3 miles and XT.

I have been fighting a horrible cold the past 4 or 5 days.  I haven't been this sick in forever and I'm surprised it's lasting this long.  I take so many vitamins and I drink freshly juiced vegetables and fruits everyday. I guess my body is still just as vulnerable to this crap.  It really sucks.  It hasn't stopped me from my workouts so far.  I was feeling it in my chest and head on Saturday during my long run with my husband, but yesterday was a rest day and although I did do some Pilates to stretch out my aching body, I mostly rested the remainder of the day.  This morning I felt the worst.  My head feels like it's going to explode, but I was determined to get my sweat on anyway.  You know, Halloween candy will be making it's way into the house tonight and in an attempt to be realistic, knowing my strength to resist a Snickers or two may be less than stellar, I'm planning ahead.  So...

I started my workout today with 45 minutes of Pilates.  After that I did like I've seen the contestants do on The Biggest Loser and put on a sweatshirt over my workout clothes, put the hood on and got on the elliptical.  I'm sure I looked ridiculous, but I told you, I wanted to get my sweat on! Anyway, I did an hour on the elliptical, but every 5-10 minutes I got off and used the step stool and 5 pound hand weights to do some "step-ups", which ended up equaling 30 minutes worth for a total of 90 minutes doing that "circuit".  Afterwards, I got on the treadmill for a 3 mile run.  I am telling you, I am drenched...mission accomplished.  ☺

9 miles.

Today being Saturday and my husband's day off from work, we decided to go out for a run together.  We waited until it was light out, which meant it was after 8 before we hit the road.  It's another cold day, though the low set cloud cover kept a little bit of the "warmth" in last night and it wasn't quite as cold as it has been.  We did a 4.5 mile loop that starts at our house, that way when we hit the half-way point we could stop in, get a drink and check on the kids.  Then we went out and did the loop again.  The second half seemed to go by a little faster than the first half, probably because our conversation carried a little more.  I enjoy having my husband to run with.  He helps keep me going.  We even had a fairly decent time on our run, not super fast, but we did the 9 miles in 1 hour and 40 minutes, and that was with short walk breaks.  Next on the agenda for today, carving pumpkins with the kids!

Another 4 miles.

Okay, I am publicly coming to terms with what a wimp I am when it comes to the cold weather.  I don't know what's happened to me.  Last year at this time I ran in anything.  I didn't care how cold, rainy, snowy or windy it was.  Of course, back then I was nervously approaching the date of my first ever marathon and I wasn't going to miss any training opportunity.  Now as I sit here knowing I can stay in my warm house and run on the treadmill, I ask myself why would I force my body through the pain and discomfort of running in 20 degree temperatures?  That's how cold it was this morning.  I am so not ready for this, seriously.  I have got to get tougher, or learn to really love my treadmill!

Well, of course I wasn't about to completely miss a workout just because I'm cold.  I started out once again on my handy, dandy elliptical, which is starting to fall apart, by the way.  In our humble lifestyle it has been necessary for us to always purchase the low-end exercise equipment.  Last year I said goodbye to my first treadmill when it completely broke down, the motor died and the belt shredded.  It did have thousands of miles on it...a good, long life.  I was lucky enough to have someone literally give me their newer treadmill, which was a step above the one I had and I am super grateful for it.  But now my elliptical has been having major issues.  For a while, the main bolt on one side that holds in the "pedal" slowly works it's way out as I'm using it.  Lately the problem has gotten worse and I have to stop and get off the elliptical about every 10 - 15 minutes and screw the bolt back in or the pedal thing will completely fall off on the one side.  My theory is that these (lower end and thus cheaply made) pieces of equipment were manufactured with the mentality that the majority of the people who buy them won't really use them that much - it's true.  They can cheaply make these machines and sell them for an affordable price, therefore selling more of them, knowing that most of the time their faults will not be found.  Maybe at the rate and intensity with which I pound on my exercise equipment I should save up and invest in something nicer.  Right now I've got my eye on a spin bike....

Okay, I went totally off topic there.  Anyway, I did 65 minutes on the elliptical with intervals of - yep, you guessed it - running up and down the stairs for another 15 minutes.  I really love how much this gets my heart pumping and my sweat pouring.  That means it's working me and that feels really good.  After that, I got on the treadmill for a 4 mile run, and even threw in a few "sprint" intervals.  Still hoping to get in that long run out on the road at some point before this week ends, but we'll see.  It may not happen until Saturday.

4 mile run.

I feel like I'm kind of in a groove with my workouts recently.  It feels good to have consistency, even though I'm still not on an official schedule.  For now, the only race I have in my future is the Ogden Marathon, which is in May.  I will be running it with a group of friends and family this time, possibly including my awesome husband, so I am looking forward to it a lot.  But May does seem a long way off...

