Woohoo! Back in Training!

Over the past few weeks, I have taken two trips to the boardwalk. The first time I was only able to walk approximately 3 miles. The second trip was spent walking the entire boardwalk 2x: starting in the middle, going to one end then to the other, and back to the middle.

Tonight was the third trip and training has definitely started again! I am so glad to be back running. I ran the same trip that I did the last time. That boardwalk is so not 3 miles. It is more like just over two and a half. I ran it in 01:05:39.

My training partner walked it in 01:28:22. Had his blister not been bothering him, we would have tried to walk a full six miles. Oh well, don't want to hurt ourselves before the race!

Goal: continue training on weekends in addition to the few times during the week.

More Time

Yesterday's Chesapeake Training Update:

Not so good. Ran almost the first three miles. I decided to run with the sling but that made my back and shoulders hurt. I ended up walking the remainder of the workout with my training partner, ending up with 01:25:37. Not a bad walk.

Immediately after we completed 2 sets of adjusted crunches: 10 regular, 10 right side obliques, 10 left side obliques. That was a little difficult.

I guess it was a pretty good workout considering my physical inabilities.

Drop It Like It's Hot!

Chesapeake Training Update (yesterday):

- [4 laps] 3-miles split: 00:36:54 (slightly off due to starting 3 blocks away from original start; in other words, slightly longer than 3 miles)
- [8 laps] 6-mile split: 01:07:51
- [12 laps] 9-mile final time: 01:40:42 (I dropped 2 minutes!)

It was a nice overcast afternoon. This is probably the cause of my drop in time.

It was good to see two of my training partners improving!

Directly afterwards, 2 sets of adjusted crunches: 10 regular, 10 left side oblique, 10 right side oblique

LSD Time!

hmm...that's the second time this week I closed my eyes to rest and wake up in a strange bed and a man next to me ;P

I think I need to start paying attention to where I fall asleep!

Enough of that, now for the really great news, Chesapeake Training Update:

Yesterday, I broke all boundaries once more and ran my farthest distance and longest time.

- [4 laps] 3-mile split: 00:31:43
- [8 laps] 6-mile split: 01:06:41
- [12 laps] 9-mile final time: 01:42:05!! YAY!

Immediately following was martial arts training beginning with two sets of "adjusted" crunches: 10 regular, 10 right side obliques, 10 left side obliques. I need to up those numbers; my abs need more of a workout despite being sore.

Also, did something to my right shoulder (possibly, pulled a muscle) when trying to complete 15 regular push-ups. Now my right arm is dead to certain activities. Might have to pay the doc a visit; pain doesn't seem to subside even with discontinued use.

What also makes yesterday's training just absolutely wonderful: I picked up another training partner and my original Chesapeake training partner is making progress as well!

I'll probably continue with doing only 9 miles until I can get my time down to approximately 01:36:00.

A Little More Awake

Yesterday was one of those bad days; however, that's in the past so let's move on!

Today's Training Update was in Chesapeake:
- [4 laps] 3-mile split: 00:31:04
- [8 laps]6-mile split: 01:04:44 (2 minutes slower than the first three miles, poo)
- [10 laps] 7 1/2 mile time: 01:22:54 (yeah, go ahead and do the math; I ran the last mile and a half in 18 minutes - just plum pitiful)

Directly after that, martial arts training commenced with a brief warm-up and stretches for a new student. Then I began my speed training on the free-standing-bag, just hand strikes. Boy, is my upper body endurance also plum pitiful. I may start doing some laps with weights. That portion of the training probably was just over a half hour.

no bike ride today :o[

Trashmore Training Update

01. woke up late
02. ran 2 loops
03. 3-mile split: 00:33:14
04. final time: 1:05:04
05. so tired
06. laundry/sleep
07. eat lasagna! yay!

More Cheese, Please!

Unexpected Training Update

- "Completed" with the help of another training partner:

For the most part, using a hatchet, chopped the top portion of a dead tree trunk spanning approximately 12 inches in diameter.
- exerted much upper body strength as well as a good horse stance on supporting branches to gain better leverage.

In other news...
The 9 mile run didn't happen due to sleep over-ruling the insane portion of my mind that even wanted to go on the run in the first place.

My legs got a fair workout with constant squatting or kneeling while pulling up weeds.

and...

MY ABS STILL HURT!

