Tag Archives: running

Butt, Fitness, Hamstrings, Recovery, Treadmill

A Life of Moderation or a Life of Extremes – Can the 2 Combine??

March 26, 2013 Kim 25 Comments

Today I used a simple little band for my 43.

This band is fairly small and provides a lot of resistance. ( Note: you could do the move without a band.) I started with the band around one ankle and the bottom of my other shoe:

(Check out my super cute running skirt!! MizFit workout skirt – check it out here.)

From this position, I pushed my foot straight back (it’s not a big move) and then brought it back to the start.

After 43 of the back-push move, I did another set of 43 where I flexed my leg down (without touching the ground) and back up.

push leg down (don't touch ground) — push leg down (don’t touch ground)

These moves may look like nothing but if you squeeze your butt as you do both of them, you will feel it for sure!

Of course, I don’t want my hamstrings or butt to be lopsided so I had to repeat both of the 43s on the other leg. I think the second leg is always harder because it is already a little fatigued from supporting you while you work the first side.

Today was a running day for a couple of reasons: it’s been a few days since my last run and that’s about the only thing I can do because my arms HURT!!!! I’m not sure who thought doing thousands of jumping jacks was a good idea!! Moving my arms to run was OK once I got started but lifting my arms to the side or over my head – painful. I had no idea that jumping jacks could do that to a person – maybe it is because I’m an idiot and did 4,300!!!

Anyway – I ran on my treadmill (I don’t run in snow, you know) at a 1.5% incline – 8 miles (52:17) and then 2.5 more miles much easier for a total of 85:00 minutes.

Moderation can apply to so many things and areas of our lives. We all know that I like wine and cosmos and… but I do try to always use moderation in that part of my life.Potato chips – ummm…..hard to have moderation here! (I have to just not buy them!!!)

What about other areas of life (not just food/beverages)? Is moderation important?

In a lot of ways, I’m an all-or-nothing person. I know that isn’t always for the best but

I don’t really think that (all the time)! Some days I need to work on moderation (like when I have a stupid idea to do 4,300 jumping jacks!!!) but other days I kind of like extremes!

What are you – moderate, extreme, mixture of both, neither?

Happy Tuesday!!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Running, Treadmill

Running a Pyramid

March 23, 2013 Kim 9 Comments

Today’s 43 was quick and fun!!! I did a straddle jump on a bench. Start by straddling the bench with your hands on the front of the bench. Jump both feet up on bench then back to floor. Repeat (x 43).

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

This is one of my favorites!!! I think I will do more of these jumps soon!

For my run today I did a pyramid!

OK – not that pyramid but it sort-of felt like it on the way up!!!

You can see that I increased my speed every 2 minutes (until I finally got to the top!) and then I decreased every two minutes on the way back down – much better!!!

This was fun and different for me – I usually try to get my fastest miles at the end of my run instead of during the middle so this is a good change.

1.5 % incline – 44:11 = 7 miles + cool down of 20 minutes for a total of 64 minutes (8.4 total miles)

I like to do different things with my speed (or incline) while I run – probably why I don’t get bored on my treadmill very often!!!

I can’t believe how fast spring break has gone!! Even though we just stayed home, we had a great week together!!!

This weekend, we are all about basketball!! My bracket took several hard hits but I still have a chance to win and it’s fun to watch some of the underdogs do really well!!!

Happy Saturday!

Kim

Cardio, Fitness, Running, Squats, Treadmill

Spring (or not) & a Special Movie Viewing

March 20, 2013 Kim 10 Comments

Today’s 43 was a quick cardio based one. I did a jump jack squat with a toe touch.

Start with feet together and both hands straight up. Jump to a squat and touch left toe with right hand while keeping left hand up – jump feet together – switch sides = 1 rep.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw5mNakvJMk’]

I guess I didn’t touch my toes in the video – downside of making the demo at the end of my workout!!! I did the 43 first thing but the boys are enjoying sleeping in since it’s spring break so the demo was after a couple sweaty hours of work!!!

I realized recently that I had been slacking off with weight training so I’m working on that! Today I did another Jari Love DVD – Get Ripped to the Core. This is one that is just strength training – I think there are about 8-9 different tracks and all are high reps!! I really like the fact that Jari incorporates multiple muscle groups into each track!!

After lifting I hopped on the treadmill for a quick run. 1.5% incline for the first 4 miles (24:19) then gradually higher incline for the next 2.5 miles (much slower pace for these).

Is it spring??? Yesterday morning about 11:00 it started snowing here! Where did that come from? The forecast was for a 30% chance of rain during the afternoon – Oops!! Thankfully it was about 34 so nothing was sticking. As the afternoon went on, the temperature dropped a little so by 3:00 it looked like this outside:

(If I knew how to use my camera better, maybe I could have gotten a picture of the actual snowflakes – they were enormous!!!) At least it was warm enough that nothing was sticking on the streets!

By 6:30 the area looked like this:

same view - same day 6:30 pm — same view – same day 6:30 pm

Crazy!!! I like this look much better! Now, if it would just warm up!!!

