tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-314606742024-03-23T13:58:22.135-04:00SeaJay035Working To Become Who I Was Created To Be!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.comBlogger389125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-58719606691859825282012-11-12T20:45:00.002-05:002012-11-12T20:45:25.597-05:00Damage Control November - 11/12/12The kids had soccer tournaments this past weekend and boy did it mess with my eating. I had great plans of bringing veggies and dip (which I did) but I never ate them. I was eating more pretzels and crackers than anything. I've really come to believe that my mind works on an all or nothing basis but usually only on the negative side. If I'm eating really well it is very easy to slip off that wagon but when I'm eating poorly it isn't at all easy to slip off that wagon and get back onto the good one. I'm sure most people would agree that this is the case most of the time but it doesn't make it any less frustrating. Each and every day I start with the idea that I am going to have a healthy plan for the day and follow it but yet at the end of each day I look back at numerous bad choices.<br />
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My exercising has been mostly on point. We had a good run Saturday morning and I took Sunday as a rest day. I was supposed to run this morning but I've been fighting a cold and with all the travel and such this weekend I didn't have it in me for a hard/fast run. I did however get in my Turbo Fire workout in the afternoon. It was the Fire Starter program and with a couple of exceptions I did better with the moves than last time. There is one portion of the workout that I just haven't quite got down but I think I was close toward the end so I'm hoping to get it next time I do the workout. Tomorrow is a new workout (forget which one) so I'm looking forward to that.<br />
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I'm going to try and write down my nutrition plan for the next day and then keep it with me during the day. I'm hoping that it will be a reminder for me to stick to the plan. I also need to work on increasing my water consumption. Those are my 2 goals for tomorrow - update to follow.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-18140308181596603112012-11-09T06:01:00.002-05:002012-11-09T06:01:51.867-05:00Damage Control - November 11/8I've switched the type of title because I KNOW I will lose track of what day I'm on! LOL!!<br />
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Anyway, I didn't get a chance to write yesterday so I thought I make a short entry this morning. My run yesterday was a big struggle. My legs were still exhausted from the day before. Looking back on the day, it was a hugely intelligent move to combine my first Turbo Fire workout with a day that included the hardest run I've done in years (and that is NOT an exaggeration). However, I was really excited to get started with my new program so I'm glad I did it.<br />
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So, yesterday was already scheduled as an easy recovery run and it turned out to be very easy. I covered about 3.5 miles and even walked some of it. That particular fact didn't make Chip real happy because he was<b> fired up</b> to run yesterday. But I knew that the smart thing to do was to go easy - important tip!!! Listen to your body and adjust accordingly. In fact, I just told a friend how has recently started P90X - there is no rush to get through the programs. Don't be a slave to any program. The important part is to keep this lifestyle going for a.........lifetime. Sure it is good to have goals and to work toward something but not at the expense of your health!<br />
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Nutrition was only OK yesterday. I didn't get in my 3 servings of veggies but I did have my Shakeology. I also snacked on some off plan stuff - hence not getting in my last serving of veggies (I did get 3 in though). My biggest issue is the extra junk. My meals are pretty healthy but the extras that I add it are what is the biggest issue. My Friday goal is to make my nutrition plan and stick to it - no extras and no skipping. I will post my Friday results later tonight.<br />
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Have a great day!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-67086636191198075942012-11-07T21:02:00.002-05:002012-11-07T21:02:08.594-05:00Damage Control - November Day 3Today was an amazing day on the exercise front! We did a run that my friend calls the "No Talk 5K". During this workout we run a 5K like we were in a race and then do a cool down back to our cars. Today there was a twist though: the run was basically all hills. One of these hills is an absolute bit*#! At the top of this hill I actually had to walk for a short time because I was so out of breath. From here we run back down the hill and then up a couple others. I really pushed myself hard and was rewarded when I took a look at my numbers at the end of the workout.The first mile was run in 8:39 the second mile was in 8:48 (this is the mile with the awful hill) and the third mile was in 8:21. These times are wonderful for me right now <b>ESPECIALLY</b> considering the course. After the fast 3 we walked for a bit and then ran back at a slow pace. The total distance covered was 4.45 miles in 39:56 for an average pace of 8:59!<br />
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If that wasn't cool enough....I was able to do my first Turbo Fire workout when I got home from work. It was the starter program where Chalene teaches you some of the moves you will perform in the "real" workouts. I put the work real in quotes because this starter program was a workout for sure! I can already feel all the muscles in my core starting to get sore. I did pretty well with the moves too. I wasn't sure how I would do with them because I'm not really the group aerobics kind of person but this program is different. Chalene broke down the moves and did them slowly and then picked up the pace. Gradually adding moves as we went along. This program is really going to help me burn calories and tighten up my core!<br />
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Tomorrow I am hoping to run but I'm not sure what the weather is going to be doing. It is raining right now but it may turn into sleet and/or snow. If I do get out for a run it will be an easy one - don't think I could go hard after today. If I don't run then I have TF Stretch 40 on the schedule but I may add some lifting as well.<br />
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Off to get ready for tomorrow!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-73948236994379023302012-11-06T09:19:00.004-05:002012-11-06T09:19:46.536-05:00Damage Control - November Day 2Today is day 2 of my newest challenge and although it is early I am pleased with how it is going. Yes, I know it is still early in day 2 and that I am writing this at a little before 9 in the morning but I've already got my workout finished. Today's workout was a difficult one to get started. I was up plenty early (Chip made sure of that - the dog LOVES his schedules) but a spent a little bit of time debating whether I should do one of my existing DVD workouts or wait for my Turbo Fire which is supposed to come today. I decided to get off my butt and do a workout! I chose P90X KenpoX. I really enjoy that workout, I think in part because I don't do it very often. Even when I was doing P90X consistently, I didn't really do the cardio type workout because I was doing a P90X/running hybrid. It was a good start to the day!<br />
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As for nutrition, so far so good. I decided to change it up a bit today with my <a href="http://myshakeology.com/seajay35">Shakeology</a>. I usually have it for breakfast and combine it with fruit, milk and OJ. Today I decided to have an egg white/salsa breakfast and will have my Shakeology as a mid-morning snack. I'm going to try it with some super cold milk (it is in the freezer as I type). I tend to drink my Shakeology the same way every day - it comes with a calendar off all sort of different recipes but I haven't really gotten around to trying any of them. Maybe that can be a secondary goal for this challenge.<br />
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I was also very pleased that I don't have any pain in my foot after yesterday's hard run! I had periods yesterday when it was a bit uncomfortable so I made sure to stretch and ice. It seems to have worked which makes me VERY happy. I'm really starting to believe that I will be able to get back to running the way I used to run. I know that I need to keep up with the stretching and the cross-training but I'm truly hopeful that I will be able to not only get back into racing but that I will be able to do so competitively!!<br />
