Tomorrow, in the wee hours of the morning my family and I will be heading off to Holguin, Cuba! My plan is to take each morning and complete my weight lifting and run before everyone wakes up for the day, and then enjoy the beach, sand and surf. I'm just hoping the weight room doesn't open at 10am or something stupid, but we'll see.
So far my weight lifting program is going really well. My arms feel sore but stronger and I've noticed my hill climbs are easier, hopefully thanks to my insanely weighted squats and leg rows. My knee pain has lessened a lot and I think my form has a lot to do with the initial onset, that or my legs were just not used to the weight and caused the soreness.
In any case, I'm going to keep going with my weights and running hybrid program and hope that it doesn't burn me out. On my vacation though my underlying focus will be to maintain consistency. Here goes!
Monday, January 30, 2017
Monday, January 23, 2017
Pushing my limits but loving it!
Whoohoo week TWO! I'm psyched to keep my momentum from last week going. So much so I've even scoped out the fitness center at the resort I'm staying at next week. I'll be making sure to get my workouts in before everyone else gets up for the morning. Hopefully I'll be able to strong-arm my brother into joining me on some runs too.
Last week I managed to run 27 miles and completed 5 days of weights. I've not done weights so much since university but it feels good to be back at it! My knee gave me some odd grief while I was asleep this weekend but after a few kilometers of running those weird twinges of medial knee pain would go away. I'll chalk it up to improper foot placement during my runs, or maybe during some squat sessions? In any case, I'll aim for much better form this week and hopefully that makes a difference.
This week's running goals are pretty much the same as last week, with a couple of more miles added. Today I'm aiming to complete my back and bicep workout at lunch and then 4 - 6 miles after work. My protein intake has increased a lot and I think that's helping starve off any intense muscle soreness between workouts. This week my aim is to CUT the SNACKING. It's the one diet killer that's honestly holding me back. I have to stop cheating myself and cut it the damn out, haha.
Last week I managed to run 27 miles and completed 5 days of weights. I've not done weights so much since university but it feels good to be back at it! My knee gave me some odd grief while I was asleep this weekend but after a few kilometers of running those weird twinges of medial knee pain would go away. I'll chalk it up to improper foot placement during my runs, or maybe during some squat sessions? In any case, I'll aim for much better form this week and hopefully that makes a difference.
This week's running goals are pretty much the same as last week, with a couple of more miles added. Today I'm aiming to complete my back and bicep workout at lunch and then 4 - 6 miles after work. My protein intake has increased a lot and I think that's helping starve off any intense muscle soreness between workouts. This week my aim is to CUT the SNACKING. It's the one diet killer that's honestly holding me back. I have to stop cheating myself and cut it the damn out, haha.
Friday, January 20, 2017
A week of change
This week has been one of adjusting to new schedules. My work has adopted a 9/80 schedule so on week one (this week) you work 44 hours, then next week you work 36 hours and get Friday off. I'm sure I'll like next week better ;-)
My running goals have changed slightly thanks to my grandfather in-laws' birthday party in June. As it happens to fall on the same day as the Wasscally Wrabbit ultra I had to find another race to train for. I looked at another ultra but the distance to get there is just too prohibitive. So...I'm going to wait until the end of July and giv'r at the NS Marathon in Barrington and do my first road ultra at the Valley Harvest 52km.
Since I don't need to train hard-core for that just yet, and my next goal is the March 25km Moose Run, I've decided to try adding some lifting to my routine. Currently I'm following a Get Lean program which is pretty rigid in its meal plan and strength routine, but if I get results anywhere close to what others have achieved it'll be worth not eating 6 cookies each Saturday night lol. I've increased my protein intake and started lifting really, really heavy weights (for me). I've been super careful when I'm using barbells as I'm sure it wouldn't take much to tweak my knee. Good form is even more important when you are trying not to anger a certain body part.
So I've been doing my lifting at lunch since I have access to a well stocked gym at work. Then after work I've been running in accordance with a 27 week marathon training plan. I'm pretty spent by the end of the day and I've added a second why shake for after my lunch time lifting sessions to help repair my measley muscles. So far, so good. I do need to find better, more protein rich snack to eat at night. cereal is ok sometimes but it isn't the best thing I could be eating for sure.
You would think with all this work I'd be losing weight, well not quite yet. I'm not sure if that's my body trying to hold onto my rolls of fat or if my nighttime somewhat-healthy snack are sabotaging my efforts. I'll have to curb my nighttime eating to find out I suppose.
The absolute best part of upping my training is the lack of constant pain from my knee. The saying, "Use it or lose it" truly applies to knee function. I think I've taken a pain killer for my knee ONCE in the last month. I wish other arthritis sufferers would push themselves a bit harder and stop listening to that horrid advice to not do anything once you're diagnosed with arthritis. It only made things worse for me, for both my body and mind.
