Tag Archives: boot camp

Not Every Race Can Be Your Best!!!

October 3, 2013 Kim 58 Comments

Thanks to Nellie (Brooklyn Active Mama) for another great Thursday 44. Today I did arabesque raises (single leg airplanes!).

I started with my left leg as the balancing leg –

From the start position, I hinged forward and lifted my arms to the sides.

I tried to make the moves very slow and not just fall out of the position. (some times weren’t as successful as others!) After completing 44 with my left leg as the supporting leg, I switched sides.

I decided not to use weights for the second set. Even though I just used 5 pound DBs, I knew that if I tried to do 44 more with them, my form would really suffer.

This was a fun move – balance, core, control, hamstrings, butt, lats – all kinds of work being done!!!

Today we did the 100s Bootcamp. The goal is to do 100 reps of 10 different moves – we did 90 today which is an improvement from the 80 we did last time we did this workout!!! I told the ladies – next time we will get 100!!! (time constraint is part of the problem)

OK – so maybe I’m not talking about horses – but, anyone who runs knows – NOT ALL RUNS ARE GREAT!!! And – NOT EVERY RACE WILL BE YOUR BEST RACE!!!

Hunter learned that lesson the hard way on Tuesday. His final cross country meet of the season and he went in with high expectations of himself. Their coach had them doing sprints for 15 minutes before the race (and it was 90 degrees) – not sure why they did so many but….

The gun went off and Hunter took off – he shot straight to the front. He has never tried that strategy and I was worried (with good reason). There was a point a little before the half-way that we could see the runners again and he was still running strong near the front.

I told him to settle in for a couple minutes and then push hard at the end.

I ran down to a spot about 200m from the finish chute so that I could tell him to go for his final kick. When I saw him I could tell that he was done. Usually when I tell him to pick it up and kick in he really increases his speed. Not this time – he had nothing left.

He was so disappointed at the end!!!

I told him that he tried a new strategy and he just needed to work on it – it’s a fine line between going out too fast and hard and being able to finish strong.

He still ran a consistent time for what he has been running this season but not the race he hoped for and he was completely bummed for the night.

It was a good learning experience – I told him that every single runner has races like that and you have to deal with the disappointment and move on.

One of my worst races ever was the Regional track meet my junior year in high school. I was running the 2 mile which I had won in every race all season. I started off in the lead but went out way too hard – in the end I was 3rd (only the top 2 advanced to the State meet). I was crushed because I knew that if I had run a smart race I could have won and qualified for State.

Thankfully, Hunter is 12 and bounces back quickly!!! Now he is looking forward to wrestling, basketball and track – fun stuff ahead!!!

What was your most disappointing experience (racing or otherwise)?

Happy Thursday!!!

Kim

Butt, Cardio, Fitness, Lunges, Plyo

Thankful Tuesday

October 1, 2013 Kim 70 Comments

The 44 today is my least favorite move ever – jumping lunges!!! And, because sometimes I feel the need to challenge myself, I held 12 pound dumbbells while I jumped – FUN TIMES!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g-fst927SM’]

I counted a right lunge and a left lunge as 1 rep so I really had to jump 88 times to complete my 44.

Garage boot camp today was the 5-4-3-2-1 Workout. I had to make a few modifications to this one since we were in the garage and driveway but it worked out fine and was a great workout!!! Teaching boot camp has been nice because it is the only time I workout with a group anymore – I am really enjoying it!!!

I feel like I have had more than a few negative days lately and it comes out on my blog. I try to stay positive here but I also try to be completely real and real life sometimes is exhausting and trying and just plain hard!!!

Today I thought I would just share some of the things that I’m thankful for – sometimes I forget to stop and think about how very much I have to be grateful for. I’m always glad that the amazing Jody @ Truth2BeingFit reminds us to start each Monday with gratitude!!!

Today I’m thankful that my family is all healthy!!!

I’m thankful for the great cross country season that Hunter has had!!! Today we will go to Manhattan for his final meet of the year! I’m very happy and thankful that he has learned to really enjoy running!!!I’m thankful that Jordan had a good experience last night at his first debate practice rounds. Even though he was nervous he did a good job and like he said he will just continue to get better.

I’m thankful that even though the US Government is making some ridiculous decisions these days, Chris still has a job!!

I’m thankful that the fall weather has been so incredible lately!!! We are supposed to get to almost 90 for the next few days – love the sunshine and warmth!!!

I’m thankful that we have WIFI at our new venue now so I can get some work done while I’m waiting on the electrician and other stuff today!!! (small stuff is pretty important!)

I’m thankful for all of the great friends I’ve made through blogging!!!!

I could go on and on now that I’ve started my thankful list but it is time to get on with the day!!!

Just making this short list has totally boosted my mood – bring on Tuesday!!!

What are you thankful for today?

Happy Tuesday!!

Kim

Butt, Fitness, Thighs

Unique Exercises

September 26, 2013 Kim 33 Comments

I should start every Thursday with a link to Nellie @ Brooklyn Active Mama!!! It seems like most of Thursday’s 44s come from Nellie’s Weekly Wednesday Workout and today is no exception!

For my 44 today I did single leg circles. These may sound easy but they are definitely a challenge! Make sure that your toe is pointed to maximize the burn all through your thighs!