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If anyone reading this is encouraged to change your eating or exercising habits please feel free to contact me. I would be honored to help you on your journey. All the programs I've mentioned here are offered by Beachbody and are terrific programs but if you are just starting out and want something less challenging, I can help you there too. Please check out my <a href="http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/seajay35">website</a> or give me a shout. You don't need to purchase anything - I just want to help you reach your goals.<br />
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Have a great day and remember to vote!!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-52187106685833494042012-11-05T13:50:00.001-05:002012-11-05T13:50:11.664-05:00Damage Control - Novemeber Day 1I haven't been a big Blogger lately but I wanted to document the next 30 days. I have joined a great group of Beachbody coaches and we are going to try to help and push each other over the next 30 days. I am planning on combining my running with the Turbo Fire program. I have been told that the Turbo Fire program uses a HIIT format which will be great for my running!<br />
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Over the next 30 days I want to do more than focus on my exercising. I am really beginning to believe that my relationship with food isn't a healthy one. I can slip into "bad" habits way to easily. I will be continuing with my daily Shakeology but it is the rest of the day that I really need to pay attention to. The kids have Halloween candy around and the holidays are on the way. Now is the time that I have to make the decision (and stick to it) to stay with a healthy nutrition plan. I'm not going to deprive myself of some of the wonderful holiday food but I'm not going to have "everything" and the things I do have will be in smaller portions and accounted for in my overall program.<br />
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I guess that is a good overview of the next 30 days. I also want to document my exercise sessions. As I stated earlier, I am combining my running with Turbo Fire. I haven't received my program yet (supposed to come tomorrow) and I am really chomping at the bit to take a look at it. I will also be doing a 20 minute yoga program with my co-workers every Wednesday night. As for today's workout - it was AWESOME! We did a pace workout. This is the first one in our training program for a January race (10 miler) so we started with 4 fast miles and 1 easy. Our goal was to keep our pace in the low 9s for the first 4 miles. We were actually able to maintain high 8's!! It is a mostly flat course but the one hill is pretty long and gradual. It was a great challenge trying to maintain our speed up the hill. Next week we are going to try and increase to 4.5 miles in the same pace range.<br />
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Since nutrition is going to be a big part of this program, I guess I should mention something. I am very happy with how things have gone so far today. I actually did some grocery shopping today and did not succome to the pressure my "Beast" was throwing my way. I avoided all the "junky" food - never made it into my cart so I won't be tempted later on. Afternoons are my tougher times so these are the times I when I have to be especially careful and have a plan. Today, I'm challenging myself to finish off my jug of water by dinner. The jug is 72 oz and I've had about 1/2 of it earlier today. By working on finishing it by dinner my stomach will be full and I won't be stuffing it with food.<br />
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Hopefully this will be the first of 30 posts. I am really looking forward to the next 30 days and to what I can achieve!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-18067852733077356572011-08-21T19:35:00.002-04:002011-08-21T19:56:32.366-04:0096 Days until the ReunionIt has been quite some time since I have posted. We have been quite busy (last hurrah's of summer and all that). We have also been in the midst of getting a new air conditioner, a new heater and even some new carpet. Obviously there is a whole lot of money going out which is causing a bunch of stress. Overall, I think we are over the worst of the stress part and are just excited to start getting some of these projects completed. The AC/Heater project will, hopefully, be completed tomorrow!
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<br />We also just got back from our annual trip to Sesame Place. It is always a really fun time but doesn't do much for my nutrition or exercise plans. We obviously do a great deal of walking but other than that there isn't much other exercising going on. So, when I got back for our long run on Saturday, I thought I was going to collapse. We ran an out and back route that started with A LOT of uphills. I realized just how far my conditioning has dropped over the last month or so. I haven't been lifting consistently or doing my Insanity/Asylum workouts. I've been consistently running 3 times per week and they have been good workouts but it isn't enough. Especially, when combined with the poor eating habits I've had lately.
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<br />Saturday was a good wake-up call. I've made some nutrition plans for this week (all meals, not just dinner like I have been doing) and have been doing a good job at sticking to them. I am also, when finished here, going to make up this week's exercise plan with as much detail as possible. Tomorrow I will also retake my measurements and try to come up with some short-term and long-term goals!
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<br />School is starting for the kids next week which will also help me get back into a more balanced routine. I do better with more structure but don't always keep it myself so having the drop off and pick-up schedules to keep me accountable will really help. I will also be getting back to school which will help. The only thing I need to watch out for there is extra snacking. I will work on my positive self-talk to keep myself away from the "junk".
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<br />I'm looking forward to better days and a slimmer and healthier me!!
<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-89691370575777204392011-08-11T20:52:00.002-04:002011-08-11T21:02:44.930-04:00106 Days until ReunionI did it! I took my measurements today and now I just need to sit down and make some specific goals. I need to get some of my books out and figure out was a reasonable drop in % fat could be. I know that a drop in 1-2 pounds per week is reasonable but that doesn't correlate directly to % body fat.
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<br />Exercise was great this morning - hard hilly 7 miler with Lori. Nutrition was also pretty good today and I will keep refining it as I go along. Tomorrow I will do a strength routine. I think I may do Back to Core because I really like that workout AND it hits my hamstrings in ways that none of the other workouts do. I've been feeling some weakness in my left hamstring and I really want to try and fix that up. I also plan on going for a bike ride tomorrow - I got a new bike computer tonight and I would like to try it out before I meet up with the group on Sunday.
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<br />One more thing before I sign off. I've been listening to Michael Phelp's audio book "No Limits: The Will to Succeed" and it is really good. I love being able to put the stories on in the car and listen as I drive. He has told stories about races and such and it still brings back chills and tears to hear about come from behind wins and Olympic dreams being fulfilled. I think I'm going to be listening to this book often during the time up to the reunion. I get so psyched to listen to stuff like this!!!
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<br />Signing off!!
<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-27556844469745631512011-08-10T21:03:00.002-04:002011-08-10T21:26:52.143-04:00Day 10 of The Beachbody Challenge - Motivation!Today has been a better day! It started off with some pretty low motivation to exercise but I turned that around by doing a lifting session that I haven't done in years. I did the BFL upper body lifting routine. The intensity was not super high but it got my butt in gear and I'm proud of that fact. I also had a decent eating day - again, not perfect but a whole lot better than it has been.
