Tag Archives: plyo

Plyo and Hunter the Runner (4/20 – 4/26)

April 26, 2014 Kim 47 Comments

This week, the 44s were all about plyometrics!!! I decided to really push my legs hard for the week since today is exactly 2 weeks until my race (50 miles!).

Sunday 4/20 – 44 hopscotch jumps onto step. Start by straddling step – hop up with the right leg – hop back down to straddle – hop up with the left leg – hop back down to straddle for 1 rep.

Hunter had an 80 minute run scheduled so it was a run day. His legs were hurting a lot so we ended up running 4 miles and walking 2.4 to finish up our 80 minutes.

Monday 4/21 –44 plie jumps with heels touching at top of jump.

And, since it was marathon Monday, I ran!! 12 miles in 92:30 + 2.1 easy miles.

Tuesday 4/22 – 44 single leg dead-lift to a knee up with a hop while keeping arms in a goal post position.

I liked this move because even though it was plyo, it also included balance and control! And, of course, I had to do 44 on each side.

I did TaeBo Insane Abs – a fun cardio based core workout!!! Because I wanted to really tire my legs out, I also did Turbo Fire Fire 30.

Wednesday 4/23 – 44 lateral jumps over a foam roller – a right jump and left jump = 1 rep.

I started with my longest foam roller but after about busting my ankle decided to use a shorter one!!!

And, I started a run streak!!! 8 miles in 62:43 + 1.75 easy miles.

Thursday 4/24 – 44 low squat jump outs – right + left = 1 rep.

This was a fun move!!!

Another day of running – 9 miles in 64:31 + 1.5 easy miles.

Friday 4/25 – 44 donkey kicks with hands on the wobble balls.

In the video, I did slow kicks but during my 44 I mixed it up and did some slow and some fast.

Running – 7 miles in 53:48 + 2.25 easy miles.

Saturday 4/26 – 44 double butt kicks.

Not gonna lie – I’m happy that the week of plyo is done!!!

Today’s run was fun!!! We moved Hunter’s long run back a day because I’m fixing to head to Texas for a few days (my sister just had a baby!!) and I didn’t want to miss it.

Hunter crushed this run – 85 minutes and he did 9 miles. We actually did a run 5 minute/walk 1 minute plan and he still averaged 9:22 miles!!! This was his furthest run by over 2.5 miles – I’m so proud of him and happy that I get to experience these first running moments with him!!!

Total miles for the week:
49 miles
10.05 easy miles

Do you like plyometric moves?

Happy Saturday!!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Plyo, Running, Treadmill

“It’s Against the Law”

October 2, 2013 Kim 70 Comments

Today for my 44 I tried a new to me move – a football stomp with an axe jump (plyo jack). The football stomp is basically fast feet for about 5 seconds and then you do a plyo jack.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGgOsnw0Zdo’]

(Still can’t figure out why all the early morning videos are so yellow – better do some playing around with my camera!) This was a fun 44 and it went really quickly!

I haven’t been running a lot lately (mental block & babying my Achilles) but thought I should get in a few more runs in the next week and a half so that’s what I did this morning.

The run was great – I did 6 miles at a quick pace and then an easy 1.75 miles for 61:00 total minutes of running. (1.5% incline) Hopefully another couple of runs will happen in the next week and then it will be time to see what I’m made of!!!

I rarely have any type of controversial post and political stuff isn’t a big topic for me. However, I couldn’t totally let this whole government thing go.

As you all know, Chris is a pilot for the United States Air Force – he is in the Kansas Air National Guard. For 27 years he has served our country.

Now, thanks to a very unsettled government, there are many military and other government people who are being furloughed and are looking at a few days, weeks, whatever the time period ends up being, of not getting paid.

The way I see it, if the government is shutting down, Congress should definitely not be getting paid – all of them not just the few who have offered to waive their pay.

And, with a shut- down there should at least be some extra days off.

