Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Week of July 20
Monday
Today was my parents' 41st wedding anniversary. Last year, we had a big party for their 40th and it was so much fun. If I could afford it, I would throw them a big bash every year, but I guess they will have to settle for every 5 years. My uncle, who lost his wife unexpectedly, told me least year "there's no time to waste. Celebrate it now." So, we won't wait for 50.
I had plans for a Colorado Rockies game Monday night, so I decided to simply double up weights for Tuesday. Instead, simply biked to and from work in the afternoon. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be, so I think I'm ready for all-day bicycle commuting!
Tuesday
The weather forecast was for low 80s with cloud cover - a perfect day for a little dog with a slightly shorter snout to play outside all day. So, I drove to work since Jeff's day play place is (mostly) on the way and treated the pup to a day of playing. The workouts I've been doing have left me completely exhausted, so I haven't been as good about playing with him during lunch and at the end of the day.
In the weight room, it was high weight/low reps for shoulders and legs. Legs, of course, I can't go crazy on, but I pulled 105 on the deadlift for 5 reps, which made me feel good. My PR deadlift from my crossfit days is only 125. I know I can pull more than that, but mentally I always panicked so it never got above that. I'm thinking in a few weeks, I should have a 1 rep max day. That will be fun.
My brother and I decided to sign up for a half marathon relay Labor Day weekend when I am home, so that will be a fun last race before I'm laid up for awhile. Our team name? Dynamic Duo.
Wednesday
Back and Bis. The hip has been bothering me a bit lately, so I decided to change up the workout slightly - instead of doing a minute of cardio between each set, I did a minute of cardio between each exercise. Pulled 150 on the v-cable row and was super excited about it.
Thursday
Chest and tris. The second half of this week is very low weight, high reps, so it was different in it's intensity. I had also decided I wanted to do an afternoon run, so instead of 3 exercises for each muscle group, I did two. It was enough!
Run/walk: 2.5 miles in 31:32. It was hot, I was thirsty by the end, and felt amazing. I miss running.
Friday
Shoulders, back and bis in the gym. I can't decide if high reps or high weight is more challenging.
It wasn't very exciting, but the first Harry Potter was on, so that was nice.
Saturday
Hike with Team RWB. One of the guys was nice enough to organize some group hikes, with the last one being a 14-er, so I'll get that checked off the bucket list just in time for surgery. It was a small group, but enjoyed getting to know those who were on the trail with me.
Sunday
Rest day. It was amazing.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Week of July 13
Tough week in the gym for me, but got it done. Mostly.
Monday
Sunday I went to bed with a headache, which I assumed was due to a caffeine headache, but woke up with a killer migraine. It had been a long time since I felt like that, so took the morning off of work and did some work in the nice, cool darkness of my apartment in the afternoon.
Felt well enough to do a toned-down version of chest and triceps - usually, I do a minute of something to elevate my heart rate (sprints, mountain climbers, jump ropes, kettlebell swings, etc) between each set, but today I just did my cardio between exercises.
Tuesday
Commuted to work in the morning - beautiful ride in and hardly anyone on the path (yay!). Rode home at lunch and then drove back in for the afternoon. The Colorado afternoon showers are almost always when I head home at the end of the day, and not quite ready to face the elements. So, the plan for now is to bike in the mornings until I'm comfortable enough to bike all day. For now, here's to reducing my commuting carbon footprint in half!
After work, mashed two days of shortcut to shred, trying to get back on a schedule that works for when I have access to my work gym and when I do not. The last half of each week requires a lot of cable work, and since my home gym doesn't have a cable machine, I had to rearrange a few days.
So, this day was back/bis/shoulders/legs.
I was tired by the end of it.
Wednesday
Another successful morning commute!
Afternoon weight lifting was chest, tris and abs. I not in the mood to do core work, but wanted to get some good lower ab exercises in the hopes of aiding in a better than average recovery from surgery in the fall.
