Tag Archives: running

Well, the Break Is Over but There Is Still Plenty to Enjoy!!!

January 3, 2014 Kim 78 Comments

Today for my 44 I worked my abs! I didn’t think the move would end up being much of a challenge but I was wrong!! I did a scissor move with my legs while keeping my head and shoulders off the floor.

ready to start - I like to lay in the sun like a cat! — ready to start – I like to lay in the sun like a cat!

right leg down - crunch to left — right leg down – crunch to left

I counted dropping my right leg then left as 1 rep and did this in a fairly slow controlled way. The hard part was keeping my shoulders lifted, legs up and straight(ish).

I also ran again – a total of 5 miles at a nice easy pace (on my treadmill because it is cold)!!!

The boys have been out of school for 2 weeks and I decided to give myself a break for most of that time, too. Now we are down to the final weekend and then we get back to our regularly scheduled programs!!!

OK – it was a little more than 15 minutes but it sure went by in a hurry!!! It has been so nice to ditch the alarm clock and just take care of the things that have to be done but let everything else go for a short time.

I’m actually thinking that a couple days like this built into every ~~week~~ month would be a really good thing – days spent hanging out, playing games, eating snacks and left-overs and just enjoying life!

Oh, well – I really like my normal life, too. I like the routine and am always happy to have my workout (and daily post) done by 7:30 instead of just starting to get up and around at that time!!

So, we will enjoy these next few days (I even convinced the boys to come with me today when I go clean the venue for tomorrow night’s event!!!) and be thankful that we were able to relax and regroup as long as we did!!!

And, instead of living for the next break, I plan to live each day to the fullest and enjoy all of the little things (like cleaning!!!) as much as possible!! Plus, I’m sure that a day spent cleaning and ironing will help me get in plenty of steps!!!

Do you ever find yourself just putting in time until the next big thing – break, holiday, vacation, etc?

Happy Fun Friday!!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

2014: New Year with New Opportunities

January 1, 2014 Kim 77 Comments

Today I did a crunch with a punch for my 44. A pretty basic move but clasping my hands and punching between my legs forced me to come up higher on the crunch part.

This was a fairly simple move but I always need to work my core!!

(Yes, we still have up our Christmas trees – we always leave them up through New Year’s!!! I will undecorate this weekend.)

I’m fixing to head down and hop on my treadmill for a nice easy run to kick off the new year. This has been a tradition of mine for years – even last year when I had a stress fracture in my hip I broke the no-running rule and ran on January 1!!!

I don’t do New Year’s resolutions – they don’t work for me.

However, I do have a list of things that I want to try in the new year. This list will probably grow as the year goes on but a few of the things include:

1. Quinoa – I have seen so many tasty looking recipes for this that I am finally going to try it!!!

2. Spaghetti Squash – This is something else that I have never had (don’t be shocked!) and plan to try out this year.

3. FitBit – I had a special offer savings at Best Buy and a couple of gift cards so I ended up getting a FitBit Force this week for $2.44 (can’t beat that!!). I’m going to try tracking my daily activity and sleep patterns. In the past 2 days I have already seen how inactive I am – gonna work on that.

4. Reconnecting – This past fall I have done a horrible job staying in touch with many of my friends and I am going to make more effort this year to stay connected!

5. Experimenting – I love making new recipes but they are often just a variation of something I already make. This year I want to be more adventurous in the kitchen. One year I tried cooking from other countries and I’m going to bring that back!!!

6. Growing our Business – I’ve had 4 months now to get my feet wet as a business owner. Now ~~I think~~ I’m ready to try to expand the business.

7. Living every day to the fullest!!! Above all, I want this year to be enjoyed. I want to spend time with my boys and Chris having fun and appreciating all of the little things that come along every day!

I’m looking forward to 2014 and everything that this new year has to offer. I’m hoping it will be fun of new adventures for all of us!

Happy Wednesday and Happy 2014!!!

