Continuity

So this makes the third night in a row that I've gotten out and gotten in some miles ... yay me!!!

Last night, granted I was stiff and sore from Tuesday's nutso walk when I was running on empty, but I managed to get in a couple of miles. I also went for a "run" yesterday morning to loosen up a little bit ... it was a very...very...very...short run. But, I was glad I was even moving, so I was just fine with it.

Tonight, I knew that I wasn't going to repeat Tuesday, but I did manage to get my full six back on the roster. I found a new path, and I actually like this one better. It is next to the park, no lights to worry about, and I actually ran from mile three to mile four. A full mile at a faster pace, that was awesome.

I managed to keep up a really good pace tonight too, so that is telling me that I didn't let things slip quite as far as I thought I did. I guess we will see how long I can keep this up.

Oh, I'm also looking at a half in October in New Mexico. Crazy I know, but its close, I can drive and the entrance fee didn't shoot up like it did for Niagara. I'll see how the next few days go and if, within the next week, I'm feeling better about my six mile times, I'll sign up for it. Costume-driven half. Fun, fun.

Back? Again?

Ok, so yeah, the past few months have been a little insane and not much has been accomplished in terms of miles. Well, my mornings just opened back up so that means I don't have to wake up after sleeping for four hours ... can you say happy camper?

So, last night was a rough night at work - Murphy's Law and then some. So, I decided early on that I was going to go for a long walk when I was done to clear my head. I get home, change and then got sidetracked for a bit before finally getting my shoes on and heading out the door. It was 10:48pm when I left. It was after 1:30am when I got home.

So, I start heading out and I had a plan, but that plan quickly went to shit when I decided I was just going to keep on going and turn around when I started getting tired. Ok, so this took me 9 miles. I hadn't eaten at all during the day, and I was seriously dehydrated when I started (after not drinking any water all day) so by the time I drug my ass through the front door I was tired, sore and thirsty as heck. But, I felt great.

I forgot how good walking those distances made me feel. Granted, last night I had to do a lot of stretching and icy hot was my bed buddy, but still, when I got up this morning I felt great.

I think I'll go for another walk tonight, not the miles I did last night, but hopefully I'll get in my normal six (well, that was normal up until the summer started).

I hope this time I'll be able to keep it up ... making a lot of changes in my life, and hopefully this one will lead to the full 26 next year!!!

It's Been a While

So, it's been a while since I've posted on here, but after my trek yesterday I figured I should post an update. So yesterday around 1 in the afternoon I decided it was a good idea to get in 20 miles. Mind you it was 95 outside and I didn't really take that into consideration when I was leaving.

I left at 1:20 and after 20 minutes I was hurting. I had my camelbak fully stocked with 3L of water, and by the time I reached my destination it was all gone. The sun was raging and it was taking every bit of willpower I had to keep on going instead of turning around and going home or getting on a bus or light rail. I told myself that I would at least make it 10 and then see how I was feeling before calling it quits.

So, I continued to drink my water, had some GU along the way, and I made it 10 miles in 2.5 hours ... my best time ever. The heat was motivation to kick my ass into high gear so that I didn't get stuck out there.

And what did I do after I got there ... I found air conditioning and rested. I was tired, I was getting the early symptoms of heat stroke and I needed water. After waiting for a bit and resting for about an hour I made the decision that I wouldn't walk all the way back home ... I would take the light rail for part of it and save myself a little bit. I went and got some more water, filled my camelbak back up and walked 3 miles to the light rail station. I got on and the AC felt wonderful. I got off at my stop and had another 2 miles to go to get home. So, all-in-all I set out to get in 20 miles and ended with 15. Not bad for 95 degrees out. My camelbak has paid for itself time and time again ...

I will never do this again in this heat!!!

New Shoes, Part II

I decided I cannot run in those darn Nike things I bought. As much as a I love the Nike Plus system, I can't stay with Nikes if they don't have shoes that feel awesome on my feet. So, today I trotted off to a fantastic local sports store recommended to me by a co-worker called Finish Strong Sports. The staff and owner there watched me walk around, asked me questions, measured. We got my choices down to about 4 pairs of shoes..... and then the owner even put them on my feet! Talk about service. I settled on a pair of Asics Cumulus 12 that really do feel like walking on clouds. I took them out for a trial run today, along with a new little gizmo I picked up, the Amphipod Micro Pocket. The Micro Pocket lets you attach your Nike Plus to your shoe so you can use it with other brands instead of in the heel of your Nikes. I'm not sure whether it's because I haven't used my Nike Plus in a couple months, or whether the Micro Pocket was too loose, but I sweated it out in the humidass Houston evening air running circles around my neighborhood for 20 minutes and it only logged 0.68 miles. What the heck. I went home and mapped my route and it looks like there was a good hard-earned mile missing from there somewhere. I'll have to fiddle with this thing later. For now, I'm just glad to be on my feet again.

Urm, haven't dont Jillian since last Thursday. But have been doing a lot of kettlebell exercises. I only have a little 10-pounder. Wondering if I need to upgrade. Thoughts?

Week One in Review

Ok, so that sounds like some tacky news headline, but I've been very bad about posting so I have to do a week in review.

I started the 30DS last Sunday, and as expected, Jillian kicks my ass each and every time. I really don't know if I will ever be able to keep up with Jillian but it can be rather fun to try.

So, I'm still doing modifications, but I have been able to crank out a few push-ups without the modifications. Yay for me. On the other hand, I am still following Anita a LOT. By the time the 20 minutes is up I'm breathing like I've lost a lung but feel rather good about it.

I've also started up my walking again, and think that I'm going to start walking to work so that I can really increase my mileage ... perhaps that will make a difference in the way my body reacts to this punishment.

Today, I took the day off of Jillian and decided to go hiking instead. Three hours and seven miles later I made it back to my car, feet covered in red dust/turned to mud and I am SOOO glad I had my camelbak with me - that thing paid for itself. I drank about 3L worth of water and the miles didn't seem as bad when I stayed hydrated. That thing is definitely going with me on the 25th ... it will be much easier when I'm hydrated. That's one thing about Surfside, I wasn't hydrated ... and while I drank at every station, I was parched.

Ok, so back to Jillian - with the upper body changes, I'm noticing the shoulder workouts are getting easier, but Jillian v. walking v. hiking v. biking ... all different muscle groups. While Jillian does help with the walking and hiking, all those damn squats, it doesn't do a damn thing for biking. I think the only thing that is going to get my ass in bike shape is actually biking (or getting an indoor trainer ... why in the hell did I throw out the one I had in Cleveland???).

Tomorrow and Wednesday will finish up level one, and then we shall see about level two. Fun fun :)

JM - Days 3 and 4/Level 1

Did a workout yesterday before heading outta town for a couple days. Then did a workout today with my sister in law, who is really familiar with the JM30 also. Both workouts went well. My quads are feeling the burn, that's for sure.

JM - L1/D2

Day 2 went well. I did my workout a little later than preferred, but I got it in. Still breaking a sweat. I'm feeling a bit sore from yesterday. Will I ever be able to do full normal push-ups again?

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred - Back in Action

After working several weeks with long hours and bad food, I decided it's time to get off my butt again before my muffin top completely spills over my pants. After some back and forth with myself about what to do for my daily workouts (bike? I can read and kill two birds with one stone... P90X? nah, too intense), I finally settled on doing the 30 Day Shred again.

Level 1/Day 1
This time, even after not having worked out regularly for a couple months, the workout was much more straightforward and easier. I found that I wasn't fiddling around with the moves anymore, trying to adjust my positioning and such. Each exercise just came more naturally. And while the workout overall was easier, I still broke a sweat halfway through and was dripping by the end! I think this workout DVD is great because you really can adjust the moves to your own level. I still can't do a single regular push-up, but doing them on my knees felt easier this time than last.

Random Goodies
To motivate myself out of my swivel office chair, I decided a bribe was in order. Off to Lululemon I went, and back I came with cute outfits. Indeed their prices are astronomical, but nothing beats their style and quality. If you get one workout top from Lulu this season, make it the Push Ur Limits top. The way it looks in the online pictures do not nearly do it justice. This top, as with most of their tops, do something magical in the back that just makes your shoulders and back look toned in all the right places. Who doesn't want to look like a Roman goddess from behind? One little note though: this top would not be good for high impact. For that, you should pick up Lulu's Tata Tamer... but that's for another post.

P90X 2011

Last year, Josh and I made a brief attempt at P90X. The attempt lasted a week, after which we quit, and I went on to do Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred instead. One thing we did do as part of starting P90X, however, was write down our starting weights and body fat percentages. I am proud to say that since last year, we've really improved! I lost just shy of 10 lbs and 1.2% body fat. Josh lost almost 12 lbs and 1.5% body fat. Today we started P90X again, the Lean version, with the diets. The Lean version is like the Classic version (just a re-arrangement of the DVDs), but geared more towards fat loss over building muscle. Today we did the Core Synergistics and if memory serves me right, it was a lot easier than when we did it last year. Mind you, since last year, we have run a half marathon, and lost some weight so that certainly helps.

Here we go again!

Beginning Once Again

So, in a moment of motivation, I signed myself up for the Slackers Half Marathon. You got it, the Slackers are coming. The date is June 25th and here's something rather interesting ... the entire race is downhill. Starting at 10,630 and ending at 8400 feet ... should prove to be a rather interesting race. I'm actually excited about this race, and granted, I have a lot of work ahead of me, but this past weekend when I went hiking and trail running got my motivational juices flowing :-)

Given that this race starts at 10,630 feet ... it is a high altitude race, and I'm rather glad that I've been going for "higher" hikes and getting used to exerting myself at a higher altitude :-) I run out of breath a lot faster, but considering that this one is all downhill, it will help out a little bit with that ... not a lot, but just enough.

So, what, Day One?

So today was my first day without work to really try and get back into the scheme of things. I managed to get in 4 miles and then spent the rest of my day cleaning and wondering what in the heck I'm doing with myself.

Hey, it's a start, yes?