Here was the conversation between Chris and I last night:

Kim: I think the US military should stage a walk-out if they aren’t going to get paid.
Chris: That’s against the law.
Kim: The law made by the same government that is now not paying you?! Oh – well that seem’s ~~fair~~ completely RIDICULOUS!!!

Obviously I tend to exaggerate things a little since (supposedly) the military will still get paid.

So – yesterday I said I was thankful that Chris still had a job – and I am. However, I’m not thankful for the way things are being handled in our country right now. Just my very un-educated point of view on the matter!!!

And, for the record, I think that all government employees should stage a walk-out!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness

Inspiring and Being Inspired

June 13, 2013 Kim 36 Comments

Today I took another move from Evil Cyber and adapted it a bit to make it my 43. He did reverse barbell curls but I decided to do the same reverse curls with dumbbells. This works your forearms more than your biceps so it is a great way to work a different muscle!! (one I rarely even think about)

It is the same set-up as a bicep curl except your palms face down so that on the up part of the curl they are facing away from your body –

43 of these weren’t too hard – the last 10 I struggled a little. (I used 10 pound dumbbells.)

And another day of working out = another day of Insanity Asylum!!! Today it was Vertical Plyo – jumps, jumps and more jumps!!! I can tell that I’ve made some improvements because at the end of the 40 minutes of ~~torture~~ plyo the last move is a lateral jump. You stand next to the super versatile agility ladder –

and do a side jump over it!!! The first time I did this workout I failed at every attempt! (I fold 1 rung of the ladder over so it is only 3 rungs to jump for this move.) Today I cleared the ladder (3 rungs) 13 times (you do the move for 1 minute)!!!!

Today was also beach bootcamp – we did a fun “surprise move” type workout – it was nice because it was very much self-paced. And, good news – lots more JUMPING!!!

The other day at 5:30 am I was having a hard time deciding what to do for my 43. Odd, because I have lists (spreadsheets actually because I’m a nerd and love to make spreadsheets!!!) that I’ve made with all my ideas and I keep adding to them so I have lots of choices. The problem is if I don’t have a plan when I get up ~~at the butt crack of dawn~~ so early, I am at a complete lack of inspiration.

I can exercise and perform moves early but trying to be creative and think of something early in the morning is never going to happen in my world.

So this lack of inspiration in the mornings has caused me to start thinking about where I get my inspiration – for working out or even just life in general. And, I realized that I have lots of people that inspire me and lots of places that I get ideas from.

My boys inspire me a lot – they have come up with some very unique moves for me to try for some of my 43s this year (not all are actually doable but still….). I love the fact that they like to help and be part of this goal I have. They also inspire me to make play and enjoying life part of my day.
Chris inspires me – not necessarily about my workouts but always about how to be a better, kinder, more patient, more caring person. I try to emulate him when I talk to people (listen more, talk less) – I still have a long way to go on this one but I’m trying.
Bloggers have inspired me in 100s of ways during the 9 months since I’ve started my blogging journey. I’ve gotten many workout ideas from so many different people. Training tips (running and otherwise), ideas for equipment/workout gear/running stuff and more recipes than I will ever be able to try!!! Plus, the sense of community that I’ve found inspires me to keep blogging!!

There are other things/people that inspire me – way to many to list.

Thinking of all the ways that I’m inspired made me question how, or even if, I inspire anyone. That one is a lot harder. I like to think that I inspire my boys to try their best no matter what they are doing – school work, musical instruments, running, working out, playing games…

But – am I living my life in a way that actually inspires others? I hope so!!

Who/what inspires you?

Happy Thursday!!!

(I’m going to my 3rd Zumba class tonight – watch it, soon I’ll be making a Zumba video!! Just kidding about the video – that would be torture for all involved!)

Kim

Core, Fitness

Summer Is Finally Here!!!

June 10, 2013 Kim 49 Comments

Today’s 43 was a fun crunch move with some punches!!! I just did a crunch with 4 cross punches on the way up and then a slow ride on the way back down.