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<br />I think I have also come across some awesome motivation. While on Facebook today, I found a link to a page that showed I have a reunion coming up in November. The last time I dropped a significant amount of weight....was about 5 years ago for my last reunion. I would love to be able to wear a sexy black dress and knock the socks off of everyone there!
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<br />I'll be honest, fashion has NEVER been my thing. I am very much into comfort over fashion no matter what the venue but I think there is a tiny part of me that would LOVE to be able to make jaws just drop onto the floor (most importantly my hubby!).
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<br />Well there it is - starting tomorrow I have 106 days until the reunion. I will take measurements tomorrow and come up with my goals.
<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-43992570933741312222011-08-10T08:15:00.002-04:002011-08-10T08:20:59.747-04:00Positive Nutritional AffirmationsHere are some positive statements that I have come up with:
<br /><ul><li>I love to eat healthy nutritious foods.</li><li>Healthy foods taste great!</li><li>My body is being fueled by healthy foods.</li><li>I eat every 2-3 hours and my body is healthy and fit.</li></ul>I'm sure I'll come up with others and will add to this list as I think of more.
<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-28135383840108433572011-08-09T13:40:00.002-04:002011-08-09T14:18:47.297-04:00Day 9 of the Beachbody ChallengeI have a confession: my eating has been pretty poor lately. I feel like I have lost some focus and drive with the nutrition part of the equation. My exercising has been consistent but as we all know, performance suffers when you aren't feeding your body well. I think I try to hide behind excuses like: "this run was tough because of the high temperature and humidity" and "my lifting session was light because I'm sore". Now, I'm not saying that these aren't actual factors that can and have impacted my sessions but......my nutrition hasn't helped the matter either.
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<br />All of the above is plain and simple fact - the hard part is figuring out how to fix the problem. My husband would say: "so just stop" but I find that much easier said than done. I don't usually have trouble getting myself psyched to exercise and when I have a race that I'm training for, it is that much easier. Food seems to be a totally different subject. Even when I have been training for events, I've struggled with maintaining good nutritional habits even when I KNOW it will help me attain my race goal. So what do I do now????
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<br />Lately, I've been trying to listen to motivational audio books as well as read similar books. A common theme in these books is listening to you self-talk. This is what you say to yourself. Keeping in mind that "You are what you think about most" this type of inner conversation is extremely important. I'm often telling people that I'm a stress eater or boy do I struggle with my nutritional habits (see above). This is the wrong type of self-talk. So, I'm trying to change that habit and as you can see it is a huge work in progress. I need to start turning the negative statements around and stating them in positive ways. So my negative nutritional statements may become something like "I eat to fuel my body" or another common one is "I eat to live not live to eat".
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<br />These are not new ideas to me. I have heard and tried all this before. I believe that it works but I've never stuck with it long enough. This time my positive self-talk will be productive (see I'm working on it already - LOL). I am going to start my writing some positive statements on some cards and carrying them with me so that I can pull them out throughout the day. I'm taking responsibility for myself and I will not use others as an excuse. Will this be a perfect process? No. I am not a perfect being and I will not be striving for perfection. But, I know I can do a better job than I have been doing and that will be my initial focus.
<br />Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-87725657476001617852011-08-03T06:19:00.002-04:002011-08-03T07:04:18.419-04:00Day 3 of Beachbody ChallengeDay 3 workout is in the books and boy was it HARD!!<br /><br />Today was Asylum Strength - I haven't done this workout in a while. I am sometimes amazed just how quickly you can lose conditioning when you don't do something for a while. That is the beauty of cross-training. Our bodies adjust to the stresses that we submit them to so when we are constantly changing things up, our bodies continue to change and progress!<br /><br />I'm feeling really good about this week has gone so far. I know it is just the first week of this challenge but I am encouraged by how things have gone so far. I know it won't always be easy and that I will face unforeseen challenges but I am confident I can and will make it through!!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-40897092122922821722011-08-02T08:02:00.004-04:002011-08-02T08:42:14.244-04:00It's been a while and a new challenge!I haven't been posting recently and I'm not sure why I stopped but I'm going to start back up - starting today (obviously).<br /><br />I entered <a href="http://www.teambeachbody.com/connect/beachbody-challenge?tracking=BEACHBODYCHALLENGEDOTCOM">The Team Beachbody Challenge</a> today. I'm going to follow my own P90X/Running hybrid for the next 90 days and submit my results. There are daily and monthly awards as well as a $100,000 grand prize. I have done challenges like these before (Body for Life) and haven't really made much progress with them. However, I have learned a lot since the last time I did one. I know what my biggest mistake was with the other program so I'm already a step ahead!!<br /><br />I have my initial pictures and measurements for the challenge and I will be updating progress here on my blog. My hybrid program will include lifting from P90X and Insanity the Asylum as well as my running. I will also include yoga and plyometrics from P90X. I'm really looking forward to not only completing this challenge but excelling at it as well!!<br /><br />I've also signed up for <a href="http://www.chalenejohnson.com/carsmart/">Chalene Johnson's Car Smart Program</a>. My hope is that it will help me follow through with this challenge all the way to the end. I received my first installment yesterday and it dealt with confidence and stopping negative self talk. The funny thing is, it isn't anything that I haven't heard before - this time I will actually take it to heart and follow through on the actions.<br /><br />My exercise sessions have been very good this week. Yesterday I did P90X Shoulders and Arms. I love that workout!! I didn't do Ab Ripper because I was afraid I had strained a muscle the last time I did it so I did a modified ab routine instead. Today was a fartlek workout with my running group. We did a total of 6 miles with about 4 of it being the fartlek section (1 mile warm-up and cool-down). We did the same workout last week but we were a bit faster this time around. I will be upfront right now - exercising usually isn't my problem. Nutrition has been my problem in the past but this time I will be using the concepts outlined in the Car Smart program. I will be using <span style="font-weight: bold;">Positive Self-Talk</span> to help change my attitudes about food.<br /><br />There it is! My plan for the next few months!! Clean eating and intense exercise. I will do my best and not expect perfection. The important part is to commit fully - this was one of my biggest problems with the Body For Life challenges. Sure I told myself that I was committed but I know better now. I did not discipline myself to follow the program and took too many shortcuts. This time nothing will stop this time!!