I'm hoping the weather holds up tomorrow and I can try to get in my normal six and see how that feels. I was going to do it when I got home from work last night, but it wasn't exactly warm out and I didn't feel like bundling up ... so I just didn't go. Instead, I watched some Buffy, and got some zzz's.

I guess the good news is that my glutes are killing me any longer ... that was harsh from Bob the other day (I didn't post about that one - as this came after the Tuesday massacre). I didn't think that workout was going to affect me as much as it did, but I guess the good news is that it did affect me, and it wasn't boring so I'll try to keep that one in there. I think part of my problem with the videos is now too much of a choice instead of too little. It's the whole, um, so which do I do today bit, and on days when I don't feel up to making such a hard decision (as the sarcasm oozes out of every pore of my being), I just don't do it.

Hello, routine, I need you back :-)

Starting Over?

Ok, so today I wanted to give one of Bob's new DVDs a shot, and I gotta tell you, after 10 minutes I was wiped out. Did I finish the workout you ask, why no I did not. My legs were jelly after the first 10 minutes and I just couldn't do another lunge or squat to save my life. I feel like I did back in October when we first started all of this. If we want to do a marathon in six months I have a heck of a lot of work in front of me. I don't know what happened. Contentment after finishing the first one? and relaxing just a little bit too much?

The good news is that I can still do push-ups and I can still do jumping jacks ... but my stamina has puttered out. I don't know if it is because last week was the first week of my schedule change and the days just have me thrown for a loop, or what? All I know is I need to get myself back into a nice and STEADY routine if I want to make this work.

Jillian Ripped

So, I've been out of this for a while. My schedule has been going schizo for the past few weeks and this week it is finally settling into what it will be for the near future, so I'm trying to get back into a schedule. My free time is going to be few and far between, but my weekends will be free and my hikes and long runs will totally be fitting in on those days. My weekdays will get in some short workouts and some walks if I'm lucky. I'll have to see how the first few "long" days go and how I'm adjusting to see whether or not it is something I can maintain for the long term. This is all trial 'n error right now . . .

I decided that I was going to give Jillian another shot and try out another DVD of hers - this one is Ripped in 30. It utilizes the same 3-2-1 method as her 3DS, so I was excited to give it a shot. Plus, I wanted something more to change things up. Now, granted, I have the 10 Minute solution workouts that add to my routine, but I really liked the way Jillian kicked my ass from October to November and decided she needed another chance.

I also got some more Bob DVDs (these are an hour in length, so they are reserved for my weekends when I will have that time), so look out for those reviews as well. I have 3 hour long ones to review and another Biggest Loser one to review (that one will be a weekday one since it is a 25 minute workout).

So, onto Jillian and her "Ripped in 30." For starters, this one is a little different than 3DS - it has 4 workouts instead of the 3 in 3DS. So, instead of having 10 days to get used to the difficulty level, I only have a week. We shall see how this goes - I need something to kick my ass because I've been slacking quite profusely since the run in February and I can tell that some of the weight I've lost has come back with a vengeance.

There are some recognizable moves from the other Jillian programs we've been blogging about, but there are some new ones as well. In the strength moves, instead of being 2 moves that are repeated, she does 3 that are repeated. So, while you are not doing the same move for as long, you are getting more muscle groups involved. The cardio ... well, let's just say I don't care for this one as much as I enjoyed the 3DS cardio. These ones don't get my heart rate up, save for the 3d round when she throws in some running in place. As far as the abs go ... um, fricking plank moves. So the first round isn't bad at all. The second round has those damn plank moves where you keep your elbow down and then lift at the hips, my ability to move in that manner has NOT improved. The third round is nice ab work that I can do without problem - crunches and reverse crunches.

With this being week one for abs, I'm dreading what weeks 3 and 4 look like. Cardio, well I just hope it improves, otherwise I am going to have to supplement the moves from 3DS into the segments. Strength - overall, I like the variety.

We shall see if Day 2 provides any changes (other than my own subs to get my heart going). Tomorrow I think I am also going to sample one of 10 Minute Solution segments since those get my heart rate going without any trouble at all.

Hike Hike and Hike Away

So yesterday I went wandering around some of the Open Space areas around here and found some rather great trails. I did about 11 miles on a trail in the mountains and I had a wonderful time.

This morning I went to another open space park and got in about 6 miles on the trails. The weather has been absolutely wonderful and I am really enjoying the outdoors. I also got some "trail" shoes, they are J-41s and while they are absolutely light as a feather they feel like air on my feet. They were great this morning for the trails.

I'll have to get some pictures posted about those trails - fantastic and very scenic. The one today was all red dirt, so my feet came back looking like Hell Boy's, but it was still fun :-)

Yesterday - Fries and Beer

Was bad. Fries and beer. And cake. Umm... no workout. I hope Traci did better!

Stationary Bike & Freakonomics

Did 30 minutes on the stationary bike on the hills course today. Averaged rmps of 67, and worked up quite a sweat. The best part was I did it while watching the documentary version of Freakonomics which is on instant watch on Netflix!

A Walk, A Strut and A DVD

Sounds like the start to a great joke, right? Yeah, right - definitely not. So after taking benadryl and being dead to the world for a seemingly eternal piece of time, I went out this afternoon to get some fresh air ... that turned into an 8 mile walk and absolute bliss. Sure, the weather wasn't great, but it didn't matter. I needed to clear my head and this worked out just fine.

Then later on I did Bob's workout. I didn't want to delve into another 10 minute solution because I'm still not feeling 100%, so Bob did the trick. It was stretching bliss and felt like a good workout.

Tomorrow, it is supposed to be in the upper 60s again, so I'm going to try and get a run in during the waking hours, then go to a finance seminar, and then in the afternoon try and map out a new route.

Repeat This: "I Am A Runner"

Traci, have you heard? Heard what? No, not bird is the word.

WE are RUNNERS. Say it out loud: "I am a runner."

I don't think of myself as a runner. I consider myself a dabbler in exercise. I walk a bit, jog a bit, run a bit, do yoga a bit, and dabble here and there. But according to my book about women runners, we are runners. And we need to say it, repeat it, and live it. We've run many miles. We've done long distances and short distances. We have run, therefore, we are runners. Congrats :)

Today for my workout, I ran 6 miles. Good run. It was cool outside. I decided to skip going to the track around the university, and just wove in and around the neighborhood by my house.

Rest Day

Wednesday, hump day, will be my new rest day. I did have a relaxing day.
Traci, I hope you had a rest day too!

Shoe Review & Running Roulette

I have a few mini blog posts to share with you today:

Shoe Review: Nike Skylon 11
The things I like most about these shoes are that they're very lightweight and very breathable. The things I don't like are the stiffness of the outsole at the toe area, and the deep grooves in the outsole. While I was running today, rocks kept getting stuck in the grooves of the outsole. If you saw me on the corner of Bissonnet and Montrose today, kicking lamp posts and scraping my shoe on curbs, I did not step in poop. I was trying to scrape the rocks out of the grooves of my shoes. I will put my miles in in these shoes, but for next time, I'm going to try to get a light shoe with a flatter outsole. I would buy the Nike Moto 7s again, but they were a limited item apparently, and have been replaced by the Moto 8, which is quite different. Yet another reason to go with a more serious running shoe company next time that doesn't change models so often. I've got my eyes on the New Balance 890s and the Saucony Kinvara and A4.

Running Roulette
I put in 6 miles today in the new shoes out on the popular running route around Rice University. I'm not the biggest fan of this running loop. It tends to be busy, and isn't well lit, so running after dark is not very safe. It's about a mile away from my house, and walking there requires making my way through a bit of traffic. And here is where I rant a bit... sometimes I hate Houston. Two times while I was out today, I almost got hit by cars. I didn't dart out in traffic. Both times, I was leisurely walking across the street when these cars (actually, trucks) decided, nope, let's just go ahead and drive straight at the pedestrian and then come to a screeching halt in the middle of the street. Now, the question is, do I keep up with this route? Am I playing the odds every time I head out for a run in this part of town? Or am I better off driving to the other popular running area at a park that's entirely traffic-free? My other option is to do what I was doing before, and that was doing laps and laps and laps around the other, smaller university where there is less traffic.

The Complete Book of Running for Women
I picked up The Complete Book of Running for Women, while I was out on my walk to the grocery store today. I had read quite a few reviews about this book, and picked it out over a couple other running books for women. I haven't had a chance to look through too much of it yet, but the couple parts I did read were so informative. I think I might just use this book along with the online access to Runners World for running info right now. One of the little sections I read before I went out on my run was about running rate (steps per minute). The book noted that as beginner runners get more advanced, their number of footfalls per minute rises generally from about 160 to 180. One way to better your running off the bat is to focus on increasing your rate. So, when I went out on my run today, I spent the first 15-minutes or so timing/counting my rate, and speeding up my rate. I felt like I was moving a bit spasmically, but I did get my rate up to 180. So far, I like this book and recommend it if you don't already have it.

Calf Sleeves

So my calf sleeves showed up today. I don't think I'll have a chance to use them tomorrow, but I'm hoping Thursday and Friday will give me a chance to see if they really are great. If they are anything like my compression tights, they are going to be great ... and then my legs will be completely covered :-)

BTW, my treadmill will be here tomorrow as well. Ready to give that one a whirl for sure.

Note to self . . .

Regardless of how good your immune system is and regardless of the fact that you never seem to get sick . . . when a house of six kids has all six of them sick with the flu, play it smart and don't venture through the doors.

Well, I did venture through the doors and now find myself with a very mild cough and congested chest. I swear kids are bigger carriers than rats were for the plague. To some it is a cold, to me it is a minor annoyance. I don't consider this being sick . . . a minor cough does not sick make. However, it makes working out a pain in the ass. Yesterday and today I haven't done any type of cross training because of this yak, but I've been getting in short walks (4-5 miles) so there is movement. This nuisance will be gone before the end of the week, but I do have to say my immune system kicks ass. When everyone in that house ended up with the flu and full-on body aches, I walk away with a little cough. Gotta love it.

