College Search

Another gym day. No running.
Squats w/ bar 20 x 3

Deadlifts w/ bar + 20 15 x 3

Pushup rows w/ 10 lb dbs 15 x 4

Half squat on wall w/ alternating shoulder presses (10 lb dbs) SS pushups x 4

Unilateral db curls (10 lb) SS DB kickbacks (10lb) x 4

Core (Rebounder, ball crunches, ball pikes).


_____



This morning, Scott, Freddie, and I had our first meeting with Freddie's guidance counselor at school. It was our first opportunity to talk about colleges in a meaningful setting. (Versus - oh, this college sounds cool -- they have shuffleboard!). I found it very useful and it set my mind at ease in a few ways. At least now we have a list to start from based on some things Freddie thinks are important where he goes to college. (Fortunately, academics scored a 9 out of 10 on the importance scale, LOL).


Some of these colleges I've never even heard of!

The New Treadmill Arrives!

I guess I'm not surprised, but I'm disappointed that John Edwards is no longer running for president. I really liked him and was looking forward to the opportunity to vote for him. Nevertheless, I like both both Clinton and Obama. But it's Clinton I'm backing now. Between the three, Edwards, Clinton, an Obama, I don't think the Democrats can go wrong. What a rare treat!

Yesterday I ended up running twice. The first time, it started to pour down rain when I was only a half a mile into my 8 mile run. I bagged it at 1.5 miles and went home. Later, I managed to squeeze in a fast five miles at the treadmill at the gym while Sarah was at ballet.

5 miles recovery today. Same route as yesterday -- that is, the treadmill at the gym, LOL. Then the workout:
Front and Rear lunges (8 lb dbs), 15 each leg x 3
Bosu squats 20 x 3
Plyo stepups, 30 alt. legs SS pushups (15) X 3
Ball pikes (10) SS Ball side obliques (10, 10) SS Ball crunches (15) x 3
Deadlifts (12 lb dbs) x 15 SS Curls (12 lb dbs) x 20 X 3

The new treadmill was delivered today. I'm going to break it in tomorrow for an 8 mile general aerobic run. I already went to Blockbuster and rented three DVDs because we're supposed to have a few days of cold weather. I'm prepared!

Treadmill Shopping

Gym workout today:

Hamstring curls (single leg) 10 lb (10,10) SS Wallsits (2:00) X 3
Seated DB curls (10 lb dbs) 20 X 4
Single leg tricep pulldowns 15 X 3Calf raises (I forget the weight) 20 x 3
Core rebounder w/ 7 lb ball 20 x 3
Stretch

I've finally had the chance to go out and test drive some treadmills. Yesterday I tried the PaceMaster and the Precor. For the price, I preferred the PaceMaster. Unfortunately, they don't have any units in stock and are unsure if there have been any changes in the new models.
Today, I went to another store and tried the Landice and Spirit treadmills. The Landice is on sale -- a really good sale too -- but it is still expensive. However, it comes with a lifetime warranty on everything (except labor which is 1 year). The Landice gets top reviews everywhere, except Runner's World, which gave top reviews to treadmills that cost more than I'm willing to spend.

The Treadmill Sensei calls the Landice the "BMW" of treadmills. List price is over $3,500 for the L7 Cardio Trainer model (includes HR and HR control function that base console does not) and the dealer has it listed for $2695 + $50 delivery and setup. I ran on it and liked it. The only drawback, though not for me at 5'5" is the 20 x 58" belt. There is also a "basic" model which does not have any user programs or HR control.

I guess you could call the Spirit XT675 the "loaded Honda" of treadmills. It's also reviewed very highly by all the treadmill review websites, comes with a 22 x 60" deck which is nice, the console includes lots of user programs, HR monitoring, two fans, and speakers. It also was nice to run on. It has a good warranty -- 10 year parts, 1 year labor -- and a nice pricetag too. $2150 on sale. Regular price $2399.

The PaceMaster is the same price as the Spirit, but costs $138 for delivery and setup. After I heard the $50 at today's dealer, I quickly narrowed it down to the Landice or the Spirit. How can it cost an additional $90 for one dealer to deliver vs. another? I live close to both.
As for cars, I own both a BMW and a Honda. Like the treadmills, the Honda has more "stuff" than the BMW, but I'm really happy with the bimmer. The question is, will I be more happy spending an extra $500 for a Landice or getting the Spirit and having an extra $500 to take to Vegas next month?

Unfortunately, I can't have either delivered by this weekend, so I'll still be shivering outside.

Chug, chug...

I ran 4 miles recovery on the treadmill today. When I went to log it, I saw that I was supposed to run 5. Oh, well. I can't seem to win. I also looked at the weather for the rest of the week, and I think I'm in trouble. It's just going to keep on getting colder beginning with Friday. Saturday's temps should be high of 21 and Sunday is predicted a high of 14 for my long run. Yikes! I don't think I can stay out in that kind of cold for three hours. I also don't think I can commandeer a treadmill at the gym for that long either. What to do...? What to do...?

