Fitness

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Fit for Me 35/52

What I did last week:

Saturday-We went to the Farmer’s Market in Des Moines, and there we walked for a couple hours. I think my friend’s FitBit said we walked around 2 miles once we were done. AND I was pushing a stroller the whole time, so I will take it as a workout.

Sunday-George and I took a brisk 15 minute walk through Iowa State’s campus before we headed out on the road. I went to two of my favorite spots on campus that I use to run through. Goodness I miss that place.

Tuesday-50 minute training run. This actually went a lot better than I was expecting after an almost 2 week hiatus from real running. I met all my split times. Most of them felt good. I really only started hurting (my knee specifically) the last 5 minutes of my last leg.

Impressed by:

Well I would say this is another week where there was nothing extraordinary…obviously. However, I was pretty proud of myself for meeting the split times yesterday. Those were the longest intervals I have run to date.

Struggled with:

Doing workouts. I had plans for more walks/runs while we were in Iowa. We were a lot busier than I had thought we would be, and the weather was not exactly on our side once we got done socializing.

Did I meet my goal from last week?

I did revisit one of my old run paths, albeit it was quick and while carrying George. But I still hit the pavement a little bit.

What is my goal for next week?

To do all three of my training runs. I clearly need to get back on that since my race is in two weeks. Whoops.

Fitness Thoughts:

I am really happy that I married someone who will help me out when I need to make more time for my runs. My runs are getting longer so doing them before I need to pick up George after work just isn’t feasible if I want to do the full run. And our daylight time is slowly creeping up, so I can’t safely run after dark around our house. Usually we split dinner/bedtime responsibilities, and Tom volunteered to do it ALL last night so I could run once we got home. I got back from my run just in time to tuck George into bed. I am glad we can support each other with our fitness endeavors. It really makes getting out there a little easier when you feel supported.

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What workouts did you do this week?

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Fit for Me 34/52

What I did last week:

Thursday-30 minute run. I can’t quite do my full training runs during the week because of some timing issues with George things, but a 30 minute run is still pretty good. I did it though downtown Columbia, which was cool to see different shops I hadn’t before but holy hills!

Tuesday-30 minute run/walk. This wasn’t exactly the run it should have been. I was just coming off a weekend being sick so my lungs weren’t really ready for the run. The weather was just too perfect though not to get out a little!

Impressed by:

Not really an impressive week, but coming back from sinus issues was a win.

Struggled with:

The weather changed dramatically this last week, and it had a really bad affect on my sinuses. I was not feeling too hot all weekend which knocked me out of some training workouts.

Did I meet my goal from last week?

My goal was to hit all three runs…welp that didn’t happen.

What is my goal for next week?

I am headed out of town this weekend with George. We are going to our old digs in Iowa. I want to revisit some of the trails I used to run while we are there.

Fitness Thoughts:

I think our bodies do a good job at giving us signals of when we need to relax, however I wish it wasn’t in the form of sinus headaches and chest colds. But hey, I caught up on Pretty Little Liars-soooo not what I was expecting! (And I am still confused, but that’s thoughts for another day.)

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Fit for Me 33/52

What I did last week:

Thursday-50 minute run. I honestly wasn’t feeling this run when I set out, and I was already thinking of cutting down my interval times. I told myself though to do at least the first interval complete and see how I do. That one felt good, so I just kept going with it. I met each of the interval times! This run ended up being one of the best runs I have had in a long time. I felt strong and confident with the run, and the heaviness that I felt at the beginning just went away.

Saturday-We went down to the lake with my family for the weekend, and I finally after like 10 years was able to get on a boat. So there was a lot of swimming and water skiing involved. I only skied a half a dozen times, but I am still feeling it days later. Such a different workout for my body!

Sunday-Since we were traveling back, I didn’t get my run in like I wanted. I did use my SWORKIT app to do a 30 minute cardio workout. This is always interesting because you have no idea what your workout is going to be. And I could do it while I was catching up on some Bachelor in Paradise.

Tuesday-52 minute run. This wasn’t exactly the run it should have been. I was pushing George in a stroller on gravel, so I adjusted my intervals a little. I still managed to get a good run in despite pushing 25 lbs.