Janet, do you have a sturdy bag to use for your grocery shopping? When I was in Cleveland, I used my Vera bags for the trips to the store, and it was great. I have two larger Vera's and one of them I never use. If you want it, I can mail it to you. Fill it up and when it's full you know your trip is done with and it's time to head back home. Plus, those sturdy bags never rip and you will never drop anything on the trek back home.

When I got out here, I did the same thing over the summer. The store is 2 miles away here (it was only 1.5 miles away in Cleveland), but my bag worked out just as well. But for me, the fact that I had to carry my groceries back home never dictated what I purchased.

Danskin Now Kettlebell Workout & Grocery Workout

It was such a gorgeous day out today, and Josh took the car out this evening, so I decided to walk the couple blocks to the grocery store to pick up this weeks groceries. I did try to limit what I bought knowing I'd be carrying it all home, but I still ended up with quite a bit: 1 gallon jug of milk, a couple of those Green Giant Steamers packs, a couple packs of Activia yogurt, various vegetables, coffee, etc., etc. Half way home, I was feeling the burn. The walk reminded me of those days as a college student where I didn't own a car, and always walked to the grocery store. It helped me limit my grocery list and my waistline - very efficient! I was certainly healthier then. I think I'll make this a regular thing.

I tried Danskin Now's Kettlebell workout today [Traci, is this the same DVD that you have?]. It was the free DVD that came with my 10 lb kettlebell. The instructor is a peppy woman named Gin Miller. The workout has a warmup and cooldown, and you can select between 3 short workout routines. Since I'm a newbie to the kettlebell concept (this was my first true kettlebell workout) I decided to try all three....... and boy did I get my butt handed to me. All that swinging and balancing really worked out my core in addition to each of the target muscle groups. I was sweating significantly, and I think I'll feel it tomorrow. My favorite move was one where you lift your leg and pass the kettlebell under it into your other hand. I think I'll add this to my routine as well. Kettlebell Mondays it is!

Stationary Bike & Inspiration

I didn't feel bad waking up this morning after the 10k. There is a bit of tightness in the hamstrings and calves, but nothing more than what I felt after some of the marathon training runs. For my workout today, I decided to do 30 minutes on the stationary bike. I did a hills course at a low-medium intensity with an average rmp of 65. I did sweat, and it did get my heartrate up a bit, but nothing intense since I was still able to talk just fine. I love the feeling after you get off the bike where your quads feel incredibly powerful.

I also picked up a Runners World magazine today for some inspiration, and I'm glad I did. I've never read this magazine before, but now that I've been running a little more, many of the stories made sense. (E.g. how to overcome feeling overwhelmed by the distance of a run, etc.) There's a lot of runner lingo I still don't understand (what's a split?) but it was inspiring to read stories about other beginner runners, as well as Olympic athletes. For example, this month the magazine profiled the trials and triumphs of Olympic Athlete Shalane Flanagan. I was surprised to learn that she had never run a marathon until she did the NYC last year in her late 20s (mind you, she placed second for women). But her story was not full of victories - earlier in her running career, she burned out and collapsed several times at major competitions just before the finish line. I was very intrigued to hear and learn about other people's running styles and I will certainly pay attention to my own in the future. Also, the magazine was full of practical tips like how to pace yourself. They had a cool little pace bracelet you can print out for example, that you can use with your watch during a run to pace yourself for a specific time on a marathon.

New Trails, New Fun

So, with the weather as wonderful as it has been this weekend, I decided to try out some new trails. Granted, there is a great bike path system just up the road from where I live that will take me mile after mile after mile, but I just felt like I needed to try something new. I took a drive over to Littleton, and there are a ton of bike paths over that way as well, and I think I found a great one for early mornings. For starters, early morning there is absolutely no foot traffic ... some bikes, yes, but no foot traffic. Second, there is a nice dirt shoulder along the pavement so that I don't have to jostle myself on the pavement if my joints just aren't feeling it. Third, it is nice and open so there is a constant breeze that makes me feel a lot cooler than I actually am. Overall, it was a very nice path, free parking and it was a very easy 10m that I managed to trek out.

I do have to say though, I did recently make another purchase - - - a manual treadmill. Cheap and good enough to walk without freezing my ass off or jog without jarring my joints. I should have it on Monday or Tuesday. On cold mornings or evenings I can get my miles in without having to worry about the elements or another slip and fall. I can blast my tunes, watch some movies and just keep on going.

On another note, during my 10m yesterday, I didn't run as much as I would've liked. I only got in about 2 miles before I changed it to a run/walk and then a walk at the end. I can't compare the time to anything because my pace was clearly erratic, but it is definitely something I need to work on. Something that I hope the manual TM will give me some assistance with.

Run Review: Whooping Crane Strut

Today, I ran a local 10k known as the Whooping Crane Strut. The run is an annual affair held in the Rockport Beach Park. The scenery was similar to the Surfside atmosphere, and the weather was just as windy if not windier. The temperature was mild and perfect for running. Lots of clouds to obscure direct sunlight was nice too. The course was entirely pavement. There was a 2 mile walking course, and a 5k that split off from the 10k. Josh and Mom walked the 2m.

Pre-Race

We arrived at the Beach Park at 7 am to pick up our registration packets. For $20, your registration gets you a t-shirt and a cardboard coaster. (I’m actually still in awe of the Surfside goodie bags, by the way!) We walked around a bit, stretched, I charged up my iPod in the car, and we drank some coffee and water.

The Run

For the run itself, they had us line up with the runners in the front, walkers in the back. I put myself in the middle of the runners pack. Most of the first 4 miles of the 10k were facing the wind, and this made the run pretty tough. I was wearing a cap (lesson learned from Surfside) but the wind was so strong, I had to run with one hand up holding the hat a good portion of the first 4 miles. The first two miles felt alright, but I had to make a conscious effort to keep up a good pace. Miles three and four were tougher. By that point, my pace was starting to wear me out a bit, and I was really sweating. My mind started playing psychological tricks on me telling me to slow down or walk. Another part of me was complaining about how long the course felt, even though this 10k is considerably less than the 26m of a couple weeks ago. I fought a bit of mental battle today to keep on going, and a physical battle since I was running at a slightly faster pace than usual. Miles five and six were much easier. I had hit my stride at the mile 4 turnaround. The wind was with me due to a turnaround as well. Some nice volunteers at the turnaround cheered me on, and really lifted my mood. I made sure to cheer on the other runners afterward to pay that forward.

The last half mile....... I should begin with a little back history that I have a strange little irk about people who run behind you an entire course and then sprint past you at the finish line. I always try to run at the same pace, or just try to compete with myself without regard for those around me. I don’t know what it was about today, but it felt like the day that I wouldn’t let that happen. Don’t ask me why. I don’t know. So, with half a mile to go, I thought, I can’t let someone who is right behind me beat me, I need to sprint like mad to the finish line. So I did. And immediately I knew it was a bad idea. My heartrate skyrocketed, my stomach was gurgling with water from the last hydration station. But I had already gained momentum and committed to this. By the time I hit the finish line with Josh and his mom and dad cheering, I was dry heaving.... (I’m a real class act, I know) and I basically dry-heaved at sprint speed over the finish line. How raunchy would that have been if I barfed across the finish line? Eww. Anyways, that did not happen. And I learned my lesson. I need to run for me. I need to run at my own pace. I also learned that I can probably push myself harder than I have been.... but I should do it during training. Rather than gargling my heart and my breakfast at the end of a run.

Overall, the race was a lovely course, with friendly runners and good organization. I had an excellent time, and I would definitely like to do this run again in the future.

Gear

I didn’t get around to trying out my new running shoes last week, so I ran in my old ones. Even as I ran, I could tell they were not as supportive as they needed to be. I’ll be swapping out for the new shoes the next time I run. Also, I used my new wicker socks and they were quite good. I did get one blister, but that may have been due to the shoes rather than the socks.

Lessons Learned

- Run for ME. At my own pace.

- Charge iPod before race. I checked my iPod an hour before the run and it said there was 1/3 battery left. Somehow within a matter of seconds, the battery went in the red. Luckily this time I was able to run to the car to charge, but better not to risk it.

- Make sure to break in some new shoes before a race.

It was a sprint, not a marathon

Today I ran the Whooping Crane Strut in Rockport. The good news is that I may have made a new personal best for a 10k distance. The bad news is I really pushed it hard in the last half mile and almost threw up across the finish line. It could have been a bad situation, but I managed to keep it together. More details soon. I need to head back to the park to see our official times.

Be back later....

More Jillian . . .

Tonight I decided to do BFBM because I needed something that was going to be soft on my knees. My left knee was a little tweaky today, nothing I'm not used to, but I wanted to play it safe and I knew this one wasn't too terribly bad when it came to knees (sure there's a TON of jumping, but that is easy enough to do without causing knee heartache).

I'm surprised at how well I did this time around compared to the last time I did this workout. I guess I must be doing something right :-) But I remain as flexible as a piece of steel. It's funny, when the warm up started and she did the toe touches, um, yeah, that was knee touches and not a centimeter lower. I really need to work on my flexibility. I mean, I know that I have a gut in the way of doing a lot of those moves, but the inability of my hamstrings to let go is quite impressive. I don't think I've ever been this tight.

The only moves that gave me trouble this time were the burpees (come on, my gut is in the way and my legs aren't flexible enough for me to just put my hands on the floor and jump back like that ... it's a PROCESS), the mountain climbers (the same reason, my thighs can't get forward quite enough because of the impediment called my gut) and the oblique twists (ditto on the above). I do have to say though, this time around I actually was able to do the oblique twists, just not as bendy as Jillian would've liked. I know that my upper body is getting stronger because these plank moves aren't killing me as much as they were when we first started doing this. YAY!!! It means, WE ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT!!!

