Where's the Beach?

Running & Lifting  I don't know if it was the heat or what, I but I slept terribly last night. I just tossed and turned all night. And of course I wake up at 4:30 and then finally doze off fairly soundly to be rudely woken up by Jason's alarm for his morning master's swim class. My alarm was set for about 5 minutes later, because I had planned on getting up to go for a 3.5-4 mile run. I almost always wake up when he gets up anyway. This morning I came incredibly close to saying forget the run, sleep is more important. Of course, I knew I wouldn't be able to fall back asleep for an hour. So, I was up and out the door by 5:30. Again, our "low" was something like 84 degrees with the heat index. And this morning there was not even a breeze to help out. My first mile was pretty slow. I was totally ok with that. I was still waking up and questioning my sanity anyway. Mile 2 felt a little better but my legs started feeling so heavy. I couldn't figure o...

Trying Out Mesh This morning I went ahead and got myself up and out of bed when Jason got up to go to his morning master's swim class. My plan was to get in 3-4 miles. At 5:30 it's still completely dark out, so I did hedge around until about 5:35 so that it would at least start getting light earlier into my run rather than right at the end (if that made any sense). I tried out my new Brooks Running D'Lite Micro Mesh Racerback . Normally I just wear a sports bra and shorts, but I wanted to try to find something I could wear when running solo that wasn't hot and was vibrant so I could be seen. This shirt fits the bill. It's mesh, as in mesh mesh, totally see through. However, you get the feeling of some coverage rather than just bare skin. Since it is mesh, the air flows right through it almost as if you were running without the top (almost, because it was sticking to me by the end). And, I think it's a good safety measure for being more visible in the dark...

Running and Enjoying the Weekend This weekend was super productive. I got in 2 pretty good runs, definitely better than Friday's run. Saturday I set out for 4-5 miles. It was really hot (go figure) so I was trying to be flexible about my miles. If it was just too much, then I'd stop early. There's really no reason why I must get in 5 miles, or any for that matter.  They weren't just easy peasy, but so much better than the previous day. I definitely pushed myself for some pretty good splits. My first mile was 9:10, then I got in 8:53, 8:54 then a holy-crap 8:36. I messed up my lap on mile 5 so I don't know exactly what that one was, but my overall average was 8:53.  Now, I need to shave off about 10 seconds from that and be able to sustain for 13.1 miles and I'll be good to go for my next half ;-) Oh, good to know lesson learned - ice pack on the back of your neck after a hot run is amazing. I can't believe I haven't been doing that all summ...

Holy Humidity  As has become typical on Tuesdays, we woke up just after 5am to get in our medium distance run. The plan was for 6 miles. It was humid from the start, that kind of humid that makes it feel like someone is sitting on your chest. Normally exercise does not affect my asthma. Humidity, however, is not my friend. I had a terrible time getting my breathing under control this morning. I finally started to settle into an ok rhythm around mile 2. The first mile was just getting moving really and was at a 9:31 min mile. Mile 2 we stepped it up a bit for 8:54 pace. Jason made a stop by the house and I continued on meeting him at my mile 3, which was surprisingly an 8:44 pace. I had to stop and wait a while for 4 cars, perfectly spaced apart, just after my 3-mile point. This completely threw my rhythm out of whack. We got going again and mile 4 was 9:09 (not bad considering the extending standing and waiting time). Then my Garmin froze up on me. I didn't notice it for a w...

Sprints & Legs This morning I had kind of sort of hoped to wake up when Jason got up for swim so I could get in some kickboxing. However, he apparently decided not to go so he didn't get up, which means neither did I. So, the next plan was to get in a speed workout. We hadn't done a speed workout since that last wonderful one when it was 103 degrees out. Sadly, that one actually felt better than today. We did the same set up as the last one - 1.1 mile run over to the park. Then 8 35-40 second intervals with rest between. The rest times became more sporadic depending upon the puke factor that was happening. While it was cooler out, index 89, the humidity was insane. It felt like it should have been raining, but it wouldn't. Seriously sweating the minute I started moving. My lungs were not happy at all. I had such a hard time breathing today. I never seemed to get it completely under control. But, I managed my intervals at a decent time somehow, miracle or delus...