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-8816822262925184632011-07-13T06:16:00.002-04:002011-07-13T07:12:12.199-04:00Reaching Your GoalsInfomercials these days really push getting the body of your dreams in 90 days or getting rich with "X" or technique. However, for some, these dreams are much farther than 90 days a way. I can't vouch for the get rich programs but some (especially the Beachbody products) of the fitness programs are quite good and give great results if you put in the work. But again if you are farther than 60 or 90 days away, it can be discouraging.<br /><br />I want to encourage you to look for the small steps. If you have 100 pounds to lose, you will never reach that goal if you don't lose the fist 5 pounds. If you want to bench press 200 pounds you will never reach that goal if you don't increase from 150 to 160 pounds. Some goals, like the ones above, are easier to see the progression than others. One of my goals is to be able to do a full pull-up. At least to me, this is a hard one to see progression with - you either make it up or you don't. I will periodically go out to a bar (a chin up bar not a drinking bar - LOL) and try to do a pull-up. I get myself part-way up and still can't quite get my chin over the bar. Have I gotten myself up farther than I could last year? Probably but I don't know that for sure. However, yesterday something pretty cool happened. I have been trying to add some swimming into my routine. It is not an everyday thing but whenever we make it to the pool I like to try and get in a few laps. The pool we belong to has a 50 meter lap lane and last year I would swim a few laps, get tired and need a break. The break didn't need to be a long one but I still needed the break. This summer has been different in that respect. The first time I tried I did 6 laps straight and then stopped. If felt good and I made the decision to try 8 laps the next time which also went well. Yesterday I did 10 without difficulty.<br /><br />Now here is the cool part! There is a fast lane and a slow lane - I use the fast lane but you never know what the overall speeds are going to be in the lanes. There have been days when really fast swimmers have shown up and days when even the "fast" lane is quite slow. Yesterday was an average day - all the swimmers were able to continuously swim (no one was stopping at the wall) at a nice even pace. This is the part that was really encouraging to me. I was not trying to swim hard - I just wanted to be able to swim 10 consecutive laps - but I found myself catching the swimmers in front of me when I swam freestyle and keeping pace with them when I swam breaststroke. I credit this to my increased back strength (especially with the breaststroke). Then on my last lap, I caught the swimmer in front of me and since there was no one coming at me, I decided to power my way to the end and really surged past the woman and had quite a big gap between us when I hit the wall.<br /><br />Why bother writing about all this? Last year, I would have never been able to do this after only swimming laps 3 times this summer. I am stronger physically and cardiovascularly. I HAVE made lots of progress. Can I do a pull-up yet? No, but I am getting a lot of satisfaction out of the progress I did make. Look for YOUR progress and enjoy it. Set little goals and celebrate when you reach them. Sometimes we miss the little achievements if we don't look for them - so look for them!! Remember though, once you meet one goal - make another and then another and then another until you reach that big goal. Once you reach that big goal....make another one. There seems to be a pattern here (lol).<br /><br />What small goals or achievements have you reached lately? I would love to hear about them!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-16965296797702582592011-07-09T20:27:00.002-04:002011-07-09T20:51:00.152-04:00Asylum: Day 20 Game Day & OvertimeToday was a really tough workout! If I'm being completely honest...I Did Not feel like working out this morning. However, I knew that I needed to do it and I got myself moving. I'm quite proud of that fact!!!<br /><br />Game Day in and of itself is really hard but I knew that I was adding Overtime and I think this is why I didn't feel like getting going. I was nervous about the session but that is when you need to push through! We all have days when either we are just plain tired or when we just get that "I don't want to workout" feeling. Assuming your body is trying to send you important signals like "I'm exhausted and I need a rest!", push through on the above days. When you make your body exercise when your head is telling you no....that is when we truly grow and get stronger! Just get started and if you can't keep it going then so be it but at least try!<br /><br />That was where I found myself after the Game Day session. Once I started Game Day, I was loving it but by the time I was finished, I was toast! But, the wanted to try the Overtime workout so I immediately pushed play. After about 3-5 minutes I just knew that my body couldn't do it. I was not happy that I had to stop but I knew it was for the best.<br /><br />My important take home message today is to just get up and try! It may turn out great and it might turn out to be crap. The important thing is that you get up and do your best. I know that is cheesy but you know what???? It is the truth!!!!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-48788409097782737762011-07-08T20:42:00.002-04:002011-07-08T20:56:25.509-04:00Asylum Day 19I've been busy lately! This past week I started <a href="http://www.chalenejohnson.com/30daychallenge/members/">Chalene's 30 Day Challenge</a>. It is a program on organization and time management. It has been good! I've had to think about things that I haven't really put concrete thought and action to. A lot of us make to do lists, some do so every day and some do so only every once in a while, but this program is forming it into a set program. I've really been enjoying it and encourage everyone to check it out. BTW, it is free.<br /><br />As for my workouts - they have been pretty good. I had a great run the other day! I think it was especially satisfying because I didn't really want to go fast that day but the group shot out of the gate. I had a decision to make: stay slow and have them run away from me or change my mindset a get on my horse. I chose to go fast but I'll be honest, I was ticked about it at first but I dropped that attitude as fast as it came on. I just focused on doing my best and I was extremely proud at the end! My average pace was 8:39 and we ran 5 miles. This was made especially difficult by the 74 degree and 100% humidity weather.<br /><br />Tomorrow I have Asylum Game Day and Overtime on the schedule. I've done Game Day once and it was really hard but I've never done the Overtime session yet. I was exhausted the first time I did Game Day so I'm really nervous about adding another 15 minutes of Overtime onto the first session!<br /><br />I've made some nutritious snacks today. I made a couple of different bars (one from Leanness Lifestyle and one from Precision Nutrition). The one from PN is a bit high in fat but the carbs are pretty low and the one from LL is a bit more balanced between the protein and carbs. I also made some muffins - I hadn't made these muffins in a long time and boy did they taste good today! They too are more of a balance of protein and carbs with lower fat levels. My goal is to make a week's worth of snacks so that I can have lots of variety but I don't have to make it and it isn't highly processed.<br /><br />This came about because the the 30 Day Challenge. I'm going to make not only 4 weeks of dinner menus (which I do pretty regularly) but I'm also going to create 2 weeks of "daily meals" that have lots of variety but are all put together so I don't have to think about it.<br /><br />Gotta run - Peace!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-29634053324690377162011-07-05T07:38:00.002-04:002011-07-05T08:17:41.516-04:00Asylum: Day 16 - Vertical PlyoIt has been a few busy days since my last post. My hubby has been on vacation since Thursday and I love having the family together but it can really throw off my exercise routine (especially on the days I usually run first). I can ask the kids to go up and watch TV or something if I'm doing Asylum later in the day. This is much harder to do when the hubby is home too.