Comfort Zone

How often do you step outside your comfort zone?  How often do you really put yourself out there to try something you've never tried before?

Yesterday I did just that.  I stepped way out of my comfort zone and started Turbo Fire.

I was humbled lol!  I realized just how uncoordinated I am and that yes, I have no rhythm.  In short, I can't dance =)

But, I'm pressing forward.  I'm challenging myself to keep going and to finish the workout schedule.  Any type of cross training that I do is only going to make me stronger.  And that's what I want- a stronger, healthier me.   

Wednesday Workout: Boot Camp Style

Last night I had the privilege of joining my friend, Kelli, for a group workout.  As part of our commitment to getting moms and their families active and healthy, we are offering weekly group workouts in our neighborhood.

Last night was our first meeting.  While the turn out was on the small side, we had a blast lunging, running and Frankensteining our way through a workout =)  

Kelli did a great job putting her Boot Camp experience into a great beginners workout for us.  I'm definitely looking forward to our next group workout. 

If you're local, we're starting a couch to 5k program this Saturday and will be having another group workout on Tuesday.  Come join us!  It's always more fun to workout with a group =)

Wednesday Workout

Need a quick workout today?  Something to fit in with all the other things you have scheduled?

Try this.

March in place for 2 minutes.

Then do:

10 push- ups

20 squats

10 crunches

10 burpees

25 jumping jacks

20 second plank

25 lunges

And you're done.  You've now worked out every major muscle group and hopefully got your heart rate up for a few minutes.  Have more time?  Repeat the list for a circuit =)

The Workout that Wasn't

I've been told I'm a graceful runner.  That I make it look easy.  That I have a smooth stride.

This morning, not so much.

In fact, I probably looked more like this:

Than this:

Yup, after nearly 5 months of running with my mutt, he finally managed to trip me.  I looked so graceful laying on the ground wondering if I had broken anything...

I hobbled back home and took stock of my injuries.

Banged up knee: check

Swollen hand from hitting ground: check

Throbbing big toe: check

Sigh...  

Workout Wednesday: Overtraining

In the last couple of weeks, I've had a couple different friends have to pull out of or change their race plans because of overtraining.  It saddens me to hear about them doing this because this common mistake is easily avoided.

Since running is definitely "an experiment of one," I can't tell you what the perfect balance of running is.  You need to find that out for yourself.  And your training buddy will probably have a different balance. 

For me, I've found that 3-4 days of running mixed with strength training is the perfect balance for me.  What does my weekly schedule look like?  Thanks for asking, I'll share me current program =)

Monday: P90X Core Synergistics

Tuesday: run- usually a tempo or speed workout

Wednesday: P90X Shoulders & Arms, Ab Ripper X

Thursday: run- either tempo or speed, the opposite of what I did on Tuesday

Friday: P90X Legs & Back, Ab Ripper X

Saturday: long run

Sunday: rest

For now I'm focusing on three quality runs and then a mix of strength training to make sure my core and upper body is strong enough to carry me through a marathon.  This schedule also allows for plenty of rest and easy stretching.  

Do I think you should follow the same program as me?  No.  Because I know everyone is different and their body responds to the stress of exercise differently.  Some people are going to need more days of rest.  Some are going to feel better with less strength training and more runs.  The important thing to remember is to listen to your body and find the balance that works for you.

What have you found to be the perfect balance for you?

With all that in mind, these are the events I'm currently training for.

The first weekend in October I will be joining 11 other runners from across the country for the Capitol to Coast Relay.  What is that you ask? 

   2 vans, 12 teammates, 223 miles = 1 Amazing time!

                                       THE LONGEST RUNNING RELAY IN TEXAS.

You and your teammates will leave from Republic Park in downtown, just blocks from the Texas State Capital in Austin, Texas,  run over the famous "bat bridge"- home to the largest urban bat colony in the US, all the way up panoramic South Congress (SOCO) Ave. on your way out of Austin City Limits.   You will then run through the outskirts of the beautiful Texas Hill Country on your way thru the wide open plains, thru little Texas towns, all the way to the Gulf of Mexico and the USS Lexington and the beaches of Corpus Christi, Texas. 223 miles, the LONGEST running relay race in the great state of TEXAS ~ EVERYTHING'S BIGGER IN TEXAS!.  

In honor of it being a Texas relay and the fact that we are going to be toast at the end, may I introduce the Texas Toast Team?

And in December I will be tackling the marathon again.  I'll be running locally at the Dallas Marathon (formally White Rock) with a few of my running buddies.  It should be lots of fun lol!

Workout Wednesday: Sweet Pea's Turn

Sweet Pea had an appointment with her physical therapist this morning.  She works so hard.

But always ends up in tears. (But on the bright side, she does take nice long naps after she done =))

It got me thinking today.  How many of us sit around and complain that we can't do something?  Or talk about getting active?  I have to stop myself most days.  How easy is it for me to get up and go for a run (physically, not mentally =P)?  

Sweet Pea can't just get up and go.  Everything she does takes so much effort.  She has to be taught how to move her body correctly.  We have to spend extra time working on strengthening her muscles so that she can sit, so she can crawl...  

But in the end, it's going to be worth it.  One day she will be able to crawl.  One day she will be out there running with her brothers and sister.  Just not today.  Because today she finally realized she can go from her belly to sitting without help.  

What about you?  What's keeping you back today?  Is it just an excuse? Or is it something that you need to really work at to overcome?  Are you ready to start working so that your "one day" will be here sooner rather than later (or never)?

Workout Wednesday: Girly's Choice

A couple weeks ago, I asked Girly if she wanted to start working out with me.  She of course said yes.  So, I bought this for her.

Shaun T's Fit Kids Club

It came in the mail a couple days ago, and I have a whole new level of respect for anyone who is rocking Shaun T's Insanity.

The workout is only 25 minutes long, but you are moving the entire time.  And, since it's all dance move based, I am now rocking some stellar dance moves =)

Girly has been enjoying it and has even gotten Squish to join her a couple times.  It's so cute to watch both of them try to dance and keep up with the kids on the video.

Workout Wednesday: Flexibility

Flexibility is important in any workout.  But that doesn't just apply to how flexible you are physically.  

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Sure, it's important to be flexible physically.  It can help prevent injuries.  It can make it easier to perform your day to day tasks.

Flexibility is a key component in any workout program.

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But more importantly, is the flexibility to adapt to life.

You need to be flexible when it comes to your workout program and goals.  Do you know when to change your program or your goals to avoid injury?  To avoid over committing?  What about the flexibility to drop out of a competition?  

Sunday morning in the women's Olympic marathon, the third US runner, Desi Davila, had to drop out of the race after just 2 miles.  Why?  Because she knew that continuing on could compromise the rest of her career.  And she was not willing to risk that.  

I know what you're saying...  "But she's a professional athlete.  She gets paid to run, of course she doesn't want to risk her career."  I'll give you that.  But are you any less important to your family?  To your employer?  Do you want to take the chance that by refusing to be flexible when it comes to your fitness goals you won't be able to continue?

What about flexibility with your nutrition goals?  Having one bad meal or snack is not going to ruin your diet. But having an *all or nothing* attitude about it will.  

Be flexible enough to realize that life happens.  We can't control every little thing that happens to and around us.  But by being flexible we can adapt and overcome whatever challenges are placed before us.