Tag Archives: weight training

Training Recap: 10/31 – 11/6

8 Nov

Last week was the first week that I actually (almost) did all the scheduled workouts in my marathon base training plan, even if they were juggled around.

Here’s the breakdown:

Monday:  45 min Burn n Firm Pilates video (this gets my heart rate up so it counts as cardio and strength training)

Tuesday: 3.5 mile recovery run with pooches (41:20, 11:48/mile)

Wednesday: Rest

Thursday: 2.58 miles of sprint intervals with pooches (29:35, 11:37/mile)

It might sound difficult to do sprints with 2 dogs but they actually motivate me to run faster because they’re speedy little bullets. They’d blow me off the line any day.

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 5.05 mile easy run (56:30, 11:11/mile)

Sunday: This circuit workout from nhershoes

I actually did 30 man pushups! This was a great, quick workout and gives me hope that I might like Crossfit…

And even though yesterday technically isn’t supposed to be included in this recap, I have to say that it was quite possibly the most intense running workout I have ever done.

Travis and I went to the rec around 8:45 and since I was scheduled for 3 miles of speedwork, I decided to take advantage of the track and do half-mile repeats. I warmed up for .5 mile, then settled into a speedy but maintainable pace and ran the first repeat in 4:30. According to the McMillan Running calculator, I am supposed to be able to do them in 4:15. Well, that was not happening. I did manage negative splits for the next 2 repeats: 4:27, 4:20. And I was on course for another negative split on the last repeat – running my little heart out and ignoring the pain in my chest telling me STOP. I had less than 80 meters left and all of a sudden, I thought I was going to puke.

I wanted to push myself to finish but my manners and pride got the better of me (“Uh, I threw up on the track because I ran too fast…”) and I stopped for a few seconds. I felt better so I jogged to the water fountain (where I stopped my watch) and then finished the repeat at 4:23. So I was probably on pace for a 4:15 or faster.

My friend D once said that you know you did speed work correctly when it makes you puke. I hate throwing up so I don’t think I’ll ever push myself that far. But I got close! I feel like a BA.

I really enjoy doing repeats. Yes, they’re hard. No, they’re not “enjoyable.” But I like running fast. Like I’ve said before, it’s not something I experience very often. 🙂 So here’s my new mantra:

Have you ever thrown up from a workout? 

Tags: , , , ,

Strength and Crossfit

29 Oct

Thursday night, I was able to motivate myself to do a quick strength training workout before going to my Silpada party. I am a big baby when it comes to strength, and I only have a pair of 3 lb and 5 lb dumbbells at home, so this is what I did:

3 x 15 squats @16 lbs

3 x 15 biceps curls @8 lbs

3 x 15 overhead presses @8 lbs

1 x 15 lunges on each side @16 lbs (would’ve done 3 sets, except I really hate lunges)

2 wall sits for 30 seconds each

15 toe-touches, tossing and catching 6 lb medicine ball at top

15 bicycle crunches

10 full situps

2 x 15 pushups on my knees (right now, if I want to full ones, I have to do them first or it doesn’t happen)

I was actually sort of sore the next day, especially in my inner thighs. Soreness, to me, equals success! It lets me know that my body at least did something it wasn’t used to.

I want to be more consistent with strength training so that I feel strong when doing it, and not like a little wussy girl.

 

 

The other night, Travis and I discovered that the Reebok Crossfit games were on TV. We watched them for a while and I was very impressed and inspired by the incredibly fit women. I have been thinking for a while that Crossfit sounds interesting and would like to give it a try. But I hesitate for 2 reasons:

1. It sounds like a commitment. I’ve looked up gyms around us and you have take (and pay for) a beginner’s course before you can even start Crossfitting. I just don’t know if I’m that interested…

2. I hate weight/strength training so I’m fairly sure I would hate Crossfit. But you never know until you try, right? And it really intrigues me…

Dilemma.

 

 

On another note, I bought this ring at the Silpada party I went to:

There were so many other pieces of gorgeous jewelry I wanted, but this one came to the closest to fitting in my $25 budget. So that’s what I got. I should get it in the next 2 weeks!

Have you tried Crossfit? Do you like it? Do you like strength training?

Tags: ,