After the recovery run/warmup, I had a hammergel and got ready for lifting. I was feeling sluggish and I was thrilled when I was finally done.

*Step-ups on box (bodyweight) x 20 SS pushups x 10
Step-ups on box w/ 10# dbs x 20 SS pushups x 10
Step-ups on box 2/ 5 # dbs x 20 SS pushups x 10 X 2

*OK, so I told RJ that I never used weights when I do the stepups, but it turns out that I lied. I used dumbells that I held down at my side. 10s were a little much, so I dropped it down to 5s.

Squats into military press w/ 5 lb dbs (20x4)
Single-leg burpees 8 each leg x 4Single-leg
hamstring curls 5 lb 20 each leg x 3

It doesn't look like I did that much, but I was pretty wiped after yesterday's run and then today's 4 miles. My hip is a little sore as well.

Holding Up Well

I've switched around my lifting schedule in order to accomodate my new running schedule. So, for the time being I'm doing my strength workout on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Today also corresponded with my favorite (not) kind of run -- the recovery run. In order to save some time, I elected to do the 4 miles on the treadmill before my workout. I'll just say that it wasn't horrible. I kept about an 11:00 pace and threw in some strides the last mile, just to get it over with a little quicker.

I get no sympathy from my trainer for either having a tougher running schedule or for running immediately prior to my workout so I took a Hammer Gel in between. It was delicious. I love the raspberry flavor!

Jump Squats on the riser (20) SS pushups on bosu (10) x 3
"Fast feet" on the riser (90 seconds) SS Standing DB rows (15 lb dbs) x 3
Frog jumps (or knee jumps)(5) on bosu SS Rebounder (7# ball) x 5
Seated Row (40 x 15) SS Run down then jump up the stairs X 4
Front & Side shoulder press (5# dbs) 20 x 3

I'm on my way to 40 miles this week.

Busy, busy, busy

Well, it's back to being crazy workout girl. 2 mile "warmup" on the treadmill which included 1.25 miles of slow running (11:15 pace). Then an hour of upper body to rival the lower body workout I did on Tuesday. Pushups w/ one leg extended (8/8 x 4), unilateral bicep curls (10 lb dbs) 15x4, military presses (5 lb dbs) 15x4, front & lateral raise (5 lb db) 4x25, deadlifts w/ 10 lb db 4x20, dumbell rows and kickbacks. Then to top it all off, I went outside (it's freezing!!) and ran four miles. It just so happens that it was the fastest four miles I've ever done on this particular route! 37:12 or avg. 9:17 mile. Pretty cool. The elevation is basically 2 miles downhill then 2 miles uphill. I'm very pleased.

This is one of those days where you think, as a mom, you'll never get through it. Everybody has to be at a million different things and everybody's time overlaps. Plus, when I finally get done, I'm going to a play (Altar Boyz) tonight. I'm not looking forward to putting on real clothes. I'm very comfortable in my sweats thankyouverymuch!

Tomorrow is a scheduled rest day, but I may look for a spinning class since I'm still feeling a little guilty over skipping yesterday's run.

Ow!

I'm so sore today I must have run a marathon yesterday. Oh, yeah... That was nearly ten days ago! I've been feeling great. The running has been going great. I've added in some spinning. But then... but then... I went back to the gym. A full day of legs -- leg presses, hamstring curls, reverse lunges off the bosu, squats on the bosu, single leg deadlifts -- I can barely move today, much less run! Yow!!!

I did have some fun this morning figuring out my Half Marathon training plan for the More Half on April 6th. I'm going to use Hal Higdon's Advanced training plan for the half-marathon. The cool thing is that I feel like I'm totally up to the challange. In fact, it doesn't seem all that challanging! I was initially going to use a Ryan Hall type plan that was published in Runners' World not too long ago, but I'm used to the Hal Higdon plans and have been successful with them for the marathon so I'll give this a shot. I'm looking to take three minutes off my half-marathon PR. I PRd on a hilly course while training for the NYC Marathon, so I should be able to meet my goal. The only thing is that the More is crowded and the path is very narrow. Last year I did alot of bobbing and weaving. The only thing I have to nail down is the partner/roommate situation. Always a challange.

Oh! I almost forgot! I was in the Girls on the Run newsletter for Greater Cincinnati. Here's the part about me, including my quote:

Running from the Paparazzi

So, is she or isn't she going to run the New York City Marthon? The she to which I am referring is Katie Holmes aka Mrs. Tom Cruise. Yesterday's celebrity rags indicated that she is, but I have found no authoritative confirmation otherwise. I guess when the New York Times prints it then I'll believe it. I've seen blurbs in OK!, Runners' World, and The San Francisco Chronicle, but nothing definitive.

