Category Archives: Treadmill

The Simple Life

June 25, 2013 Kim 27 Comments

Today I did my 43 in the hotel fitness room. I used a bench and a stability ball to do triceps dips.

lower - butt close to bench — lower – butt close to bench

These pictures were long after I did the actual move. I went down to the fitness room before the boys were even stirring around!! I did have to take 2 short breaks to stretch my triceps while I was doing the 43. I might be sore tomorrow!!

I ran on the small treadmill in the fitness room. It was an AWFUL run. I never felt like I settled into my breathing and I just felt sluggish the entire time. I did 6 miles (plus 0.4 miles cool-down) but they were really slow. I ended up getting through this run 1 minute at a time!!!

Yesterday, the boys and I spent time with my Poppa and my Aunt at their ranch. I always love the time I spend out there because it is so peaceful!!

around the house - plenty of flowers, tractor mailbox and a TX walkway — around the house – plenty of flowers, tractor mailbox and a TX walkway

We usually spend time on the front porch enjoying the view – but yesterday it was too windy for Poppa to sit out there so we spent time inside with him.

The boys did make their trek up the “mountain” to say, “Hello, Texas.” This is a tradition that started when Jordan was 2 and the little hill really did seem like a mountain. He climbed up (with Chris) and then turned around, waved and shouted his greeting!! Now, the boys can climb up – wave and yell and climb back down in about 5 minutes!!

The boys rode around for awhile with my Aunt – checking out the new fence and just enjoying the land.I always feel like I’m experiencing a return to a much simpler life when I’m at the ranch. That bottom right picture is a swallow’s nest – it looks like it’s made out of rope but it is actually mud!!!

We will spend more time at the ranch this week visiting with my Poppa and I am looking forward to more “simple” days!!! I didn’t take my laptop, left my phone in my purse and just enjoyed the place and the people that I was with!!!

In the mornings and evenings I enjoy our time at the hotel – swimming for the boys, mindless TV, happy hour, time on the laptop!! But, during the day (for the next couple of days), I’m going to enjoy every minute that we can just hang out and live a SIMPLE life!!

Happy Tuesday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

My Running Story

June 23, 2013 Kim 36 Comments

Today’s 43 was one that I got from Nellie at Brooklyn Active Mama. Every Wednesday she features a new exercise (and she has had some great ones!!). This past week she had dumbbell reaches as the move and since I had never done this exact move I decided to try it.

This is a move that isn’t about speed – it’s all about control!! It will work your core, hamstrings and shoulder and, because I did all 43 reps on one leg before switching side, I also felt it in my standing hip!!

The move is similar to a single leg dead-lift. You hinge from the waist, pick up a dumbbell from the floor in front of you (I used 5 pounds), stand while bringing knee up and pushing DB overhead, then hinge back down and put the DB on the floor before standing = 1 rep. The video shows the move much better than I can explain it!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czvX9Dne_RY’]

This move took awhile to complete because it is supposed to be slow and controlled!! And, you know that I had to do 2 sets of 43 so that I can try to stay semi-balanced!!!

I also ran – 4 miles in 25:37 + 0.5 miles cool down. Nice to run again!!! Today I stayed on the treadmill because it was super early and I hadn’t told the boys I was going out.

I started running when I was 15 – my sophomore year in high school – go Eagles!!! For the record, that means I’ve been running for 28 years!!!

I signed up for track/athletics as a class for the entire year but I really thought that I would just hang out in the fall and wait for track in the spring. I had big plans – I was going to run the quarter mile!

The track coach convinced me to go ahead and run with the cross country team. I agreed even though I had no idea what cross country was!!! The first day of practice, we just had to run to a nearby park and back – 1 mile. I had to stop and walk 3 times!! But, I stuck with it and by the time we went to our first meet, I was the top runner on our team!

By the time track season came around, everyone knew that I wouldn’t be running the quarter mile – I ran the 2-mile and the mile. And, it turned out that I was good at them!!

I ran all through high school – cross country and track were the best part of high school for me – I never missed practice or a meet no matter what!!! I had several injuries (Achilles tendonitis, torn calf muscle and stress fractures in both tibias) but kept running!

I received several different offers for college track scholarships and eventually settled on Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, TX. During the time I ran there, we were

Running on a scholarship changed how I felt about running – it became a job instead of something that I loved. At the end of my junior year I gave up my scholarship and ran my senior year just because I loved it. As a result, I had my best seasons ever (CC, indoor and outdoor!).