Running Originally, Jason and I had planned on running early this morning. But, we did have quite a cool down (so it wasn't as necessary to get out before the sun came up) and Jason has been up to either swim or run all week and was wanting to sleep in a bit. I was kind of disappointed at first, but when I didn't sleep well last night, I was really happy we put the run off until lunchtime. Sometimes things work out right don't they? We set out for the run just after 11:30. It was sunny, clear skies, 72 degrees but almost no humidity (or at least no humidity for here). There was a nice breeze, so it really didn't feel terribly warm. We headed towards the arts center where there is a park we have been running through more frequently. It's just nice to take a different route, see some different scenery. The goal was 4 miles with no particular pace in mind. In fact, I never looked at the lap times until the last mile. I know we were speeding up. We both sort of s...

Two on Thursday This morning started off checking off a to-enjoy list entry: morning run with hubby. Jason was not nearly as excited about the early morning run as I was. I think he fell asleep in the car on the way back home ;-) I got in just under 6 miles (5.9 to be exact; yes I like to be exact). It really was a great run again today, though the humidity was definitely up there and not a bit of a breeze to help out in the cooling department. But, everything just clicked. Then again, maybe I wasn't awake enough to know any better. During lunch, I was able to get my back workout done and some abs. I went with giant sets today of 2x8 and 1x10 Double-arm dumbbell row Pullover Rear flye Band work - lat pull downs - 2x12 I did abs from Cathe's Power Hour DVD. It was a pretty good workout, but I really wish I had a barbell at the house for barbell rows. I feel like I have better form and can lift heavier weights for underhand position. Oh, while I'm "wishing,...

Boxing Over Running I had thought that I might run today depending on the weather. I just wanted to head out for an easier 4-miler. My training plan had originally called for 5-6 yesterday and 9-10 today. Unfortunately, it was really windy and looked like rain all day. I took that as a sign that I needed to do something other than get in a run. So, I went with Cathe's MMA Boxing then abs from Power Hour . It was a fun workout and time flew by this morning. Errands, Chores, More Car Shopping After the workout, I started working on some house chores before we decided to head out to run some errands. We recently rearranged the living room, and I wanted a new lamp for a side table. We hit up Kirkland's and scored a great deal on the perfect lamp - $16.97! Then we hit up Target and a few car lots before decided we really had to eat before we could even think about the grocery store. While eating, however, we talked ourselves into going back to one of the lots to test drive ...

Apologies  First off, I want to thank everyone for their kind words of support and encouragement regarding my knee. So many of you know first hand what I'm going through. Now, I must apologize for being such a whiny brat. I was being very self-centered yesterday. I know I am not the only person in the world who has ever had a side-lining injury. Some of you have gone through far worse; some of you are still recovering. So I apologize. Weights & Boxing Today was a cold one, but at least the sun came out. That helps some. I had wanted to go home at lunch at get biceps and abs done, but I forgot I had a birthday lunch (mine with another co-worker). It was a stressful morning, just the kind of morning that pretty much demands a mid-day workout. Sigh. Biceps were from Cathe's STS Meso 2 Disc 15 done as drop sets using 70% of my 1RM. Dumbbell Curls - 12, 10, 8, TF Seated Alternating Curl - 12, 10, 8 Preacher Curl on Stability Ball Double Arm - 12, 10, TF I followed t...

