Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Tis The Season!!

See you guys after the new year!

I'll still be running (ugh; SO close to being DONE!) and LOTS of lifting..and spending time with friends and family.  Not to mention shopping!!!

But I won't be doing is blogging my workouts.  I might drop in a time or two; I have 2 10K's between now and the new year, so I might race report with some photos.

Or not!



Monday, November 24, 2014

Pre Thanksgiving Week

Monday

3.1 mile run

Tuesday
Off

Wednesday
2 mile run (treadmill)
Shoulders/Chest
50 weighted squats
50 dead(sumo) lifts
15min steam

Thursday
3 miles (elliptical)
Back, biceps and triceps
1 mile sprint (treadmill)

Friday
Off

Saturday
9.6 miles
Cinco Ranch
Ran with 2 girls from the group, but I paced therefore they ran faster and less intervals than what they are use to.  I warned them. :O)  They only had 7 miles to do so mile 6 and 7 I pushed them to sub 10:30 miles.  Which came back to bite me because I still had 2 miles to do and I was cussing on that last one.  AND it ended up being over 9 miles.  :O)


I was pretty tired from the morning run AND having to do things to prep for Sunday family day AND it was pouring yukky rain so I bailed on an evening workout at the gym.

Sunday
2 mile run


Zoo day and picnic in the park day with the family so I got in a LOT of active recovery today as well.  We were there for close to 5 hours, obviously a LOT of walking and for me crawling through prairie dog tunnels with the little, so I was BEAT, BEAT, BEAT.


No gym for me!!!

Monday, November 17, 2014

Another Week of Workouts

Here is something you didn't know:  I type out 90% of my workouts on Monday, and just fill in the blanks and/or edit along the way.  This keeps me on track and I don't have to think about it daily as to what my workout is.  And obviously sometimes it changes because I get a wild hair to do something different or I switch days around etc.

Monday
3 miles after work. 
Colder weather is coming this and today is the last warm day for a bit, so I wanted to get out and enjoy it but it was yucky and windy and I just was like eh, so the treadmill in the apartment complex gym it was.  And can I just say how HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY I am that I am no longer living in Nebraska, where today the temps are at the negative 0 mark (with wind chill, but still, 12 deg reg temp?  For the HIGH?  Yup.  I don't miss that place AT.  ALL.  I won't be stuck inside for 6 months!

Tuesday
Off

Wednesday
3 miles (treadmill)
Shoulders/Chest
10min stairmill
I actually set the clock to get up half hour earlier to run before work.  No thank you.  #WarmBed

Thursday
3 miles
Legs

Friday
Off

Saturday
6.5 miles
Solo run through Cinco Ranch.  45deg which was perfect actually.  Hard to get out the door even at 7:30am but it was fine once I started.  Long sleeve and shorts FTW!

Was going to go run at TH with work peeps but they were doing 9 and starting at 7:30 so starting after 8am for me was not an option.  To finish at approx. the same time just put me too late of a start.  I was ready to go so I just opted to stay close to the house.

I certainly do like running at my own (faster) pace and taking breaks when I need it rather than being with the group I signed up for.  I think I am either going to run on my own from here on out or with work peeps.


Whole Foods parking lot :O)  Instagram photo which makes me 9 times out of 10 chop off my head :O)

Opted out of the gym in the early evening as I had been on and off the roads all day with errands.

Sunday
Back, biceps, triceps
30min stairmill (this is the longest I have ever gone on this thing!!)  Easy to do when football is on :O)
15min steam
15min sauna

**************************
Y'all while its now Monday and I am posting this I have to tell you...this morning, my arms?  Wowza I could REALLY tell a difference even with no flexing!  Diggin' it.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Time for Round 2!


Recovery week is over and while I still went at it hard, I plan to still ramp up (lift heavier) when and where I can leading into the next half marathon (1 down, 2 to go until my year, more like 11months OFF!!!!)

Monday

I am switching my active recovery day this week to today instead of Tuesday.  I am having some woman issues, and I just feel like today I need the day PLUS its supposed to be storming tomorrow late afternoon into Wednesday, and I want the nice outside time while I can.

