chugach8’s BodyBlog

Well, I did 20 miles yesterday.  It went very well.  In fact, for all my long runs, I felt the best during this one.  I’m so happy! 

This week was 3 days of 5 milers before the 20 miler on Sunday.  So, again, I did intervals of sprints, lunges, inclines on the treadmill, and I AM SEEING MAJOR PROGRESS!!  I did 5 miles in 9 minutes.  Yes, I’m going to say it… even faster than that, when you consider the incline and you include the 10 minute warmup before I even started going….   I am getting closer to my goal!!  Thank goodness I am not doing a boring running plan.  This is the bomb!  YAY!!!!

Well, not much new to say…. Still doing what I set out to do.  This week I only did one day of straight running - no intervals for 8 miles.  Everything else was a running interval on an incline with push ups and burpies, sprints, mountain climbers etc up to 5 miles.   I did one day overall body weight training.  AND for The LONG RUN I did 2.5 hours of running intervals (~2 miles per interval) and on the non-running interval I did lunges, pop squats, high jumps and step ups for 4 sets 15 reps.  Oh my gosh… That was tough; I’m sore today, but I feel good.  Next week is the 20 miler and I will do that straight.  Can’t wait to see how it goes… 

Just finished week 10 of my marathon training.  It was so much better than just plain old running.  I did some old incline interval workouts that I got from Heather Bear on Getphatonline and I did some workouts from Lishia Dean also from Getphatonline that she had posted on her blog.   I did go ahead and do the long run on Saturday (17 miles), because I wanted to see how it would go.. And I was happy with the results.  So far so good!!!  Yay!  I’m going to pick out some new and different workouts for this week, and in place of the long run next week, I’m going to pick a killer leg workout that I got from getphatonline too!!

It’s been forever since I blogged.   I’m still here.  Just busy and traveling, and I decided to run a marathon.  So, here’s the deal.  I am on week 9 of an 18 week plan.   I’m totally bored with the marathon training schedule, and I really didn’t think I had to do it that way anyway, but let’s face it, I was lazy.  And now, as I said, I’m bored, and I’m not reaching my goal.  My goal was to run it in 4 hours.  I figured I could do this because it was Heather Bear’s Cardio from the GPO team that got me to be able to run 2 miles in 15 minutes without just boring running in the first place.

SOOOO, I’m kicking it up big time, and I want to document my training plan.  I am going to do all the PHAT Camp Cardio and Leg workouts that got me in tip top shape.

Here it goes:  Week 9 boring training plan was 4 miles, 7 miles, 4 miles, and 10 miles.

So, I’m doing Heather’s cardio:  1 minute sprint, 1 minute jog for 40 minutes in place of the first 4 miles

for the next 4 miles, I did intervals of running, jogging, sprinting, walking and jump lunges

for the next 7 miles, I am going to do intervals of jogging with moving pop squats

and for the 10 miles, I am going to do a killer leg workout that has tons of lunges, pop squats, quad jumps, high jumps, step ups etc.

I figure I still have to do some long runs, but at the end of the day, it’s conditioning!  And the best shape I was ever in, was following the GPO (getphatonline) program to a "T".  It’s soo much more fun and less boring than just plain old running.  My regards to the runners that just love to run…. that’s not me… I need variety!

Okay, I’m done venting…  Was that venting?  Anyway, thanks for reading…   Be HAPPY!

I am running for the American Heart Association, so if you would like to donate, click here:

http://www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com/Donate/PersonalPage.cfm?MID=4842&CRID=27&CID=196

I think I am making progress.  I have until the end of the month.  Is that enough time??  I hope so….  I am doing alot of flex arm hang and then, lowering myself down slowly.  I like the extra wide bentover rows too.  Feels great!!  I can get about 3 flex arm hang with negative in.  We’ll see…  I want to do this every other day.

Did legs today for the first time in a long time.  I have been hiking a lot of mountains, so I had to give legs a rest.  Now, they are sore, but gosh - so strong!!   

Rest of training is going good!  Happy Wednesday to all!

I have never been able to do a pull-up.  I have been "trying" for years.  I just read an article the other day, that you have to set a goal and a plan.  Sounds right.  I know this…. but yet, I’ve never really made a plan or set a date of when I want to be able to do this one pull-up.  So, here it is…  I want to be able to do one pull-up by June 30.  And I did put a daily action plan together, so that I can achieve it, but I’m looking for advice.  I do not belong to a gym.  I have a pull-up bar (roman chair with pull up on one side and where you can do dips on the other). And we have a weight bench where I can do laying down pull-ups.  So, I am looking for advice on training tips or training plan on how to ensure I can make this happen!  Again, any advice or help is appreciated!!  Have a Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

I did back today and I can do a single DB row with 35lb.  It’s just so crazy to me that you can get stronger without looking like a body builder!  

My other new thing is that I’m giving up the scale.  I have decided it messes with my mind, and I don’t need the frustration.  It’s like you get on that scale, and your frustrated if you gained, and you are happy when you lose, but then, you celebrate and you get back on, and your like - darn it!  So, no more.  If I’m eating healthy and exercising, staying in balance - numbers don’t mean a thing - and I’m getting stronger, so there is absolutely no reason to get on the thing.  I just want to live happily, healthy, and peacefully, and stop trying to worry about numbers - because truthfully, it’s how you feel.  And today, I feel great - and I don’t care what the scale says.  I got my workout in yesterday and today, and yesterday, I was very healthful - and that made me happy today!

I remember when I was a kid and had no worries about food and weight.  That’s where I am going.

The goal of any goal is not to give up on that goal.  It’s still my year, and I will overcome.  It’s been challenging.  I’ve had some great days, and then, when I least expect it - I fall into an old habit.  But I’m not giving up!  Not only do I follow Jen Hendershott and her PHAT Camp team, but I was luckily enough to meet Tosca Reno (www.eatcleandiet.com) at one of Jen’s camps, and I have been hooked on her ever since.  I love Tosca’s philosophy and for me (non-compeitor), the combination of Jen’s training style and Tosca’s eating style, I have the tools that work for me, so I just need to get it done.  I recently decided that I want to dedicate my life to health and happiness.  Seems simple, and something we should all be doing, but to actually say it and live it - definitely gives me a different perspective!  Happy training!  Going to do my sprints now!

Today I go out of town for a business trip.  When I go out of town for a business trip, I always stop at the store and buy my food for however long I’m going to be gone.  I’ve got real good at microwave cooking!  Ask me anything!  I can help!  !  However, one of my past weaknesses is to buy some junk food to eat that evening in the car on the way to the hotel or when I get to the hotel.  So, today, my daily goal is to break and stop this bad habit.  I had a nice brownie yesterday day with my big chicken sandwich and a 100 calorie fudge bar, so I definintely don’t need any "extra" food today.

 Plus, I am going to run 9 miles today, so I want to reap all those benefits fully of some good, long cardio!!