Biceps, Abs & Step We had rain in the forecast today, so I wasn't banking on a run. I decided to do weights at lunch and cardio after work. I went with biceps and abs today. I wasn't sure how I wanted to do the biceps in terms or reps today. I stumbled across an article by Tom Venuto that helped solve my dilemma: Five Star Arms .  In this article, he lists out a variety of methods for bicep work, one method mentioned is a 4-rep System by Don Ross. It sounded interesting, different, so I thought I'd give it a shot (or the method anyway). You can read the article of course, but the general idea is to pick 4 exercises and change up the number of reps for each. I did 3 sets of each as a single set starting with 6 reps and increasing by 2 reps so that by the 4th exercise, I did 12 reps: Dumbbell biceps curls: 3x6 Hammer curls: 3x8 Incline curls: 3x10 Cross-body curls: 3x12 I really enjoyed this method actually. It was nice to try something different, and I'm...

Working it Out at Lunch So I will refrain from stating how insane work is again. I swear I don't even have a clue what day it is any longer, especially since I'm thrown off my regular schedule. But, I think you all get that. I know several of you are having insane weeks too. Hopefully we all can recover just a bit this weekend! I took a slightly longer lunch today to get in all of my workouts done. I didn't think I would have time after work before the welcome reception for our conference. I did back and biceps today, opting for the pyramid method. It was pretty much the same workout as last week. For the pyramid I did reps of 12, 10, 8, 10, 12 increasing then decreasing the weights. Pyramid SS#1 Pullovers into Double-arm rows Pyramid SS#2 Biceps curls into Hammer curls SS#3 Underhand rows Alternating biceps curls Lat band pull downs - 2x16 I followed this up with all of the first and second combos/intervals then the boxing only from the third for Cathe...

Working out After Sleepless Night  Ugh, last night I slept terribly for multiple reasons. I woke up around 12-ish and didn't fall asleep again until close to 3, then up at 4:50. I seriously have to find a new pillow this weekend. I keep trying to find one around the house that will work, but I'm spending my nights fighting with the stupid pillows and being uncomfortable. Also, dear sweet Madeline decide to eat her bed in her kennel. That dog will eat anything - no lie. So for whatever reason last night, she decided to treat the bed as a giant stuffy chew toy. And of course I could hear this commotion. GRRRRR. Anyway, I did reset the alarm, but since I wasn't sleeping, I just when ahead and got up to get my workout done. I started off with Cathe Friedrich's Cardio Fusion . I only did about 30 minutes of it before moving on to weights and abs. I know I've said it a million times, so before I get called out - yes, I recommend doing weights before cardio. However, ...

Pursuit of Happiness I must say that you all are the most fantastic readers and friends a girl could hope for. As most of you can probably tell, I realize that I am too hard on myself and the post was definitely a way to just try to sort through feelings/thoughts/emotions and to show you all that I am honest. I try not to sugar-coat things and pretend that I'm just a happy little lark 24/7. Not all workouts are great; I have days when I don't want to do anything at all; I have days when my eats are less than stellar; I also have issues with accepting myself for me - those flaws that make me so unique from any other person. I think (from your comments and other blogs I read) this is notion of perfection is something so many of us struggle with. We feel we must be perfect somehow, no flaws, no missteps, just perfection all the time. That's impossible. We (especially me) need to learn that our flaws, those moles, crooked noses, even pesky little wrinkles make us who we are ...

Ballgame Recap with Midget Wrestling Last night's game was much better than Thursday's game. It was still hot, but there was a stronger breeze blowing through that helped tremendously. Even better, we won. That certainly can't hurt. The game started later than the normal 7:10 start time because of Midget Wrestling. Yep, you read that correctly. This is Jason's day to go to the ballpark. We hadn't planned it this way, we just got "lucky." I think it's totally obnoxious, but he gets a big kick out of it. Here are a few pictures of the wrestling then of me and two of my friends and then me and Jason. I goofed and didn't get a picture of the guys. Very intense moment. No words to describe. I have no idea why I am leaning in so far. Thank you dear for putting the beer down for the picture. Chest, Back, Abs Oh My I kicked my day off with a good chest and back workout. I did drop sets of 4 sets of 8 decreasing the weight in between each...