One of my neighbors was evicted on Wednesday, a couple with a son, who I admittedly didn't know very well. I saw them leaving in a hurry in early in the morning and didn't ask why, but when I came home at lunch and saw the grounds crew carrying what they had left and putting it on the lawn in front of my building, they told me what happened. There were some nice pieces of furniture that I wish I had offered to help them move that morning. I say this because there was a woman who was eyeing that furniture hard core, and by the time I was leaving for work again, she was moving it to an SUV. It took me a long time to realize why this bothered me so much and I realized it was because the look in this woman's eyes was full of greed. I myself have been a greedy person; this usually comes with getting free stuff. I'll take nearly every single free item at race expos, and if they say I can have two, I sure as heck will take two, so I am trying to not be a hypocritical & judgy jerk. But with my job, I see so much greed that I tire of it, and I think simply seeing it live this time, rather than in data, I just took it to heart. I wanted to make a back handed comment, but what good would it have done? None. None, whatsoever. Perhaps she really needed furniture. Maybe she has never had nice furniture before, and I guess everyone deserves to have something nice at least once in their lives. I'm trying to remember that, rather than the look on her face.
Thursday
Legs felt tired during this morning's commute, but still got it done. The nice thing about Colorado is that we've been having cool mornings lately, so that makes for a nice bike ride. On the way back to my apartment for lunch, I met a gentleman out for a run and couldn't figure out why he was staring at my chest when we passed each other. Then I remembered I was wearing a tank top with a built in bra that was a little more low cut than usual.
Oops.
My lifting buddy had been absent Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and I didn't realize how much I missed him until I came out of the women's locker and saw him on the elliptical, warming up. I probably gave him a way too enthusiastic smile, but he sort of smiled back so I am assuming that means he missed me, too.
His presence did nothing for my work out, though. I was just not in the mood, but I got my extended sets (16-20 reps versus 6-8 reps earlier this week) done for shoulders and legs.
Friday
Extra tired this morning, so drove in rather than biked.
Really didn't want to lift, but got in back and biceps. Ugh, it was not fun at all, but I did see a new (to me) HGTV show called 'Log Cabin Living' or something like that and there was a couple looking for a cabin in the Front Range. Made me want to get a cabin in the Front Range.
Saturday
Took a real rest day, except for the part where I was running errands all day and cleaning the apartment, including my bathtub (hate doing that) because a friend was coming into town. But it was good to see him, catch up and learn all about his new girlfriend, for whom he is completely smitten. Adorable. We both made ourselves sick on this gluten free dessert at a restaurant. It was delicious, we both got our own and, immediately after we finished it, agreed we should have shared.
Sunday
Was not in the mood at all to do anything other than sit on the couch and watch junk TV all day, but I managed to get myself into the weight room for chest and tris. The first half of this week is high weight, very low reps (2-3), so I pushed myself. I believe at the end of this program, I will have to do some one rep max tests, just to see how much strength I've gained.
I had planned on Friday to meet some Loopsters for dinner, but being an a-hole, I completely spaced it. I mean completely. I didn't even remember until the next morning when I was walking Jeff, gasped an expletive and literally face-palmed. Sigh.
Monday
Sunday I went to bed with a headache, which I assumed was due to a caffeine headache, but woke up with a killer migraine. It had been a long time since I felt like that, so took the morning off of work and did some work in the nice, cool darkness of my apartment in the afternoon.
Felt well enough to do a toned-down version of chest and triceps - usually, I do a minute of something to elevate my heart rate (sprints, mountain climbers, jump ropes, kettlebell swings, etc) between each set, but today I just did my cardio between exercises.
Tuesday
Commuted to work in the morning - beautiful ride in and hardly anyone on the path (yay!). Rode home at lunch and then drove back in for the afternoon. The Colorado afternoon showers are almost always when I head home at the end of the day, and not quite ready to face the elements. So, the plan for now is to bike in the mornings until I'm comfortable enough to bike all day. For now, here's to reducing my commuting carbon footprint in half!
