barre | Day With KT

Today for my 43 I did a move that was inspired by the only Barre workout I’ve done – Cathe Friedrich’s Barre DVD. I used my “bar” –

I did a 2-part leg lift.

First, I lifted my leg to the back –

I brought my leg down (without swinging it!!!) and without touching the floor I lifted it out to the side. I continued lifting back and side in a slow controlled manner until I finished all 43 reps.

And, because I don’t want my left leg to feel left out, I had to do 43 more with the left leg.

I have been working on adding extra moves to strengthen my hips lately since I’m running more often and more miles right now – hoping to stay injury free at least for the next couple of months!!!!

I also did my 3rd round of Taylor’s challenge for the week – The Race Is On. I’m not gonna lie – this week’s workout was tough!!! Even though it took less than 15 minutes, it was very intense and hard-core! My time on Monday for the entire workout was 15:46 and today I did it in 12:55!!! No breaks, no rest – just high intensity for almost 13 minutes!!

Heather @ Run Like a G! nominated me for the Sunshine Award.

Because I’m super lame, I asked her if it would be OK if I answered the questions without doing the rest of the award requirements (picking 10 other people to answer questions from me). She said it would be fine – thanks, Heather for nominating me and letting me be a 1/2 participant!!!

Questions from Heather:

1. What is your favorite thing about running?
I love how strong and free I feel when I run. Some runs are good and others not so much but I always feel alive after completing a run. And, my calves almost always look like I’m wearing heels!!!

2. What FRIENDS character are you more like?
I’m probably the most like Monica – I am very type A and sometimes fairly obsessive!!!

3. If money wasn’t an option, what country/island/place would you explore for a week?
Australia – my number one place that I want to visit and haven’t yet!!!

4. Bodybuilding – yay or nay?
Not for me just because I don’t have the discipline required (especially as far as the nutrition goes!). But I love seeing how others can transform their bodies through hard-work and discipline.

5. What do you LOVE about your body?
I’m happy with my body 95% of the time – mostly because I love how strong it is. I know that I can push myself harder now than I did 5 years ago and that makes me HAPPY!!!

6. Tell me your favorite season and give two reasons why it is your favorite season.
Summer – always!!! I love the heat and days spent at the pool or beach with my family. I also love the slower pace that we enjoy during the summer when we aren’t tied down with a school schedule.

7. Do you believe in love at first sight?
Yes! My husband and I met on a Tuesday night (at a bar). I didn’t see him again until the following Saturday when he picked me up and we drove 7 hours (each way) to go to a concert. He told me several months later that he knew on the way to Austin (for the concert) that I was the person he was going to marry.

8. If you could have an exotic animal as a pet, which would you choose?
I’m not a huge pet person but I would probably go with some type of snake – maybe a dwarf boa.

9. Have you read Harry Potter?
No. My oldest son (14 now) read all the books the summer after he finished 2nd grade!!! I have only seen the first 4 movies – I enjoyed them but sort of lost interest.

10. What is your favorite cereal?
Ohs – no milk!!!

I would nominate all the blogs I read for a Sunshine Award so I’m not doing that part. Feel free to pick any (or all) of the questions and share your answer(s).

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim

Today I used a medicine ball for my 43. I put my hands on the ball and got into plank position.

Then I stepped my right foot out to the side, back to center and my left foot out to the side and back to center for 1 rep.

It took me 2:20 minutes of holding plank (with my hands on a ball!) to complete this 43!

I tried another new (to me) workout today. Cathe – Turbo Barre. On the cover of this DVD it says Low Impact Series. Don’t let that fool you into thinking this was easy! WOW!!! The ~~pain~~ burning in my hips, thighs and butt at points in this workout was no joke!! I’m pretty sure that I will feel everything about this workout tomorrow! At one point, I think we spent at least 5-7 minutes up on our toes while squatting with our feet in various positions.

I don’t have a barre but this barstool worked perfectly!!

I’m pretty sure that this will become one of my go-to choices for days when I don’t want any running or jumping but still want an incredible workout!!

I started running in high school. I also competed in college and when I was in grad school I spent a lot of time doing various road races from 5K – half marathon. Since then, I have only run a handful of races – a few 5Ks and a 10-miler.

I have trained for several different marathons during my running career but never even started one – first one I was in college and really sick and the next 2 (maybe 3, I’ve blocked some!) I ended up with stress fractures and had to stop running entirely.

Sometimes now I wonder – Am I a real runner? I haven’t even run a marathon. I have run more than 26.2 miles in a single run but does that count? I’m not sure at this point if I will ever run a true marathon – I would like to but for me right now, just being able to run is enough!!!

On a completely different note – Since it’s spring break (and yesterday was probably the nicest weather we will have all week), we decided to play tennis when Chris got home from work. After about 30 minutes, Jordan and I decided to walk/jog home – (about 2.5 miles or so around the lake).