<br /><br />Onto my recap....in my last post I talked about my Game Day session. I have to admit that this workout really wiped me out! However, I did push through on Sunday and I got my Strength session done. I had actually thought about increasing my weights this session but boy am I glad I didn't! It was during this session that I REALLY felt how tired my body was from Game Day. Everything was really hard on Sunday but I did my best and am proud of it. I still struggle with the Progressive D-bell rotation - I can keep up the pace on the first rotation but on the 2nd & 3rd rotations I can't keep up the pace (push-ups really slow me down) and don't get in all 8 reps. I just really try to do as many reps as I can and will continue to work on it until I can get all 8 reps for all 3 rounds!!<br /><br />On Monday my body rebelled a bit. I woke up to exercise but I could not get moving. My body was totally exhausted....or so I thought. I decided to not do my Asylum Speed & Agility workout but in a couple of hours my body was itching to do some exercise. Monday is one of the days that I usually run with the kids so I decided to do something with them. It turned out that my daughter slept until 10 am so before she woke up my son and I went on a 5 mile bike ride. It was not a very high intensity (I think my son is still a little nervous riding out in other neighborhoods) but I got myself out and that is important! When we got back to the house my daughter was awake so the 2 of us set out for a 5 mile bike ride. The intensity was a bit higher. I'm really proud of how she is riding her bike because as of a couple of months ago she was totally scared to ride a bike. So for me it was a total of 10 miles on the bike - I haven't gone that far in a long time.<br /><br />Monday night we took our 2nd annual Fireworks Express train ride. We take a nice train ride (about an hour 1 way) and then watch a beautiful fireworks display and then ride the train back. It is a wonderful night but it is also a very late night. Which brings me to this mornings workout. I was supposed to run first thing and then do my Asylum Vertical Plyo session. I did not make my run this morning because of the late night but I did do my Asylum workout! I may also try to get a run in a little later but I'm not going to freak out about it if it doesn't get done. We may also go to the pool today and if we do I may substitute some swimming for my run.<br /><br />One last thing....I have just started the Chalene Johnson 30-Day Challenge. It is a program to help you set and achieve your goals. One of my assignments is to publicly promise to achieve my Push Goal so here it is: I promise to save $30 per month, track my spending and set a budget for myself. I will incorporate updates on this endeavor in my blog to help keep me accountable.<br /><br />Have a great Tuesday!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-83651744547330058512011-07-02T13:36:00.003-04:002011-07-02T13:53:43.092-04:00Asylum: Day 13 Game Day!!!I got back on track yesterday and had a great day! My eating was good and I got back into my Asylum workouts (Back to Core - absolutely love that one!), got in a 2 mile run with the kids and a 1.6 mile bike ride. I would have liked to bike more but we just rode to the library, got some books and rode home. I'm trying not to push the kids too hard - I want them to think of exercise as fun and not a chore because that is the only way they will continue it for a lifetime. I've always said, my kids don't have to be sport super-stars but I want them to be active. I want them to find something that they enjoy and are willing to continue.<br /><br />So today was Game Day. I've watched the workout but hadn't done it yet so I was kind of nervous. I was right to be nervous - it was a BEAST!!! The workout is broken up into sport groups: running, swimming, soccer etc. Then you do a few different moves - Shaun T. style - that simulate that sport. I was absolutely dripping with sweat when I was finished and boy was I finished!! LOL! My entire body was exhausted! I will admit to needing breaks - my goal will be to get through the entire workout without any extra stops (there are water breaks built into the session).<br /><br />I was pleased with my ability to recover AFTER breakfast. My hubby and I took the pup out for a walk (aprox. 1.5 miles) and my legs felt good. In fact I still feel pretty good but I am feeling a bit tired - I may take a nap. Tomorrow will be my strength workout and I'm looking forward to that workout. I'm going to stick with my 10# dumbbells and see how I get through everything - I may try to increase the weights a touch on the next strength session.<br /><br />The other thing I would like to try is the jump rope that came with my Asylum package. I can't use it in my house for the workouts because my ceiling is too low. However, I think I may try to get the rope out and try some of the moves in the program. I would just do it as something extra to get some more footwork in. Agility has never been my strong suit and I think the rope will be good for helping me with that as well as helping me get more power in my legs.<br /><br />Until next time - have a great July 4th weekend!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-58522117233283207562011-06-30T20:01:00.002-04:002011-06-30T20:47:44.720-04:00Asylum: Day 11 & Self-TalkWell, here it is day 11 of this awesome program! I can't believe I'm almost 1/2 way thru!! This was a very busy and strange week for me. I saw, first hand, just how much of an effect my self-talk can have on my actions. Here is how the past week or so has gone:<br /><br />Last Saturday, during my long run, my legs felt a bit tired and sluggish. During our conversations I was telling everyone what the Asylum sessions were like and how much I liked them. I also stated that I was semi-worried because I wasn't getting many breaks (between my group runs, the runs with the kids & the Asylum workouts). Then this week started: MD appointment on Monday, my parents took the kids Tuesday because I had jury duty (I had to then pick them up in the evening), dentist appointment Wednesday and and my hubby is off the rest of the week.<br /><br />Monday I had a great workout. Tuesday I had a really good run but couldn't do my Asylum workout because of time crunch. Wednesday I had wanted to make up the Vertical Plyo workout that I missed on Tues and then do the scheduled Relief but I ended up doing the Relief workout and most of the P90X stretching workout. Today I did my long run for the week because most of my group is going away for the holiday weekend so again no Asylum workout. I will adjust my workouts for the rest of the week to make up some of these missed Asylum workouts.<br /><br />Now here is the interesting part. I know, deep down in my soul, that a fair amount of this stress I've been feeling and the missed workouts has stemmed from that initial conversation on the long run. I got it in my head that I wasn't getting enough rest and then "The Beast" took hold. Up until that time, my eating was spot on and my workouts were great. Then all of a sudden I missed some workouts and my eating started to go downhill. It all started <span style="font-weight: bold;">IN MY HEAD with my Negative Self-Talk!</span> I made this happen and <span style="font-weight: bold;">now it is time for me to use some Positive Self-Talk and get things turned around!</span><br /><br />I think my plan is to switch today's workout with Saturday's workout. So, since my long run was today, I'll do the Game Day & Overtime workouts on Saturday. I'll keep Friday's workout as it should be - Back to Core. That will get me back on track in terms of my exercising. I will also get back into planning my meals. I definitely got off track on that one but not anymore!!!<br /><br />Take home message here - watch what you tell yourself. Even if you know something isn't true tell yourself good things and positive things. Don't let that "Beast" worm its way into you head and lifestyle. Remember, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"You Are What You Think About Most"!</span> So when you tell yourself positive and healthy thoughts your body will find a way to fulfill those thoughts and wishes. Write yourself notes, recite mantras - find what works for you but do it! Without your head and thought processes being in synch with your desires and goals, your body won't follow through and it is HIGHLY unlikely that you will attain those goals.