After work, mashed two days of shortcut to shred, trying to get back on a schedule that works for when I have access to my work gym and when I do not. The last half of each week requires a lot of cable work, and since my home gym doesn't have a cable machine, I had to rearrange a few days.
So, this day was back/bis/shoulders/legs.
I was tired by the end of it.
Wednesday
Another successful morning commute!
Afternoon weight lifting was chest, tris and abs. I not in the mood to do core work, but wanted to get some good lower ab exercises in the hopes of aiding in a better than average recovery from surgery in the fall.
One of my neighbors was evicted on Wednesday, a couple with a son, who I admittedly didn't know very well. I saw them leaving in a hurry in early in the morning and didn't ask why, but when I came home at lunch and saw the grounds crew carrying what they had left and putting it on the lawn in front of my building, they told me what happened. There were some nice pieces of furniture that I wish I had offered to help them move that morning. I say this because there was a woman who was eyeing that furniture hard core, and by the time I was leaving for work again, she was moving it to an SUV. It took me a long time to realize why this bothered me so much and I realized it was because the look in this woman's eyes was full of greed. I myself have been a greedy person; this usually comes with getting free stuff. I'll take nearly every single free item at race expos, and if they say I can have two, I sure as heck will take two, so I am trying to not be a hypocritical & judgy jerk. But with my job, I see so much greed that I tire of it, and I think simply seeing it live this time, rather than in data, I just took it to heart. I wanted to make a back handed comment, but what good would it have done? None. None, whatsoever. Perhaps she really needed furniture. Maybe she has never had nice furniture before, and I guess everyone deserves to have something nice at least once in their lives. I'm trying to remember that, rather than the look on her face.
Thursday
Legs felt tired during this morning's commute, but still got it done. The nice thing about Colorado is that we've been having cool mornings lately, so that makes for a nice bike ride. On the way back to my apartment for lunch, I met a gentleman out for a run and couldn't figure out why he was staring at my chest when we passed each other. Then I remembered I was wearing a tank top with a built in bra that was a little more low cut than usual.
Oops.
My lifting buddy had been absent Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and I didn't realize how much I missed him until I came out of the women's locker and saw him on the elliptical, warming up. I probably gave him a way too enthusiastic smile, but he sort of smiled back so I am assuming that means he missed me, too.
His presence did nothing for my work out, though. I was just not in the mood, but I got my extended sets (16-20 reps versus 6-8 reps earlier this week) done for shoulders and legs.
Friday
Extra tired this morning, so drove in rather than biked.
Really didn't want to lift, but got in back and biceps. Ugh, it was not fun at all, but I did see a new (to me) HGTV show called 'Log Cabin Living' or something like that and there was a couple looking for a cabin in the Front Range. Made me want to get a cabin in the Front Range.
Saturday
Took a real rest day, except for the part where I was running errands all day and cleaning the apartment, including my bathtub (hate doing that) because a friend was coming into town. But it was good to see him, catch up and learn all about his new girlfriend, for whom he is completely smitten. Adorable. We both made ourselves sick on this gluten free dessert at a restaurant. It was delicious, we both got our own and, immediately after we finished it, agreed we should have shared.
Sunday
Was not in the mood at all to do anything other than sit on the couch and watch junk TV all day, but I managed to get myself into the weight room for chest and tris. The first half of this week is high weight, very low reps (2-3), so I pushed myself. I believe at the end of this program, I will have to do some one rep max tests, just to see how much strength I've gained.
I had planned on Friday to meet some Loopsters for dinner, but being an a-hole, I completely spaced it. I mean completely. I didn't even remember until the next morning when I was walking Jeff, gasped an expletive and literally face-palmed. Sigh.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Week of July 6
How the heck is it July already?
Damn.
This was a tough week. For whatever reason, I just was not into the weight room at all.
Monday
Back to lifting. Restarted the 6 week shortcut to shred program since I seriously slacked for the last 10 days. I owe myself a good, solid run of training, which I honestly haven't had since I finished my time with Hitchfit in February. Not that I've been a complete couch potato, but I do want to get in as good of shape as possible before I'm laid up for a good two months.