I’m not sure if y’all all know this but yesterday the Hobbit was released on DVD.

This was a big deal in our house! Jordan loves Lord of the Rings and actually did his History Day project on J.R. Tolkien.

History Day Display - my sweet boy/man — History Day Display – my sweet boy/man

So, to celebrate this event we planned an entire Hobbit themed meal/feast around the viewing!!

(Yes, those are jelly beans – the Starburst ones that only come out during this time of year!!) The best part about this – the boys helped with all of the work!!!

rolling pins - not my strong suit! — rolling pins – not my strong suit!

We had lots of fun making everything and then enjoyed the feast.

Jordan helped pick out all of the recipes based on different aspects of the movie.

Dragon Breath Chili (hot as dragon’s fire) – as an appetizer (I put this in the crock pot) this was pretty spicy but had great flavor!
Lembas (Elvish) Bread – this was actually really good – no sugar in it because it uses honey
Mixed Vegetables Meduseld (this has something to do with the King of Rohan)
Balin’s Spiced Beef (also in a crock pot) – nice flavor – apple cider, cinnamon, cloves
Victorian Cherry Turnover – no picture of these – this was the hardest part of the meal to make – rolling out the dough was a struggle but the boys were all happy with the final product!

The picture doesn’t do it justice!! It was quite a Hobbit feast (because apparently that is a huge part of the movie)!

After the feast (and clean-up), Chris and the boys watched the movie. I did not – I haven’t seen any of the Lord of the Rings movies – so not my thing!!! (I got caught up on Dancing with the Stars instead.)

Anyone else turn the release of a new movie into an event??

Happy Wednesday!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Shoulders

Am I a Real Runner if I Have Never Run a Marathon??

March 19, 2013 Kim 23 Comments

Today I used a medicine ball for my 43. I put my hands on the ball and got into plank position.

Then I stepped my right foot out to the side, back to center and my left foot out to the side and back to center for 1 rep.

It took me 2:20 minutes of holding plank (with my hands on a ball!) to complete this 43!

I tried another new (to me) workout today. Cathe – Turbo Barre. On the cover of this DVD it says Low Impact Series. Don’t let that fool you into thinking this was easy! WOW!!! The ~~pain~~ burning in my hips, thighs and butt at points in this workout was no joke!! I’m pretty sure that I will feel everything about this workout tomorrow! At one point, I think we spent at least 5-7 minutes up on our toes while squatting with our feet in various positions.

I don’t have a barre but this barstool worked perfectly!!

I’m pretty sure that this will become one of my go-to choices for days when I don’t want any running or jumping but still want an incredible workout!!

I started running in high school. I also competed in college and when I was in grad school I spent a lot of time doing various road races from 5K – half marathon. Since then, I have only run a handful of races – a few 5Ks and a 10-miler.

I have trained for several different marathons during my running career but never even started one – first one I was in college and really sick and the next 2 (maybe 3, I’ve blocked some!) I ended up with stress fractures and had to stop running entirely.

Sometimes now I wonder – Am I a real runner? I haven’t even run a marathon. I have run more than 26.2 miles in a single run but does that count? I’m not sure at this point if I will ever run a true marathon – I would like to but for me right now, just being able to run is enough!!!

On a completely different note – Since it’s spring break (and yesterday was probably the nicest weather we will have all week), we decided to play tennis when Chris got home from work. After about 30 minutes, Jordan and I decided to walk/jog home – (about 2.5 miles or so around the lake).

It was a fun just hanging with Jordan for a bit and getting a little fresh air!

What do you think makes someone a “real” runner? Distance, speed, time, cool running gear…?

Happy Tuesday!!

Kim

Core, Fitness, Foam Roller, Running, Treadmill

22 Mile Run – Done!! (Isn’t that what you do on your 1/2 B-day?)

March 16, 2013 Kim 7 Comments

My 43 today was a great warm-up for my long run. I did a standing oblique crunch with a knee up to an extended leg.

The whole above series = 1 rep. 43 of these was a great way to fire up my hip flexors and quads in preparation for the big run!

And then I ran!!! For several years, I’ve run my age to celebrate my birthday. Last year I addd in the half birthday celebration run. Of course, the half birthday has to be the # of miles for the upcoming birthday!!!

So, today I ran 22 miles! I ran on my treadmill at 1.0% incline and kept the pace between 8:00 minutes/mile and 7:53 minutes/mile for the first 20 miles. The last 2 miles I increased the speed until I was at a 7:30 minute mile. Total time 2:53:43 (7:54 pace overall) with no stops!!!

The no stops was the best part for me – usually I have to stop to stretch something, tie a shoe, bathroom – something. Not today!!!

I walked an easy 0.5 mile after I finished the run just to get my heart rate down. And then, I foam rolled!

Today I used the ridged one at the front. I just held it in several tight areas for a bit (hips, quads, calves – basically everywhere!!!). I know I should foam roll more often – but at least today I made a smart choice!

Hopefully if I put my new compression socks on for the rest of the day I will be ready for the next big challenge tomorrow!!