30min walk around my neighborhood

Tuesday
3 mile run before work.  The weather is supposed to turn nasty and as mentioned previously getting out and doing my run before work is definitely beneficial.  I don't particularly like running on the treadmill so if I need to lift, and I don't run in the morning, my run gets done at the gym for convenience sake.  It was warm and sticky muggy out, but I have now ventured out of the complex and have a nice 3 mile route I can run and still stay close to home without getting run over on the feeder road :O)  Its not the most scenic but hey its dark still at 5:30 even with the time change and really I just need to get the time in.  AND I am not running laps around my complex :O)

Back, biceps and triceps
10min steam
10min sauna

Wednesday
2 mile run (treadmill; it was raining this morning) AND it was raining after work too.  Blah.
Shoulders only tonight.  Just wasn't feeling much more than what I did; I felt like bagging the whole thing, but figured no matter what ANYTHING is better than NOTHING.


I didn't feel like getting back out in the weather so I just walked up to the apartment gym which was great in that it was deserted. 

Thursday
4 miles

Friday
Rest

Saturday
8 miles
Actually probably closer to 9 since I ran 4 by myself in front of running 4 with one of the running group pods.  Because I got done with my 4 early, and had to wait around, I did some running of laps around the shopping center, along with walking laps as well.  I had my Garmin off during this time so I don't really know my exact mileage other than the 8 displayed at the end.


Instead of going to the gym in the evening as I have been doing, I spent 5 hours walking around the outlet mall with my sister and niece in law AND BABY TUCKER!!!  It was my sisters birthday weekend, and when I was done with my run I had texts for a birthday shopping day so of course that won out!  I felt like I had done a marathon by the time it was all over with!

Sunday
Gym
Did an all over body workout today:  shoulders, back, biceps, triceps and legs.  A few movements for each muscle group


10min stairmill
10min steam
10min sauna

Monday, November 3, 2014

Recovery Week

Monday
1600m row
  Shoulders/Chest
Abs
20min steam
10min sauna


Definitely a little ouchy today and tired.  I never sleep well due to increased HR and soreness etc.  So I was tired when I woke up.  I gave my legs the day off for what should be obvious reasons.


Tuesday
2 miles in the am before work.  Nice and slow.  Ran 2min, walk 1min.


After work: 30min stroll before dinner


Wednesday
2 miles in the am before work
Legs (gym after work)
10min stairmill


After being so lazy last week for taper week, it felt GRRRRRRRRRRRREAT to get in there and work my legs.  I probably overdid it on squats and deadlifts (added weight too), and will feel it tomorrow and Friday but I don't curr!!!!  Deadlifts and squats are two of THE BEST overall body strength and body changing movements you can do.  Time to ramp it up people!!!!!!!!!

Thursday
3 miles elliptical
Back, biceps and triceps
10min steam
10min sauna


Friday
Rest

Saturday
5 miles (4 miles on the schedule)
The group I paid for and run with in CR had a 'bye' this week since they are all either running out of town or doing the Katy 10/5 tomorrow.  I thought about signing up for the 5 miler but they wanted $60!!!!!  HELL NO.  Late registration or not, that's ridiculous.  So I jumped in with another pod and they are doing a few weeks of speed training for a faster 5K.  This actually fit in perfectly.  I ran 2 by myself and then did the 3 with the group.  It was nice and chilly!  Actually wore a long sleeve Lulu Swiftly with my shorts.  JUST A BEAUTIFUL MORNING FOR A RUN!

Gym (early evening):  Shoulders/Chest

Sunday
The morning was spent food prepping while watching the NYC Marathon.  I was very excited to see that it was being shown on TV.  My fav Meb just barely missed the podium and of course Kara, chokes again.  I don't know why people make such a big deal about her.  She has yet to have proven herself.  She clearly just cannot hang with the elites; she bonks every single time.


I didn't go to the Texans game this week, so I watched the first half at home then headed to the gym.