Day 1 was chest and tris.
Then, I bought a road bike. Living within two miles of work just makes me feel silly for driving back and forth every day. If I was healthy, I would run.
Tuesday
Shoulders and legs. I was having a crap workout - was just not in the mood for it at all.
Based on the looks on my lifting partner's face, he wasn't having a good workout, either.
Put off watching the bachelorette a day. I must say, week 8 was a vast improvement over week 6. I don't really remember week 7.
Wednesday
Back and biceps, followed by hip and core strengthening.
I also watched a webinar on running form put on by RunnersConnect. I have really come to enjoy that site, and this webinar was really informational. They talked about how improving form was best done by exercises (strengthening, stretching and drills) that will allow you to unconsciously improve your form. Maybe I'm not explaining it well, but I thought it made sense, especially since my run with your butt experiment didn't really work out to well - and that was all conscious effort.
Thursday
Chest & tris. Cut out one of the three prescribed chest exercises, because I was like, "Why am I doing three chest exercises?"
Someone had turned ESPN on and I heard the news that Alex Gordon was out for 8 weeks. Oh that made me sad, both for him and for the Royals. This will be the second All-Star Game he misses out on due to injury.
Friday
Poor Jeff had the sniffles, so my workout got re-arranged so I could take him to the vet.
Actually, it was more than sniffles, it was this awful, mucous-y reverse sneezing. When I called, the woman on the phone could hear him in the background, it was so awful. Apparently, there is a little outbreak of kennel cough in Colorado, and even though he had his shot, he still got it. Luckily, just a few days of meds and he was himself again.
Saturday
Mashed together the second back/bis and shoulders/legs day since I missed Friday to baby my furbaby. Meh, it was ok.
Sunday
Practiced my commute for work. Remember when you first started driving and you were scared and wobbly and nearly went off the road a few times? Welcome to my first bike ride. Pretty sure one woman thought I was drunk or high. Wait, I'm in Colorado. She definitely thought I was high.
4.47 miles in 24:21.
Found photos from the trail run last weekend. These were from the beginning switchbacks where it was essentially a march to the top. I'm in the white long sleeved tee.
Damn.
This was a tough week. For whatever reason, I just was not into the weight room at all.
Monday
Back to lifting. Restarted the 6 week shortcut to shred program since I seriously slacked for the last 10 days. I owe myself a good, solid run of training, which I honestly haven't had since I finished my time with Hitchfit in February. Not that I've been a complete couch potato, but I do want to get in as good of shape as possible before I'm laid up for a good two months.
Day 1 was chest and tris.
Then, I bought a road bike. Living within two miles of work just makes me feel silly for driving back and forth every day. If I was healthy, I would run.
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| Sexy, eh? |
Tuesday
Shoulders and legs. I was having a crap workout - was just not in the mood for it at all.
Based on the looks on my lifting partner's face, he wasn't having a good workout, either.
Put off watching the bachelorette a day. I must say, week 8 was a vast improvement over week 6. I don't really remember week 7.
Wednesday
Back and biceps, followed by hip and core strengthening.
I also watched a webinar on running form put on by RunnersConnect. I have really come to enjoy that site, and this webinar was really informational. They talked about how improving form was best done by exercises (strengthening, stretching and drills) that will allow you to unconsciously improve your form. Maybe I'm not explaining it well, but I thought it made sense, especially since my run with your butt experiment didn't really work out to well - and that was all conscious effort.
Thursday
Chest & tris. Cut out one of the three prescribed chest exercises, because I was like, "Why am I doing three chest exercises?"
Someone had turned ESPN on and I heard the news that Alex Gordon was out for 8 weeks. Oh that made me sad, both for him and for the Royals. This will be the second All-Star Game he misses out on due to injury.
Friday
Poor Jeff had the sniffles, so my workout got re-arranged so I could take him to the vet.
