Where's the Beach?

Biceps for Friday Well, let's just say I ended up going to be last night just after 8. While my tummy feels better today, my head is absolutely killing me. Not really sure what the deal is. At least it wasn't a stomach bug. I woke up most definitely ready to eat this morning. I decided to hit the gym for a short, very low-intensity workout today. I did about 20 minutes on the elliptical then worked biceps. I had planned on shoulders originally, but remembered how it felt to run 13 miles the day after a shoulder workout last week. Um, not good. Even though I remind myself repeatedly to relax my shoulders and upper body, after running for so long, your shoulders and arms eventually do start to feel like you've been lifting weights. So running after actually having lifted only makes it worse. So biceps: giant set of 3x8 Hammer curls Cross-body curls Incline curls I also did some ab work after biceps. So it was a fairly short, sweet workout for a Friday. Nothing compl...

Challenging Run As always, you guys are awesome. I loved reading all of your comments yesterday . And Kristina , you do know me, I most definitely wasn't fishing for compliments or looking for an ego boost. I guess I am just curious what keeps people coming back. But I think it boils down to feeling like friends. Or I sure feel that way. Today I had my 6-mile temp run scheduled. The plan called for 1 mile warmup, 4 miles at 8:24 min/mile, 1 mile cool down. It was a gorgeous sunny day, but gusting winds. Winds + tempo run = barfy. It was hovering close to 80 degrees, but the wind definitely made it feel cooler, so that was probably the only plus for the winds. I got going and hit mile 1 at 9 minutes then picked it up. I had a vague idea of mile markers at that point because I was going a different direction on the river trail. I managed to hit miles 2 and 3 keeping more of an 8:30 pace. I was totally fine with that. What I wasn't fine with was the fact that I needed to get ...

Rest Day This morning I packed my bag for the possibility of getting in my 6-mile tempo run. But from the start of the morning, I knew it wasn't going to get done today. I entertained the idea of 3 miles around the neighborhood, but again, knew that wasn't going to happen either. Basically, I was simply out of gas today. I really had no energy and zero desire to do any type of workout at all, no running, no spinning, no lifting, not even a super short kickboxing. Nada, zero, zip. Done. I am hoping that today's rest day will help me get back on track tomorrow. It should be a little bit cooler and sunny. I'm hoping the sunshine will just call to me so much that I'll want to get out and start running. Fingers crossed this works in my favor. So, once again, I'm off schedule with the half training. I was supposed to be hitting 28 miles for the week. I doubt that will happen. Hopefully I'll at least hit 25. I honestly don't know how much the overall wee...

Butt Kicked Today I had planned on a 3-mile run at lunch with Jason. But I've got a confession to make. I'm starting to have pain in my right shin. So I decided to opt for a lower impact workout - spin - instead of going out for a run. I'll admit, part of me feels guilty for skipping the run. Yes, I know it's totally irrational of course. I think it was more of wanting to run with Jason and to be outside rather than stuck inside the hot-as-hell gym. But, rationale won out today. And of course it was a great class. But, I must follow that statement up with the fact that it also kicked my ass today. I felt so incredibly worn out from the get go. Just felt like a struggle. My legs just couldn't keep up. I felt like I had my butt handed over on a platter today. But, I'll still call it a good class - thank you endorphins. So, great workout, but one that was way harder than it should have been. Not that spin is ever easy mind you. It's just not low enough ...

Running How did Monday get here so quickly? I guess that's the sign of a really good weekend huh? I really wish the sun came up earlier, especially on mornings when I'm already up. Like this morning for example. Jason was going to swim, but Maddie woke us both up long before his 5am alarm. The dogs have been sleeping downstairs because of Maddie's early morning antics (basically just wanting out of the kennel so barking and banging around). This morning we heard her start in with her barking. But it was that one certain pitch that meant she wasn't just being a butthead, she needed to go out. You kind of feel bad for yelling all the way downstairs telling your dog to be quite when they're about to explode. But sometimes she's just barking because she wants water (as in toilet bowl water not the water out of the completely full water bowl) or who knows whatever crazy reason - like Heath being in "her" bed. Let's just say she can be a handful. ...

Weight Day Well if you ever want to sleep soundly for 10+ hours, run 13 miles or more. I slept like a log last night. I was actually sound asleep by 9:30. Jason was watching the Razorback's game. I couldn't care less or keep my eyes open, so that was that. This morning I really felt spent. I absolutely didn't want to go to the gym for my workout. But, I forced myself to get going. I knew that once I got going it'd be all good. The only downfall was that the heat was on once again. Seriously? It felt like a sauna. Oh, and good thing I wasn't wanting to use the squat racks. Once again, they were filled with 45# plates. So glad that someone can lift that heavy, but apparently they can't re-rack their weights when done.   Anyway, I went with biceps, back, chest today. I started with my typical elliptical warmup then went with trisets of 3x8: TS#1 Hammer curls Underhand barbell row Flat bench chest press TS#2 Alternating curls Pullovers Chest flyes ...

I loved reading your comments in regards to yesterday's post on inspiration . I do hope you all know I was not in any way shape or form fishing for compliments. I also hope that you all know that I find inspiration in all of you each day. Speaking of inspiration, I had to dig in deep today for inspiration for my long run. Today the half training plan called for 13 miles at a 9:54 pace. I will admit to being a bit nervous before I got going. Almost like I was racing. Though, I reminded myself over and over to not treat the run as a race. I knew I needed to control my pace. I did not need to try to run close to race pace - which I have a tendency to start focusing on. So my plan was to not look at my time until I stopped for my first GU around mile 6. The route I took put me passing a water fountain twice so I could refill then I passed my car a little over mile 10 for a final water refill. I was definitely prepared. I knew where I could get water, when I should take my GU. So th...