Another 10 Minute Blaster

So tonight, even though my Kathy Smith aerobox and kickbox combo dvd showed up, I said that I was going to try the 10 Minute Solution Kickbox Bootcamp DVD. Wow, this one was actually a LOT of fun. The fitness guru for this dvd is Keli Roberts, an Aussie by the sound of her accent (I haven't checked her out yet), and she is a lot of fun to follow. She is also totally ripped, but not just her upper body, she is like body builder material.

So, this DVD was broken down into 5 segments. First was the beginning segment. Second was the buns and thighs. Third was the arms and shoulders. Fourth was fat blasting. Fifth and last was the washboard abs.

The first through third segments are the ones I did today. I saw a brief preview of the abs one, and I can tell you I am so not ready for those gumby moves. Jillian will have to do for the ab workouts until I am a bit more limber.

The first segment was fun. It ran through a series of kicks and punches just to get you used to the movements and the structure of the movement. Good way to start out. The first ten minutes flew by.

The second segment was all kicks. Rather fun and it also flew by.

The third segment was all arms, and while I know I'll be feeling it later, I didn't get the feeling that it was too hard at all. I felt like I kind of breezed through it - so perhaps it is time to get a heavier set of hand weights?

I know one thing for certain, my legs were still sore and feeling it from the first 10 minute solution day and Jillian, so I know they are going to be feeling it tomorrow. I need to do some extra stretching tonight so that I'm able to get out of bed tomorrow morning.

I'm actually having fun this time around. Mixing it up is good :-)

Oh, on other news, my hand held water bottle showed up today along with my 4 pack waist pack. I got these for 1 - shorter runs (hand held) and 2 - for longer runs (4 pack). The other waist pack I have only holds one bottle, so I wanted to give another one a shot . . . and considering how many folks I saw at the race with these I figured it was a good investment.

Now the only thing I'm waiting on are my shin/calf compression sleeves. Then I will be complete !!!

Needed a Baseline

So, when I woke up this morning I was exceptionally sore - particularly in my hamis and calves. I thought back to the moves from the 10 Minute solution and really couldn't pinpoint what required that much work, so I decided I needed to run a baseline today to see if it was me being out of it or if that 30 minutes yesterday was really just a lot tougher than I've been used to.

Guess who I turned to for my baseline - you got it. You can always count on Jillian. So, I did Level 1 of the 3DS to see if I was just that out of it, and I chose this workout because it's something we've done extensively and I know how I felt when we first started out and at the end of the second 30 days. It turns out it isn't me - the 30 minutes yesterday was just harder than I'm used to.

So, it looks like the 10 Min. Sol. is actually a good routine to add into the mix. It worked out muscles that normally don't see the time of day (btw, that instructor is totally ripped in her shoulders and chest - crazy ripped). I figured this was the case as I was able to make it through level 1 maintaining a decent HR (yeah I pulled out the HRM to make sure I was kicking my own ass) and finished with just the Anita modifications. Given this and my baseline from the first time we went through the 3DS, I know I didn't lapse all that much from my slacking off.

If you have a chance, this is just another reason to give 10 Min. Sol. a shot. I think tomorrow I'll try the kickboxing DVD from 10 Min. Sol. and see how that goes. My Kathy Smith stuff should be here by Friday at the latest.

Tried something new . . .

Ok, so I gave 10 Minute Solution 5 Day Get Fit Mix a try and here's the jist of the DVD. The workouts are broken down into 10 minute sessions. Fat Blasting Intervals. Belly Fat Burner. Lean Body Sculpt. Cardio Kickboxing. Power Yoga.

Fat Blasting Intervals - this is similar to the first 5 minutes of Jillian's 3DS where you combine cardio with weights for 10 minutes. She breaks them down into 5 intervals of 2 minutes a piece. It was rather enjoyable I must say. I was able to keep up with her the entire time.

Belly Fat Burner - um, ok so only Gumby would be able to do this workout. She combines a lot of yogaesque moves into the ab routines, and while they appear to be extremely effective, I am just not flexible enough to do about 4 minutes worth of the 10. Oh, btw, this totally kicks Jillian's ass. Talk about hard core fricking moves. If I get up the courage to try this one again I will do a play by play. The first several minutes are fun - they are standing ab moves with weights (so I used my kettlebell) and it was effective and a lot of fun. Then the routine moves to the mat and lets just say my body is not mat friendly when it comes to these kinds of moves. Here's an example - plank pose and then you move your right ankle around your right hand, hold and then back to plank and then do the same on the left side. Like I said, Gumby.

Lean Body Sculpt - I did not do this one today but it is basically pilates from what I gather. Simple moves intended to sculpt lean muscles.

Cardio Kickboxing - OOOH, this was my favorite. I love kickboxing, don't know what it is, but no matter how rough and tumble it gets I find it enjoyable ... maybe it's the constant motion?? I am not flexible enough to do the proper crescent kicks, but limiting the move to my knee works just fine (that is her modification). I don't know which is better - her's or Jillian's when it comes to kickboxing. Kathy Smith used to have a rather awesome aeroboxing and kicboxing VHS workout -- I LOVED those workouts and lost a ton of weight with them too. It really is too bad that the Aerobox never made it to DVD and the Kickboxing one is discontinued, so it's only available by greedy amazon sellers (can you believe the price tag??).

Power Yoga - I didn't have the courage to even attempt this one after doing the ab routine.

Overall impression of this DVD in the 10 minute series - this woman rocks. I really enjoyed working with her and she is a combination between Denise Austin and Jillian Michaels. My heart rate was up in the routines I tried, with the exception of my gaping mouth while watching the gumby routine, and I never felt like I wasn't able to continue. I think my HR got just as high as it did during 3DS (this is something I will have to check next time), but I think this one will definitely stay in the rotation. I recommend giving this one a try - especially if you want to really get an ab workout in that will leave you aching for days to come.

I think I am going to rotate through my workout DVDs and Jillian so that I don't hit a stalemate like I did in November and January.

Benefits of Running

I read this article this morning, and thought it was a nice summary of why running is so great: http://www.vanderbilt.edu/ans/psychology/health_psychology/running.html

New Shoes

After the marathon last weekend, Traci and I hooked ourselves up with new runners. I chose a pair of Nike Moto 6s, which were actually the model before my Bowerman Moto 7s that I ran the marathon in. After walking around the house a bit in the new Moto 6s, I decided that they were not to my liking. This past week, I've been using my old Moto 7s and it reminded me how wonderful it is to have super light running shoes. I wanted to see if I could swap out the Moto 6s for something even lighter.

When I went back to the Nike store today, they had a different selection than the last time we were in. The Nike Zoom Skylon 11 caught my attention. I tried them on and was immediately impressed at how cushy, but light they were. I also liked that they sit low on the ankle. I should mention that I also went to Academy and tried on about 30 other pairs of shoes from other manufacturers. The whole process underscored for me just how personal it is to find the perfect shoe for you. Different people want different things. I learned through the process what I want, and the Skylon fit the bill perfectly. I also learned that I need to up-size by one full shoe size to allow for socks and expansion. Now for a test run tomorrow!

New Steamers to try

So, I've gotten a little tired of the LC steamers and decided that I needed to try something new. I've found some new steamers - the Healthy Choice steamers - cheaper than LC and nice portion sizing. Good choices and yummy.

Another that I've found that really surprised me was Green Giant. Tonight for dinner I had the broccoli and rice with cheese sauce steamer and with a little mrs. dash it was delish. I recommend giving these a try - both are cheaper than the LC. I think the HC was about $1.89 and the Green Giant was around $1.45.

And the weather went to hell in a handbasket

So, I've been enjoying the wonderful sunshine and the nice warm days making my walks very enjoyable. Um, so the weather decided enough is enough and it snowed again today. Not a lot, but enough to make the mercury drop quite a bit from recent days.

I've been feeling good on my walks - my calf is feeling much better, my back is cooperating and all-in-all I feel pretty darn good. If we don't get too much snow, I'm going to track out a longer route on the cherry creek bike path ... no cars, no people and no rest stops for stoplights. Just what I need.

A Little Walking, A Little Running

In an effort to get my feet back in motion, I hit the road today with hopes of getting in 6 miles. This did not happen. I'm not sure what I thought would happen in the week after the marathon... that anything less than 26 miles would be a breeze? That I'd just fly? In any case, my legs still feel pretty weak compared to pre-marathon. I also got stomach cramps today, for the first time in recent memory. I ended up running and then walking 4 miles. I went on WalkJogRun just now and mapped out a nice route just over 6 miles as a regular running route for the next little while. I'll keep you posted on how that goes.

3 “Easy” Miles

Yesterday, I went for a run as part of a little mini-plan to prepare for the 10k next weekend. (By the way, next Saturday’s run is the Whooping Crane Strut.) On schedule for yesterday was 3 “easy” miles - that’s what the plan said exactly. This is the first run I’ve done since the marathon. I was hoping that it would truly feel easy, but it did not. My hips felt like they were creaking with every step, and my leg muscles felt extraordinarily week. My joints, babied by the sand at Surfside, felt jarred by every step of running on pavement. Yesterday’s run did not turn out to be easy; it did take consistent effort. Maybe today will be easier.

In better news I finally got a sports watch. It’s a Timex that also does intervals. It’s been so long since I had a digital watch, that I’m a little bit thrilled at all the great things it does. I mean, these aren’t “new” things... but they’re new to me, or at least renewed to me. I’ll try some interval running next week and let you know how it goes.

Traci, I also tried those wicker socks we picked up at the New Balance store, and they’re awesome! Thanks for that recommendation.

Ok, so maybe I overdid the Wii fun

So yesterday and today my right arm, shoulder and entire side feel like they've been run through ringer. I had an awesome time playing wii, but it would seem that much play time has a bit of consequence ... sore baby sore.

I played again today, but not as rough and tumble as I did the other day. Fun stuff!!

Hot Yoga

I still can't get over how much I love hot yoga... it's just so comforting to be in such a warm humid room... it's like being back in the womb. Actually, the last yoga class I went to, I fell asleep on my mat after the class and no one woke me up!! Granted, the heat does make the workout harder, but at the same time, it's more gratifying because you're sweating so much you really feel like you're burning mondo calories, when if fact, you're just kind of moving here and there.

