For quite awhile it has been clear that my training has been missing something. I’ve made great strides over the years (taking 18 minutes off my personal best marathon time just a few years ago, for instance), but I’ve also been pretty stalled out at 4:07 and in the 1:50-1:52 range in halfs. Even when training runs clocked 9:00 averages for long runs of 15 or 18 or 20 miles, they haven’t converted to race times that match.
Moving forward I’m switching up a few things. For one, I’m going to run more deliberate workouts, keeping my pace slow on long runs and pushing myself harder in speed work. I read that most everyday athletes run their easy runs too hard and their hard runs too slow. I do, so I’m working on that in my New York training.
The other biggie is strength and core work. It was a New Years resolution and it’s happening. After doing some research and trying some free workouts, I’m committing to 12 weeks of Kayla Itsines Bikini Body Guides. I’ve already written about my disdain for the name — there’s so much more to my choice to bust my butt than a bikini body — but for 28-minutes, three days a week, at home and with proven results, it’s the plan for me for now. I’ve also been brainstorming other names for the acronym: butt busting guide, boobs/butt/glutes, belly blasting guide, boobs-be-gone. Ya know. Whatever will help me with this mental block.
I looked at the 21-Day Fix too. Lots of ladies in my newsfeed on FB and Insta seem really into this plan right now and with great results. They look awesome! Happy! Strong! Fit! Still, part of the reason I chose BBG is because I could buy into the workouts without purchasing the nutrition plan. I know I might see better results by eating according to the food guide, but while continuing to run and building up for NYCM, plus nursing, I’m sticking with what I know about nutrition and what I need to fuel my body to get me and the little dude through the day.
Whew.
LONG story short — and as you may have gathered from the post title — two workouts down, 34 to go. Henry crashed hard at 6:30 Monday, which meant I got to squeeze in my workout earlier than I had planned, which freed up some extra time to spend with Nik once he got home from work. Double win! It was pouring rain, so I set up shop in the garage — protected from the weather, but with a nice chilly breeze.
The workout was hard, but my legs are pretty strong because of the miles I’m running. The leg workout on Monday night involved lots of squats, jumping, squats, step-ups, and squats. I was dripping with sweat by the end and man, it felt good.
This morning I dragged myself out of bed for the arms and abs circuit for the week (Friday will be a full-body circuit). Holy crow. I always thought my core was pretty strong (maybe years ago?) but I was well aware my arms are straight up weak — even if I get compliments in the office for changing the water cooler myself. Ha!
Moral of the story: today was hard. When I got back in the house after my 28-minute suffer-fest I remarked to Nik, It’s no wonder I’m going to be buff by the end of this! That was crazy! For one thing: push-ups. Yow. My arms are already screaming. Today’s circuit involved tons of push-ups and push-up variations like laying flat and pushing up from the ground, tricep dips, and the regular ole, torturous push-ups. Let’s put it this way: I did the first 15 of the day the normal way and the rest simply had to be done from my knees. I have a long way to go in the arms category.
Luckily, abs were hard, but not entirely out of my comfort zone. More squat presses with a medicine ball (I used a 15-pound weight), twist ups, mountain climbers, and sit-ups. I tried to focus on form and doing the moves right — not rocking or using my back too much, and let go of the do-as-many-as-possible thing. We’ll see how it goes.
For now, 2 down, 34 to go.