In the meantime, I gave it my all again this morning with the Biggest Loser episode from last night as my motivation.  I started with a 10 minute Pilates warm up, then I got on the elliptical for 45 minutes, this time doing intervals of step-ups using 5 pound hand weights and a step-stool, 2 minutes worth of reps for every 5 minutes on the elliptical.  A little over an hour later, my calves were burning just a bit.  Then I got on the treadmill and did a 4 mile run.  I would say that with the weather being nice (cold, but sunny), I am wasting it being inside on the treadmill, but on the plus side I feel like it's important for me to get more comfortable being consistent and going faster on the treadmill - and the view out the windows is gorgeous right now, with all the trees a golden yellow and bright orange.  My plan is to hit the road tomorrow for a long run, assuming the weather continues to cooperate. :)

Misc. XT

Today I began my workout with 20 minutes of Pilates, and followed that with 75 minutes on the elliptical.  Like yesterday, I ran the stairs at intervals during my time on the elliptical for a total stair time of 15 minutes.  After that hard hour and a half of keeping my heart rate up and my legs pushing their limit, I was feeling a little faint and wobbly.  Of course, I figured, as tough as I am, I could still follow that up with a run on the treadmill.  Ahem.  I only lasted 15 minutes at a slow jog before I knew I had to take a break.  Even my arms were starting to feel like Jell-O.  I fixed myself something to eat and now I plan to take a shower and hopefully give my body a little recovery time.  Maybe that will include getting more than 5 hours of sleep tonight.  One can always hope.

A whole bunch of stuff!

I have been watching so many motivational shows lately that I feel super inspired to give every workout my all (that includes current and past episodes of The Biggest Loser, Dancing with the Stars and The Sing Off). Seeing all those people do so many physically and mentally challenging things and push themselves harder than they thought they were capable, makes me realize that no matter how far I think I've come, I can always do more or do better.

Today I started out with 40 minutes of Pilates before taking the kids to school.  After that I put on an episode of Dancing with the Stars on Hulu and got on the elliptical.  I did an hour total on the elliptical, but I switched it up a bit by running up and down the stairs (one flight of 15 steps) during all of the "commercial breaks".  On Hulu.com, they only play one or two commercials during the breaks, but that meant I could get in at least 3 or 4 times up and down.  Now that's a good calorie burn right there - stairs!  Why haven't I thought of that before?  Anyway, after that I got on the treadmill.  I put the incline up pretty high, not sure what the percent was exactly because my treadmill isn't that high-tech.  I walked at first while holding my 5 pound hand weights, for about 20 minutes.  Then I set the weights down, pushed the speed up and left the incline up while I ran at a moderate pace for another 45 minutes.  I am now soaked with sweat and ready to go outside and play...or do some housework, whatever! ☺

Together for 11 miles!

 My husband is signed up for a half-marathon coming up in two weeks, so today he wanted to do a long run together.  In an effort to change up our routine, we did a completely new route.  We left from our house and ran up a hill and onto a country/dirt road that hovers above the valley, making for a really tough first few miles, but unbeatable views from the summit.  I mapped it out in advance - a total of 11 miles, with a 2100' change in elevation, going up the first several miles, then winding back down.  It was amazing.

 I was a little bit worried going into this run today.  I have been having a hard time the past few days, dealing with a (hormone induced) headache that won't go away and attempting to cut caffeine (i.e. Diet Coke) from my diet, not to mention the fact that I'd already done two (longish) runs this week.  Funny thing, though...this was the most fun and the best I've felt physically on a run in long time!  We had a great time, enjoying the gorgeous weather.  Oh, and we had planted water bottles along the route before hand - very smart! ;)

 

Friday.

I never know exactly what Fridays will hold for me in terms of working out.  Usually I have cub scout meetings in the morning, but this week that comes tomorrow instead.  So, this morning I was able to get a good workout in, though I haven't been feeling too hot the past few days.  I woke several times during the night with an awful pounding in my head, and my legs and butt muscles are feeling a little bit sore from yesterday's run.  I warmed up with 10 minutes of Pilates, then I got on the elliptical for 45 minutes.  After that I did some walking on the treadmill for a total of 45 minutes.  I switched it up a bit by alternating walking frontwards with walking backwards, changing about every 5 minutes or so.  I've seen this done on The Biggest Loser, but I didn't realize how difficult it actually is to walk backwards on a treadmill!  The first few minutes I felt like I was going to fall off, but once I got the hang of it I was okay.  I also used my 5 pound hand weights for part of the time.  I'm still fighting a blasted headache, but hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow.

13.25 miles.

It's long run day for me.  No kids, no husband, just me and the road.  Aahhh.  After a 10 minute Pilates warm up, I started out on my run.  I did a 13.25 mile loop.  I actually felt very decent for the entire first half of my run.  My legs weren't too sore, I felt strong and was really enjoying myself.  The second half was slightly more difficult as my hamstrings started to tighten up and I could feel them "seize" up on me a few times, but I just pushed through and tried to focus on the cool and beautiful fall weather and the peace and quiet of the country road.  I didn't take any water with me again, which is something I really need to work on.  It's harder to do when the weather is cool because I don't think about needing it, but I know my body does.  I probably would feel much better from 7 or 8 miles plus if I was hydrating or fueling in some way.  When I got home, I made a chocolate soy protein shake and then sipped on it while walking another mile on the treadmill.  (I know, but I had a little bit of a show I had started that I wanted to finish watching and I figured I might as well keep my legs moving while doing it.)

XT Workout.

Wednesday has become another of my favorite days of the week because I can watch the recent episode of Biggest Loser while I workout.  This morning I started out with a 20 minute Pilates warm up, then I did 40 minutes on the elliptical.  After the elliptical, I did a 4 mile run on the treadmill, nice and steady - no intervals, just an easy, consistent pace.  I was actually surprised at how good I felt, considering my 9 mile treadmill run yesterday, but I'm not going to complain.  It's nothing compared with "last chance workout"! ☺