I went to a later class than usual today, and ended up with a different instructor, whom I really really liked. Also, the studio I got uses a specific series of poses, and this instructor mixed them up a bit, which I also liked. All in all, it was nice to do a hot yoga class since it's been so long.

Enjoying the Sunshine

So, today is another lovely day outside and I am just enjoying the sunshine. I don't know the whole work situation right now, so today was another not going in day ... not exactly what I would prefer, but no work means no wasting gas to drive down there for no reason.

I got in some wii action today, I played wii sports for about 45 minutes (yeah, I know how many times can you play tennis, right?) and then played several rounds of punch-out (and that works your upper body quite a bit) before doing my cardio on wii. It was an enjoyable way to spend the morning and now I'm off to get in a walk and try to work the kink out of this calf. I have a feeling there is a tear involved and it wasn't just a charlie horse. Oh well, it will heal on its own just like everything else :-) I'm just letting it work itself out.

Kettlebell Action

Today I did a little bit of stationary bike, which I really enjoyed. I parked myself in front of the tv, picked a course and went at it. It felt good to pump up the heart rate a bit, and work up some heat. I even left the door open because it's gotten a bit cooler out lately, and within minutes my goosebumps were gone. I also tried a kettlebell today for the first time. I got a 10-lber and used it with the March issue of Fitness magazine's Body Makeover moves. The moves are meant to be done with a 6-lb medicine ball, so the 10-lb kettlebell was a challenge, especially for someone with little upper body strength like myself.

Overall, the workout felt great and worked out the kinks in my body and mind that today had left behind.

Good Colorado Race

Well I found a race in Colorado that had liberal timing and was not one that went through the mountains (a hard feat I am finding).

http://www.thecoloradomarathon.com/registration.html

This one is a bit earlier than anticipated, but it would be good for another half ... and it's at the beginning of May.

I was also looking at Cleveland (yeah, I know) but the run is fairly flat and has an 8 hour limit, which is ideal for me (at least right now).

October runs are still there :-) These are just a little closer - thoughts?

Recovery

Well, yesterday I went through some of my books about post-race recovery and found that I was doing things right in stretching and making sure I was drinking and eating enough.

I do have to say though, my calf is still putting up one hell of a fight. I've been stretching and stretching and stretching it and it still wants to tighten up. Last night I went for a short stroll in an attempt to loosen it up, and it worked until I got back home. Rubbing it seemed to help, so I knocked off early (like really early) and just slept.

Today I woke up feeling pretty good, the calf was feeling better, rubbed it down again and really worked the knots that seemed to take up residence. My back and right side of my body are feeling really good and I am smiling on the inside. I did some of my wii fit yoga exercises to loosen up some more because it helps you do the pose correctly, and that is what I needed.

I am not sure what I'm going to do tonight, but the weather is still really nice so if my calf is feeling alright, I will probably go for another short walk.

I haven't had the "don't know what to do with myself" moment but I think that's because I've already shifted gears into what should we do next.

Post-Marathon Blues

Today I woke up feeling good - no aches and pains, a tiny stiffness in my hips, and that's it. Body-wise I was in good shape, but mind-wise..... well, I didn't know what to do with myself. Honestly, I was feeling a little sad that this race is over after all the anticipation. I searched around for some after marathon recovery tips and found this article on Spark People. The article reminded me to "never hurry, never worry" and that there will be many more finish lines to cross. Cheers to that!

For exercise today, I did some Rodney Yee, and Traci, I'm with you - he's kind of annoying.

El Finite - But Not Really

So, I just got back home and unpacked and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Janet did a fantastic job and finished with a great time for her first run - really awesome job. My time sucked ass, but I really don't care - I finished and that is all I wanted to do. I miss Ella :-( (and of course I miss you guys already ... wish that I could've stayed longer).

Pre-Race:

Jitters - they just didn't happen. I think I was really ready for the race and as a result wasn't really worried about it at all. I also think the fact that I was down to the half instead of the full really helped out with the pre-race jitters.

Morning of the race, up and at 'em bright and early and enjoyed the ride down to the beach. I wasn't chilled at all, it was great weather ... but then again I was coming from a climate in the teens to a climate in the 60s, so for me it was absolutely great in the morning. The day was overcast, but that was absolutely great news because if the sun had popped its head out for any longer I'd look like a roasted tomato.

Race:

The race started and everyone just kind of sauntered through the start and it was nice that everyone seemed a bit relaxed about it all. I started out with a run, and I shocked the hell out of myself with just how much running I was able to do during the run. It truly is amazing at what we can do when we push ourselves.

So, I remember looking down at my watch and thinking it had been a really long time already, when in fact it had only been 20 minutes. This seemed to be the par for the course during the entire race. I thought time had been flying, when in fact it was pacing slower that a tortoise.

It took about 30 minutes for my shins to really warm up and get accustomed to the running on the sand (even though it was hard-packed it still took more muscle involvement to stabilize versus pavement). Once my lower body was all warmed up I set in at a really good pace. I kept this pace going until the turnaround, then some fricking charlie horse from hell seized up my left calf and I slowed to less than a tortoise's pace while I tried to "work" it out. I refused to stop. I even tried running again, but that ended with an awkward hop, skip and jump and some choice words out of my mouth before trying to roll my foot from heel to toe to really get at the horse. It felt like I had a yo-yo where my calf muscle used to be, and it sucked ass. I can still feel the pang in my leg where this happened . . . it will take some TLC but it will be fully functional in no time. Note - next race, make sure you have enough K, you really need that stuff.

After the horse hit the leg, I slowed and the folks that I was able to pass ended up kicking my ass. I didn't care, I was happy that I was still moving and finished the race - that was my goal, and by joe I made it.

I do remember that I sang aloud while jamming to my tunes and it kept me going. I rather enjoy that :-) I finished the race while pounding out Aerosmith, so all in all it was a good day.

Post-Race:

Stretching does a body good. I spent a lot of time stretching out my back after the race was over. Oh, that's another thing, my back performed beautifully during the race. It didn't give me a single problem and I LOVE it for that. For once it cooperated. After the aches were starting to work themselves out it was just waiting for Janet and I was so glad to see her coming in the distance . . . she did a fantastic job for her first marathon. She finished and crossed the line RUNNING :-)

While waiting on the beach for the marathoners to start to finish the sun started to pop its head out for a bit - and I think this is where most of the burn I experienced came from. I made sure my face was protected, but it still got red (at least today it's just a subtle pink) but my hands and neck weren't so lucky. At least by tomorrow it'll be back to white and I'll be all good. The wind was amazing during the race, keeping things and everyone nice and cool. I was amazed at the people during the race, they were absolutely phenomenal. Determination was not in short supply and each time someone crossed the finish line it was a definite experience.

Once Janet finished we got a chance to enjoy the Texas BBQ. Oh My Gawd. That is all I have to say. The brisket was freaking awesome - it melted in your mouth the second it hit your tongue. I was starving by the time we ate ... I started to feel the hunger around 10 am, and it was nearly 3 when we ate so needless to say I was hungry. I wish the brisket didn't run out when it did, I certainly would've had more ... a LOT more. But, I was able to enjoy more brisket today when Janet and Josh took me to lunch for some more awesome brisket in Houston. Can't wait to do it again. It was like butter melting in your mouth, the nice warmed up butter that you get with bread ... it just made your mouth happy and overjoyed at the fact that this awesome food was making its way through. Talk about finger licking good. Num.

About half way through eating the fog started to roll in, like a Stephen King novel, it consumed everything around it. It's funny, when we parked in the morning and started walking towards the finish it didn't seem like we parked all that far away; but, after the race was finished and we started back towards the car, man, it seemed like it was miles away. I was pooped.

After getting back to Janet's and cleaning up and watching some great Sci/Fi movies, we headed to dinner and had some fabulous mussels. Num double Num. After stuffing our gullets to make up for all the calories we burned during the run we both pretty much crashed. That was it, the eyes couldn't handle it any longer. I slept like a rock and woke up feeling great.

I slept most of the way home on the plane and after getting a few tv episodes in me, I'm gonna crash once again. I cannot wait to do this again!!!

Next Race:

I think we should shoot for something in October so that we have a solid 7 months to get ready for it. There are quite a few in October, so what are your thoughts?

WE DID IT!!!

It's one day post-run and Traci just got on the plane to head back home. (We miss you already Traci!) YES, we ran yesterday. YES, we had a great time. And no, we are not that sore today. I will let Traci fill in the details of her run, but I will just sum up by saying that it was a fantastic experience and a learning experience, and we're pumped to try another run in the not too distant future.

The Surfside Marathon itself was well organized, and very laid back. The scenery was GORGEOUS. The weather was perfect. When we arrived at 7 am, the weather was a tad chilly, but during the run, it was nice and cool with a cloudy sky and a beautiful ocean breeze. An hour or so after our run, as we were heading home, a misty fog rolled in, as if the marathon organizers planned it that way. Running on sand felt better on the joints than running on pavement. The BBQ after the run, made by a local church, was awesome. (Traci will tell you about the brisket.) All in all the A+ for the Surfside marathon.

I think we deserve a BIG pat on the back as well- Traci ran despite a previously unexperienced crippling charlie horse, and we finished!! We have runs under our belts and we are ready for more.

Some Lessons I learned from yesterday:
- EAT before the run! For gosh sake, what was I thinking? Two hours in and I was starving. I saw other runners brought energy gel packs or even snacks along the way. Smart!
- Wear LOTS of waterproof sunscreen. I did slather a bunch of sunscreen on, but it was not enough. Despite the cloudy skies, both Traci and I got sunburnt :( Next time, more sunscreen and a hat!
- Tunes are so key. The night before the run, I loaded my iPod with 10 hours of upbeat music, and it really carried me through the day.