Actually, it was more than sniffles, it was this awful, mucous-y reverse sneezing. When I called, the woman on the phone could hear him in the background, it was so awful. Apparently, there is a little outbreak of kennel cough in Colorado, and even though he had his shot, he still got it. Luckily, just a few days of meds and he was himself again.
Saturday
Mashed together the second back/bis and shoulders/legs day since I missed Friday to baby my furbaby. Meh, it was ok.
Sunday
Practiced my commute for work. Remember when you first started driving and you were scared and wobbly and nearly went off the road a few times? Welcome to my first bike ride. Pretty sure one woman thought I was drunk or high. Wait, I'm in Colorado. She definitely thought I was high.
4.47 miles in 24:21.
Found photos from the trail run last weekend. These were from the beginning switchbacks where it was essentially a march to the top. I'm in the white long sleeved tee.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
On Perception
As much as my pride would love to say that I have a healthy body image, the truth is, this isn't always true.
I like average Barbie, cuz she's got some junk in the trunk, and we all know that I am big on having a nice butt. Barbie has runner's butt, which is fine if you are an elite distance runner, but most of us could probably benefit from a more than less, rather than a less is more mentality, at least when it comes to our behinds. I suppose this applies to a few other things, too, like being nice to strangers.
All of this rambling started because I took the following photo after my awful MRI and immediately thought "my leg is so flabby", but I looked at it a few days ago (when I started writing this post) and thought, "wow, that's a pretty darn good looking leg". And I didn't even notice that my tummy (my biggest insecurity) was showing a little. That's just how good I thought my leg looked.
See? Blinders. Messed up rose-colored glasses. Instead of the camera, my own eyes add 10 pounds.
I'm working on it, and if I'm lucky enough to be the mom to a little girl and (when she grows up) a fantastic woman, I hope that, in this one aspect, she isn't like me. And I hope I have something to do with that.
At the very least, she is getting an Average Barbie.
Most days, I am happy with me. All of me. Just as I am.
When I'm running or lifting, I feel that I look like this:
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| Rachel Cieslewicz, Ultra runner extraordinaire |
Or this:
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| Andrea Ager, cross-fit badass |
I feel strong, powerful and like the most awesome woman on the planet. It's no wonder that I'm more confident in a sports bra than a regular one.
Last year, when I was 20 pounds heavier, despite 4 or 5 days of cross-fit workouts, I was in a terrible, terrible place body image-wise. I think this was mostly because I didn't understand why I was gaining weight (and not in a good way) when I was doing something that was supposedly better for me than just running all the time. Neither of my neurologists mentioned that the medication they put me on to help with my migraines had a very common side effect: weight gain.
Perhaps it seemed like a non-issue for someone who was having frequent migraines. For me, it was an issue. Sometimes, I wish it wasn't, but it was. And because my headaches weren't getting better and my self-esteem was as low as it was in junior high (did anyone have high self-esteem then??), I got myself off all the prescription meds we'd tried over the past 7 years, except for the Imitrex that was only as-needed, when a monster headache was coming on.
Then, it took three months of two-a-days and eating clean 90% of the time to get that extra weight off. Sometimes, when I think about it, I still get really mad. When I was given my medication options from the neurologist, they mentioned one might not be good because it caused weight loss; why would weight gain be considered ok and something to not mention to a patient? Aren't we in an obesity epidemic?
Then, it took three months of two-a-days and eating clean 90% of the time to get that extra weight off. Sometimes, when I think about it, I still get really mad. When I was given my medication options from the neurologist, they mentioned one might not be good because it caused weight loss; why would weight gain be considered ok and something to not mention to a patient? Aren't we in an obesity epidemic?
I find myself doing a lot of before and after comparisons and sharing them with friends. Oddly enough, this isn't to brag about my weight loss; it's often a way for me to take off my "fat glasses", as I like to call them. I know that I can't always look in a mirror objectively, but photos don't lie. For whatever reason, when I put photos side by side, even the devil on my shoulder can't argue with the results. And I share them with friends to make sure that the devil isn't being silent just to trick me.
