Tag Archives: running

Fitness, Lunges, Quad, Running, Treadmill

Overcoming Fear

May 15, 2013 Kim 37 Comments

Today my 43 was all about working my legs!!! Finally!!!

I did a 4-count lunge: Lunge forward with right leg, clap overhead, clap under leg, clap overhead, step back – switch to left leg – repeat = 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttJjkZp1Rc4′]

Not gonna lie – 43 of these and my quads were burning, my arms were getting tired and I was breathing hard – I might be a little out of shape!!!

Today I RAN!!! This was my first run in over 3 weeks and obviously, my first run since having surgery. I was actually really SCARED!!! Like, awake half the night thinking about it, SCARED.

I don’t know why the thought of running scared me so much. I have run after numerous injuries – Achilles tendonitis, a torn calf muscle, stress fractures galore (the last one in my hip and I ran with it for 3 months) – I’ve run during 2 pregnancies and after giving birth x2 – I’ve run after wiping out during a run with blood streaming down me – but not after having part of my legs striped away.

It is completely irrational – a runner scared to run?!

But today – I was scared to run!!! So, I geared myself in compression stuff (I knew the wraps would be a mess) –

compression shorts compression socks — compression shorts
compression socks

I told myself what I needed to do –

I dug down deep –

And I ran.

As much as I wanted to test out my new Garmin,I decided to save that for another day and stick to the comfort of my treadmill (my overcoming and digging down only carried me so far!).

I started this run slower than I have EVER run but then I felt “it” come back and I drop-kicked the fear and just enjoyed the fact that slow or fast – I AM STILL A RUNNER!!!

I ran 5 miles and walked 1/4 mile.

Did it hurt? Yes
Have other runs hurt? Of course
Can I run through pain? DUH!!!
Will the next one be easier? Without a doubt!!!!

I’m glad that I didn’t let my fear hold me back!!!

What fear are you facing today? Big or little – you can beat it!!!

Happy Wednesday!!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Running, Squats, Treadmill

My Life as a Pseudo PE Teacher

April 23, 2013 Kim 16 Comments

Today’s 43 involved my step –

14" double step (the Transfirmer) — 14″ double step (the Transfirmer)

I just did quick moving squats from side-to-side (right squat – over – left squat – over = 1 rep).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izJ93vHVoeg’]

This was a quick 43 but it got my heart rate up and my quads were burning!!!

I decided to run today since I won’t be able to run for awhile after tomorrow! Treadmill (snow/ice mixture coming down outside!) – 1.5% incline – 6 miles in 37:05 + 2.1 miles slower with higher incline for a total of 8.1 miles in 63:30.

So, lately I have spent several fun-filled afternoons in the gym while the real PE teacher is coaching at the HS track meets!

This is a great gig for several reasons – a big one is I get to go to “work” dressed like this:

I also get to run around and play – usually with lots of balls!!

In my previous life (before children) I was a middle school science teacher ( and I coached 7th & 8th grade volleyball, basketball and track). Middle school kids are VERY different from these young kids (the afternoon PE classes are 2nd, 1st and Kindergarten students)!!! So, as the “fake” PE teacher, I’ve learned 3 lessons:

Always wear a whistle!!
I need a blingy whistle!!!

I’m not super loud but I can blow a whistle with the best of them!!!
Helpful phrases – “You’re OK”, “I think you’re fine”, “You’re going to be OK”, “keep going, you’re fine”……..little ones have all kinds of reasons why they might not be OK (especially when I have them run a couple of laps!!!) – a little reassurance and they are always ready to go again (till the next time!).
My #1 rule: NO TATTLING!!! Kids like to tattle (or tell you every little thing that someone else did) – on their friends, kids who maybe aren’t their best friends, even on themselves – crazy, but true!!!

I really enjoy subbing in PE (even with the younger kids!!!)! Where else do you get to do stuff like this?Well, maybe not exactly, but we always use some of these:And, there is always at least a little bit of running involved!!!

Happy Tuesday! I think I’m going to put on my bikini, cover-up and flip flops and head south until I find a warm sunny spot – anyone want to join in?

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running, Shoulders

No Resting Here

April 21, 2013 Kim 14 Comments

Some days I pick my 43 thinking it won’t be so hard and some days I am WRONG!!! Today was one of those days – the move was a version of the old windmill move/stretch. The goal was to work your obliques and a bit of arms/shoulders – Done!

Start with your legs wide, toes slightly pointed out and a weight in your right hand.

Reach down with your left hand to the outside of your left foot while reaching straight up with your right hand.

(Jordan said he can’t touch his toes – better work on his flexibility!!) After doing 43, or your # of reps, put the weight in your left hand and repeat.