4 miles then,
Legs, legs, legs.  I upped the weight again on my squats and deadlifts.  Great workout!!!  And of course I watched the 2nd half of the game.  #wompwomp


New week!  New opportunities for greatness!

Friday, October 31, 2014

July 4th Before ... October 26th After

I know the 2 photos are a bit different in how far away from the lens I appear to be (clearly the first one was zoomed in as I didn't run that close to the camera, OR I cropped the original making it seem closer), but I am pretty stoked at the differences I can see in just over 3 months time.

I will be SO glad when I can stop all this running and focus 95% on lifting and 5% on running.


Run less, lift more.  It works.  It JUST works.

My plan after Houston and Katy is to do cardio a couple of times a week, maybe running, maybe not, and then on the weekend do a 3-5 mile run.  This will keep me in 5K and 10K shape for any races I do decide to do in the Spring.  Clearly they will NOT be for time.


I am STILL battling the midsection blues.  It IS better, trimmer, slimmer a little bit...but unless I give up all things wonderful to eat for probably a month...ugh...I do plan to focus more on that though up until Thanksgiving :O)  The 2 diff pairs of shorts here are a size smaller!  I am back in my original lulu speed short size, but not to the point where the waist is baggy like they use to be, so wearing full length shirts is still necessary ;o)


Ladies, trust me, TRUUUUUUUUUUUUST me once you start to near menopause this is TROUBLE!  Unless you are just blessed with great genes and an even better metabolism!


This week has been fabulous at the gym!  I am sore as hell but I expected that after going at everything so easy last week leading up to the half marathon.  A little worried about my legs for tomorrows (short long run), but eh, it'll be fine.


TTFN!!!



Sunday, October 26, 2014

Race Week

Monday

Rest day.

This week is going to be a bit out of whack since I have the race on Sunday, I am switching things up; giving myself some extra rest.


Tuesday
2 miles (treadmill)
Back, biceps, and triceps
10min stairmill
10min steam
10min (dry) sauna


Wednesday
4miles
Spent the entire run having to pee like crazy.  The route I chose left me absolutely no options for bathroom break.  Ugh.


Thursday
Rest day
Our team got to spend the day out at Top Golf on the house, so there was a lot of activity, 4+ hours worth.  My legs were quite tired by the end. So not really what I had envisioned for a rest day but whatev.


Friday
2 miles
I actually got up 1/2 hour earlier and ran before work!!!  Its a miracle.  But now I think I might do this a couple of times a week; do a couple miles then focus on weights after work.  I just ran there around my complex which was kinda boring, but whatever.  I still had 1/2 hour to sit, relax and have my coffee before showering :)


Saturday
Rest day before half marathon!


Sunday
13.1 miles
2:11:37
 Race report to follow




Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Week in Review

Monday
Giving the ol' legs a rest today after putting them through the ringer over the weekend. 
.50 warmup on the elliptical
Shoulders/Chest
.50 (elliptical) to finish out an 'easy' day

6 weeks progress.  I'm good with it.  If I could lift more and run less it'd be better but training for races is hindering me.  Couple more months and I can focus more on lifting.



Tuesday
Such a GLORIOUS day today!!!  Fall is definitely in the air this week.  Ran through the hood for an easy 4.  I actually thought I was only going to run 3, but well...it was just too beautiful.

So 4 miles it was.  And not a drop of sweat on me.  No humidity makes me happy!


















Wednesday
Gave the legs the day off.  Completely. Not even warmup or a cooldown.  No elliptical.  No stairmill.  Nada.  The cumulative fatigue has my legs not recovering given that I rarely give them any time off other than a true rest day on Fridays.  Even then I am at work, up and down, and that includes a lot of stairs throughout the day. 

Gym: back, biceps and triceps
15min steam

Thursday
4 miles
Legs


Friday
Rest


Saturday
Met the work running friends at Terry Hershey at 6am for a change.  Since I didn't have far to go, and lets face it, I'm kinda over that run group, it was nice to go back to TH.  I do love running there.


6 miles
I was a bit worried if I would be able to keep up with them, having been training pretty much solely doing intervals, but I did OK!  I ran the first 3 miles with them straight and since they were doing 10, I had to turn back.  I did the last 3 miles doing 3/1's with one other who was only doing the same distance.  Was so nice to be done in just over an hour!