Top Story:
YAY! I received an awesome gift from a great friend! I'll have to show it off! Can't wait!

A Glutton for Punishment

LSD twice in one week is torture; however...I'M LOVING IT!!

I think I actually am losing some inches...??? Don't know for sure but some of my pants are slightly looser.

By the by, those "adjusted" crunches are killing me! My abs are so sore from those as well as coughing up a lung, it is even difficult to breathe. Ah well, enough belly aching for now.

Training Update in Chesapeake:

10 laps! WAAAAHOOOO! My farthest and longest distance so far this rock n' roll training season. Final time: 1:34:45 for 7 and a half miles. Three mile split: 00:34:39. And six mile split: 1:14:11. Yeah, yeah. I totally slacked off towards the end there, but I wanted to make sure I finished the 10 laps.

Believe it or not, I was actually pacing myself for the first 2 and 3/4 miles. The last quarter I kinda died. From then on, I stopped pacing and simply concentrated on getting in my 10.

Martial arts training was nice and easy, considering I could barely move. An interested mom and son came by for the last twenty-five minutes or so and watched training. I think we may have convinced her to stay. She liked the idea that I substituted physical therapy with a trained therapist for martial arts training. Martial arts has always been beneficial for my health and well-being.

More LSD...

That was so much fun! I really didn't think I would manage anything more than maybe 3 miles; however, that was not to be the case:

Today's training update consisted of 9 laps (which is approximately 6 and 3/4 miles)!! WOOHOO! Slowly but, surely I will be able to do 8 miles no problem! I can't wait. The last laps were paced at 8 minutes. That was a pain but well worth the effort. All together is 1:14:43. The 3 mile split is 00:33. I really wanted to do the last 10th lap that I've been saying I would do but have failed over the past couple weeks since Chesapeake training had started. Unfortunately, time moved faster than I.

My training partner has introduced me to some different crunches that should force me to lose some of the inches I've been desperately trying to shed.

Self-defense martial arts training immediately followed the run. My legs felt like jello, but I felt extraordinarily good.

Much of this is a surprise considering my weekend was spent with my cousin, her twins, my aunts and uncle, and two ginormous dogs! I am totally allergic to the dogs. For some odd reason I thought the dogs would not be around all the time, oh well, that's what I get for thinking. After the run, my throat felt it was on fire and I couldn't seem to catch my breath. I think I need to hack-up a hairball!!

LSD Time!

Today's Training Update involves what some runners call "LSD", Long Slow Distances. And that is precisely what I did considering not enough strength has returned to my body.

I worked out at Chesapeake run/walking for 1:15:23. I ran about 4 miles of the 7 laps. Immediately following I endured martial arts training, starting with 50 crunches and 40 table push-ups. Not one of my better days when practicing self-defense, speed, and instinctual reflexes. My head still refuses to allow me to see, think, or even walk straight. Time and rest is the only cure. Oh well.

Another Workout!?!

This mornings endeavour, as pitiful as it may have been, was a little unusual for my training routine which does not mean the rest of the day should be just as unusual. After a great movie and a brief stroll through one of my favourite stores, I proceeded to Chesapeake for my evening exercises.

Since having ran this morning, I lessened my mileage as well as time. My training partner had already began their stroll around the park completing 5 1/2 laps. This is also with 5 lb weights, not what I would recommend for the beginner or even intermmediate trainer unless you have had prior weight training. Anyways, I completed 4 laps at 00:32:24 and ran/walk the last lap with my training partner. Immediately following was an hour of martial arts training beginning with 60 crunches, 40 push-ups, and much needed stretching.

I am thoroughly physically tired, not exhausted but tired. And it is a good "tired". I had a great training day! I am sore, but I feel good :o)

Okay, I'm Tired :o)

Today was a Mt. Trashmore run:

2 1/2 loops at 1:25:47. The first loop split was at 00:33:49. The second loop split was at 1:06:23. That's the longest I have run in a while, yay! No bo workout; I took too long to go around the lake that my running partner was finishing soon after me.

Onward to see Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen!

Late Monday Afternoon Training Update

Well that was pitiful...again!

Chesapeake run: 8 laps at 1:06:36 with a 00:32:16 split. One lap is approximately 3/4 a mile so hopefully I ran about 6 miles. The next 45 minutes was spent stretching, crunches, push-ups, and various other exercises for strengthening my legs and stretching out my back muscles. My back still seems to be giving me grief. I guess that's going to take a while to heal.