I feared that today, neither one of us would be able to move, but we're in great shape today, much better than yesterday. Yesterday, I was very achy and creaky. Today, I feel it a bit in my hips and butt, but otherwise, I feel great. Traci and I headed out to the mall even and wandered around and got some new running gear. :-)

SO. What's next?
-

Holy Crap

Ok, so I took a look at the final registration list and the half is going to be chalk-full of people. There are 22.5 pages of registrants for the half ... the full only has 6.

I will likely be one of the last half finishers, but I don't care - this is about finishing ONLY.

Janet, if you decide to do the early start you'll have 7 hours to finish, and given your time on your 12 miler the other day I don't think you will have any problem with it at all.

See you on Friday :-)

Oddity

Well, it turns out last night I couldn't sleep. For me, that is not at all unusual, but instead of turning on the tv I decided to bundle up and go for a walk. Well, it was 3am, not a weekend and by the time I got home about four hours later I had done more than I bargained for. I was just strolling along and not really paying attention to much, but it was a clear night, no one else was out and I just enjoyed the peace and quiet. Yeah, I say that as I listened to my ipod with my hard rock and guitar hero songs all over it ... but you know what I mean.

Needless to say once I got home I took a nap. I just woke up and figured I would post since I didn't yesterday. I think I'm getting nervous about race day, and that's odd since I'm now down into the half instead of the full, but I actually had a dream about the run in my nap.

I'm trying to forget about it - really weird - and just trying to enjoy another lovely day outside. I'll see you guys in a week.

9 Days to Go - Nada Today

Well, I just got back from dinner, after going to a law event tonight. Josh was on course to make a chicken tonight, but it ended up sort of raw, so out to dinner we went. I didn't do any workout today. But I did speak with someone who just did his third Houston Marathon this year. He said that the first year he trained, and did ok, but it was his first marathon and he'd hoped to do better. The second year, he slacked, and actually ended up within 5 minutes of qualifying for Boston. This year, he trained really really hard and ended up not doing great timewise, and ended up exhausted before leading up to, and after the race. Let this be a lesson: don't overtrain. I'm certainly not in danger of it, that's for sure.

10 Days to Go - Outside of Thighs Sore

Wearing heels with sore legs is just a bad idea. I'm going to wearing sneakers to work tomorrow, I think. The outside of my thighs are achy. I wonder at what point all these aches will go away? Traci, I hope you got a good workout in today. I'm off to bed :)

11 Days to Go - Still Sore, But Doing Better

I got into my gym clothes before work today, in hopes of getting a run in at lunch time. I was still feeling quite sore, so I put it off until I got home in the evening. The weather was so beautiful out tonight that I couldn't deny myself some time outside, sore legs and all. (Traci, you're gonna love the weather here! Feb-Mar/Oct-Nov seem to be the best month's here weather-wise.) Unfortunately tonight, it was dark when I went out running, so I had to stick to areas that were well-lit to avoid tripping on the awful sidewalks. I ended up just running around the nearby small university campus over and over and over again. The route was about 3/4 mile long, and I got in 6 miles before heading home for dinner. My legs are still sore, but are starting to feel better.

The countdown continues

Well, it sounds like my night fared better than Janet's. I got in 6 miles, enjoyed the weather and got in another 4 this morning before heading to "work" for a few minutes. I don't feel like my short walks like this do much for me anymore as I've gotten so used to the distance and I walk them instead of running. I don't know if I should try running it to see what differences I feel (aside from the burning lungs that I know will be a result of a constant run for that distance), or if I should just keep on walking and then decide on race day whether or not I am going to mix it up with running.

I'm about to head out on another jaunt this afternoon considering it is still in the 60s and I am trying to soak up as much sun as possible before it turns again.

The change in weather has changed my mood a bit, for the better, and I am just hanging onto it while it is still pleasant.

Oh, I checked out the dates for the later this year attempt - and the Chicago one is on Sunday, October 9th. The fee for Chicago is $145 (can you say holy crap). The Toronto Waterfront is on October 16 and is a mere $85 until May 28th (then it goes up to $90 until the end of July). The New Orleans just finished, it is in February (my bad there, as I thought it was later in the spring). The Newport, OR one is June 4th and is $85 for registration before 4/1 (this one also has capped participants like Surfside).

So, we have some time to think about this and decide what we want to do ... and hopefully I will know more about where "life" is headed by the time I head down for the (half) big day.

12 Days to Go - Sore

The results of yesterday's run don't bode well for the marathon. My legs still feel like they're going to fall out of their sockets. My blisters made every trot to the printer a pain today at work. I basically hobbled around all day. Better luck tomorrow huh? Traci, I hope you had a better day than I did.

13 Day to Go - 12 Miles

I had intentions of doing 12 miles on Friday, but was so sore from P90X, I ended up taking a two day break to let my hips recover... and eat oysters, which are now in season in the Gulf Coast. Today, I peeled myself off the couch and out to do a 12 mile run. Dread. But there was no good excuse not to go. The weather was sunny, but breezy, and I had nothing else to do. I forgot how long it takes to run a mile. But I was reminded soon enough. The first mile felt fine, but I made sure to go really really slowly so that I didn't wear myself out. Around mile 4, my right knee started feeling a lot of tension, and I was concerned that it would give out, and I'd have to quit. I kept running and pretty soon, forgot about the knee entirely. My entire focus by mile 10 became merely to finish the 12 miles. According to my iPod tracker, I started off at a 9.5 min mile and ended at about an 12 minute mile. My hips are pretty sore right now, like my legs are going to fall out of their sockets. I have a few blisters. I'm ready for a good night's sleep.

Four Hours Later ...

So I went for 3.5 hours this afternoon, and what do I have to show for it ... a raw spot on my ribcage from my heart rate monitor. Frigging thing kept rubbing because I didn't adjust it properly before starting out, and lifting up my shirt in the middle of the road to fix it wouldn't have been very PC, so I left it alone and now have to deal with a raw spot. Good news, it'll be gone in a day or two.

I enjoyed the sun, put my sunscreen to good use and just enjoyed myself today. My pace was slower than I'm used to (and Janet is going to laugh at this given her 6+ mph pace being slow), and I stayed around 3.3 mph for my walk today. My normal pace is between 3.7 and 4, so it was leisurely today and yesterday, but I needed it to be that way to get myself used to the time element again.

Given that Janet got in 12 miles today, I feel like a total slacker - and tortoise to boot.

Forcing sleep

Well, today I actually forced myself to go back to sleep. I went to sleep around 3am and woke up at 8 ... hell no. I refused to get out of bed and just rolled back over so that I couldn't see anything with the hope that I would doze back off and get a few more hours. After about 45 minutes it worked and I got in another hour of sleep. Felt good - very weird dream in that little ole hour, but hey, it was extra rest that I really wanted/needed.

I'm about ready to head out for another walk given how absolutely gorgeous the weather is outside right now (61 and all sunshine :-) I'll post again when I get back.

Ah, hello there sunshine

Today was a marvelous day. Well, at first I wanted to sleep in since I didn't snooze until around 3am (damn X-Files), but that just wasn't meant to be. I was up and at 'em early this morning and got some cleaning done and then was out into the glorious sunshine and warmth of the day.

The walk, well I got in three and a half hours worth of walking in and just enjoyed the sunshine and warmth this morning. It has been sorely missed. Tomorrow, I think I am going to be doing the same as it is going to be another glorious day out there. I am going to soak up as much of this weather as I can before it turns again :)

Tired

I wanted to get in 9 tonight, but I made it 8 before getting back home. See, to do this route, I go 6 and then a 2 before stopping at home for refreshments ... and well, I didn't make it back out the door after the 8. I was chilled and just tired.

Tomorrow it will be in the upper 50s and a great morning to get in at least another 8, with hopes of it being 12. As the clock ticks down and I'm burying myself in the X-Files (gawd I forgot how much I really enjoyed that show - and am now working my way through season 7 ... yeah, I already made it through the first 6 and have 8 and 9 to go), and preparing for some good sleep tonight. I have to brush up on some SEC and fiduciary stuff over the weekend to start working on an article, but I will get the miles in :)

Have a good night. Tomorrow is another day.

Last Night - Can you say Ouch?

Ok, so yesterday I got a work out in before going to "work" and then another one when I got home late last night (Jillian in the morning and Bob in the evening). I was sore during the morning jaunt, and even more so during the attempt last night. I am trying to shock my body back into the groove, and I am feeling it today. I don't think that it is going to take me as long to get back into the swing of things since my body has been through this how many times over the past few months, but one thing is for certain ... this is a trial run. My back made sure of that, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let one little incident like that keep me from doing the full. We have to find another run later this year on a relatively flat course to get the full in ... perhaps the Toronto one in October, Newport OR in June, Chicago, New Orleans, Odgen UT (all during the spring months)?

Tonight I'm going to try and get in at least 9 miles, as the weather is starting to warm up again and I need the miles to reacquaint myself with the pounding.

I'll post again when I get back from my outing, and this weekend should be interesting.

16 Days to Go - P90X Shoulders and Arms

For my workout today, I did the P90X Shoulders and Arms, along with P90X Ab Ripper X. The Shoulders and Arms workout consisted of about an hour of various arm exercises using weights for some moves, and your body weight for others. I didn't realize my triceps were so weak until I tried the tri-side push-ups, where you lie on your side and lift yourself using your tricep strength. What a challenge. Overall, I enjoyed the workout because I don't workout my arms too much usually.

Ab Ripper X was another story. Talk about tough. This made the 30 Day Shred feel like a rest day. Ab Ripper X gives you no breaks, and you go right into tough moves, one after the other. It's my goal to finish this 15-minute ab workout without stopping.

As for yesterday's workout, it felt tough then, but I wasn't hurting so bad today. I don't think today's arm/shoulder work will be so kind. Shouldn't matter though because tomorrow is my long run day. Wish me luck!

