Happiness Is…

July 14, 2013 Kim 24 Comments

Today’s 43 was a bicep curl while in a V-sit. (I know that I’ve had a few 43s in a row that work my abs/core but that is because I’m resting my legs!!!)

I tried to hold my entire body still except my arms from the elbow down. Because of the core work involved here – I only used 8 pound dumbbells – I was afraid if I went heavier that I would start swinging my arms and end up hurting something like my back!!

I liked this move since I got some upper body work, core work and even my hip flexors got a little work while I held my legs up.

And, as hard as it is for me to take days off from working out, I’m giving myself another day off today. I know that after running 31 miles on Friday my body needs it!! Of course, I have Jordan who keeps saying – it would have been more impressive if you had done Insanity on the day you ran 5 hours! Today he is giving me grief for not doing Insanity or “at least do some Tae-Bo!” Silly boy!!!

When I was in 2nd grade, we had a big music production at my school and I actually had a solo (crazy since I can’t really sing!). I was Snoopy and sang the song Happiness Is. There is one section of the song that I have always remembered:

Happiness is morning and evening,
Daytime and nighttime, too.
For happiness is anyone and anything at all
That’s loved by you!

So much truth to those last 2 lines – happiness can be anything!!!

Family

Locations

Hawaii - this was several years ago — Hawaii – this was several years ago

Having friends over – for dinner, drinks or just to sit and visit!! No pictures – I try not to put pictures of people on here unless I have asked if they mind (which I always forget to do!!).

Shoes – I know it’s materialistic but I LOVE shoes!! All types of shoes!! And shoes in a well organized closet = pure happiness!!!

One day Chris said my closet looked like a shoe store – NICE!!!

Books and Reading – I’ve mentioned my cookbook obsession before, but I also love to read. Having a Nook makes me HAPPY!! So many books all in one little spot!!!

Wine – I love a glass of wine or other cocktail!!!

Music – music and happiness are a perfect pair!!

Reality TV – pure entertainment!!!

Running and working out!!!

There are so many things that make me happy – some big and some little – but like the song says – happiness is anyone and anything at all that’s loved by you!!!

What makes you happy?

Happy Sunday!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

A Successful 5 Hour Run – Getting Ready for 50 Miles!!!

July 13, 2013 Kim 27 Comments

Today’s 43 was fairly simple – BECAUSE THERE ISN’T A SINGLE PART OF MY BODY THAT ISN’T SORE!!!

I did V-situps on a bench!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kincmq0mXBw’]

This was about all I could manage today but I’m happy that I still got in a daily 43!!

And -REST DAY!!!

Yesterday was my 300th day of consecutive 43s and blogging so I did a 300 minute (5 hour) run to celebrate!!!

These long runs have a dual purpose – they are a nice way to mark some of the big days in my journey this year but they are also training runs for my 50-mile race in October!!!

right after I finished - sweaty mess!! — right after I finished – sweaty mess!!

Day 250, I didn’t have a successful run – partly because I was a bit over ambitious with my goal! For yesterday’s 300 minute run, I went into it with no other goal than to complete the time. I didn’t set any type of mile goal and I told myself in advance that walking was perfectly acceptable!!!

I started off with the treadmill set at 6.5mph (9:13 pace) and left it there for the first 3 hours. The last 2 hours I still kept that pace for my running portions but I started alternating run/walks. I figure that I need to get my legs used to going back and forth between running and walking because I know that 50 miles on trails, roads, fields will require some walking!!

Overall, I was happy with my 300 minutes yesterday – 31 miles total – and…..I achieved my goal!!!

I looked like this pretty much immediately after!

Funny that my sports bra looks like a completely different color – sweat!!! Jordan said – “you better get up you’re going to be sore.” I don’t think he realized I was way past that point – the soreness was already there!!Can you see my blister? I had this by the end of the 2nd hour!!!

What is the longest time/distance you have done on a treadmill, or just in general?

My longest consecutive treadmill run was 42 miles (when I turned 42) in about 7.5 hours. Hopefully after September 16, that will become 44 miles!!! My longest run over 2 days – 60 miles.

Happy Saturday!!

Kim

Back, Fitness, Running, Shoulders, Treadmill

300

July 12, 2013 Kim 39 Comments

Today’s 43 was a fairly simple one (even though it worked one of my weakest areas!). I just did a standing lateral raise.

In order to make sure that I didn’t swing the weights – I did a slow 2-count up and 2-count down. I only used 5 pound dumbbells because 43 of these turn into a lot!!!

Today was double boot camp day – 6 am and 7:15!!! We did the same workout from yesterday – ABC Boot Camp!!! It really is a pretty fun way to get in a full body workout!!!

Today is a big day for me – day 300!!! That means that I’ve done 300 consecutive days of 43s and blogging!!!

I have a big celebration planned involving this – and this – I thought about doing this run outside but the humidity this week has been out of control and I’m pretty sure that I would end up feeling totally sick within an hour (and this run is a 5 hour one) so I will just catch up on some of my favorite TV shows!!

Happy Fun Friday – definitely gonna be a fun one for me!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

Are you Scared of the Dentist?

July 11, 2013 Kim 45 Comments

Today’s 43 came from Nellie over at Brooklyn Active Mama. She always does a Wednesday move and comes up with some really fun exercises. Anytime she features one that I haven’t tried yet, I lfeel the need to turn it into a daily 43. Yesterday, Nellie featured a Pilates Plank that I decided would be fun!

