End of summer, say it isn't so.

8/24: Camping 

8/25: Camping

8/26: Strength circuit, 20 min

8/27: Yoga and stretching, 10-15 min.

8/28: "Crossfit" circuit 1 - 3 miles TM

8/29: "Crossfit" circuit 2 - 1 mile, TM

8/30: Rest

I know I missed a week recap but I can't remember exactly what I did. I know I worked out 4 days but... That's about it. 

I notice a pattern with my weeks - they start out slow with 2, 3 lazy rest days but then by Wednesday, I am usually able to rally and squeeze in some exercise, which then motivates me for the following days. Normally I take it easy on Fridays (end of the work week, y'all!) but lately I am able to get in a solid sweat after work. We try not to schedule too much outside of the house on Fridays, since everyone is pretty beat by this point of the week, and also traffic anywhere is a beast on Friday afternoons/early evenings. There is no rush to start dinner, to get somewhere, to do all the things. It's quite nice. 

I didn't run much at all this week, but I incorporated some 400's into my "Crossfit" workouts. I use this word in quotations because I am not quite 100% sold on the Crossfit lifestyle but I do like the idea of mixing in heavier strength moves into my rotation. 

Here are my workouts, courtesy of two instagrammers I follow. 

Friday's workout: 

I started with 400 meters before each round, and after the last round I just stayed in the treadmill until I hit 3 miles. Sweaaaaty.

Saturday's workout. 

This one was sneaky tough. I subbed burpees for the push-ups (you know I love my burpees) and used a #25 weight for the kettle bell swings. I used lighter weights for the last sets but they were still so tough! This workout took me about 30 minutes, and I was dripping sweat when I was done. I contemplated running additional miles on the treadmill, but my quads were toast. #lunges

My focus lately has been strength building and muscle tone. Don't get me wrong, I love me some sweatastic cardio. There is nothing quite like a solid run. However, while I'm no expert in.. well, anything... in my observation and  experience, cardio can only do so much. As I near 40, I think my body is telling me to strength train and build those muscles!  I want to be fit and physically and mentally strong as I get older. My mom is 66, very thin and muscle-less. She gets winded walking through the grocery store. While I do miss being #skinnyfat, I am slowly learning to appreciate a couple extra lbs life has brought me in the last few years. It's taken me a long time to embrace this, and truthfully there are days I still struggle. This struggle is straight real. 

***

Camping was so much fun. This is the 4th year we've done a big family camping trip, and this time was the best so far. Both kids and adults - all 37 of us! - relaxed and just enjoyed being partially (yes we had cell service and electricity. Go ahead and judge) detached from life. 

I was up early this morning at 4:30am to squeeze in a quick morning workout.

Did the DB snatches and the push-press with #15 weights, because... you know. WEAK.

Warmed up with high kicks and jumping jacks. Bleary eyed and in pj's. 

Gone are the days of sleeping close to midnight and struggling to wake up at 5am. I need to get back on the early bedtime train. I slept last night at 9:30 and so far today I feel fantastic. 

School starts a week from tomorrow, so soon it'll be 

Back to life 🎶

Back to reality 

Sing it with me! 

It only exists if you write it down

8/10: Rest

8/11: Rest

8/12: Circuit workout. 34 min

8/13: JM yoga meltdown, level 2. 25 min

8/14: 1000 rep body weight circuit, 56 min

8/15: 4 miles easy, TM. 38+ min

8/16: Rest

Totals:

Miles: 4

XT days: 3 

Run days: 1

Rest: 3

I think I skipped last week? It wasn't much to write about. I ran about zero miles, and threw in some quick workouts here and there. Or maybe not? Hmm, really I can't remember much. I guess that is why I have to write it down, or else it doesn't exist. 

I started this week off pretty slowly, as you can see from my first two days. I was away at Suncadia for a wonderful women's retreat, which was very relaxing and rejuvenating, save for the 6,7 hours of total weekend sleep. Following the weekend; I was just ruined. It took me a full week to recover, only after two weekend mornings of sleeping in until 10, and 9, respectively. 

Yikes, sleeping in like a college student in the summer. That's me, only I'm no longer in college, 38 yrs old, and have 3 kids. At least they were kind enough to keep busy in the morning (read: watch tv).