Kim

Biceps, Fitness, Running, Shoulders, Treadmill

The Elusive Quest for Sleep

December 30, 2013 Kim 43 Comments

For today’s 44 I used a resistance band and did a wide curl to a shoulder press. I had to keep my feet fairly close together to complete all the reps on the overhead press portion!

Don’t mind the sweat – I had to do the demo after my workout since the boys are still in vacation mode!!!

I did my final run of 2013 this morning.
1.5% incline – 5miles in 34:49 + 1 easy cool down mile

Sleep – Garfield makes it look so easy!!!

And, actually, you would think that something as natural and necessary as sleep would be easy! However, in my world, there is nothing easy about sleep.

I’ve read hundreds of articles that give tips for better sleep and tried pretty much all of the tips.

daily exercise (YEP!!)
keep the room cool – I try!
follow a schedule – almost all the time
don’t eat late
and on and on and on…..

The other day I even dragged Chris (and the boys – they loved it) into the Sleep Number store.

Lately my back aches most of the time so I thought maybe a Sleep Number bed would help and since I get hot at night and Chris doesn’t I looked at the new dual temp pad also.

Then we saw a price list!!! Ummm….I don’t think a Sleep Number bed is the answer!

Chris keeps telling me to take Ambien but I would rather not (not sure why?!).

Lately, besides not being able to sleep, I spend most of the night feeling crummy – maybe because I’m tired and my body needs sleep?! I don’t know what the deal is but I’m over it!!

Well, on a positive note – I do get quite a bit of reading done in the middle of the night!!

Chris is pretty much the opposite of me – he falls asleep within minutes and stays asleep all night long (what a novel idea!)!! All the little noises and things that bug me are completely unknown to him!

Do you have sleep issues? What have you found that helps you?

Happy Monday!!!

Kim

Butt, Cardio, Fitness, Lunges, Quad, Running, Treadmill

Standing Makes Me Happy!

December 27, 2013 Kim 61 Comments

Today I decided to do a fast moving 44! This was a good one for feeling a burn in my quads!!! I did a lunge with a floor touch.

This 44 went quickly!! Of course, after I did 44 on one side, I had to switch and do another set of 44 to stay balanced!!!

And – check out my shirt in the video – recognize the color?

Hunter gave me this shirt so that when we run a half marathon together in the spring (he wants to do one to celebrate turning 13!!!) we can match!!! So excited about it!

Today was another running day. I wanted to go further so I slowed my pace from the past couple of runs! I used 1.5% incline and did 10 miles in 80:15 + 1 easy cool down mile. I started out much slower and increased the speed every half mile for a nice run!!!

Over the past year, I’ve found myself sitting a lot more than I want to. And the reason is my computer and the time I spend blogging and doing other things on it.

I knew that I wanted to make a change but I still wanted to be able to spend time on the computer so…..

I told Chris awhile back that I wanted a standing work station but not a big one because I wanted it to be portable. This one is perfect!!! It is on wheels and very easy to move so I can have it in the kitchen, living room, dining room or wherever I want to be!!!

writing my blog (this was yesterday morning)

I love it since I always write my post for the day after I finish working out and I hate to just plunk myself in a chair – perfect solution!!! Now when I’m ~~being productive~~ reading blogs I won’t feel like such a slug!!!

Have you ever tried a standing work station? Do you prefer to stand or sit?
In the past I tried our kitchen table and the island – both were too low!!! I feel much more productive when I stand, too!!! (might be mental but….)

Happy Friday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

Merry Christmas!!!

December 25, 2013 Kim 36 Comments

Today I did one of my least favorite moves for my 44 – a Russian twist with a medicine ball. I think I don’t like the move because it makes me dizzy!

I counted a rep as hitting the ground on the right side, the left side and back to the right.

Then I did a quick run – 1.5% incline – 5.13 miles (because for some reason I had an odd # in my running log and needed to round it out before the end of the year!) in 32:56 + 0.75 cool down.

Even big boys still leave milk and cookies for Santa!!