Brown University has an amazing website on body image that I assume is maintained by the student health center. It's an amazing read for pretty much everyone - I bet that each and every one of us has some type of body image issue, whether it's directed at ourselves, or at others (ie, size prejudice).
One of the things I liked best about cross-fit was that it was never about how you looked, unless you were talking about your form while squatting. It was about being strong and badass, which is all I really need. When I workout now, I try to keep that mentality with me, instead of thinking about burning fat or finally getting the "dream body".
I had this photo of a dream body posted in my closet. The photo is actually of 800m runner Maggie Vessey, who, long after I found the photo, I learned is the type of runner I want to be - both fast and a heaver of weights. Ironically enough, the 800 was what I ran in junior high, when I hated running.
As I've learned more about Maggie, her running history and what it takes to be a world-class 800m runner, I'm glad I found this photo, because it represents so much more now than a nice set of lady guns and killer legs. Although I've taken the photo down and replaced it with performance goals in both lifting (deadlift: 300 pounds, bench: body weight) and running (24 minute 5K, 50 minute 10K), I now follow Maggie and a few other 800m runners for a regular dose of inspiration. There are smaller, stepping stone goals to those big ones, but they keep me focused on performance rather than looks. In the past year, I've realized how important that is. And when my hip is healthy, I know I can meet those running goals. I know I can. I just need to not be broken.
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| Maggie Vessey, 800m runner and all around badass |
As I've learned more about Maggie, her running history and what it takes to be a world-class 800m runner, I'm glad I found this photo, because it represents so much more now than a nice set of lady guns and killer legs. Although I've taken the photo down and replaced it with performance goals in both lifting (deadlift: 300 pounds, bench: body weight) and running (24 minute 5K, 50 minute 10K), I now follow Maggie and a few other 800m runners for a regular dose of inspiration. There are smaller, stepping stone goals to those big ones, but they keep me focused on performance rather than looks. In the past year, I've realized how important that is. And when my hip is healthy, I know I can meet those running goals. I know I can. I just need to not be broken.
In my body image search on Google, I found the following photos, comparing Barbie and a doll developed by a Pittsburgh man that he called "Average Barbie", a doll based on CDC data that provided the average measurements for a 19 year old girl in the US:
I like average Barbie, cuz she's got some junk in the trunk, and we all know that I am big on having a nice butt. Barbie has runner's butt, which is fine if you are an elite distance runner, but most of us could probably benefit from a more than less, rather than a less is more mentality, at least when it comes to our behinds. I suppose this applies to a few other things, too, like being nice to strangers.
All of this rambling started because I took the following photo after my awful MRI and immediately thought "my leg is so flabby", but I looked at it a few days ago (when I started writing this post) and thought, "wow, that's a pretty darn good looking leg". And I didn't even notice that my tummy (my biggest insecurity) was showing a little. That's just how good I thought my leg looked.
 |
| That's a pretty darn good looking leg. |
See? Blinders. Messed up rose-colored glasses. Instead of the camera, my own eyes add 10 pounds.
I'm working on it, and if I'm lucky enough to be the mom to a little girl and (when she grows up) a fantastic woman, I hope that, in this one aspect, she isn't like me. And I hope I have something to do with that.
At the very least, she is getting an Average Barbie.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Breckenridge Independence Day 10K Trail Run
Thought a video blog would be a nice change. Enjoy!
Photos:
Photos:
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| Flat Elizabeth |
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| Pre-race |
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| At the top - look at the view! |
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| Swag, plus other cool things I got in Breck. The earrings are from recycled bicycle tires. |
Week of June 29
I will just let you know now: this was a light week. Traveling will do that.
Monday
Drove back from Iowa all in one shot: 617 miles, just under 10 hours, with three stops.
First stop: York, NE (hour 3) for a Jeff and Eliz potty break and a half caf soy latte from Starbucks (my road trip treat).