I'm still not running as much, which my body is liking, and with which my mind is coping. I like my body much better when I cross train but there's nothing quite satisfying like a sweaty run. 

Amber shared a Pinterest work out on Friday, which I decided to try when I got home from work. After a long tiring week, the last thing I wanted to do was any kind of workout, but my girl inspired me to just pull it together and work it out in my room. 

My quads are still not recovered 

Yeah. Ow. Ow. Ow. 

I combined the last two sets just to get through it faster (50 reps of each) and just gritted my teeth and got it done. Thanks for the tip, Amber.

Burpees, you evil minx. I lovehate you. All 100 of you. 

I did modify half of the push-ups. I modified the v-ups too, alternating with crunches and reverse sit ups. By the end of the workout, I was dripping in sweat, and my legs were shaking. 

Saturday I wasn't sure of the plan, since I woke up to very sore legs. I decided to shake it on the treadmill for a mile and then switch to weights but ended up staying on for four easy miles. We spent the rest of the day out at Chambers Bay, attempting to capture "natural" photos.

Doesn't everyone just #stopdropandplank

Like gazelles

I had tentative plans to run with Angela on Sunday morning but my body was telling me to calm it down. I decided to sleep in and rest instead, and my body thanks me today. 

Hoping this week goes quickly! I had lovely relaxing weekend, and am looking forward to our annual camping trip with a big group of friends this coming weekend. After 4 years, I think we've got this group camping things down.

Keys to success: alcohol and sugar. 

Happy week, everyone!

2 weeks worth of updates. Aaand chaturanga!

7/20-7/27: Rest, Yoga, Stretching

7/27: Rest

7/28: Tone it Up HIIT workout. 

7/29: 4 miles, TM. Weights circuit. Lunch workout. (Worked from home)

7/30: ? Rest

7/31: Quick body weight workout

8/1: 6 miles. TM. Weights circuit. 

8/2: Circuit workout 

Totals:

Run days: 2

Miles: 10

XT/strength:3

Rest: 2

***

I think post Ragnar blues is a real thing. It was over in a flash, and can't wait until next year. Also, I can't wait to a see my teammates in a week when we meet for a celebration dinner. We also have a 12 piece race medal puzzle to put together!

The week following the relay, I did absolutely no running. Instead, I let my body rest and just recover. I think I needed more time to recover from sleeping sitting up than running all the weekend miles. I incorporated a lot of yoga, stretching and headstands. The last one was just thrown in there to impress my kids. 

Last week I jumped back on the treadmill for some easy runs. Monday was a long day for me and a late night so I struggled to wake up for work the next morning. Luckily, by Wednesdsay I was feeling motivated to squeeze in a run. It's funny how 4 treadmill miles can feel like an eternity, but at the end I was glad to have stuck it out. I mean, aren't we always happy when we've finished a run?

I wasn't always in the mood to run this week, and I'm also committed to making my body stronger and more lean, so  I finally made myself follow a weights circuit plan on J's iPad app. The app breaks down each move with pictures and gifs, so it's a little less intimidating than usual. 

I wasn't able to run outside due to scheduling/childcare. Saturday's TM run was slow and steady. I wore a heart monitor for the first time in a long while and focused on keeping my HR in the 150's, low 160's. Even at a 10 min/mile (6.0 mph) in 0%, I hovered around 162ish. Towards the end, even while slowing down, my HR jumped to 170. I am going to try again to work on controlling my HR and my breathing. It's funny how much focus breathing while running takes. 

On days when I was feeling extra fatigued, I woul force myself to get moving, even if it was for 10-15 minutes.

1) Quick body weight workout

25 reps/3 sets

Jumping backs

Burpees

Air squats

2) Circuit workout

25 reps/3 sets

Air squats

Push-ups (on toes)

Mountain climbers

Toe-ups w 10 lb medicine ball

Russian twists w 10 lb medicine ball

Burpees

I ended with some sun salutations. Working on getting my elbows to stay as close to my sides as possible when I chaturanga. Hold.

The workouts sound easy but in my opinion, anything involving burpees is going to burn so good.

Burpees make me sweat! Swealfie mugshot. Shnoz!

Side bar, but is it possible for one 

to chaturanga?