I wonder if she's faster than me?

Yesterday, I squeezed in a 5 miler on sore legs. I ran surprisingly fast, which I attribute to my own musings about Katie Holmes. I wonder if she's in the blue corral with me? Will she use pacers like Lance Armstrong did last year? To heck with her. My average pace yesterday was 9:35.

Instead of taking a rest day today, like I usually do on Friday's, I had to hit the gym for a rescheduled workout. Mostly upper body stuff with alot of core too. Tomorrow I'll run 4 miles and Sunday's long run is only 12.

I'm Getting Excited!!!

Random thoughts

I'm taking a break from running today. I'm feeling tired and can't seem to shake it. I went ahead to the gym and did a high rep/low weight workout. Core, pushups, jumprope, chest press, chinups, leg presses, stepups, rows, stretching on the foam roller. It went fast... I didn't realize until now just how much I fit into the hour.

I'm looking for my tape measure. I haven't taken any measurements since the spring and I'd really like to. I think a child may have "borrowed" it -- for what purpose I can't imagine -- so I may need to break down and spend the sevent-nine cents for a new one. I've been noticing real definition in my legs and would like some concrete confirmation. Just for fun.

My NYCM jacket came today that I ordered from the New York City Road Runners. I'm not sure that I like it. It's very, very lightweight (it is called "Ultralite" LOL), but I would have liked to try it on in a medium. The ingNYCM logo is on the back and my hair covers it up. The problem is, it's thirty days out from the marathon and the merchandise is selling out. I think that's absolutely ridiculous. They obviously didn't buy enough. Anyway, I didn't want to risk getting to the expo and finding all the good stuff in my size sold out.

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

This is my peak week. My body seems ok with it (knock wood, fingers crossed, spit, spit). Time to keep the focus.

Worked out for an hour this morning without touching a weight. I warmed up with 5 miles on the bike then did a series of plyos that I like to call "ankle breakers and nose breakers." Fortunately, that didn't really happen.

Jump rope (70, 150, 150) SS Walking lunges (forward) X 3
Single leg hops on riser 3 X 15, 15 SS Woodchops w/ 4 lb ball X 30
Explosive pushups from knees 3X10 SS Tuck jumps 2X 20

When I got home from the gym, I went out for my 5 miles (50:10) in the blazing heat and humidity. Isn't it Fall already? What is with this weather? I'll tell you, it is OLD.

Keeping it Moving

Ok, so whatever happens on Sunday happens. I think I'm just getting a little burned out from training and I really do need this race to spice things up. The weather is supposed to be cool, and it has cooled off today, so I'm going to trust the forecast for the weakend and know that even if it's 90 degrees, I can still finish the race.

My schedule calls for a 5 mile run today, but since I did my strength workout this morning, I moved the run to yesterday. I went to the park, which is where I always go when I'm just not in the mood to run. It's rugged, shady, (hilly), and different from the usual routine. I did a tough 3.35 miles with an average pace of 13:30. It's amazing how the trail will force you to slow down! Based on the difficulty, I called it a day even though it was less than 5 miles. I don't want to be sore for Sunday.

This morning I went to the gym for a slightly sluggish workout. I warmed up about 4.5 miles on the stationary bike and stretched. Then

Single leg military press standing on the bosu (2lb ball)(opp. arm and leg) 3x15, 15 SS Single leg hip lift on bosu 3x15, 15

Leg estension (15) 3x30 SS Hyperextensions 3x15

Pushups 3x15 SS Squats (bosu) 3x20

Rebounder (7lb ball) 3x35

With that I think I'll call it a day. I'm just about to find out what a horcrux is in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I promise not to tell, so no spoilers in my blog please.

Get'cha Head in the Game

I know I'm not supposed to focus too much on the number on the scale, but I was happy to wake up this morning to see 123 on the bathroom scale. The additional mileage is finally catching up to my calorie intake which means I must be in the middle of the training program. Cool! It works! I'd like to be at 120 for NYCM, but if I'm not, then I'm not. I've made so many monumental gains this year that I can't expect to keep improving at the same rate. Now I really have to fight for the extra seconds.


Today was 4 miles recovery -- my least favorite run of the week. 45:25 nice and slow. One whole episode of Fresh Air. I was looking forward to the Judas Priest and Metallica interviews and they did not disappoint. Well, Rob Halford was a little boring, but James Hetfield was fascinating as always. I highly recommend the movie Some Kind of Monster. Even if your not a Metallica fan, it's a totally cool inside look into the band's creative process with the additional fun of a therapist hanging around the scene.


Yes, I went to the gym too. Nothing easy there. I warmed up on the bike and did some stretches for my hips and glutes to start.