Second stop: can't remember where (hour 6). This was a combo potty/fuel/clean the bugs off the windshield/find something healthy-ish for lunch in the gas station stop.
Lunch was carrots and celery that I had packed, string cheese and beef sticks. And an unsweetened iced tea. Not the best, but not too bad. And very filling, which was what mattered.
Third stop: Sterling, CO (hour 8) rest stop. One last Eliz/Jeff potty and stretch the legs break.
No matter if I am coming or going that stretch between my apartment in CO and hitting I-80 in Nebraska is painfully long, even though it's only 2 hours. Seriously.
Tuesday
Jump rope HIIT in the morning on my deck. I joyfully discovered I have just enough room to do this.
8 minutes of 45 seconds on, 15 seconds rest. It's been awhile since I jumped.
Had planned some weight lifting for after work, but was just too exhausted. I knew it would be a bad form session if I tried, so enjoyed the extra hour at home with Jeffery. Late night mile long walk after things finally cooled down. We don't have the humidity here, but that sun is close and hot during the day.
Wednesday
Morning run. Had planned to get up at 5:15, but Jeff was snuggly, so we snoozed until 5:40. Then, went for a run/walk/stop and smell the flowers and everything else for 2 miles, about 27 minutes. Interestingly enough, I was at work only 20 minutes later than usual, so that was cool.
Afternoon: hit the weights for chest and tris. Traveling threw life off and, with travel plans again this weekend, I decided to restart Shortcut to Shred next week. I owe myself 6 good weeks of solid workouts and clean eating.
Thursday
Meh. I was lazy. I admit it.
Some friends from Kansas City were in Frisco for a wedding, so we met up in Golden and did a tour at the Coors Brewery. We had a good time.
Friday
At home workout with bands - shoulders, legs, back, biceps. Wasn't into it, but got it done.
Drove up to Breckenridge around noon, along with what seemed to be everyone else who wanted to escape to the mountains that weekend. Took three hours to get to Breckenridge to pick up my shirt and race bib for tomorrow. And because I felt like Jeff needed a good run, we hit up the dog park.
Saturday
Breckenridge Independence Day 10K Trail Run. Finish time: 1h25min, 42 of 66 in 30-39 AG.
Up early and in town by 6:15 AM. There were people already setting out chairs along the parade route. The parade started at 10 AM. Parade watchers are serious.
Sunday
Lazy day. Got up early to beat the traffic back from Breck.
Monday
Drove back from Iowa all in one shot: 617 miles, just under 10 hours, with three stops.
First stop: York, NE (hour 3) for a Jeff and Eliz potty break and a half caf soy latte from Starbucks (my road trip treat).
Second stop: can't remember where (hour 6). This was a combo potty/fuel/clean the bugs off the windshield/find something healthy-ish for lunch in the gas station stop.
Lunch was carrots and celery that I had packed, string cheese and beef sticks. And an unsweetened iced tea. Not the best, but not too bad. And very filling, which was what mattered.
Third stop: Sterling, CO (hour 8) rest stop. One last Eliz/Jeff potty and stretch the legs break.
No matter if I am coming or going that stretch between my apartment in CO and hitting I-80 in Nebraska is painfully long, even though it's only 2 hours. Seriously.
Tuesday
Jump rope HIIT in the morning on my deck. I joyfully discovered I have just enough room to do this.
8 minutes of 45 seconds on, 15 seconds rest. It's been awhile since I jumped.
Had planned some weight lifting for after work, but was just too exhausted. I knew it would be a bad form session if I tried, so enjoyed the extra hour at home with Jeffery. Late night mile long walk after things finally cooled down. We don't have the humidity here, but that sun is close and hot during the day.
Wednesday
Morning run. Had planned to get up at 5:15, but Jeff was snuggly, so we snoozed until 5:40. Then, went for a run/walk/stop and smell the flowers and everything else for 2 miles, about 27 minutes. Interestingly enough, I was at work only 20 minutes later than usual, so that was cool.