Impressed by:

Despite being much older than the last time I skied, I was really proud of myself for being able to get up on the skis as much and for as long as I did. It was so much fun to be drug around the lake!

Struggled with:

I didn’t do so hot meeting all my run times (and workouts).

Did I meet my goal from last week?

I did! The swimming and skiing were great. Unfortunately, I am still feeling the skiing aftermath in my shoulders a little. But it was totally worth it!

What is my goal for next week?

My goal is to do all three runs. School starts next week, so there is a lot going on, but I want to make sure I still make that time to hit the pavement.

Fitness Thoughts:

It’s amazing to me what muscle memory will do. We went to the lake every summer for at least 15 years, where I perfected my skiing form. Then after a 10 year hiatus, it just took me a couple tries to get back into the swing of things. Pretty cool what our bodies will do!

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Do you water ski? Do you ever feel surprised at yourself after a workout?

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Fit for Me 32/52

What I did last week:

Thursday-32 minute training run. I ran during the workday, and I found the key to coming back to work without dying of heat is wearing a skirt. Apparently my legs needed to breathe. Also 2nd day hair.

Saturday-I did a race in town around a local lake. It was not a run; it was a hike. I ran what I could, but I walked a lot more than I planned since the terrain was a lot more treacherous than I remember from our excursions there before. There were small slat bridges, creek beds you had to run straight down then straight back up, and rocks jutting up everywhere. So instead of risking a sprained ankle, I walked a lot to get through it.

Tuesday-36 minute training run. This was was a huge struggle. I was having such a hard time meeting each of my time splits. As I was doing the cool-down, I realized that the incline was set on a 2 instead of the .5 I normally do. No wonder I was having trouble.

Impressed by:

I kept going through that trail run. There were parts where I wondered why I sign up for these things, but it is always great to cross the finish line.

Struggled with:

I need to do some other workouts besides running. I am starting to get in a rut with running, which always happens mid-training for me. So I need something to jazz it up for a a little bit.

Did I meet my goal from last week?

I did not meet my goal of running one of the trail miles at a 10 minute pace. It just wasn’t worth it on that path.

What is my goal for next week?

To do one workout that is not running.

Fitness Thoughts:

I never look good in the running photos…How do people do it? I always come out looking like I am going to puke or that I am taking it much more serious than I actually am. I mean look at the kid before me-having the time of his life in his little bandana.

11813485_938101422894806_120917297985061843_nAre you race photogenic? How do you do it?

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Fit for Me 31/52

What I did last week:

Thursday-40 minute training run

Saturday-BodyPump for an hour. I only had to take a break during the chest track.

Sunday-This was the longest run I have done in a long time: 52 minutes. And unfortunately, I chose the wrong way on the Katy Trail to run-the way without shade. Bummer. But I still rocked it out, and I felt really good about it.

Monday-It was zoo day. We were at the zoo for about 5 hours, which means a lot of walking.

Tuesday-30 minute training run. I will admit, I did more walking than running. Midway through I stopped following my plan. I was pushing the stroller in a new park that was unreasonably hilly. So I decided to just walk the last 10 minutes.

Impressed by:

Killing that run on Sunday. I am really liking doing this time ratio for my runs because it is a lot easier for me to say just run for 2 more minutes or whatnot instead of thinking I have a quarter mile left.

Struggled with:

My niece asked me this week if I was having another baby. And when I told her no, she pointed to my belly and asked why it looked so big. It took all I had not to have some reaction to her and keep my composure while trying to explain what was going on with my belly. I cried all the way home. I have been working my tail off (at least I feel like it) and to have a kid say that so point blank was a little horrifying. I talked to my other half (not Tom-great friend from college “other half”), and she has three kids and commiserated with me that she has heard this as well from her older boys. While it still sucks, at least I know I am in good company with the apparent momma pouch.

Did I meet my goal from last week?

I did not hit all my runs like I wanted, but here is to another week.

What is my goal for next week?

i want to do more ab workouts, just kidding. I wallowed for one night, I don’t need to focus on a 5 year old’s comments anymore. I am running a trail race this weekend, and I would like to run at least one of the miles at a 10 minute pace. I am not familiar with the trail so an 11 minute mile may be more likely.

Fitness Thoughts:

Fitness is just as much of a mental game as it is physical.

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