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

And, I’m happy that Jordan did a demo for me again!!!

This was a great way to take a basic crunch and give it a little more Uumph!!! Trust me, after about 20 you will feel these!!!

Then I taught boot camp at 6:00am – the only negative to the backyard bootcamp is the grass is always wet in the mornings and my shoes and socks get soaked (not my favorite!!) – but it is Boot Camp!!!

Today’s fun Insanity Asylum workout was Vertical Plyo (the one with jumping, jumping and more jumping!!!). During track practice when I was in college, we did plyometrics occasionally. And, then I never did them again until a few years ago when I did Insanity for the first time (I’ve gone through the 60 day program 2x). Now, I do them in some workouts – HIIT, Tabata based workouts and even my own boot camp workouts. But, Vertical Plyo takes it to a whole new level!!!

Yesterday afternoon the boys and I had our first swim beach outing of the season!!! Considering that it is already June 8, this is late to get started on our summer fun! The problem has been the weather – lots of rain and temps in the low 70s don’t make for great beach weather. But now it is starting to look a lot like my idea of perfect summer weather.

Awesome!!!!

Last night’s dinner even matched the great weather – ribs, parmesan orzo and a fresh salad with tomato, corn, cucumber and basil – summer at it’s finest!!!

What is your ideal summer weather?

For me – 80 and higher (the hotter the better!!)

Happy Monday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Plank, Shoulders, Triceps

Real Life vs. Online Life

May 31, 2013 Kim 24 Comments

Today’s 43 was a challenge – my favorite kind of 43!!! I got this move from Insanity Asylum (I’m a little obsessed with my new program!). The move is a hip raise – roll – plank.

I’m going to try and describe it but I’m afraid it might be a little confusing (good thing there is a demo!!). Start on the ground with your right leg extended and your right hand on the ground. Your left knee should be bent, foot on the ground. Push your hips up (using your right arm) and rotate to the right until you are in plank. While in plank, curl your right leg up. Rotate to the left until you are back to the starting position. Repeat (x43).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhElDtXY6ZM’]

You can see that I did a little mini push-up while in the plank – just an extra bonus!!! And, Jordan helped me with the demo when he finally got up which was after I had already completed my 43 and sweaty workout so I was TIRED by the time we filmed this!!

Also, this was one of those super 43s where I did 2 sets because after I did all of them on my right side I had to switch and do 43 on my left. My triceps and shoulders were shaking and burning by the time I finished!!!

Today’s Insanity Asylum workout was by far the hardest one yet – Vertical Plyo! Like the name implies, there was a LOT of jumping!!! The 10 minute warm-up was brutal and then the workout – YIKES!!! Did I mention that there was a LOT of jumping?! This is the kind of workout that pretty much sucks while you’re doing it but after you are done you feel awesome!!!!

So lately I’ve read lots of the great recap posts about the Blend Retreat from a couple weeks ago. I know there are a lot of other neat events where bloggers meet each other, too.

Reading about some of these has caused me to start thinking about the differences between meeting people online (through blogs and other social media) and in person. Over the past few months, I have gotten to “know” some really amazing people through their blogs.

So far, I haven’t met any of my blogger friends in real life. Last night I was talking to Chris and I told him that I hope to eventually met some of them in person. What I really hope, though, is that when I meet my online friends for the first time – I’m the person they expected to meet!

Meaning that I hope no one thinks it is like the little Facebook cartoon above!!! I try to keep my blog real and be exactly the same in it that I am in real life!! Just like all of my wonderful pictures and videos – I don’t primp for them – cause I don’t fix myself up to workout!!!

I try to make most of my posts positive but some days (ummm…yesterday!) it just doesn’t happen cause life isn’t all roses for any of us!!! Over-all though, I love my life and am usually happy both on my blog, when I comment on other blogs and in real life!!!

So, I hope that at some point I get to meet a lot of y’all!! I even know some of the things I want to do with some of my blog friends: (see if you know who some of these might be)