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You and I are worth a healthy body AND a healthy mind!</span>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-26177857259998351142011-06-26T15:14:00.002-04:002011-06-26T15:59:21.468-04:00Asylum: Day 7I've made it through my first week of Asylum - still loving the workouts! There is no question that they are hard as all get out but they are totally different from anything that I would do at a gym or out running on the roads and trails - I think that is what draws me to them most!<br /><br />It has been a very busy weekend! Yesterday I went for a 10 mile run on a very hilly course. It is a course that I haven't done in a very long time and I'm happy I got a chance to do it again. I felt sort of heavy in the legs because of all the workouts I've been doing. I'm really going to have to pay attention to how my body feels in the upcoming days because I'm really not taking any days totally off. I'm not getting any days off because I'm combining the Asylum workouts with my running so even if there is a scheduled "off" day for the Asylum, I'm probably running. That is what happened yesterday. I put the Asylum rest days on my long run day - not going to be able to do both! My goal is to keep this going until our week at the beach and then not worry about structured workouts and give my body a rest.<br /><br />Anyway, the run went well. We averaged a little under 10 minutes per mile and I'm quite pleased with that considering the hills on the course. I also made time to stretch before getting back in my car to come home and it made a BIG difference in how I felt. I usually stretch when I get home but find that I really stiffen up on the drive back (I do spend a few minutes stretching immediately after the run). This time I spent a good 15-20 minutes stretching on the adjacent tennis courts and it felt wonderful! I will make sure to do this whenever we meet in a place that allows me to put down a towel and lay down (not in a parking lot).<br /><br />Then last night I went to a graduation party. I admit that my eating was spot on but I wasn't trying to hold myself to that standard either. I do think it is important to relax some of the time. I did allow myself a dessert even though I wrote in a previous post that I was doing "No Cheats" this week. To be completely honest, I had kind of forgotten about that until just now. Regardless, it was a great time and I feel good about my night. It did show up on the scale this morning but I knew that would happen.<br /><br />Speaking of this morning....I got up and did my Asylum Strength workout. Last time I did it, I used 5# weights just to get a feel for the session. Today, I moved that up to 10# and I liked this weight better although it was still light for some of the exercises (but good for others). I love the "different" exercises in this session. During the warm-up you do something called a Halo Deadlift. On this exercise, you squat down, stand up and then twist the dumbbell around your head without moving your head. I love to feel the twist in the core area. During the main portion of the workout you do a series of exercises called Progressive Dumbbell rotations (too long to explain). The circuit is completed 3 times (8 reps in each progression) and each time you add something to the progression and by the 3rd rotation it is REALLY hard! I can't do all 8 reps at the speed they do it on the TV (yet) so I had a decision to make. The exercise includes push-ups and if I do the push-ups on my knees I would be able to go faster and probably keep up. However, I decided to not do all 8 reps but to complete each rotation with full push-ups. My next goal will be to try to get faster and faster (with good form of course) and eventually do all 8 reps on all 3 rotations. Finally, the end of the workout consists of chest exercises with your feet in the air to work on the core. They are really hard on the abs (10# is not enough for the chest press though) and boy was I shaking at the end. I did better than the last time though - my legs are higher than the people on the DVD but I was able to hold my legs straighter this time AND on the last exercise I kept my feet up for the entire minute.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Review of the past week: Nutrition</span> - I did really well at the beginning of the week but faltered a bit at the end. I ordered out 1 day because of a long and tiring day and then there was the party food. It made for an OK week - the scale actually shows me up a pound for the week but I know that is water weight from yesterday. I'm keeping very clean today and I will most likely get a better indication over the next couple of days on my weight.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Training</span> - was very good all week! There was only 1 workout that I missed (a run) and that was during a thunderstorm and I did get my Asylum workout in that day so I'm not worried about that at all! I feel like I'm putting in a great effort, on the Asylum sessions and I'm hoping to see a big difference by the end of this 30 days!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Goals for the week:</span> I'm keeping my nutrition goals the same for this week.<br /><ol><li>I will reduce my dairy intake to no more than 1 serving per day.</li><li>I will avoid ALL fast food (if I go out, I will bring my own food).</li><li>I will continue to drink 1 gallon of water each day.</li></ol>Except for the couple of slips I mentioned earlier it was a good week so I will focus on fixing those slips. I falter with stress so that is where I will really buckle down and do what I know I should even when I'm stressed or tired.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Workout goals:</span> I will continue with my schedule of Asylum every day with group runs on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and sessions (running or biking) with the kids on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I'm looking forward to seeing that scale moving downward!!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-6647325442094055652011-06-24T14:38:00.002-04:002011-06-24T14:54:19.864-04:00Asylum Day 5This will be a short one but I wanted to make sure to post something.<br /><br />Yesterday was a tough day - our AC backed up and soaked our carpet so I spent a lot of time on my hands and knees trying to dry out the carpet with our little carpet cleaner. By the end of the day I was totally exhausted, ended up with subs and chips for dinner and topped it off with a small bowl of ice cream. Not my finest hour but it is over and I'm moving on!<br /><br />I got up this morning to do my Asylum workout but decided to hold off for 2 reasons. One, my neck and upper back were very tight because of the carpet work the day before. The second reason was that I still felt exhausted from yesterday's work (2 workouts and the carpet). I did get out this morning with the kids for a bike ride. It was going pretty well until about the 4.5 mile mark. I heard this strange noise from my front tire. It sounded like a rubbing noise so I tried to move a couple of things to see if they were rubbing. When that didn't work I decided to slow down and take a look. Just as I was coming to a stop......the front tire popped. BANG! It was quite loud. That brought the bike ride to an abrupt halt - luckily we were only about 1/3 of a mile from the house so we walked the rest of the way.<br /><br />Then, after a few errands, I was finally able to get to my Asylum workout. It was my second time through Speed and Agility. I felt a bit more comfortable with the actual exercises but I'm not sure I did them any better. I did, however, feel like I was able to start most of the exercises more quickly because I didn't have to watch the DVD and figure out what the actual exercise was. It still kicked my butt and I still needed to take breaks but I'm happy with the workout. I've decided to start keeping track of HR so here it is:<br /><br />Avg. HR: 147 (included warm-up and cool-down)<br />Max. HR: 175<br />Calories burned: 657<br />Workout time: 46 min.<br /><br />Pretty cool when you can burn over 650 calories in 45 minutes!