Start in plank position. Lift one leg and rock back a little while pointing and flexing your foot. Return to start, lift other leg and repeat = 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xno1A_-tWTE’]

This was a fun new way to get in a nice long plank and add a little additional core work. Plus – there was a bit of a mental challenge because I had to focus on lifting, rocking, pointing and flexing!!!

I pulled out my original Combat DVD – part of Les Mills Pump and did it this morning. This was the workout that got me hooked on Combat to begin with and I still enjoy it!!! 45 minutes of punching and kicking – always a great way to start the day!!!

Today’s boot camp was fun!!! We did an ABC workout – an exercise for each letter of the alphabet!! Hunter helped me come up with some creative ideas for X & Y!!! I will post the workout on the Boot Camp page later this week or over the weekend! (I know that y’all are all dying to see it and give it a try!!!)

Dentists – so many people dread going to see the dentist!!! For normal check-ups I don’t mind and neither do my boys. However, some of the other dental work can be a little scary!!!Hunter has a permanent tooth (I think it is one of his incisors) that is sideways in his gums. It’s sort-of cool to see on the X-rays but I don’t have any of those pictures.When he had his braces put on (January of this year), one of the goals was to create space for the impacted tooth and then to go in surgically and bring it down.

You can sort-of see the hole in his mouth where they have made space (he was not in the picture taking mood this morning!!!).

Well – today is the day!!! Poor Hunter is nervous – good thing he only has another hour before it is time to get it done!! They are just going to numb his mouth so that he doesn’t have to be put to sleep and then go in and cut the gum, attach a tiny chain to the tooth and bring it down. (Making me cringe just to type this!!!) No wonder he is cranky – he’s freaking out about having a knife in his mouth!!

I told him to keep his eyes closed the entire time so that he never sees any of the tools. (I’ve had 4 gum grafts and I always do that!!!) He is also planning to take his phone and listen to music so that should help distract him.

The only thing that is making him feel a tiny bit better right now is the fact that when it is over he gets to spend the next few days doing his favorite activity –

He has to take it easy for a few days so that means he will get to spend more time than I usually allow playing his favorite game and watching movies/TV!!! I think that he is looking forward to that but he is still pretty nervous and anxious. Poor guy!!

Do you dread dentist visits? Have you ever had any oral surgery that you were awake while they did it?

Happy Thursday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

Vein Stripping: A Final Report

July 10, 2013 Kim 1 Comment

Today I worked my core with my 43. I did X-crunches!!!

Start on the floor in an X –

Crunch – bringing opposite hand and foot together –

I counted a right and left crunch as 1 so it was really 86 total crunches to complete this 43.

Today was 6 am boot camp – it was full of lunging, kicking, punching, twisting!! Everyone should feel it through-out their entire core by tomorrow!!!

And it was muggy – I literally looked (and felt) like I had just gotten out of the lake by the time we finished!! Oh – wrong kind of muggy!!!

I decided to let boot camp be my only workout today!! I’m gearing up for a huge day on Saturday – I will just say that Friday is my 300th consecutive day of 43s so that means it’s time for another LONG run!!!

It has been 11 weeks since I had vein surgery. Monday I had another follow-up appointment with the DR who did the procedure. I had a few questions for her – like “Why do I get a purple mark right above my knee cap every time I run or do any exercising?” (standard response – it’s normal)

Basically, the whole appointment lasted less than 3 minutes and she said that everything is fine. I still have this bruise on my right inner thigh (and it is still lumpy) –

My right calf still has a bruise and every time I run or do any plyo (so pretty much every day!!) – I have a burning sensation in it.

And my left ankle is still bruised, hard to the touch and stays swollen about 90% of the time.

left ankle - hard to see the bruise — left ankle

She said that some people take up to 6 months for everything to heal and that I’m one of those lucky people!!

I told her that the bruises don’t really bother me but my legs hurt 10x more now than they ever did before the surgery. Her response to that – an odd look and then she said well they look a lot better than the last time I saw you. Yes, but they hurt and I’m an athlete and don’t need another reason for my legs to hurt!!!

So, I’m still not really happy that I had the procedure done. And – I still have another step to finish treating the veins – Sclerotherapy.(not my leg or doctor)

Ummm….not sure that I’m in on having multiple injections all over my legs while I’m awake!!! She said we would wait until October for this – I told her no way would October work because I’M RUNNING A 50 MILE RACE!!! (another odd look from her – what’s up with all the looks?!)

So, in November I will have a needle stuck into my legs numerous times to finish treating the veins (unless I back out and decide to just live with them!!!).

Clearly my legs are better than the last follow-up I did on the surgery. But, even though I can do all of my normal activities, they still aren’t completely healed and they truly do hurt much more now than before I started all of this. So, my thoughts/opinions still haven’t really improved – if I had to go back in time to April, I would not go through with the surgery.

Lesson Learned (the hard way!!)!!

What lessons have you learned the hard way?

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

Day With KT

Happiness Is…

A Successful 5 Hour Run – Getting Ready for 50 Miles!!!

300

Are you Scared of the Dentist?

Vein Stripping: A Final Report

Fitness – Food – Fun