My 43 today was a great warm-up for my long run. I did a standing oblique crunch with a knee up to an extended leg.
startknee up – twistextend leg (while still twisted)twist to other kneeand extend the leg!
The whole above series = 1 rep. 43 of these was a great way to fire up my hip flexors and quads in preparation for the big run!
And then I ran!!! For several years, I’ve run my age to celebrate my birthday. Last year I addd in the half birthday celebration run. Of course, the half birthday has to be the # of miles for the upcoming birthday!!!
So, today I ran 22 miles! I ran on my treadmill at 1.0% incline and kept the pace between 8:00 minutes/mile and 7:53 minutes/mile for the first 20 miles. The last 2 miles I increased the speed until I was at a 7:30 minute mile. Total time 2:53:43 (7:54 pace overall) with no stops!!!
The no stops was the best part for me – usually I have to stop to stretch something, tie a shoe, bathroom – something. Not today!!!
I walked an easy 0.5 mile after I finished the run just to get my heart rate down. And then, I foam rolled!
My foam rollers
Today I used the ridged one at the front. I just held it in several tight areas for a bit (hips, quads, calves – basically everywhere!!!). I know I should foam roll more often – but at least today I made a smart choice!
Hopefully if I put my new compression socks on for the rest of the day I will be ready for the next big challenge tomorrow!!
Part of the idea for today’s 43 came from Marcia who said curtsey lunges were one of her favorite exercises. I paired the curtsey lunge up with a couple of other moves and got a nice little 43.
I did the curtsey lunge and while holding the lunge did a bicep curl (I used 10 pound DBs today) then I stood and lifted the back leg while squeezing my butt = 1 rep.
Besides the fact that I nearly lost my balance during the demo – it was great! This 43 was pretty challenging – my quads were burning and I got my heart rate up since it was upper and lower body combined!!! 43 on the 2nd leg was the real kicker!
At one point I stopped for a second to stretch and told Hunter that this was a hard one. He said, “You can do it. You’ve done all of them so far.” So sweet!! Of course, he didn’t look up from what he was doing at the time. (This is one of his favorite morning activities before I take him to school – not filming me or even watching me sweat – learning new techniques with his cubes!!)
learning yet another method to solve one of the cubes!
Thanks to Hunter and his encouragement, I made it through another 43!
Today I decided to do a low-impact type workout (especially after yesterday’s crazy Tabata madness!) since I have a super long run planned for tomorrow. I pulled out an oldie – Denise Austin: Fat-Blasing Yoga. I don’t do yoga often but I have found a few DVDs that I really enjoy. Angela just did a great post about the benefits of yoga for runners so I figured today was a good day for it.
I actually have a # of Denise Austin’s DVDs – sometimes I just follow along without the sound but she does have some really great workouts. The yoga one is a nice mix of strength work and stretching. At the end there is a 15 minute section that is primarily core using a stability ball. It was a nice break from running, jumping….
real clothes don’t happen often anymore!
Yesterday I actually put on non-workout clothes!!! Sad part was that it was to go to a funeral (a friend of mine lost her Dad this week). Her dad served in the Navy during World War II and so at the cemetery they had the military service – 2 Navy men – salute as casket is carried up, Taps and the flag (unfold, refold then present it). Military services always sort-of get to me. I told Chris that I never want someone to hand me that flag – so do what you need to do to make sure that doesn’t happen, OK?
Well, it is going to be Fun Friday! Even though it is still in the 30s right now, we are supposed to get up to 80!!! I can’t wait.
Chris is off today and the boys will be on Spring Break when they get home this afternoon. I have a friend who is just starting to sell Origami Owl jewelry so I’m going to her party this afternoon. And, it’s basketball tournament time!!!! (Even though my teamis already out – still love the tournament!)
Today is my 180th consecutive day of the daily 43!!! I’m enjoying my daily adventures and have so many ideas but I’m always looking for new things – please share any moves or exercises that you think would make a fun 43. Thanks!!
For the 43 today I did a front-kick and back-kick combo. (I already did a similar move except last time it was the same leg that kicked front & back.) So, today I did a right front kick and a left back kick for the first set of 43 and then switched and did a left front kick and right back kick for another 43.
This was a good 43 after yesterday’s brutal one!!!