I used an 8 pound dumbbell and it was hard (I think my shoulders are a little sore from yesterday’s TaeBo band work!).

This morning it is pretty nice here (although it has gotten cloudy in the last 30 minutes) so I decided to run outside. I only ran 3.5 miles (lots of hills!!) at just over 8:00 minutes/mile – I never really settled into the run today. My breathing was all over the place. Still, it was nice to be outside enjoying the fresh air and sunshine!!

I typically take Sunday off and I know I haven’t the past couple of weeks – starting Wednesday I will be taking a few days off (not from my 43 but the rest of my workouts) so I’m taking advantage of the days until then!!!

Now, I’m heading back outside to pull the weeds that have gotten out of control with all of the rain we’ve had lately – FUN TIMES!!!

Happy Sunday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

200 Minutes of Running – Done!!

April 3, 2013 Kim 33 Comments

Today I had to pick a fairly simple 43 because I got up at 4:30 so that I could run over 3 hours! Then I did my 43 – crazy plan!!

I did a “dead bug” to work my abs. I laid on my back with my legs up (knees bent at 90 degrees). Then, I alternated heel taps out in front of me until I had done 43 with each leg. This is a nice move to work your lower abs!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ifa_Y6y2Pf8′]

I’m not gonna lie – it was hard for me today because I had already run 24 miles!!!

Today is my 200th consecutive day of 43s so I wanted to celebrate with a 200 minute run!! I decided that if I got up at 4:30 and started running by 4:40 I would finish at 8:00 which would leave me time to do a quick demo before I needed to take Hunter to school. Chris helped me a great deal this morning by going in late (he is usually at work by 6:00) so that he could take Jordan to school. Thanks, Babe!!

I set my treadmill at 1.0% incline and started. In 200 minutes (3 hours, 20 minutes), I watched both episodes of Dancing with the Stars from this week, an episode of Dance Moms and 2 episodes of the New Normal – hooray for DVR!!

I did a total of 24 miles in the 200 minutes. I averaged 8:00 minute miles for the first 22 miles then I used the last 20 minutes as more of a cool down.

The time flips at each 100 minutes (so I had to watch it flip 2x!).

I’m hoping that some of these hard long runs will help make me stronger for my 50 mile race – I don’t plan to run it nearly as hard!

I’m off to soak my tired legs!! Then I’ve got a busy day ahead!!

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

Fitness, Push-Ups, Running, Treadmill

Going Through the Motions

April 1, 2013 Kim 18 Comments

Today I decided it was time for another push-up move for the 43. I alternated moving one hand in front to do a push-up.

Because I wasn’t thinking clearly (or something!) I decided to count a right hand in front and left hand in front

as 1 rep. Crikey!!! Instead of 43 push-ups, I ended up doing 86!!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY0UNGVfclw’]

Hunter is turning into a push-up machine!! He did the number of push-ups to correspond with the day of the month every day for the month of March (31 last night!!).

Today I decided to get in a good run! I ran on my treadmill (1.5% incline) – 8 miles 52:39 + 1.75 miles easier for a total of 77:15 minutes. Hopefully later this week I will be outside running in shorts!!!

Do you ever feel like you are just going through the motions? It could be with anything – working out, shopping, spending time with your family – whatever. Just that feeling inside that says you should be doing more!!

We used to have a little dwarf hamster, Emma,

who looked similar to the picture above. She would get on her hamster wheel and just go and go (speedy little thing!) – but she wasn’t really making any progress.

Sometimes I feel like Emma the hamster – I just go and go, but what am I accomplishing? If you’ve read my blog for awhile, you know that I just recently passed my ACE Personal Training test. But I haven’t done anything with it and I’m not sure if I’m going to. I’m still trying to decide what I want to do with my life.

I love the time I get to spend with Chris and my boys and try to treasure every second of it. But I feel like I should be doing more with my life! The problem is, I don’t know what it is that I should be doing!!

I’m pretty sure that my newest addiction (thanks Keri and Vickie!!)isn’t enough to satisfy my need to feel like I’m accomplishing something every day! It is a fun thing to do on a short car trip, though!

I guess I will just keep trying to figure it out!!

On a completely different note – did anyone see the Louisville vs. Duke basketball game yesterday evening? When Kevin Ware snapped his leg, my first thought was for his parents – I can’t even begin to imagine watching that happen to my child!!! I just read an article saying he had emergency surgery and a rod was inserted into his leg. I hope he is able to make a full recovery and return to the court next season!!!

Spring flowers from friends who came over yesterday!!!

Anyone else ever feel like you are just going through the motions until you figure out what your true purpose is? Maybe you could just tell me you are so I won’t feel like the only grown-up who is still unsure what to be!!

Happy Monday – April Fool’s Day!!

Kim

Day With KT