<br /><br />Tomorrow is my long run day so I won't be doing any Asylum workouts but I will start again on Sunday with the Strength workout. The one problem that I'm finding with my current program is finding time to work in some yoga. I know it is really important for my body and I need to find a way to work some in - even just 15-20 minutes would be great!<br /><br />OK, maybe not so short. Off to get cleaned up. Until tomorrow!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-30248724923810076972011-06-23T12:34:00.003-04:002011-06-23T13:34:53.429-04:00Asylum Day 4: Vertical PlyoThis program is definitely living up to its name! Vertical Plyo is a bear and I loved every minute of it (well maybe not EVERY minute - LOL). I have to admit that I was having second thoughts during the "warm-up" because let me tell you it's NO warm-up. It's just plain hard all by itself! It consisted of a lot of bent leg exercises (lunge type position; squatting positions where you are jumping up and down or twisting side to side; squat hops with the ladder where you just don't come up and on and on). Your quads and hamstrings are just on fire before the workout even starts! At one point Shaun T says some thing like: "If you're tired now you should just throw in the towel now because it isn't getting any easier." I was a bit worried at that point because I was tired! It sure did feel good when the stretching started!<br /><br />This workout is different in that you don't do circuits and then go back and repeat them. You pretty much just keep moving for the entire 40ish minutes. There are only a couple of breaks in the whole workout. Instead of water breaks, Shaun uses active recovery. These exercises are definitely easier but they aren't easy. The other thing I found very difficult with this workout was the fact that I was getting dizzy with some of the jump/twist exercises. You use the ladder and jump with a twist in and out of the boxes (different variations are performed throughout the workout). Usually you would do 1 direction for 30 seconds and then do the other direction for the last 30 seconds. I could not go in the same direction for a full 30 seconds so I changed the exercise just a touch. I ended up altnernating the way I turned and just kept doing that for the full minute. It allowed me to keep moving for the full time without falling down and breaking my nose or some such thing as that.<br /><br />Speaking of that dreaded, oh I mean wonderful, ladder - this workout incorporated long jumps both forward and laterally. Shaun recommends shortening the ladder until you work up to the point where you can make the entire distance. So I did that! I shortened up the ladder 1 spot for the forward jumps but had to shorten it 2 spots for the lateral jumps. I'm not sure if the lateral jumps were harder because of my lack of strength or because they were at the end of the session (or a combination of the 2).<br /><br />The session ends with some very high intensity jumping. There are 2 legged tuck jumps and a couple of different 1 legged jumps. Shaun also adds the ladder to these to make it that much more challenging. You would do part of the time out of the ladder and then move it into the ladder, obviously trying not to touch the ladder each time. It is absolutely amazing how much difficulty that ladder adds. Not only are the exercises hard but there is an added focus that you need to incorporate whenever you use the ladder.<br /><br />In the end, the workout took a touch under 40 minutes and I burned 569 calories. It was an awesome workout - can't say I'm looking forward to doing it again (seriously though I am looking forward to being able to progress this workout). I have found, with all of these workouts, areas that I need improvements in - speed and agility being one of them and that is tomorrow's workout!<br /><br />I'm also continuing my running both with my running group and with my kids. Yesterday (can't remember if I posted this yesterday) I went out with the kids and I ran 4 miles. The kids combined some running and some bike riding - we do two 2 mile loops and they run/walk the first one and ride the second one. Then this morning I ran with my group. We ran 3 miles and stopped with that because it was VERY hot and humid. I'm thinking about just riding tomorrow with the kids because they really struggled with the heat yesterday <span style="font-weight: bold;">and</span> because I want to keep it fun for them.<br /><br />Last but not least - nutrition is still going really well. I need to start logging my food on MyFitnessPal though because I want to make sure I'm not shorting myself on calories. It can be a very fine line between reducing calorie intake for fat loss and getting too low and causing muscle breakdown. I also find that when I exercise intensely and reduce my calories too much I get sick. So far I've been doing well and I certainly want to keep that going!<br /><br />Until tomorrow.....Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-89457779220536404672011-06-22T07:49:00.002-04:002011-06-22T08:30:46.615-04:00Asylum Days 2 & 3Just as I counted down to Baltimore, I'm going to try and blog about each day of Asylum. I will tell you right now that I did have to switch a couple of things to make sure I got my running in as well. I do my long runs on Saturdays and didn't want to do an intense workout and a long run in the same day so those are rest and relief days.<br /><br /> So far, things have been going very well! Day 1 was Speed & Agility, Day 2 was Strength and Day 3 was Back to Core. The Strength workout was very intense - I kept my weight light (only 5#) for the first time through just to get a feel for the workout. It was still a very hard workout and I definitely "felt" the burn.<br /><br />I completed the Day 3 Back to Core workout this morning and I really think this is going to be one of my favorites. It is still really hard, as are all the Insanity/Asylum workouts, but there isn't the jumping and running around that most of the workouts have. It was very slow and methodical but the burn that your muscles get is fantastic.<br /><br />As I become more familiar with the workouts I will try to pull out specific parts of the sessions that I found either really challenging or just plain fun and discuss them more. I'll be honest and tell you that I have troubles at times getting started with the exercises because I'm still trying to figure out what they are doing. I found this especially true during Speed & Agility. I don't have the footwork down so I had to figure out what they were doing before I could start.<br /><br />Nutrition has been awesome as well. I've had 2 days now with super clean plans and I'm feeling really pumped about it. There have definitely been times when I wanted to have that cheat but I've stayed away. I've also read a great post recently about <a href="http://teamripped.com/cheat-meal-or-not-p90x">cheating on your nutrition plan</a>. At least for right now I'm going to employ the no cheating strategy. I'm in the process of coming up with some new goals and I know that the better eating strategy will put me over the top. I know deep down that this has been the main thing that has kept me from reaching my goals.<br /><br />I am looking forward to the next 30 days!<span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class=" down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span>Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-54776650691196964772011-06-20T18:04:00.002-04:002011-06-20T18:40:12.570-04:00Moving On.....I would be lying if I didn't admit to still being a bit frustrated about this weekend's race. However, there is nothing to be gained by dwelling on things past. On we move!<br /><br />Today has been AWESOME!!!! I started Insanity: The Asylum today and it was great! The first workout is Speed & Agility (which I have little of btw). It incorporates the agility ladder and boy does that make a huge difference. This workout uses some of the same ab exercises but you have to put your feet into different sections of the ladder. This made an unbelievable difference - really wakes you us to the fact that you were slackin' off as you got tired.