My training partner in Chesapeake had to stop walking after the 4th lap. Not bad for just starting to walk distances! Blisters can really be a pain if your feet aren't accustomed to the wear and tear that happens inside the shoe.

Sunday Morning Training Update

That was somewhat relaxing. Two loops (yay!) at approximately 6 miles 1:05:25 with a 00:35:14 split. Heh, I thought it amusing that my second loop was 5 minutes faster than the first! :oP

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! to all the dads, soon-to-be-dads, and "Fathers"! May the blessings of your children bring you joy for many years.

Now to gather in Suffolk!

Back on the Pavement

So, I am finally out of the hospital and back on the pavement wearing off more rubber from the soles of my shoes.

I actually felt pretty good and was willing to run 2 loops; however, the "other" was not, and so I ran a relaxing approximate 3 miles at 00:34:04.

Tomorrow I plan on the 2 loops. Let's see if it'll happen! :o]

Race and Training Update

I'm a little late on the post but I thought I'd post anyways:

Saturday's Children's Hospital 8k run was terrible. I was not prepared for the humidity as well as the heat. Since the course was predominantly neighborhood and the like, no air seemed to circulate unless you were running faster than my pace.

However, despite the challenge I finished the race with a not so nice time of 1:01:27 according to my watch, and 1:01:41 according to chip time. I am one minute slower than the Shamrock 8k. :[ boo. If I hadn't walked those few minutes, I probably would have been under the hour. Oh well. I'll have to train harder so that my back won't be so sore from breathing so hard when the weather is thick.

Although I had run a race Saturday, I maintained my training schedule and took a trip out to the hills completing my usual 1 loop easy workout: approximately 3 miles at 00:32:34 concluding with an hour bo workout. The bo workout turned out to be more of stretching than too much of bo training.

Training Update and School Progress

Alright, so I think this is the last Training Update until the race:

approximately 3 miles (1 loop; trying to take it easy) at 00:30:27. Even though my back is still giving me grief, I felt pretty good. I sort of wanted to do another loop, but better judgement told me to take it easy if I wanted to do well on the 8K.

Thanks again for keeping me company for the first mile!

As for school progress, at the end of yesterday all of Hall C (only classrooms in use) and the 2 sixth grade classrooms are "bagged and tagged" (excluding the one dud in 6B, which will be needing replacing along with PK4 Petrusky). As of the end of today, all of Sabato Wing has begun the updating process. Two computers have had Disk Cleanups and Defrags, but later found more updates. Hopefully by the end of tomorrow I can finish Sabato Wing. Friday I will not be working on the computers for the electricity will be shut down to the system.

Much thanks for lunch and all the help with Sabato Wing! I am sure with your help (and computers willing) Sabato will be finished before 2PM!

Now I am off to get a few things ready before I head out to Suffolk.

Another Week Bites the Dust

Training Update:

2 loops, approximately 6 miles at 1:06:36 with an approximate 34 minute split time. Running partner had already completed 18 miles in the past 2 days so times are little slower. I could have sped it up but ever since my back issues, my legs lack a lot of strength and my hips welcomed all sharp pains. Oh yeah, no bo workout today.

Side note: almost done with school. I have 2 more days and then I am finally home free. Nothing can stand in my way of exercising, practicing piano, and building up a portfolio (among other smaller projects).

Finally, Another Training Update

I actually ran last Sunday, but my schedule has been a bit hectic and exhausting that I failed to post on time. So, here it is:

Considering I had pulled a muscle in my back the Tuesday prior, I ran approximately 3 miles ( 1 figure-8) at 00:31:52. Then, a gentle climb to the top of the hill for another 30-minute workout with my bo staff.

Side note: School is almost over!!!!!!

Sunday's Training Update

Despite reason, I ran again anyways, two laps even! Yes, it was a little slower and little more of a struggle (ok, it was a massive struggle!!) but I forgot all sanity and finished the second lap of approximately 6 miles at 01:03:04. What's kind of funny is that I had a 32 split time. I ran the second lap a minute faster than the first! Then, I walked as slow as I could up the hill to loosen up my upper body with a 30 minute bo workout including 50 crunches.

I must have been really tired. I fell once and again, the bo kept jumping out of my possession too many times to count ;P

Alright, time to take a warm shower to keep the muscles nice and loose and then off to do my required time with family =D