Core session 1

I feel like I need to write this down because it's still random to me.

Planks (elbow) = 3 x 15 sec
Planks (palms) = 3 x 15 sec
Superman = 3 x 15 sec
Metronome = hurt back so stopped
Bridge = 3 x 15 seconds. Added one legs too at the end.
Standing Side Bend = 20 each side
Standing Side Leg Lifts = 20 each side (this is for my hips mainly)
Crunches on ball = 3 x 10 reps. (These make me nauseous. It sucks.)

6 more weeks

There are approximately 6 more weeks until the marathon. That's about 4 weeks of hard training and 2 weeks tapering. And it's about 6 more weeks to get my core in shape.

I have hit a plateau with my pace. I got a lot faster all of the sudden, but now every run is the same. I'm happy I'm faster, but I know I can get better too.

I have realized how weak my core is...and conversely, how important a strong core is for running. At least that's what I've read from blogs I follow and random Runner's World articles. I believe it. And when I think about my physique and my running ability...well those two things add up to my lackluster speed. I can't hold a plank very long. I can't really do more than about 2 pushups. That's really weak! So...maybe, just maybe...if I got some strength in that area, I'd be a stronger runner. If nothing else, I won't be hurting so bad come mile 22 of the marathon.

So I've started doing some exercises. I took all the vinyasas in yoga on Tuesday (they have a pushup built in). I did planks this morning (bent elbow and straight arms like in yoga): 3 x bent elbow for 10 - 15 seconds each. And 3 x straight arm for 15 seconds each. That was hard. I tried a side plank but really just couldn't do it without hurting myself. Guess I'll do some standing side bends to help there.

The difficult part is knowing how much to do. I have no clue. I guess I'll just do stuff every day and see what happens.

Next up is some ball stuff and the exercises below. The Superman is kind of done in yoga (holding verses just repeating). I know for a fact that that one has helped my back.

Moving rocks counts as strength training

Friday I took the day off. Kinda. From cardio: yes, from work: yes, from lifting a bunch of rocks and bags of gravel: no.

I am itching and motivated to get landscaping projects done around the house. I decided to redo the 1/4 way done path off the deck to the garage. I had abandoned the project last fall. It just wasn't looking how I imagined and I didn't know quite how to fixt it. I was very tired of looking at the rocks, roughly laid into place but overgrown already. I came up with another solution to just use gravel and pavers as the edging. So I removed all the rocks and re-leveled the land. As much as I tried to not use my lower back to lift, I know I still was some. I made great progress though: shovel-pried up the old rocks and moved them out of the way (except the few I couldn't lift, I flip-traveled those off to the side). Then I went to Lowe's and bought 10 bags of base gravel. After loading all of those into the truck, I was sweating up a storm and was parched, so I got an Icee at Burger King. When I got home, I unloaded all of the bags and spread them out into the path. Then I moved pavers over to be the edges. I roughly laid those in. I was done!

All day I drank tons of water and sweated. I sweat so much!

So, the path is looking good. Saturday I set the pavers in on the short side. The long side is left, and will take a lot more work because I'm going to have to dig out some ground to set them all. Then I'll go get the remaining gravel to fill it all in and it will be done!

Another Workout Video

Oh work.

I took my cold weather running stuff today, but my schedule got the best of me. I woke up at 3, worried about stuff going on at the office. After trying to sleep for another hour, I got up and read. Then I decided I might as well take advantage of my awake-ness and get an early start on the day. So I was in the office by 6. That's early for me.

By 10:30 I was starving. I hadn't really eaten breakfast...  A stupid quick trip to CVS was made for some "food".

By 1:00 I was dozing at my computer. I took a blissful half hour nap.

So, it wasn't a very good day on the eating/exercise front. I left a little after 5 and brought all my stuff home. And decided to do another workout video!

I did the "Shape Sexy Legs" one or something like that. It was a combination of cardio and lots of isolated leg exercises. It was great. I am so weak. These videos are really pointing some stuff out to me, and it's very helpful.

I think I will be sore tomorrow.

Strength kickoff

When I got home from work yesterday, I decided to do a workout video I found on Hulu Plus a while back. I know. A workout video. It sounds so cheesy to me. I should be wearing a bright turquoise leotard with super high-cut leg openings, hose underneath and leg warmers. And white Reeboks.

There is an entire season 1 of Self videos meant to tone and slim, yadda yadda. I didn't have much hope for it, but just wanted to move around a little more. I was pleasantly surprised. The video was simple. The music was very faint and simple in the background, just enough to provide rhythm for counts. And there were three women outside on a wood platform in front of the ocean. No cheesy carpeted studio room.

I think the title of this episode was Bikini Slim and Trim or something like that. It started with normal warmups and then weights were used for the rest of it until plyometrics. It totally kicked my butt! There were plenty of arm exercises and legs and standing ab exercises as well.

My legs were a bit shot from spinning. And today, my hip is kind of wonky. I'm going to walk at lunch rather than run.

I can see doing these videos in the morning or after work. So easy to fit in, and if they are all like this first one, definitely worth the time. Weakling that I am, it is pretty clear that I can really benefit from these isolated kinds of exercises. I am glad I did this before going to the strength class at the gym next Monday...yikes. It's going to be rough! :)