have more running days this year – trying to be smart about it though because I have a history of stress fractures. (in 10 years I’ve had 3 or 4 in my right foot and 1 in each hip)

Somehow I have a 15 year old and an almost 13 year old and neither one of them have ever been to the circus!!!

What?! How did this happen?

And, to make things even worse, neither Chris nor the boys have ever been to a rodeo!!!

I feel like they have been sheltered and are missing out in a big way!!

Of course, then Chris reminded me that they have been skiing, to lots of beaches and for 5 straight summers we went to Hawaii starting when Hunter was 4 and Jordan 6. (The Hawaii gig was because we got to fly Space A, free, on the tanker – and I think it is time for another trip!!!)

But still, the circus is like having a peanut butter and jelly sandwich – it is part of growing up!!!

Jordan said, “I’m not going to a circus. I don’t want to see clowns juggling swords with creepy faces.” OY!!!

Maybe I will take them to a cattle auction!! None of them (Chris or the boys) have ever been to one of those either and I think everyone should experience the thrill of a cattle auction!!! (I used to go with my grandparents – good times!!!)

Have you been to the circus? A rodeo? What about a cattle auction?
What is one place you think all kids should experience at least once?

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

Day With KT