Today’s 44 was fun because not only was it a good move to tighten the butt/hamstring area but it was a great calf stretch – always a necessary thing!!!
I did a donkey kick from downward dog. Start in downward dog position:
readybring right knee inkick back
Pull the knee in as close to your chest as possible (good for the abs) and then kick your foot back – repeat x 44. Then switch sides and start again!
left sidekick
This move went quickly – definitely one that I will do again!!!
Today I ran – always a happy thing. I did 5 miles just under 7 minutes/mile (34:44) and then 2.25 more miles at a nice easy pace with a steeper incline.
I need an easy button!!! Or maybe I need to be like Sam in Bewitched
and just be able to wiggle my nose and take care of everything!!! (Although, if I remember correctly, it didn’t always work out that well for her!)
Lately, it seems that everything takes 10x longer than I expect it to and every time I turn around there is a new problem/issue to deal with.
I know it’s just a phase and things will level out (I HOPE!) soon.
In the meantime, I will just suck it up and
HaHa – just kidding!!! (sort-of!)
This eeCard makes me laugh so I’m going with it!
If you have an easy button that you don’t need anymore, feel free to send it my way – I will return it as soon as possible!!!
Today I used my favorite piece of equipment (again!) –
BOSU
For the 44 I did a plank with my toes on the BOSU.
ready to go
I alternated stepping one foot off –
right foot off
then back on and the other foot off.
left foot off
I counted a right and left step-off as 1 rep. About half-way through the 44 I started thinking that I should have timed it so I could see how long I stayed in plank – oh, well – I know it was long enough that my arms were shaking!!!
I decided to run again today. I’m enjoying just running to run again!!! I did 6 miles in 44:19 at 1.5% incline and then 2.25 more miles at a super easy pace.
Lately, for some reason, I feel a little off-kilter. I think it is a combination of the things that I need to get done and all of the extra activities the boys have this year.
We have always had family dinner – typically around 6:00pm – this is a great way to reconnect after being out and about all day. Lately, it is rare for everyone to be able to eat at the same time – I feel like we eat in pairs. This past week we only had dinner together 2 times!!! (Hooray for my crock pot so that dinner is ready at multiple times!!!)
my “office”
Lately, our dining room table is just a mess. It is my home “office” and the piles are driving me insane. The problem is, my list keeps growing but my motivation is not keeping up with the To-Dos!!!
Last night I was home alone for the entire evening and I didn’t do a single productive thing – I watched mindless TV (have you seen that 4 Secret Princes Show?), spent hours playing on my laptop (not work stuff!!!), added more blogs to my feed (not sure why since I can barely keep up with the ones I already had!!).
So, I guess I will make another list for the day and hope that today is the day I actually make some progress and get back on track!!!
And, I always add stuff after I do it just for the happiness that comes from seeing stuff marked off!!!
Because I was so excited to do weighted burpees on Thursday, I didn’t do Nellie’s (Brooklyn Active Mama) Wednesday workout yet – so today I did 44toe touches.
This is a move that you will feel after just a few!!! 44 of these were a challenge!!!
And – because it’s been a week since the last time I ran, I ran today. All week long I’ve thought about how far I would run today – I thought about doing 50 miles (on my treadmill, of course!) just because I know I have it in me. Then I thought about running 25 so that I could complete the 50 (over the course of a week but whatever….).
However, this morning, I ran the way I felt – because that is what running is all about for me!!! I did 7 miles in 45:43 (1.5% incline) and then another 1.5 miles at a nice easy pace to cool down.
I have realized that I am not a person who like to follow a running training plan at this point in my life. I just want to run for the pure enjoyment I get from running.
I know lots of people thrive on training plans and knowing exactly what each day will bring but when I run that way, I start to resent everything about running – and I hate that feeling.
Some days I want to run 5-9 miles at a quick pace just because – so I do!
Some days I feel like doing some intervals – so I do them!!
Some days – the idea of running for 3-5 hours is my idea of a good time!!!
Some days I don’t want to run at all – so I pick a different workout and I am completely OK with it.
Today, I decided that I don’t have to prove anything with my running – I just want to continue to enjoy it!!! And one day, that might mean lacing up my shoes and running 50 miles just because I want to!!! (today was not that day!)