Afternoon: hit the weights for chest and tris. Traveling threw life off and, with travel plans again this weekend, I decided to restart Shortcut to Shred next week. I owe myself 6 good weeks of solid workouts and clean eating.
Thursday
Meh. I was lazy. I admit it.
Some friends from Kansas City were in Frisco for a wedding, so we met up in Golden and did a tour at the Coors Brewery. We had a good time.
Friday
At home workout with bands - shoulders, legs, back, biceps. Wasn't into it, but got it done.
Drove up to Breckenridge around noon, along with what seemed to be everyone else who wanted to escape to the mountains that weekend. Took three hours to get to Breckenridge to pick up my shirt and race bib for tomorrow. And because I felt like Jeff needed a good run, we hit up the dog park.
Saturday
Breckenridge Independence Day 10K Trail Run. Finish time: 1h25min, 42 of 66 in 30-39 AG.
Up early and in town by 6:15 AM. There were people already setting out chairs along the parade route. The parade started at 10 AM. Parade watchers are serious.
Sunday
Lazy day. Got up early to beat the traffic back from Breck.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
She huffed and she puffed and then she ran allll the way down.
Sorry, this is about 10 days late. Life happens.
Trail run this weekend!
It was sponsored by one of the local running companies; they do a trail run every Sunday in the Front Range. At least, I believe that is the correct geographic term for where the runs take place.
I went to one two weeks after I moved, then got sucked into a pavement running group (not that that is bad, it just means that since I can't run back to back days, the pavement always won, mostly because I actually had people with whom to run instead of always going solo).
Now that I don't really have any high mileage in the foreseeable future, I decided might as well drive the 40-50 miles (yes, sadly still that far) to Lance Armstrong it the natural way.
.... see what I did there????
Sunday morning, I left at 6 for the 7AM meetup, and somehow wound up not getting there until 7:20, despite the total distance traveled to be only 44 miles. Thanks, Nokia GPS. You SUCK.
I missed the actual group, so just warmed up like a good injured runner, looked at the trail head map and took off. Really, this was just winging it. I have no idea if any of the other branches I didn't take at the beginning would have been better, but I took the Elkhorn trail, which turned into Raven's Roost, which turned into Eagle's View, and indeed, very pretty views, but pretty much straight up the entire time. Like, 800 feet of gain in 1.5 miles. Doesn't sound like much, but it's a killer when you already start above 7,000 feet. And haven't ran trails. Or really any hills in a long time.
But, I still enjoyed the climb up, because this:
And here it is (and me huffing and puffing) in live action:
Trail run this weekend!
It was sponsored by one of the local running companies; they do a trail run every Sunday in the Front Range. At least, I believe that is the correct geographic term for where the runs take place.
I went to one two weeks after I moved, then got sucked into a pavement running group (not that that is bad, it just means that since I can't run back to back days, the pavement always won, mostly because I actually had people with whom to run instead of always going solo).
Now that I don't really have any high mileage in the foreseeable future, I decided might as well drive the 40-50 miles (yes, sadly still that far) to Lance Armstrong it the natural way.
.... see what I did there????
Sunday morning, I left at 6 for the 7AM meetup, and somehow wound up not getting there until 7:20, despite the total distance traveled to be only 44 miles. Thanks, Nokia GPS. You SUCK.
I missed the actual group, so just warmed up like a good injured runner, looked at the trail head map and took off. Really, this was just winging it. I have no idea if any of the other branches I didn't take at the beginning would have been better, but I took the Elkhorn trail, which turned into Raven's Roost, which turned into Eagle's View, and indeed, very pretty views, but pretty much straight up the entire time. Like, 800 feet of gain in 1.5 miles. Doesn't sound like much, but it's a killer when you already start above 7,000 feet. And haven't ran trails. Or really any hills in a long time.
But, I still enjoyed the climb up, because this:
And here it is (and me huffing and puffing) in live action:
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