Today I tried another Cathe DVD – XTrain – Tabatacise!! I did all 5 of the Tabatas and Bonus Core #1. This workout is on my list of favorites (I know it’s a longish list but….)! Even though the Tabatas are intense, the time flies by (especially the 10 second recovery!!). If you like to jump – this workout is definitely for you!!!
(Tabata training is a form of HIIT – high intensity interval training. It is a 4 minute segment consisting of 20 seconds of super high intensity followed by 10 seconds of recovery.)
Yesterday afternoon I convinced Chris and Jordan to try the 3 ball push-up. Hunter was going to try but once he put his hands on the ball he realized that his wrist (he broke it the end of July) still wasn’t quite strong enough.
OK – I’m balanced – now what?nice
Chris did 10 (without falling off in between any of them!).
pretty good
I think Jordan did 2 but he may have just done 1. Either way – Good job, guys!!!
I really am open to ideas/suggestions for exercises – I love to try new moves or a classic move in a different way. Feel free to send me links to some of your favorites!
YIKES!!! Today’s 43 was rough and brutal and hard!!! I got this move from Jody at Truth2BeingFit. I don’t know how she made it look so easy cause it is anything but!
Start with 3 medicine balls.
Put 1 under each hand and then try (key word – try) and balance both feet on the 3rd ball. Seriously, just holding this position was hard.
I would rather do the 4-ball push-up any day!!! The narrow feet (on the same ball) makes this move so much harder! I lost count of how many times I fell off!
So, what are you doing sitting here reading – go try this move – I know you want to!!!
Today I pulled out another DVD that I haven’t done in awhile – Turbo Jam – Cardio Party 3. This is another series that Chalean Johnson does and I love her workouts. Always high energy and fun music! Sometimes she gets a little dancey for me – I just add in extra jumps when that happens and it works out perfectly!
I decided to challenge myself today with a plank hold and wall-sit (cause sometimes I’m stupid crazy like that!!).
I like to do planks with my arms fully extended (like might not be exactly the right word – but it is how I usually do them).
not from today but only picture I could find
Since I did these after the boys were at school – there are no pictures from today!! I wanted to find one of me in plank and this was as close as I got.
Plank Time – 3:30
Then I decided to see how long I could last in a wall-sit (cause I figured why not at this point!!).
Wall-Sit Time – 3:00
And now – my arms and legs are jelly!!!
Do you do little self-challenges? Share if you do (I might like to join in on the fun!).
Today’s 43 was for the core but I also felt it in my legs (a lot!). I did a move that I saw in Oxygen.
Start in a V-sit with a towel (I used some tubing) held firmly in both hands and legs wide. Keep your upper body still while bringing your legs in and stacking the right over the left. Return to the start position then bring legs in with left over right. I counted 1 rep as a right on top then a left on top (so I moved my legs in and out 86 times to complete the 43).
This was HARD!! I’m happy that I’ve completed this particular 43!
I tried a new DVD today and it was awesome!! I’ve read lots of great things about Cathe Friedrich lately and I decided to try out some of her workouts.
Today I did Cathe – CrossFire. The workout was 55 minutes of pretty high intensity. It was mostly cardio but a lot of the moves are good for toning, too. I loved the variety of the moves! I also appreciate that she did the entire workout right along with us and it was obvious that she was working hard, too – made me feel much better! I did the 9 minute Bonus Core workout after I finished.
Can’t wait to try some more of Cathe’s workouts!!
Varicose veins – I have them and hate the way they make my legs look!
right legleft legleft ankle
I have several of the great big puffy veins plus spider veins everywhere. About 7 years ago I saw a specialist and she told me about all of the options to have them removed but she said that insurance wouldn’t cover it because it was a cosmetic surgery. I decided that I could swallow my vanity and just live with them.
Well, yesterday I had another appointment with the same specialist. She said they have definitely gotten worse and may have started breaking off….Anyway, maybe this time insurance will decide that this is something that needs to be done for health reasons (not just because I don’t like them!!).
Opinions? Do you have varicose veins? Do they bug you? Would you have them removed even if insurance didn’t pay?
Happy Tuesday! (I’m going to go walk on the treadmill – less about the exercise at this point – I need to watch last night’s episode of The Bachelor and I figure moving is better than sitting!!! Don’t judge – I’m sure some of y’all like mindless reality TV, too!!!)