Today I did 44 alternate leg extensions while in a V-sit. (Actually it was 88 because I counted a right extension and a left extension as 1 rep.)
start (sweat optional!)extend right legBack to startextend left leg
By the time I finished these, my abs were burning and I got a pretty good workout for my hip flexors!!!
And I did my final run before Saturday night!!!
After the overly personal post from yesterday (thanks for all of your incredibly kind words!!!), I thought today it would be nice just to have a fun post about my favorite state!!!
I’m pretty sure I’ve made no secret of the fact that even though we live in Kansas, I’m from TEXAS!!!
Here are some Texas facts that you may or may not have heard before:
1. Texas is home to 3 of the 10 largest cities in the United States. (6 of the top 20)
4 Houston
7 San Antonio
9 Dallas
11 Austin
16 Ft. Worth
19 El Paso
2. The Republic of Texas was an independent nation from 1836-1845.
3. Texas has more than 600 miles of coastline.
4. Dr Pepper was invented in Waco, TX in 1885. And, for the record, there is no period Dr.
5. You can eat at a different barbecue place every day of the year without visiting the same place twice!!
6. When Texas was annexed in 1845, it retained the right to fly its flag at the same height as the national flag.
7. Each year Amarillo hosts the World’s Largest Calf Fry Cook-Off. “Calf fries” are bull testicles. (I’ve never eaten these and have no plans to anytime soon!)
8. The Dallas State Fair Park is home to the largest Ferris wheel (the Texas Star) in the Western Hemisphere.
9. The highest temperature ever recorded in Texas was 120° F in Seymour on August 12, 1936. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -23° F at Tulia in 1899 and at Seminole on February 8, 1933.
10. The world’s largest (and oldest) rattlesnake roundup is held every March in Sweetwater, Texas.
I spent many summers in Sweetwater with my grandparents at the Girl Scout Camp where they were the Rangers. And, I have come across rattlesnakes on plenty of occasions!!!
11. The King Ranch in Texas is bigger than the state of Rhode Island.
12. The armadillo is the official state mammal.
13. More land is farmed in Texas than in any other state.
14. Beaumont to El Paso: 742 miles, Beaumont to Chicago: 770 miles. El Paso is closer to California than to Dallas.
15. High school football is a way of life.
The movie is pretty close to the real deal. Fun fact – that movie was in my old stomping ground – the schools in the movie were all part of my high school district!!
Today’s 44 was another combo move – I worked my shoulders, triceps and core!!! I held a 12 pound dumbbell with both hands while laying on my back. Push the weight over head, drop the arms down (like a skull crusher), reverse arm movements, sit-up reaching weight to toes – or just watch the video!!
(look – not quite as yellow!! Thanks, EvilCyber for the tip!!)
I ran again today – because I figured it would be good to run on tired legs (I stood for almost 9 straight hours yesterday between boot camp, cleaning the venue, set-up for today’s wedding and ironing tablecloths). I just did an easy run for 5 miles (about 42 minutes) and then 2.5 more even slower.
I spent most of my treadmill time watching Project Runway – always a great way to pass the time. However, thanks to the awesome DVR feature and not having to endure the commercials – the show ended a little before I was done on the treadmill.
I made the STUPID choice to just put the TV on the local news!!!
Federal prison guards are currently not being paid (THANK YOU GOVERNMENT SHUT-DOWN!!!) yet they have to continue to go to work and do their job because it is considered essential (YOU THINK?!).
However, in these same prisons where the guards are working for free, there are prisoners who have various jobs that they are paid for and THEY ARE STILL GETTING PAID!!!!
Now you see why I almost fell off my treadmill?!
I don’t even have words to express my thoughts on how completely ridiculous this whole situation is.
Happy Friday (I’m going to try to get over my outrage and enjoy the day)!!!
I need an easy button!!! Or maybe I need to be like Sam in Bewitched
and just be able to wiggle my nose and take care of everything!!! (Although, if I remember correctly, it didn’t always work out that well for her!)
In the meantime, I will just suck it up and
HaHa – just kidding!!! (sort-of!) 
This eeCard makes me laugh so I’m going with it!