17 Days To Go - Are We Back on Track? Sorta, Kinda

I'm with Traci on this one: we are paying for our slacking BIG TIME. I had intentions today of running 4 miles. Uh, no. Slater and I made it 2 miles through the semi-frozen mud dodging along zig-zaggy craggy sidewalks before the wind blowing though my hoodie made me feel like I was wearing nothing at all. And those 2 miles were no cakewalk - for the first 30 seconds before hitting my stride, my lungs were burning up. This is BADDD.

Not wanting to feel totally defeated, I came home and decided to kick my butt by doing the P90X Core Synergistics video consisting of a brief warm-up, a 45 min core workout, and a cool down. Like Traci said, I was feeling like day 1 of Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred all over again. I was suddenly aware of every ounce of jiggle. I made it though the workout with a few modifications, but I just know I'm going to be aching tomorrow.

..... feeling like the world's worst marathon trainer.........

But, the good news is the more we pay now, the less we pay on the day of the run. You certainly don't want to be "gargling your heart" as Jillian likes to say during mile 3 of your race.

Feeling Like Day One

Ok, so today was the first time really working out since my back problem during the first part of January. Needless to say I felt like day one back in October. I wanted to give Jillian another shot since she has a way of getting you off your ass and moving. I did 3DS and I felt like I did on the day of the first blog post ... like an absolutely run down and beat up slacker who hasn't been doing diddly for a long time (well that was the truth, I haven't been doing diddly).

So the first time going through level one kicked my ass and today it did it all over again. With 15 days to go, I have a bit of work to whip my ass back into shape ...

I was going to go for a walk tonight, but the temperature dipped again and not all of the sidewalks are cleared from our last bout of snow. At least it is going to get into the 50s this weekend. I will be able to get in two days of 10 a piece ... much needed at this particular juncture.

We are TOTAL Blog Slackers

Ok, someone has to say it, so I'm going to be the one to do it. After we finished with our second round of JM3DS we became total slackers on the blog front. We were doing so well with daily updates, and now we are lucky if we do weekly updates. What is up with that?

I know updating hasn't be on the forefront of things to do lately, life has a way of getting in the way, but given that we only have 20 days left before the big day, perhaps we should try to do updates again just to keep track of progress and nerves.

Well, It's Official

Ok, so it is now official, and a sad, sad, day. I am doing the half instead of the full. Today I went for a 10 miler and the time off for my back did quite a number. The level of conditioning that I had at the beginning of the month has been set back by a month, and I don't think there is any plausible way for me to get back to where I need to be with only 25 days to go.

As a result I am sending off the email tonight requesting that I be moved from the full to the half. But, I will be doing this again and get that full conquered, but I need to listen to my body, and right now it is telling me that 13 is totally doable but the 26.2 will take more out of me than I am willing to give.

31 Days to Go - 3 Mile Bike Today

I did a quick 3 miles on the stationary bike today. I haven't used a stationary bike much at all in my life, but I enjoyed it today. It certainly was good cardio, and my legs felt great afterward. I'm trying to mix it up with running every other day, and some other type of exercise on the off days.

31 days before the big day.

Feeling Human Again - 32 Days to Go!!

I thought that it's about time we start a countdown since WE ONLY HAVE 32 DAYS LEFT before the big day!!! How exciting.

The weather here in Houston was beautiful, so I went for a 5-mile jog around our new neighborhood. It was pleasant - people out with their dogs, the usual hippies hanging out by the museum, cars going at a slower pace than usual. I'm so grateful that our new apartment is in a neighborhood with sidewalks, which is a rare thing indeed in inner loop Houston.

Weekend Warrioring

I figured I should post an update as to how the weekend went after being on hiatus for my back. I thought that I would be slower and have a hard time, but as it turns out that two weeks off was awesome. I felt great after doing my walks (that is all I've done), and it would seem that my back is starting to snap back into shape (literally). I haven't done any cardio or strength because that involves a lot of bending, and I know that I'm not 100% yet to be able to tackle that without risking another episode.

I'm off to get in another walk.

Oh, the time at 24HF, as long as it was after 10pm, it was fine. I went on Sunday afternoon and it was relatively quiet as well. I think my time is either early am or late pm so that I don't have to give up the treadmill after a mere 30 minutes.

Back Won, But Traci is Back

Ok, so my back clearly won. It kept me on the floor until last week Friday, and still sleeping on the floor today. My back is slowly starting to loosen back up - I was able to get a crack out of it today for the first time in over two weeks ... which means it is starting to get back to normal. While I still cannot bend like I was, I am not at 100%, tomorrow I am going to go for a walk and see how things go.

I am going to get in some video workouts as well, but I need to keep the bouncing and bending to a minimum until my back is at 100% again.

I am going to start hitting up 24HF and give my membership its first workout so that I can use the bikes and treadmills when it is too treacherous for me outside. Clutz and ice do not mix - especially with my back.

We shall see how it goes ...

3 Miles & My Gym Dilemma

Forgot to post this yesterday: I managed to get 3 miles in at lunch hour.

24 Hour Fitness
I've been meaning to give 24 Hour Fitness a try by signing up for one of their 7 day free passes. Everyone else I know who works out has a membership there, but something about the big box atmosphere turns me off. Picky, picky, I know. I just get self conscious working out around a lot of other people. And something about the 24 Hour Fitness gyms just seems so testosterone, if that makes sense (this is coming from the girl that used to work out at "Flirty Girl Fitness").

I did suck it up and went to the 24 Hour Fitness down the street from my work, free pass in hand. It wasn't too busy, though the parking lot was full because the gym shares a lot with several restaurants. I was surprised to find out that most of the other people at the gym were not really working out. There were a few strolling on the treadmill, and a few pumping out a few weights. God I hate gyms. If I have to be there, you better believe I'm going to kick my butt. If I want to go for a stroll, I'll do that in my neighborhood. I managed to get in a 3 mile run at a decent clip... all while watching Maury. Which brings me to another reason why I hate gyms: there is always someone else hogging the remote. I'm going to give 24HF another try today, and maybe for the rest of the week. But the good news is that the console arrived for our stationary bike, so hopefully I can just do that and some running outside.

Yin Yoga

I took it easy today and did some yoga. The thing I love most about yin yoga is the feeling afterward, as though your blood flows more efficiently. You feel as though you breath easier. It is like a full breath for your body.

Here are some of my favorite poses:

Dangling - just a basic forward bend with your head cradled in your bent arms.

Sleeping Swan - this is like the pigeon pose in yoga, except your entire front body is on the floor, or at least that's the goal.

Reclining Twists - arms in a T, both legs to one side and then the other. This move feels divine!

I like to mix it up between the yin poses with some downward dog, child's pose, and plenty of plank.

Tracy Anderson Method - Day 0

New Deal
I received the book, the Tracy Anderson 30-Day Method, as a birthday gift, but only browsed through it without trying any full-length workouts. Today, I decided to give the full workout a whirl to get an idea of what it's all about. I'll call it flirting for now, since I want to get a feel for the exercises before "submitting" my body to Tracy Anderson.

The Method
Tracy Anderson's method is based off of 3 components: 1) muscle design, 2) cardio, and 3) menus. She insists on the menus as an essential part of the plan. You'll notice this is a stark contrast to Jillian Michaels, who does not include a food plan with her 30 Day Shred. Tracy also insists on being "religious" about doing her exercises. And not just any cardio will do. She says that if you want results, you must do her cardio program.

What I Tried Today and My Thoughts
Muscle Design - The moves were harder than I thought they'd be. I got a workout mirror installed, based on Tracy's recommendation, to be able to watch my form. When you do each move correctly and precisely, it really makes a difference and makes the moves harder. When you see yourself in a mirror, you feel compelled to look like you know what you're doing. All of the moves are mat-based and remind me of old-school Jane Fonda. Tracy employs what she calls cross-vectors and "attitudes" (90 degree leg angle) to train your small muscle groups. I definitely felt as though I was working parts of my body that don't normally get worked out.

Cardio - I have never felt more like I had two left feet than while trying this video. Granted, it was a lot of fun bouncing around looking like a lunatic leprechaun on a sugar high. But just pause a minute and picture how that looks. Then tell me if you want to be seen in public like that. I guess this is the beauty of home DVDs. The cardio portion of the method is on a DVD that comes with the book. It consists of two 10-minute routines that Tracy wants you to do twice through each for a 20-minute workout. I tried each one once through today, and broke a mild sweat. I did not nearly keep up with any of the steps because I simply don't have that type of coordination. My goal was to keep on bouncing and doing my best impression of a Russian dancer for the kicking moves.

Menus - This is the part I am really not ready to commit to. Horrifying. Juiced kale leaves for lunch. Ummm.......

Overall
Trying out these moves was really fun and I will give them a shot again tomorrow.

Resetting the Clock

No Excuses
I have completely lost track of what day it is in our exercise/training regimen, and I'm sorry to admit, that I have not been keeping up. Unlike Traci, who has been legitimately debilitated for about a week, the only thing holding me back was me.

After that SPX class a while back, my in-laws came to visit, and then I don't have an exact excuse for what happened after that. I'd come home from work, attempt to organize the chaos in our house, then land in front of the tv to watch awful shows like Animal Hoarders... and awesome shows like Tosh.O. I didn't grow up with cable, so having cable for me is like a kid in a candy store. I think I've reached an equilibrium though, and I'm gaining some self-control. The saving grace will be when the console arrives for my stationary bike. I have a workout area set up near the tv including a stationary bike. Josh put it together for me the other day, but somehow the console was fried, so we're waiting for the replacement part to come in. Then, I can have the best of both worlds.

What Next
I think it's high time I started some new exercises because I feel like I really hit a rut there towards the end. I was bored with the moves. As much as I like Jillian, there comes a point when there is just too much repetition. I'm going to give it some thought today, and decide on something new to try by this evening, and reset my clock at day 1. Any ideas Traci? And how are you feeling today? Much better I hope!

Back 4, Traci 0

Ok, so it's been about four days since the hot spot grew and this is a recount of me passing the time.

