12/4/10--Anti-Anxiety

Happy Saturday!

I woke up this morning with the initial intention of going for another run, possibly even a long run after I saw that the shoulders of the highway were clear again. But, as I went through my morning routine of coffee, e-mail, and social media, I changed my mind. Mostly, it was because I had already ran 4 days and hit my mileage goal for the week of 15 miles. 15 is a really good number for me--I've been averaging maybe 10-12 on a good week lately, and I remember from my training this summer that I felt awesome on 15 mile weeks. I was also starting to feel little bits of soreness here and there, so I decided that today was going to be an indoor workout day.

Yesterday was not a good day for me (and thanks Janae and Tina for your kind words!). I spent most of the day in a grouchy, anxious, stomachaching ball. So, it just seemed all too fitting that this morning, an "Yoga for Anxiety" podcast came up on my Yogamazing podcast feed. And, you know what? It was exactly what I needed. It was challenging enough to remind me I was exercising, but still very soothing and relaxing. Plus, the stretching felt AMAZING on my tight muscles--I didn't even realize I was that tight!

And, because an inside day just isn't truly complete without a little Bob:



Today's My Trainer Bob challenge. It wasn't too bad, actually, except for the last part when I fell over twice trying to hold the plank. Whoops!

I also decided to bring back the Butt Burns challenge, too. Remember the last time I did this, when I decided to balance on 2 Harry Potter books? Well, today, I decided to search the bookshelf for better options.

Shelf #3= Brandon's Engineering textbooks.

Perfect!!

They were much more stable than Harry Potter.

And now, on to lunch!

Leftover pizza and a nice green salad. Yes, I used BBQ sauce for dressing, don't judge.

Have a great Saturday, all!! :)

11/15/10 pt 2--I worked out, I promise!

Well, 5 inches of fresh, wet, heavy snow kept me inside today. However, I'm heading back to Marquette tomorrow, where they didn't receive any of this white, blankety goodness. My friends' townhouse complex also has a fitness center that I can access with the key they gave me, so that's my backup plan while I'm there. No excuses this week!

Here was my inside workout for today:
Week 1, Day 2 of the two hundred sit ups challenge

I'm doing the middle level, and I maxed 11 on my last set.
During the 1 minute rests, I did speed-skaters.



Source

After that, I did Bob's Boxing Challenge!


Source
I don't have weights, though, so I had to improvise.

Whatever works, eh?
I then did the "Butt Burns" challenge:


Source
Again, I improvised a bit, though this was probably a bit dangerous and definitely absurd. I didn't have a step or anything to use, so Harry Potter helped out.

Yeah... I didn't want to run outside because the snow could have been dangerous, so instead I decided to balance on some books. I'm a real smart one...
I ended by attempting the Genghis Khan burpees challenge...

Source
...and I only managed about 15 of the 50. Gah.
Overall, I feel satisfied with my workout. Short and sweet, and certainly better than just calling the whole thing off. I have decided, though, that I am asking for a gym membership for Christmas. I mean, boxing with cans and balancing on books is fun and all, but there has to be a better way. Besides, when we end up moving, it will be a decent way to meet people, right?
That's all for today! Have a great one, everybody!

10/27/10--Remember that day...?

...when I woke up thinking it was going to be a normal day? And then I saw that we had no power, the heat wasn't working, and it was way cold? I spent most of the morning in the Houghton McDonalds, nursing a medium coffee, using the free WiFi, and trying to not look like a homeless bum camping out for the day. I wound up there until just before 1, and unfortunately ate. Twice. The first time around wasn't SO bad... I had the fruit and walnut salad thing, coffee, and a hashbrown for a "treat".

When I was still there at lunchtime, the Boyfriend escaped the clutches of the university that currently owns a large portion of his soul and joined me. That's when the McNuggets and fries came in to play. Hey, I wanted the Monopoly pieces.

Yeah, so not worth it. I came home, and repeated the "sit in the box and feel shame" routine.

I needed to run. I needed to do something. I had to balance out what I just did to myself.

Run? Ok... welllll....

I had tentatively set my plan for my double digit run for the middle of this week. Then, as I mentioned, the weather decided to get fun. This was this morning:

No, that white stuff was not junk on my iPod screen (though I thought so at first and got really frustrated when it wasn't coming off). Hello, snowflakes...

This is right now:

So, 2 degrees took it from snow to cold rain. Fantastic.

Now, I know last winter I was running in worse. Hell, didn't I run just before an expected winter storm last May? Well, yes. However, there is an adjustment period, at least for me. Besides, 10 miles in this? That sounds not only unpleasant, but not smart.

So, will the double digit happen? Yes, but not today. Today, I hung out with Bob again. I'm really finding that the videos on his site are a great alternative to my outdoor runs on days like today. I'm still doing something, and I'm working on muscle groups I don't normally work on, so that's an added bonus!

I did about 30 minutes worth of activities, but the hardest were by far the previously mentioned core workout of doom and the boxing challenge. Instead of weights, I used soup cans--hey, use what you've got, right?

(For the record, I cannot decide if me learning how to use PhotoBooth was a great thing or a horrible, horrible thing...)

So, while today was pretty much off-kilter and not what I expected/wanted... I still was somewhat productive... right?

OK, I'm off. Have fun, all!

10/8/10--Curse you, Bob Harper...

Today's run: 4 miles

Week to date: 15.1 miles

Month to date: 15.1 miles

First off, check out this weather!!

I know, right!

So, here's what I wore to run on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend:

Aaaand, here's what I wore on October 8th, around the time we usually see our first measurable snowfall in the UP:

Yeah, exactly.

(My apologies for the messy apartment shot. I don't even want to start that rant.)

In other news, today's run freaking hurt. Why? Because two days ago, I tried this:

Yeah. Move one was a "Speedskater deconstruction", where you mimicked the motions used in speedskating. Move two was a core challenge for 4 different exercises performed from a plank position. The third was a series of squats, and the 4th was the killer: 50 "Genghis Khan" burpees.

Yeah. Intense. 2 days later, I'm still so sore, I'm modifying coughs because my abs are still screaming at me. You never realize how much you really depend on your core muscles until each and every one is screaming at you whenever you do anything. So, needless to say, the run was kind of a painful one.

However, today a run was essential. I'm a little anxious Annie here! Tonight is the regular season hockey opener for both my college and the boyfriend's. We go/went to rival schools, and we're playing each other. Yeah, just a little anxious over here for that one. It should be fun, though, and if nothing else, it means I get to return to Marquette and see friends! :D

All right. Food. Shower. Pack. Go! Owwww....