My running goals have changed slightly thanks to my grandfather in-laws' birthday party in June. As it happens to fall on the same day as the Wasscally Wrabbit ultra I had to find another race to train for. I looked at another ultra but the distance to get there is just too prohibitive. So...I'm going to wait until the end of July and giv'r at the NS Marathon in Barrington and do my first road ultra at the Valley Harvest 52km.
Since I don't need to train hard-core for that just yet, and my next goal is the March 25km Moose Run, I've decided to try adding some lifting to my routine. Currently I'm following a Get Lean program which is pretty rigid in its meal plan and strength routine, but if I get results anywhere close to what others have achieved it'll be worth not eating 6 cookies each Saturday night lol. I've increased my protein intake and started lifting really, really heavy weights (for me). I've been super careful when I'm using barbells as I'm sure it wouldn't take much to tweak my knee. Good form is even more important when you are trying not to anger a certain body part.
So I've been doing my lifting at lunch since I have access to a well stocked gym at work. Then after work I've been running in accordance with a 27 week marathon training plan. I'm pretty spent by the end of the day and I've added a second why shake for after my lunch time lifting sessions to help repair my measley muscles. So far, so good. I do need to find better, more protein rich snack to eat at night. cereal is ok sometimes but it isn't the best thing I could be eating for sure.
You would think with all this work I'd be losing weight, well not quite yet. I'm not sure if that's my body trying to hold onto my rolls of fat or if my nighttime somewhat-healthy snack are sabotaging my efforts. I'll have to curb my nighttime eating to find out I suppose.
The absolute best part of upping my training is the lack of constant pain from my knee. The saying, "Use it or lose it" truly applies to knee function. I think I've taken a pain killer for my knee ONCE in the last month. I wish other arthritis sufferers would push themselves a bit harder and stop listening to that horrid advice to not do anything once you're diagnosed with arthritis. It only made things worse for me, for both my body and mind.
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Hop, skip and a JUMP!
Little steps, baby steps, then JUMP! That was pretty much my mantra during yesterday's run. The sidewalks were a mix of hard packed snow, ice and mounds of slushy snow. I realized pretty fast that it was the perfect day for Yak Tracks, but alas, mine were sitting at home, not on my feet. So I made my best effort to take small little steps so I could control my center of gravity as best I could. The odd little leap over mounds of snow felt like cross training lol. It took forever to cover 7km (a little over an hour) but I got it done.
Once I stopped running though the full effect of the -18C temps shot right through me. When I finally got home I tried something new to try and warm up, I exercised. I threw on one of Livestrong's Stronger HIIT training sessions and after 5 minutes I had warmed up enough that I didn't need 10 blankets on my shoulders. I finished the workout, because, you know, Type A personality and all, then chowed down on salmon and salad and watched Aftermath (after I made everyone else's supper, packed lunches and did laundry ;-).
Today it is supposed to warm up to a balmy -6C so I brought both my outside running shoes and my track shoes. I hate the thought of running like a hamster around a track but it's also much safer and warmer than outside. I have 2.5 hours to kill though so I certainly have the time to drive to the other gym's track if I want. Decisions, decisions.
Speaking of which, I am still trying to figure out where I'll do my ultra this year. I am doing the Moose 25km on March 18th but after that my kid's dance competitions get in the way of the regular marathon season. I could do the Bay of Fundy International 52km Ultra, or try to complete two loops at Brookvale in August (BRUTAL 50km) or I could wait until the fall and run the Valley Harvest Ultra (snore fest but much easier than Brookvale with cooler temps). UGH. I just wish I knew if my favorite ultra was out of the question or not but as of today the RDs haven't picked a date in June. Wait and see I guess, but until then I'll keep training for the Moose Run!
Once I stopped running though the full effect of the -18C temps shot right through me. When I finally got home I tried something new to try and warm up, I exercised. I threw on one of Livestrong's Stronger HIIT training sessions and after 5 minutes I had warmed up enough that I didn't need 10 blankets on my shoulders. I finished the workout, because, you know, Type A personality and all, then chowed down on salmon and salad and watched Aftermath (after I made everyone else's supper, packed lunches and did laundry ;-).
Today it is supposed to warm up to a balmy -6C so I brought both my outside running shoes and my track shoes. I hate the thought of running like a hamster around a track but it's also much safer and warmer than outside. I have 2.5 hours to kill though so I certainly have the time to drive to the other gym's track if I want. Decisions, decisions.
Speaking of which, I am still trying to figure out where I'll do my ultra this year. I am doing the Moose 25km on March 18th but after that my kid's dance competitions get in the way of the regular marathon season. I could do the Bay of Fundy International 52km Ultra, or try to complete two loops at Brookvale in August (BRUTAL 50km) or I could wait until the fall and run the Valley Harvest Ultra (snore fest but much easier than Brookvale with cooler temps). UGH. I just wish I knew if my favorite ultra was out of the question or not but as of today the RDs haven't picked a date in June. Wait and see I guess, but until then I'll keep training for the Moose Run!