I continued running after I graduated from college. I ran road races almost every weekend when I was in Grad school (in southern Alabama) – 5Ks, 10Ks, a couple 8Ks and a half marathon (my favorite distance).

After grad school, I coached 2 years at Wayland (I was the distance coach)! This was so much fun!!! I ran with the team every morning at 6am and did all of the distance runs with them. Some days I even got to get back on the track and do speed work with the athletes!!!

After leaving Wayland, I continued to run and do races occasionally. I ran through both of my pregnancies (Chris kept telling the DR that I was running too hard but….).

When Hunter was about a few months old, I decided to sign up for a marathon throughI was going to run the Disney Marathon (January 2002). I did all of the fund-raising and 2 months before the race I started having hip pain to the point where I could barely walk. It turned out to be a stress fracture in my right hip. (My orthopedic DR wanted me on crutches but that was impossible with a 7 month old!) I spent 6 months not running and only doing minimal walking.

As a side note – I had trained for a marathon in college (Dallas White Rock) and ended up sick with bronchitis and a sinus infection the week of the race so I didn’t run that one either.

After I started running again I decided to just run for me and not to race. Even at that, I have had 3 stress fractures in my right foot and 1 stress fracture in my left hip in the past 10 years.

I added in weight training and lots of cross-training after I turned 35 (YIKES – 8 years ago!!) and that has made a huge difference in my running. I can’t run every day but I’m running stronger and faster now than when I was a college athlete!!!

I have done lots of mega runs (usually on my treadmill). I have done distances of 30, 50 and 35 miles in previous years during the Relay for Life (I’m usually our team’s designated walker/runner). 3 years ago, I did 60 miles in 2 days (I did it virtually with a group who did the Susan G. Komen walk in Dallas). I started my birthday runs (running my age on my birthday) when I turned 42.

About a month ago (after I had my veins stripped) running was hard, I didn’t enjoy it and it hurt a lot. I decided to take a little running break because I never want to hate running. Now, my break is over and I’m ready to run again!!

Good thing since I have my first ultra in 4 short months!!And that is my running story (to date) – can’t wait to see what the future holds for me and running!!!

Happy Sunday!! The boys and I are off to TX today to see my Poppa and Dad while Chris is on his trip. (9 hours of driving here we come!!!)

Kim

Butt, Fitness, Quad, Running, Squats, Treadmill

Vein Stripping: Five Weeks Later

May 30, 2013 Kim 28 Comments

For my 43 today, I did more leg work (and a bit of core since there was a high level of balance involved!). I used my stability ball: (not the BOSU – it was just in the picture!!)I started with one foot on the ball – knee bent:

Then I did a single leg squat and slid the ball out in front of me:

And, like so many of the 43s in the past, this was a double because I want both of my legs to get equal treatment!!!

Another day of Insanity Asylum – Back to Core. Since this is my first time through the program I didn’t know what to expect from this workout – now I know that it is a LOT of controlled moves and holds!!! My upper back will be sore tomorrow for sure!!! The only equipment needed for this workout is a little band – Good times!!!

I decided to get in a little run today since this workout didn’t have much cardio (and I’ve been in a bit of a running slump) – I ran on the treadmill since it is STILL raining here! 1.5% incline – 4 miles in 30:54 + 0.25 mile cooldown

Not sure what the deal is with running lately – not super motivated. I’m trying to cut myself a little slack and push harder with other things because I don’t want running to ever become something that I dread!!Thankfully, I don’t hate running but I’m not loving it at the moment either – I have a small idea of what the problem might be. (coming up…..)

So, it has been 5 weeks since this lovely picture (the day after I had my veins stripped):

I thought I would just do a short follow up (no gross pictures today!!!) with my thoughts on the surgery. I’ve already talked about the fact that my DR completely misinformed me by not telling me all the possible results and how long the recovery could take.

Now, it has been 5 weeks and I can do all of my normal activities so that is definitely a good thing. The downside – my legs have hurt every second of the past 5 weeks!!! They don’t hurt as bad now as they did the first couple of weeks but I have a few areas on both legs that HURT all the time.

My left ankle has a huge knot right under the bone on the inside that causes my ankle to stay swollen and ache all the time.

My right calf, while better than it was the first couple of weeks, still has a knot in it.

right calk — right calf – hard to tell much

And, my right upper thigh is just a mess – little knots all over.