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

I don’t know what is up with the color lately – maybe it’s photographer error!!! (just kidding, Chris!) Anyway, this move is one you will definitely feel in your hips!!!

Today was another round of Garage Boot Camp. During the summer I created new workouts every time but this fall we have been repeating the ones from the summer. I asked the ladies the other day if they minded that we were repeating some they had done before and no one seemed to!! I still want to come up with some new workouts soon!!! S

We did the Move It, Move It workout (all about the legs!) and my legs are definitely feeling it!! I felt a little bad because all of the ladies said that they were sore and that getting around yesterday was painful – it might have been the 190 squats + everything else on Tuesday – not sure!!

So, I’m on a hunt for some more creative exercises and moves for my daily 44s! I searched a bit on youtube and some of the stuff out there is amazing!!!

Not sure about all of the exercises in this video – I might end up hurting myself!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qQsMm1iTEk’]

Pretty sure that I got hurt just watching this next video!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-WjzDW3-Eg’]

Some of these moves are totally insane (like the 360 push-ups!!).

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

Some of these moves are just crazy – I can’t even imagine!! Out of the 50, I think I have done 10 or 11.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8vA488-C6I’]

Well, I was searching for some fun new moves for my 44 but I’m thinking that if I actually attempt even 4 reps of most of these moves I will end up in the hospital!

So – what are some of the most unique exercises/moves you’ve ever seen or attempted. Feel free to share links in the comments!! Who knows?! Your suggestion could be the next daily 44!!!

Happy Thursday!!

Kim

Biceps, Core, Fitness, Shoulders

Things you Have to See to Believe

September 24, 2013 Kim 70 Comments

Today for my 44 I did a move that was for my biceps and shoulders but because I balanced on 1 leg, I also got in a great core challenge. I did a single arm bicep curl to a shoulder press with the opposite leg up.

I used a 10 pound dumbbell and it was challenging to complete all 44 reps. And, I can’t be uneven so I switched sides and did 44 more.

This was a good move to really get my blood flowing early.

And, today was one of my favorite workouts for Garage Boot Camp – Pyramid. I love this one because it is non-stop for the entire time. There are a total of 10 exercises and each round you add one (10 reps of everything each time) – round 1 is easy (10 squats), round 2 (10 squats, 10 jumping jacks), etc. until you have 10 reps of 10 exercises. After you get all 10, you start back down the pyramid dropping one off each time – fun stuff!!!

Do you ever glance at something or someone and then do a double take because you can’t believe what you just saw?

Well, Sunday morning, Chris and I were at Wal-Mart (ugh!!) and after Chris got in line I ran over to check on something. I happened to glance over and a lady was wearing a tiny little bikini with a tiny little skirt (she wasn’t so tiny)!!!

Not the lady I saw because I didn't get my phone out in time not to get busted! — Not the lady I saw because I didn’t get my phone out in time not to get busted!

I looked back thinking I hadn’t seen correctly but she was definitely wearing a little bikini!! I moved on a bit and next thing I know this man says, “What you don’t think it’s the right weather for a bikini?” Oops – Busted!!! I thought I had been a little less obvious in my double-take!

I do have another “fun” picture for you. Our event venue also has 3 apartments upstairs. They are separate from the event part and I don’t go up the stairs to them very often. However, one of the girls moved to Colorado and we have been showing the apartment some. I couldn’t believe how very disgusting the stairs were (they have cats & dogs). Yesterday I couldn’t take it anymore and swept for them –

You’re Welcome for that visual!!!

What have you seen recently that you couldn’t believe?

Happy Tuesday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

No Excuses Allowed!

September 19, 2013 Kim 62 Comments

I love Nellie’s (Brooklyn Active Mama) Weekly Wednesday workouts!!! She features some really great moves and a lot of them are new to me so I can turn them into my 44. Yesterday Nellie had a stability ball V-up so I decided to go with that for today!!

I love moves that start like this - I can close my eyes for a few more minutes!! — I love moves that start like this – I can close my eyes for a few more minutes!!

Keeping my feet on the stability ball took this move to a whole new level!!! I had to work very hard to contract my core and not let the ball go rolling off!! Great move!!

Today was also another day of Garage Boot Camp – we did a version of the workout that I did for my first boot camp this summer. This workout had 10 moves and in the summer we did 3 rounds with 1 minute of each move. Today, we did 10 reps of each move and repeated the circuit 5x – 50 burpees by the end!!!

I have a ~~little~~ huge confession today – I have been playing around with all kinds of excuses to not run my 50 mile race which is 3 weeks from Saturday!!!

I think that my confidence was really shaken the other night when I did my 44 miles! I thought that I could run further before I had to walk and then I thought I would be able to do a run/walk combo. NO & NO!!! I was completely miserable after 28 miles and the thought of even attempting to do more than walk was making me feel sick!!!

So, for the past couple of days I’ve tried to use being too busy as a reason to not run the 50. We do have a wedding change-over that night which means that someone will have to switch the set-up from ceremony seating to reception and since my race is 100 miles from here, it probably can’t be Chris.

I was going to let that be my excuse – it seemed like the perfect solution – but this morning I finally asked my neighbor if her son would like to help my boys do it.

I decided that I need to remember that this was a commitment I made and suck it up and make it happen.