Monday - I got home from work and felt it slipping. I got into some comfortable clothes, got my blankets on the floor and my remote controls ... voila, instant new place. I stayed here the rest of the night . . . got some sleep, although not much because I couldn't roll over so I was pretty much stuck staring at the ceiling (how fun it can be) and hoping my back wouldn't slip the rest of the way.

Tuesday - I was up around 5 according to my phone, and my entire day was spent on my back, staring at the ceiling and cricking my head to the side to watch Mythbusters until my neck couldn't stand it any longer ... then back to the ceiling. Absolutely no movement today.

Wednesday - so today was a huge plus. Around 5 or so in the evening I was finally able to roll over. You know what this meant, I could rest on my side or stomach instead of staring at the ceiling. It also meant I could move a little bit and grab some rub for my back. My day consisted of PS2 and Mythbusters.

Thursday - I figured I would try a little more today and see what I could manage. I was able to push up onto all fours and with the assistance of a chair, table, counter and wall I was able to pull myself up and finally make it to the bathroom. I had not gone since Monday morning, and today was also the first time I had anything to drink. Gotta love it when you start hurting and everything shuts down so you don't have to risk blacking out to make it to the bathroom.

Friday - so today I wanted to try moving around a little bit. I managed to, with assistance, get up and move around a little bit. Once I'm up, I can move around for a few minutes before my back starts complaining - but hey, this is a staunch improvement over staring at the ceiling. I'm drinking water today because I am about as dehydrated as they come, and using my balance ball to help stretch out my back. It's awkward and it hurts, but I need to be upwardly mobile come Monday and this is the only way I know how to do it without causing further problems. It's only 2 in the afternoon right now, and I've hit my ibuprofen limit for the day ... so it's down to rub, stretch and hopefully being able to walk more than 10 feet at a time.

Punishment

Ok, so today marks the end of the second round, and my back is on its way out the door. I don't know what happened, all I know is the hot spot is growing and I have been here far too many times to not know what is about to happen.

If it goes, I'm looking at 10 days minimum of not being able to do anything, and by that I literally mean it. When my back goes, it disappears.

I feel like a total slacker by not being able to keep up (the back thing started last night, so yesterday was out as well - and this morning it just escalated). But on the bright side, every single movement I make, from breathing, to attempting to walk a few steps is extremely taxing.

I'm taking it easy with ice and heat in an attempt to stave off the inevitable disappearing act, but I don't think I'll make it through the night.

Cheater - Who Me? Day 28

Well today I got the hell out of dodge and went up into the mountains in an attempt to clear the cobwebs from my self-loathing. I think it worked, at least enough to snap me out of my funk. While my mood is not as lively as it was back in October/November, it is a definite improvement over the last couple of weeks when I've been sucking gravel.

I went and did some snowshoeing at one of the resorts in the mountains, and I really enjoyed myself. I think I am definitely going to have to do that again - just wish there was more daylight. It takes 2.5 to 3 hours to get there, then you can play in the snow, and depending on traffic can take even longer to get home ... and this is for some of the closer resorts. I didn't want to go to some of the really good ones because they were further up the mountains and there is a rather large storm that's going to hit at some point tonight, and I didn't want to get caught in it.

The nice mountain air did wonders for me - I only hope it continues through the rest of the week.

I should've gotten in a long walk today given the weather was so fantastic, but I will have to settle for a treadmill in a boring 'ole gym tomorrow to get the miles in (sigh).

Friday - Cheater - Day 27

Ok, so day 27 was a total wash. I was in the most foulest of moods and let it get the better of me. I totally cheated and didn't do a damn thing yesterday (unless you count Guitar Hero some form of exercise). I got home from work and just felt defeated in all respects. I changed, played GH3 and then crawled into bed and watched a couple of movies before dozing off around 1am. I am hoping that today is a little different. I need to find a way to nip this in the butt before it completely takes over on a daily basis (that would not be good).

So, day 27 = failure. I hope Janet had better luck with motivation yesterday...

Day 26 - SPX Workout

I'm with Traci, wasn't this round of exercise supposed to go better than the last? Have we plateaued? My mood hasn't been great lately either and I really feel as though I need a boost in terms of mood and exercise.

For my workout today, I switched things up and took an SPX class. It's like an extreme Pilates class, and as Josh likes to say about JM, it "breaks you off." I bet I'm going to be aching in strange places tomorrow.

Four to Go - Day 26

Well round two is almost at an end with only four days to go. I thought that I'd see more results the second time around, but that was just wishful thinking. It would seem progress, like my mood as of late, has soured.

Wasn't the new year supposed to bring on change??

Day 25 - Commitment

While I was doing the level 3 workout today, I kept thinking about the word commitment. You see, I really didn't want to workout today. Much more than usual. I felt like there was a running list of things I had to do. Everything that I planned on doing tonight got thrown off, and I didn't end up doing any of it. At 11:30, I could stay up, finish those things, go straight to bed, or workout. I chose the one thing that I really didn't want to do: workout. My thinking was if I can get this one thing down and right, it will make me feel better. Commitment begets commitment in other realms. If I can get this one thing down every day, then it is like my anchor, even when the waters are turbulent.

I finished the workout and I do feel better. The workout wasn't easy though. I don't think there's been a single day where I have felt those scissor ab moves were even remotely easy. My abs were a little sore from yesterday, so I had to take it a bit easier on some of those moves. In the end though, I'm glad I worked out. I can get a good night's sleep and be efficient tomorrow.

Your Spine is Your Lifeline ... Day 25

Truer words were never spoken. I used to do Denise Austin VHS tape workouts quite often and I always passed off her little limericks as nothing more than that ... but in reality, everything that she has to say bears a lot of truth. Not to step on Jillian's toes here, but Denise was doing everything Jillian does now, but she did it years ago and in a much nicer tone than Jillian.

Which do I like better? Well, I guess that all depends on the day. There are some days when the nice, relaxing voice of Denise Austin helps you get through the moves, and there are other days when you are feeling great and just need someone to beat you up - ala Jillian. It's funny, Bob is a lot like Denise Austin in that he has a calming voice about him. Jillian is the polar opposite.

I did another round of yoga today with Suzanne Deason in order to loosen up some parts of my lower body that have been tight since the "snowy encounter" and I felt great after the session. I then proceeded to pick up Denise Austin for some much needed change, and I did her "Shrink Your Female Fat Zones" ... its really quite amazing how much 3DS overlaps with her workouts. No Bob today, Denise took care of it for me.

I'm seriously trying to change things up so that I don't get bored, and today was definitely a welcome change. Not only did Suzanne and Denise get my mind off of Jillian for a while, but they made it possible to dive into Level 3 without giving it a seconds thought just so that I could get it over with. Did my performance improve - of course not - but my mental attitude improved for the day, and given the length of this journey, that is the most critical component for me, personally.

Daily Double - Day 24

I just finished reading Janet's post about heating up, and I completely understand. My apartment stays around 58 degrees right now, so layers are an absolute requirement for me. I have a ceramic heater that I use to try and keep it a little warmer, but it is only on for short stints of time.

Even when I do these workouts I keep the layers on . . . sure, I warm up, but I need to keep the layers on because once the sweat wears off, the chill sets in again.

Tonight I didn't have the luxury of starting off nice and warm because I didn't go on a walk before doing Jillian. With my layers on I started up and warmed up rather quickly. Janet is feeling the burn with the lunges, and I am pretty sure you are going all the way down (ala Natalie). Me, I am still in Anita mode when it comes to the lunges, and perhaps that isn't why they are killing me quite as much. I don't know if I will ever be able to go all the way down, but for now, my little movements are quite enough to get me burning.

Oh, and get this - I know someone who can do the moves just like Natalie ... granted she is a Pilates instructor so her core is about as rock solid as they come, but it was still impressive to see the oblique twists and those side oblique ups (whatever you want to call them - the ones where I don't even move) done properly and without even breaking a sweat. So, it is humanly possible ... just don't know if it is my form of human.

Day 24 - My Own Heating System

The weather here has been pretty cool lately, about as cool as Texas gets in the winter. We decided not to turn on the heat, so it's been quite cool in the house too. I was wearing a couple layers of clothing until it came time to do the Level 3 workout. Now I've peeled those layers off and I'm still burning up.

I think when I began this second round of JM, I noted that the lunges seemed easier. I don't know if my few days off really made a big impact or what, but lunges were killer today. I was huffing and puffing through them and my quads were burning up.

Day 23 - Back in the Game

Hello! I'm still alive!! This holiday has been a bit hectic with moving... and unpacking. I missed a few days, but got back into it today. (There was another day too when I got in a JM workout, but Internet wasn't up and running yet, so I didn't get a chance to post.)

I did the Level 3 workout and it kicked my butt harder than usual. If you don't use it you lose it I guess. I did notice that I've gotten better at planks, but all the quad moves and lunges felt very difficult today.

.... gonna go catch up on reading your posts now Traci. Sorry for being awol for a few days there!

Don Flamenco tryouts - Day 23

Ok, so what do you get when you mix rubber and ice? Give up? One hell of a ride. That is what I went through tonight - one hell of a wild ride. Details, if I must.

Today the weather was great - in the 40s. So, what does this mean? The five inches of snow we got over the weekend started to melt. Then, the temperature began to drop ... it was 15 when I started my walk and 11 when I got home. You know what happens to all that wonderful melting snow when it freezes - the damn sidewalks turn into nightmares on ice.

Ok, so watch this and at about 1 minute in you will see the Don Flamenco one footer on his way to kiss the mat. This was me walking tonight - except a bit more comical. The slip and slide, the feet doing the cartoonish back and forth in an attempt to stay vertical and the "Woa" moments where you catch yourself just before you face plant ... well, this was me tonight. The good news, I stayed vertical, finished the 6 miles and stayed warm because I was keeping a relatively decent pace given the environment I had to work with.

On the Jillian front, I knocked level three out of the way and didn't do anything more - still working on getting my lower body back into fully functional status. One thing to note, level three is definitely easier for me this time around than last time. I am finding that I'm not struggling with the moves as much as I was the first time around - yay me.