I have regretted having this surgery almost since the minute I got home from the hospital and I’m still not at the point where I’m glad I had it done!!! I’m hoping that maybe in a few more weeks I will at least be happy with the results but for now all it’s done is cause me a lot of pain.

And, that pain (while definitely manageable) is what I think has caused my little running slump!!! Every time I run now my legs feel like this:I keep telling myself that the DR said I can’t hurt anything so I try to ignore it but it is a joy sapper for sure!!!

Well, what I meant to be an update, came out sounding like a lot of whining! I’m done with that now because I know that I’m lucky to be able to work out and do all the things I want to do!!!

Oh, and I’m very happy that I know longer need any wraps or nasty compression stockings!! The DR said to wear them at least for a month – DONE!!!

But I’m still going on record as saying – I, personally, don’t recommend this particular surgery and if I had it to do again, I would not do it!!

Happy Thursday!!!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness, Running, Treadmill, Triceps

Day 250 = 250 Minute Run turned into a 200 Minute Run

May 23, 2013 Kim 26 Comments

The 43 of the day – Monkey Extensions which is a move I found when I was looking through my many pins on Pinterest! This is actually part of a workout by Michelle & Lori at Purely Twins. (check out their site – they always have lots of cool workouts, tips, recipes….)

So, to do a monkey extension, start with fairly light dumbbells (I just used 5 pound DBs today) and pull your hands up close to your arm pits:

From the start position, extend your arms straight out and slightly twist your hands so that your palms face the back:

Bring your arms back in to finish 1 rep.

This move is nice – it works your entire arm and your shoulders. While I was doing my 43 I watched myself in the mirror because I could feel myself pulling my shoulders up so I tried to make sure that I was keeping them relaxed.

Today is my 250th day of daily 43s so I decided to run 250 minutes!! I’m not sure why I thought this would be a good idea since I am only about a week back into doing any kind of leg work (and cardio) after 3 weeks of very little – but that has been part of my plan for awhile now so I went with it!!

The first 2 hours (120 minutes) went great – hit right at 15 miles which was my plan and goal from the start. Things went downhill from there. I spent the next hour (60 minutes) doing a walk/run thing which eventually turned into just a walk. When I got to 200 minutes (3 hours 20 minutes) I stopped.

I could give several reasons why I stopped but I think they are all just excuses. In the end, I just wasn’t able to do it!!!I’m not sure if I believe the quote above but I’m going with it!!!This one I totally agree with – I’m very disappointed with myself right now!!

This one sums it up – considering my semi-lack of training lately, I should have given up my goal to run 30 miles in the 250 minutes (4 hours 10 minutes) and just focused on running the entire time.

So, I will foam roll and soak and try again another time!!!

Happy Thursday!

Kim

Butt, Cardio, Core, Fitness, Power Moves, Push-Ups, Running, Shoulders, Treadmill

Tornado Tragedy

May 21, 2013 Kim 29 Comments

Today’s 43 was a killer!!! Taylor at Lifting Revolution did a post a couple weeks ago featuring 30 variations of burpees!!! I decided to turn some of those burpee variations into my daily 43s since I like ~~pain~~ to challenge myself.

Today I did a burpee with a box jump (43 times – what was I thinking???).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA3x26yZPf8′]

Disregard the fact that I look like a total dork – and about killed myself jumping on the step!! Check out Taylor’s site – she makes the move look easy and she actually jumps into a squat on the box!! (I was lucky to jump up and not fall off!!)

Since yesterday I talked about my lack of motivation these past few days and the overwhelming consensus was to just “suck it up” and do it – that’s what I did today!!! After the intense 43 I ran!

I ran on the treadmill (still hesitant to hit the streets!!) – 1.5% incline, 6 miles in 40:43. I felt better after that run about working out than I have in awhile!!! I went for an easy 2 mile walk with a neighbor for my cool-down!!

Tragedies affect all of us differently. The devastating tornado in Moore, OK yesterday really hits home with me. I’ve never lived there but I think the fact that I’ve driven through Moore (on I-35) literally hundreds of times (one of those being less than 2 weeks after the huge tornado in 1999) and the fact that so many children were killed makes this one of those things that strikes a major chord with me!!!

The tornado was about 2 miles wide! I know last night they had 51 confirmed dead and 20 of those were children!! Plus all the people they are still searching for!! And the loss of virtually everything for those who survived is mind boggling.