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Happy 2017!
I know I'm off to a late start but my holidays weren't full of laziness either. I managed to finish an Xmas 42 KM challenge by the BLT running group, completing a total of 42kms in 6 days. It wasn't easy, especially since it started on December 24th and ended on December 30th, but I finished it. I think it is a good omen for this new year.
So far this year I ran on Monday and yesterday (Wednesday) for a grand total of 16.5km. Tuesday was one of those "life happens" days where I had a bunch of things to do after work and none of them consisted of going for a run. Instead I did a P90X workout to fill the exercise gap.
The end of yesterday's run though kind of freaked me out, although I'm not sure how disturbed I should be about it. I was chasing the setting sun, in fact I had already lost the chase and it was getting dark by 5:15pm. I was wrapping up the last 0.5km by power walking up the last bit of trail before the parking lot when I realized I heard footsteps behind me. Seeing that I was the only car in the parking lot and thinking maybe it was a coyote or some other animal I ran to the parking lot. Just as I got to the other side of the wooden barrier I looked behind me and saw two young guys start running to the adjoining path. For a second I berated myself for over reacting but then I noticed that these guys weren't wearing anything close to running clothes...in the woods...at night...while running. It was either a very poor choice of wardrobe on their part or perhaps they were looking for a victim? There have been attacks in this area in the past year so I know it isn't impossible that my worst fears might be true. Either way it disturbed me and I'll be sure to wrap up my early evening runs a little sooner next time.
On the knee front, things have been pretty good (knocking on ALL the WOOD). Running and cross training appear to help more than they hurt. I don't wake up every single day in pain anymore, and if I run a few kms before a long drive it seems to offset that movie-theater knee I get from sitting too long. I can't say running has cured my knee, but moving appears to help more than not. I'll take it!
So my big, huge goal for this year is to run the Wascally Wrabbit ultra. Unfortunately it looks like I might have to give that up thanks to a relative's birthday party. Ugh. I emailed the RD to see what the 2017 date is, so fingers crossed it isn't the weekend around June 10th. If it is, then I'll need to suck it up and run a marathon in July before thinking about doing my first road 50k in October. I'm trying to be chill about possibly having to change my plans, but DAMN! I've been aiming for this race now since last summer and it just plain sucks that I might have to put it off. On the other hand, missing this b-day party is totally out of the question. Ugh. Life. As with my knee OA, I'm just going to have to suck it up and roll with it.
So far this year I ran on Monday and yesterday (Wednesday) for a grand total of 16.5km. Tuesday was one of those "life happens" days where I had a bunch of things to do after work and none of them consisted of going for a run. Instead I did a P90X workout to fill the exercise gap.
The end of yesterday's run though kind of freaked me out, although I'm not sure how disturbed I should be about it. I was chasing the setting sun, in fact I had already lost the chase and it was getting dark by 5:15pm. I was wrapping up the last 0.5km by power walking up the last bit of trail before the parking lot when I realized I heard footsteps behind me. Seeing that I was the only car in the parking lot and thinking maybe it was a coyote or some other animal I ran to the parking lot. Just as I got to the other side of the wooden barrier I looked behind me and saw two young guys start running to the adjoining path. For a second I berated myself for over reacting but then I noticed that these guys weren't wearing anything close to running clothes...in the woods...at night...while running. It was either a very poor choice of wardrobe on their part or perhaps they were looking for a victim? There have been attacks in this area in the past year so I know it isn't impossible that my worst fears might be true. Either way it disturbed me and I'll be sure to wrap up my early evening runs a little sooner next time.
On the knee front, things have been pretty good (knocking on ALL the WOOD). Running and cross training appear to help more than they hurt. I don't wake up every single day in pain anymore, and if I run a few kms before a long drive it seems to offset that movie-theater knee I get from sitting too long. I can't say running has cured my knee, but moving appears to help more than not. I'll take it!
So my big, huge goal for this year is to run the Wascally Wrabbit ultra. Unfortunately it looks like I might have to give that up thanks to a relative's birthday party. Ugh. I emailed the RD to see what the 2017 date is, so fingers crossed it isn't the weekend around June 10th. If it is, then I'll need to suck it up and run a marathon in July before thinking about doing my first road 50k in October. I'm trying to be chill about possibly having to change my plans, but DAMN! I've been aiming for this race now since last summer and it just plain sucks that I might have to put it off. On the other hand, missing this b-day party is totally out of the question. Ugh. Life. As with my knee OA, I'm just going to have to suck it up and roll with it.
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