Reverse lunge on bosu 4x30 SS Military press on bosu (10lb db) 4x20

Pikes (on ball) 3x10 SS Push up row (10lb db) 3x10, 10

Military pull-up 4x10 SS Push ups on inverted bosu 4x15

Stretch

This is entirely random, but hey, my blog. So, now that Zac Efron is on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, I had to (finally) sit down and watch High School Musical. I've tried before, just like Harry Potter, without success. It's weird, because I have always liked musicals. But High School Musical, I don't know how else to put it, seems so much more contrived than other musicals. And it's so chaste! Even Oklahoma! has a dark side. I do confess that I've become quite fond of Ashley Tisdale. She's actually funny. She's on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and I also confess to a sick fascination with that show too. It's completely inappropriate for the Disney Channel. Zack and Cody are complete horndogs. Hey! Maybe High School Musical should take a few lessons because I think what's missing from East High is HORMONES. Harry Potter had now become an obsession with me and I'm plowing through the series. I'm sorry to say that I'm not so anxious to catch up with High School Musical 2.

MTD: 142:88 (second highest month of 2007)

Still at it

After yesterday's "character building" run, I was ready for some cross training.

2 miles warmup on the bike (yes, lame, I know)
Bench press (10 db) - 3X20, 1X25
DB curl on bosu (10db) - 3X20
Lat pull v-grip (12.5) - 3x20, 1x25
Pushups one leg up - 4X8 SS Pikes - 4X10
Seated row (12.5) - 4X20 SS Stairs (every other step) 4X3
Core (V-ups/ leg push things)
Stretch

There's a distinct possibility that I might wash my car today which is excellent cross-training also!

Two for the Price of One

Two workouts today.

Running: 5 miles on the treadmill. 1% grade. 1 mile warmup then 5 X 800 repeats at approx. 8:30 pace. Probably a little faster taking into account the 1%. I don't really feel like checking the conversion chart.

Weights:
Chest press (15db) – 4x15

Push-ups on bosu – 4x10

One arm row (20) – 4x15

Push-up row – 4x10

Db curl into Rev military press (10) – 4x15

Rev pike on bosu – 3x15 SS

Plank with feet on bosu – 3x :30

Tough, tough upper body workout that I'll be paying for tomorrow and Friday. I need it though.

Ode to My Mean Trainer

Ode to My Mean Trainer

Oh, Trainer! Dost thou think thee can break me?

Stairs, Mountain Climbers, Planks --

I will not fail thee

20 pound dumbells;

My arm didn't fall off. See?

Victories will bring me victory.

Slow race times will be history.

Oh, Trainer!

Thou cann'a break me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another tough workout. 2 miles warmup on the treadmill. First mile at 10:00; Second mile at 9:30. 1% grade, as always. I hoped to get a third mile in, but opted to take a quick shower instead before the real workout began. I don't know why I bothered though.

Leg Extensions: 20lbs at 15 x 4(Stair run (every other step) x 6) SS (Pushups w/ hands on the bosu, one leg extended x 6 each side) x 4

(Jump squats on the riser x 20) SS (Mountain Climbers x 45 sec) SS (Bicep Curls w/ 20 lb dbs) x 4

(Rebounder w/ 4 lb ball x 15) SS (Victories x 10) SS (Plank x 30 sec)x4

Unilateral hip lift on bosu SS Front & Side raises w/ 8 lb db X 3

I soaked two shirts with this workout. Aaron (trainer) said he likes when I say he's trying to kill me in my blog, so I dedicate this entry to him.

Back to Business

Alright. What did I do today? Oh, yeah. Weights.

Everything was hard today. I was punished for complaining. Apparently, I'm not allowed to say, "I can't" even when I can't. Sometimes it just slips out though. Really, I never thought I'd need a thesauraus for when I weight train.

I warmed up for less than 10 minutes on the bike and rolled my ITB a little bit. Can you tell I'm off to a slow start already?

Squats: Bar only x 20
Bar (+ 20 lbs) 20 x 3
Deadlifts (15 lb dbs) SS pushups 15 x 4
Millitary pullup w/ feet on bosu (10) SS stairs (every other one) (6) x 4
Jump squats SS overhead press (15 lb dbs) 15 x 4
Mountainclimbers (my punishment) 30 sec. x 2
Stretch.

I was going to go to yoga, but I was too hungry. I don't know why, but I struggled with this morning's workout, despite eating breakfast. Could it be going out for dinner 4 nights in a row took its toll?

Gym Day

Today was a gym day. 20 minutes warmup on the stationary bike then:

Squats with bar only 20 x 4
Unilateral deadlift into reverse lunge w/ 10 lb dumbells 10 each leg x 4
Walking lunges (forward & reverse) x 4
Lat Pulldowns (27.5) x 4
Rebounder w/ 7 lb ball (20) SS Victories (10) x 4

I was a real failure at the victories today. I'm sure I'll feel them tomorrow anyway.