<br /><br />I just thought I sweated with Insanity. I was absolutely drench after this mornings workout. I did have 1 problem though - my room isn't really big enough. I had to move the ladder around in the room for some of the exercises. Like when I had to switch from my hands in the ladder to my feet being in the ladder. I don't have enough room on both side of the ladder to make the switch without stopping - truthfully I'm glad to get a little extra rest (LOL!).<br /><br />I have also made a promise to myself - I am going to really focus on my nutrition. I'm taking this first week to really focus on a few points:<br /><ol><li>I will reduce my dairy intake to no more than 1 serving per day.</li><li>I will avoid ALL fast food (if I go out, I will bring my own food).</li><li>I will continue to drink 1 gallon of water each day.</li></ol>Today has been spot on! I'm still working on my water but the rest has been perfect. I am hopeful that this will make a huge difference in the progress that I see.<br /><br />Tomorrow is a running day but I am also going to incorporate the Asylum workout. It is the strength workout. I'm not sure what amount of weight I'll use but I know I'm going to keep it light, at least for the first time through. I know this is going to be a really tough 30 days but I'm looking forward to the challenge. Here's to the next 30 days!!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-75048224226086903002011-06-19T06:39:00.002-04:002011-06-19T07:16:14.930-04:00Baltimore RecapWe (me and 2 friends) left for Baltimore at 5 am and it felt wonderful! There was a slight breeze and there were some clouds in the sky. We were hopeful that the heat and humidity would stay low. There was even some rain in the forecast so things looked really good.<br /><br />The drive down was good - the traffic was light and we made good time. We got there with plenty of time to spare (a little less than an hour before the start). The sun had come out, even though we drove through some light rain on the way down, but there was a nice little breeze and it felt great in the shade. We made our way to the starting area and the temperature increased dramatically. At that point, my hope of a cooler run disappeared. I knew we were in for a tough morning!<br /><br />I love this race because the organizers are always trying to make the next one better. Each year they ask for runner feedback and then they actually try to fix the problems!!! This year's big change was a wave start and I was very impressed with how well it went! The race has over 5,000 people and this was the first time I haven't felt like I spent the first 3 miles dodging people that had no business starting so close to the front. Now, don't get me wrong, I want people of all shapes, sizes and abilities taking part in these events (I get a great deal of inspiration from a lot of these runners and walkers). However, if you are a walker or are a runner that needs to walk within the first couple of miles - PLEASE start farther back! Race starts are crazy enough as it is! I also realize that there are people that use the run/walk method recommended by Jeff Galloway and these are good runners who can put up some really good times. But again, when there is a very finite amount of space it is really hard to get into a good rhythm when you have to weave in and out of slower runners (especially when the race uses chip timing).<br /><br />Sorry - I'm off my soap box now!<br /><br />Back to the race - this year's start was great! My wave started off well and it was quite easy to find a good pace. They also had pacers which was very helpful! I tried to stay with the 1:20:00 pacer and was doing very well until around mile 5. This happens to be a very sunny area where you run down the hill, around a lake and then go back up the hill. The hill is quite long and really doesn't offer much shade. Between the pace, the sun and the hill I hit a serious wall and had to walk. I felt VERY overheated and I knew that walking was my only option.<br /><br />The water stations did provide some relief. I carry my own water, so I usually run right through the water stops, but I started grabbing 2 cups of water and dumping them on my head. This would cool me off enough to be able to start running again. The timing, of the stations, was pretty good - I would start to fade pretty close to the water stops, dump more water and start to run again. I used this technique for probably the last 3-4 miles of the race.<br /><br />I'm proud of the fact that I never gave up - although the thought did cross my mind. I just concentrated on putting 1 foot in front of the other. I knew that I just needed to keep moving and I would get there. The funny thing is that I would look at my watch and knew I was still keeping a descent time. So I just kept pushing and before I knew it I was turning the last corner on the last hill. The finish was right down the road!<br /><br />My Garmin clicked over to 10 miles a little before the race finish and the time read 1:29:32 - about a 1/4 mile later I crossed the finish line at 1:31:42. It's not the 1:20:00 that I had hoped for but I am happy. I left it all out on the course and that is all I can ask from myself!!<br /><br />The other thing that really encouraged me was how well I recovered after the race. There were times, during the race, that I felt pretty darn crappy but within 15 to 20 minutes I felt really good! I drank my recovery drink, drank lots of water and had a few chips for the salt. But other than my legs being tight from the exertion, I felt really good. As I sit here Sunday morning, my calves are tight but overall even the stiffness isn't that bad. I can't even say that my legs are "sore" - it really is mostly calf tightness.<br /><br />What have I learned? I really think the Insanity workouts have helped my ability to recover after an intense workout. I really like this and know that I need to continue with these types of sessions. I also realize that, over the past couple of years, the heat/sun has kicked my butt. I train before the sun comes up so my body really isn't used to running in the other conditions. Also, most of our training runs are done between a 9 and a 9:30 pace (I was shooting for an 8-8:30 pace). When these 2 factors are combined it causes a problem for my body. I can't really change my workout time too much - life always seems to get in the way. But, pace is a factor that I can control. Before my next race, whatever that may be, I will work on training at my race pace. My hope is that if I only have 1 factor (heat/sun) to compensate for, my body will be better able too deal with the situation and I will come out with better results.<br /><br />Well, there it is.....my day at the Baltimore 10 Miler. Thanks for reading!Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31460674.post-16076201151766529142011-06-17T19:40:00.002-04:002011-06-17T19:55:59.180-04:00Tomorrow is the Big Day!!!Tomorrow morning I will be leaving bright and early (5 am) for the Baltimore 10 Miler! I still can't believe how fast the time has gone! I have a dry erase board that I've (with my son's help) been counting down the days on and we were just commenting about it starting in the 100's. I've put in a lot of hard work and I'm going to be pleased with however it turns out because I know I have worked hard and progressed in so many ways! There are good days and bad days in running and I don't always have control over that. The best we can do is prepare the best we can and give it all we've got.<br /><br />I will admit that the nerve have already started which is a good thing! I haven't really felt this way about a race in a long time. For most of last year I was dealing with my foot problem so I didn't go into races with high expectations. This time is different! My training and nutrition wasn't perfect but I'm OK with how things went. Now all I have to do is lay it out there and see where the cards fall. I will be keeping Shawn T. in my head. In the Insanity workouts he is constantly telling you that you can do more than you think you can and when things get tough I will just keep those statements in my head and push through.<br /><br />Off to finish getting ready - most of my stuff is together but I want to do as much as I can tonight so I don't have to rush around in the morning.Cherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10684121214810275067noreply@blogger.com0