Early Saturday evening I hit up the gym.


500m warm up on the rower
Shoulders and chest workout
20min on the stairmill


Sunday
I got distracted by the thought of going to the pumpkin patch with the family early as I saw a post on FB, so I was showered, threw my hair in a ponytail, and was out the door.  It threw off my whole day but I didn't care!  Family!  Tucker!  Pumpkin patch!  Lunch with the fam!  Here are just a couple photos taken; obviously I have like a zillion on my phone.


Well I was going to insert some super cute photos, but blogger be funky and won't let me.  Their on my IG (glitterrunner) so if you follow me there, you know what is missing :O)


It was close to Cowboy game time by the time I got home, watched kickoff then passed out until like 5:30.  Ooops!  Went to the gym close to 7pm, did 4 miles and called it a day.  Cardio only.








Monday, October 13, 2014

Another Week Closer to Race Day!!



Monday
40min run
15min steam


No lifting due to shoulder/back.  It doesn't hurt anymore but I wanted to give the muscles the extra day of rest.  Lets face it, running doesn't require much muscle (other than your heart), especially there.  And I LOVE it when I have the steam room all to myself.  So much more peaceful and gives me the alone time I sometimes so desperately need.  I am seriously addicted to the hottiest-sweatiest rooms fo sho!


Tuesday
It seems the days that I go in to a workout with lets just do the bare minimum because I don't wanna do ANYTHING, turn out to be my hardest efforts.  Go figure.


1 mile warm up (elliptical)
2500m row (16:15)
Shoulders and chest
Lord have mercy I TORCHED my shoulders this time.  Not that I haven't before, but holy smokes what was I thinking!?!?!?  I did 3x8 then a 4th to failure.  Ouch ouch OUCH!


Finished off with some stability ball plank/pushups (3x10)



Abs (cherry pickers)
Then did a series of over the step hops box (height 12in)
Shown here later in the video
I use a box that is used for box jumps since its higher and I get more out of it.  Keep in mind that the faster you go over and over, the better conditioning you will get. 


Also added in step box top (reverse) lunges (also using the jump box as described above)


For those last 2 things, with the box, its always more fun to me when I have some really fun hip-hop booty shaking muse-ak to get the tempo really high.


My legs were smoked by the time I was done.




Wednesday
4 mile run/walk


Thursday
I have been battling allergy issues all week (mostly an extremely sore throat to where I pretty much haven't been eating much), and today I was hopped up on meds and felt like I was drinking Chloraseptic all day.  So at the end of the day, I just opted to take a day of nothing.  When the guilt would creep in, I had to keep reminding myself what I have been putting my body through for 2 months now, and that I HAVE to do this more often.
So my workout was laundry, vacuuming and watching TV. :O)


Friday
Scheduled rest day


Saturday
The group run this Saturday was split up to where it was just not convenient for my mileage which was to be 13-15...I don't know...this group and its distances is dumb.  I will be glad to be out of this group once and for all.
One guy had 20 to do, so there was a 9 mile and an 11 mile.  I wasn't about to get there any earlier than 5am, so it was 11 for me to start.  At mile 7 it started pouring rain, so the last 4 miles I was without music, and was soaked to the bone.  Ugh.  I thought I was going to add on at the end but I was over it.  I called it at 11 miles and I would get more in later at the gym.


Around 5pm I headed up to the gym and got in 2 more miles and probably better for me since my legs were tired and stiff from the morning.  Nothing like running on tired legs right!? 
I then hit up the weights for back, biceps and triceps for about an hour


2 weeks to the half marathon!!  Which means an easy (and short) run this coming Saturday!  Probably going to run with friends and NOT the running group.  Blah.


Sunday
VERY tired tired legs from yesterday...but I wanted to exhaust them as much as possible over the course of the 2 days.
1 mile elliptical
20min stairmill (1.21miles)
Legs, legs, legs and more legs....
Abs
15min steam
10min sauna